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This story was printed from Biological and Chemical Agents, 
located at /27393/dreamwvr/agents/botulinal1.htm
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INTRODUCTION

Botulinal Toxins are produced by a microscopic organism Clostridium botulinum. A deadly poison even in small doses (0.02mg can kill a full grown adult), it can be absorbed through the skin, lungs, eyes and mucous membranes. The poison occurs in the soil and naturally in low acid foods. It can be distributed through aerosol methods, water and food.

BT is an efficient killer, with a fatality rate of about 60-70%. The initial symptoms are dizziness and general weakness, appearing within 6-48 hours of contact, followed by disturbance in vision, difficulty in swallowing, breathing and speaking. Frothing is also common. There is little pain except for headaches. The victim remains mentally alert but is physically paralyzed. An untreated victim would go into convulsions and die within 2 to 10 days. The poison inhibits the release of acetylcholine, causing the victim to suffer paralysis.

PRECAUTIONS

The disease is not contagious so there is no need to isolate patients. In cold, stagnant water, botulinal toxin A is stable for a week. In food, botulinal toxin A is stable for a long time, when out of contact with air. All food and water should be heat sterilized in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Gas mask and protective clothing is required if exposure is anticipated.

A vaccine for the disease is available but to obtain complete protection from the toxins, the amount needed would cause death so it is not usually recommended, except to certain military personnel. If administered within 48 hours from exposure, an antitoxin (horse serum product) can only stop the progress of the disease. Oxygen should also be provided for assisted breathing.

Formaldehyde kills botulinum spores. Boiling in water for at least 10 minutes will kill the poison, not the spores. To kill the spores, it takes more than 6 hours of boiling in water. The spores cannot grow in honey or canning sugar, but can be dormant in raw honey. The spores, when ingested, can multiply in the digestive system, leading to illness and sometimes, even death. A specific anti-toxin can precipitate the toxin.

To protect one from being exposed, a protective shelter can be devised using a closed room that is insulated with a non-permeable material and ventilated with filtered air.

BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND BOTULINAL TOXIN

Botulism is a well-liked weapon for two main reasons. It occurs naturally in nature and it is the most deadly of all naturally occurring bio-toxins. One kilogram of the toxin can kill 50,000,000 people. There is an available supply of the microbe to produce the toxins and 1 live cell is all one needs to produce as many as one desires.

Saddam Hussein loves botulinal toxins. After the Gulf War, UN inspectors 130,000 gallons of botulinal toxins, which has the ability to cause the death of 23,587,200,000,000 people, which is about 4000 times the world population (5,500,000,000). A Scud missile filled with the toxin can affect about 1,429 square miles, sixteen times that with the same amount of sarin gas. The toxins are also well liked as it can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

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