Biological weapon, also called germ weapon, any of a number of diseaseproducing agentssuch as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, or other biological agentsthat may be utilized as weapons against humans, animals, or plants the direct use of infectious agents and poisons against enemy personnel is an ancient practice in warfare. Biological warfare an overview sciencedirect topics. The development of the biological agent threat spectrum over time. For resources relevant to preparation and planning for all types of emergencies, please see emergency preparedness and response. To be infected, a person must breathe a sufficient quantity of particles into the lungs to cause illness. The information herein has been compiled from official publications of the department of the army, office 0f civil and defense mobilization, department of health, education and welfare, and from other sources. Ensuring protection from biological warfare agents using data analysis methods that are traceable, easily validated and legally defensible is vital to homeland security. The worldwide nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare threat us army chemical school 21 august 1998 adversarial use of chemical and biological weapons john f. In addition to these living or replicating pathogens, toxins and biotoxins are also included among the bioagents. A biological agent also called bioagent, biological threat agent, biological warfare agent, biological weapon, or bioweapon is a bacterium, virus, protozoan, parasite, or fungus that can be used purposefully as a weapon in bioterrorism or biological warfare bw. Biological warfare agents request pdf researchgate. They are invisible, odorless, tasteless, and can be spread silently.
In summary, we know that biological pathogens have been used for biological warfare and terrorism, and their potential for future use is a major concern. A rather comprehensive study of the characteristics of chemical and biological weapons, the types of agents, their acquisition and delivery has been made purver. There are a broad range of potential bioterrorism agents. Biological warfare bw also known as germ warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Usually these are bacteria, viruses, or fungi, but may also include plasmodia, prions, or even insects. Evidence exists for deliberate use of microorganisms and toxins as bioweapons throughout history. Contents biological warfare some infectants some graphs stating the effect biological and chemical warfare use of bioweapons bioweapons historical proofs case study 4. Before the 20th century, biological warfare took on three main forms. Concern regarding the use of biological agents bacteria, viruses, or toxinsas tools of warfare or terrorism has led to measures to deter their use or, failing that, to deal with the consequences. Although a number of possible biological warfare agents are known, the ones considered most likely to be used against gulf war troops were anthrax and.
Anthrax, biological warfare, bioterrorism, history, military medicine, plague. An attack on agricultural plants and animals would primarily cause economic damage, loss. The threat and use of biological agents for warfare and terrorism purposes has a long history. To be an effective biological weapon, airborne germs must be dispersed as fine particles. Environmental expsoures programs and services for veterans.
The aim of this work was the production of a new more dangerous, more easily spread and more difficult to identify combat generation of bioweapons. Nov 16, 2019 the use of biological agents is not a new concept, and history is replete with examples of biological weapons use. Biological warfare article about biological warfare by. A biological attack is the intentional release of a pathogen disease causing agent or biotoxin poisonous substance produced by a living organism against humans, plants, or animals. Biological warfare has evolved from the crude use of cadavers to contaminate water supplies to the development of specialized. The alleged used of biological agents is a serious problem and the risk of using these agents in a bioterrorist attack is increasing. Biological warfare agents highprecision biological warfare agent analysis in the field or laboratory.
As human, animal and plant pathogens and toxin lists will be hard to define we propose several tables of enlisted pathogens and toxins with important criteria on the basis of which a decision can be made to include in or exclude from a list of biological agents and toxins. Biological weapons often termed bioweapons, biological threat agents, or bioagents are living organisms or replicating entities viruses, which are. Cdc bioterrorism agentsdiseases by category emergency. Walt we developed a fiberoptic, microspherebased, highdensity array composed of 18 speciesspecific probe microsensors to identify biological warfare agents. Apr 09, 2012 contents biological warfare some infectants some graphs stating the effect biological and chemical warfare use of bioweapons bioweapons historical proofs case study 4. Potential biological weapons threats volume 5, number 4. Full text get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 79k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Reichart joint forces quarterly spring 1998 271 kb pdf new biological warfare agents through advances in biotechnology department of defense 09 september 1997 table of contents. Article i never under any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, acquire or retain biological weapons.
Exposure during military service to chemical and biological weapons listed below potentially could cause certain health problems in veterans, depending on a number of other factors. Concern regarding the use of biological agentsbacteria, viruses, or toxinsas tools of warfare or terrorism has led to measures to deter their use or, failing that, to deal with the consequences. Field management and triage of contaminated casualties on the integrated battlefield 71 10. The soldier and the industrial base 1993 military dermatology 1994 military psychiatry. Ballistic, blast, and burn injuries 1991 occupational health. Biological warfare agents linan song, soohyoun ahn, and david r. Highpriority agents include organisms that pose a risk to national security because they. There are also some biological agents that could be used to promote the deterioration of key materials.
