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This story was printed from Biological and
Chemical Agents,
located at /27393/dreamwvr/agents/anthrax1.htm
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ANTHRAX
INTRODUCTION
Anthrax is a bacteria of the strain Bacillus Anthracis. A deadly killer, it
has a spore form which is extremely resistant and infectious. Lethal in small
doses, it can penetrate either by you coming into contact with infected animals
and their products or by inhaling contaminated air, wool or similar substances.
In fact, the people most likely to get Anthrax are those working closely with
animal products, particularly those residing in rural areas.
Anthrax is an efficient killer, it’s victims being made to suffer the agony
of having a sudden onset of difficulty in breathing, profuse sweating, cyanosis,
shock and death within 36 hours. In most cases, the symptoms improve after a few
hours but the patient begins to deteriorate rapidly soon after. It takes around
three excruciating days for the bacteria to destroy the membranes of your lungs
and intestines.
A minor scratch or abrasion, usually on an exposed area of the face or neck
or arms, is infected by spores from the soil or a contaminated animal or
carcass. The spores germinate, vegetative cells multiply, and a characteristic
gelatinous edema develops at the site. This develops into papule within
12-36 hours after infection. The papule changes rapidly to a vesicle, then a
pustule, and finally into a necrotic ulcer from which infection may disseminate,
giving rise to septicemia. Lymphatic swelling also occurs within seven days. In
severe cases, where the blood stream is eventually invaded, the disease is
frequently fatal.
PRECAUTIONS
Unlike chemical agents like Cyanide which disperse over time, Anthrax spores
can survive in soil, water and elsewhere for as long as 40 years and is highly
resistant to eradication. They can only be killed by steam sterilization or
burning, but not by disinfectants. An infection of wild stock populations could
follow a biological attack with spores. The infected animals could then pass on
the disease to people.
An Anthrax Vaccine does exist and it is at present produced under contract to
the Department of Defense. The immunization consists of three injections given
two weeks apart followed by three additional shots given at 6, 12, and 18
months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are required to maintain a
protective level of immunity. This particular method is effective when dealing
with Anthrax contacted through the skin and is believed to be effective against
inhaled spores in the case of a biological warfare attack.
For those unvaccinated individuals, antibiotics like penicillin is known to
lessen the severity of the illness, two million units every two hours
administered [intervenously]. It was formerly thought that inhaled spores are
100% fatal despite treatment but monkeys exposed to Anthrax spores have
responded successfully to antibiotics, implying that antibiotic therapy may be
useful in a biological warfare setting.
Exposed clothing and materials should be burnt and exposed hair thoroughly
shampooed. Exposed surfaces may be washed with 10% formaldehyde in water,
chloride solution, 3% hydrogen peroxide or 3% peracetic acid. Food contamination
would require prolonged sterilization to ensure the safety of all animal and
food products.
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND ANTHRAX
Anthrax has been favored by terrorists since the start of this century,
mainly because it is easy to create (all one needs is a lab and the proper
bacteria cultures) and can be used to infect food supplies which can then pass
on the bacteria to thousands of people.
For instance, in 1915, Dr Anton Dilger, a noted German-American Physician,
established a small biological agent production facility at his northwest
Washington, DC home. Using cultures of Bacillus Anthracis (Anthrax) and
Pseudomonas Mallei (Glanders) supplied by the Imperial German government, Dilger
produced an estimated liter or more of liquid agent. He reportedly passed the
agent and a standard inoculation device to dock workers in Baltimore who used
them to infect a reported 3500 horses, mules and cattle destined for the Allied
troops who were waging World War 1. Several Hundred military personnel were
infected.
Today, Anthrax is more popular than ever because of its low cost of
production and the fact that it can easily be mass-produced. What is even more
disturbing is the ease with which Anthrax can be weaponized. It is extremely
stable and can be stored for long periods of time as a dry powder and can thus
be loaded in a freeze dried state into munitions or aerosol with crude sprayers.
Some scientists maintain that Anthrax is even more dangerous than chemical
agents like Sarin. In theory, if the spores were distributed appropriately, a
single gram could kill one third of the US population. They were quick to point
out though that an attack of such a magnitude would technically not be feasible
but more realistic small scale scenarios still pose huge casualties.
It has been postulated that a single ounce of Anthrax, if leaked into the air
conditioning system of a domed stadium could infect 80,000 people within the
hour and a terrorist attack on the New York Metropolitan area might result in an
estimated 600,000 deaths. If Anthrax were able to spread from person to person,
the death toll would be much worse.
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