NCJ Number
190527
Journal
American Scientist Volume: 89 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2001 Pages: 2-11
Date Published
2001
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This document explores the historical development and use of biological weapons.
Abstract
Biological warfare is not a new phenomenon. The ancient Romans poisoned the wells of their adversaries’ drinking water. It was not until the 19th century that the microbial basis for infectious disease was understood. One of the first illnesses to be explained by the new germ theory was anthrax, an infectious disease common to sheep and cattle. Anthrax is only weakly communicable in humans. Inhalation anthrax is a very deadly disease in humans, with a mortality rate in excess of 80 percent if left untreated within the first days of exposure. Anthrax is convenient and robust; variants can be isolated worldwide and great quantities can be readily prepared from liquid cultures. World War I saw one of the first attempts to use anthrax during warfare, directed -- ineffectively -- against animal populations. The war became infamous for its introduction of poison mustard gas, which was used effectively against humans. During World War II, the use of tularemia by the Soviets resulted in over 100,000 cases of disease to both Soviets and the Germans. The post-World War II period heard little public debate concerning the need to limit biological weapons, probably due to the preoccupation with nuclear arms. In 1969, all biological weapons were unilaterally and unconditionally renounced. But between 1972 and 1992, the Soviet Union was responsible for a massive bioweapons effort, violating the treaty signed by 160 nations. Iraq, who established extensive programs for the development of both chemical and biological weapons in the early 1980's, also violated this treaty. It is suspected that more than a dozen sovereign nations possess some form of offensive bioweapons program. In the United States in 1984, followers of the Baghwan Sri Rajneesh spread salmonella bacteria in salad bars in four restaurants. Between 1990 and 1995, the cult Aum Shinrikyo launched a repeated series of attacks on civilians using both biological and chemical weapons. Smallpox, a lethal, highly contagious disease caused by the variola major virus, represents a direct threat to the entire world in the hands of terrorists. Both bacteria and viruses can now be engineered to be different from conventional bioweapon agents. 8 figures and bibliography