A us army memo from 1963, recently released by the national archives, lists a number of ideas to exploit cuban vulnerabilities, including the initiation of biological warfare. Cdc preparation and planning for bioterrorism emergencies. Although a number of possible biological warfare agents are known, the ones considered most likely to be used against gulf war troops were anthrax and botulinum toxin. Lungdamaging agents and toxic industrial chemicals 33 5. Key provisions of the biological weapons convention include.
The medical consequences of exposure to these two agents1 are well understood iowa persian gulf study group, 1994, and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies exist for. Jfk files reveal us biological warfare plans against cuba. Agents that may cause adverse effects in exposed individuals but that do not make those individuals contagious to others e. Department of defense chemical, biological, radiological, and. To be an effective biological weapon, airborne germs must be dispersed as fine. Biological weapons often termed bioweapons, biological threat agents, or bioagents are living organisms. Biological warfare article about biological warfare by the. Biological warfare is a relatively old concept that has been in use for nearly 2500 years.
Biological warfare list of high impact articles ppts. As world war ii was ending, secretary of war henry stimson ordered that research and development in biological warfare should continue. Pathogens variously cited as possible agents of biological warfare or terrorism are listed in table a3. These agents can cause largescale mortality, morbidity and can incapacitate a large number of people in the shortest possible time. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 181k, or click on a page image below to browse page. Bioterrorism, emerging infections, and pandemics 1203 focused on destroying what they believe to be evil forces, and the discovery of iraqs stockpiled anthrax, botulinum toxin, and other biological warfare agents. Biological warfare also known as germ warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war by a state or nation. Medical aspects of biological warfare united states army.
Pdf biological warfare and bioterrorism researchgate. Handbook of chemical and biological warfare agents. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives operational headquarters 1. Biological warfare bwalso known as germ warfareis the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Use the resources on this page to plan and prepare for a possible bioterrorism attack. Biological warfare agents are microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa or toxins produced by them, that give rise to diseases in man, animals or plants, when deliberately dispersed in an area table 1. All the virology on the www biological weapons and warfare. The chief of the chemical warfare service renamed the chemical corps in 1946 was put in charge of the program, and he was to be guided by the advice of the surgeon general on medical aspects. Biological warfare agents are easy to hide and difficult to detect or protect against. Biological warfare, bioterrorism, biodefence and the biological and. In the ancient history, the wellknown attempt of use of biological warfare agent was during the 14 th century medieval siege of kaffa, feodosiya, ukraine. History of biological warfare and bioterrorism core.
Among the countries that developed a massive programme on bioweapons research. Request pdf biological warfare agents there is a long historic record of use of biological warfare bw agents by warring countriesagainst. These organisms are potential biological agents because of their lethality, high infectivity by the aerosol route shown in animal models, and possibility for replication in tissue culture. Transmissible agents that spread from person to person e. Handbook of chemical and biological warfare agents d. Article ii to destroy or divert to peaceful purposes biological agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery prior to joining.
Yet multilateral efforts to deal with this problem proceed at a snails pace. An attack against people could be used to cause illness, death, fear, societal disruption, and economic damage. Biological warfare share this page biological warfare bw also known as germ warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Technological advancements for the detection of and protection against biological and chemical warfare agents. Guidelines for local responders, based on existing procedures, on the initial response to letters. We simultaneously identified multiple biological warfare agents in environmental samples by looking at specific probe. Preparing in peace for war 1994 anesthesia and perioperative care of the combat casualty 1995 war psychiatry 1995 medical aspects of chemical and biological. This publication highlights ways to strengthen international. Biological agents are divided into categories based on the type of pathogen involved. Apartheids chemical and biological warfare programme.
The attraction of bioweapons in war, and for use in terroristic attacks is attributed to easy access to a wide range of diseaseproducing biological agents, to their. Biological warfare, bioterrorism, biodefence and the. Biological warfare biological warfare also known as germ warfare is the use of biological toxin or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi with an intent to. The proliferation and use of biological warfare agents is now widely recognized to be one of the most serious threats to national and regional security. In this incident, the tartars mongols who attacked. Some of the agents used as the biological weapon include the bacteria such as chlamydophila psittaci, coxiella burnetii, yersinia pestis, francisella tularensis, burkholderia mallei, bacillus anthracis, vibrio cholera, and burkholderia pseudomallei. They may be used by terrorists partially because of their psychological impact on the public and partially because they can be deadly, are easy to distribute, are a relatively inexpensive weapon, and are difficult to detect. The threat of biological warfare agents against united states. The direct use of infectious agents and poisons against enemy personnel is an ancient.
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