Weaponizing anthrax

Anthrax remains both a serious public health hazard and a very real biological weapon threat. A deliberate release of an anthrax weapon in a populated area could have catastrophic implications. An economic model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested a cost of 26.2 billion to treat 100,000 people exposed to anthrax (Kaufinann et al., 1997). A risk assessment, provided at the end of this chapter, will serve to highlight the dangers of a realistic scenario involving anthrax spores. 

After the bomb had been filled, it, too, was ferried across to Gruinard. With it went Sutton, Henderson and Younger. Each man was now clad like some science fiction monster, in a rubberized suit, gas mask, high rubber boots and thick gloves. The anthrax weapon was placed on a small mound of earth. Around it, tethered in concentric circles, were the sheep. An explosive charge was carefully attached to the bomb and a fuse laid. While the sheep grazed unconcernedly, the scientists retreated to a safe distance down wind. 

Because of their stahihty under many adverse conditions, anthrax spores are ideal for use as a biological weapon. Many countries, including the United States, have developed anthrax weapons, and in spite of treaties eliminating such programs, such weapons are beheved to still exist. 

Before the United States ended its program in 1969, it had been developed an anthrax weapon. Until recently, a dried preparation of anthrax was an important part of the Soviet Union s strategic BW arsenal, and Iraq has admitted to UNSCOM inspectors in 1995 that it too had weaponized anthrax. 

If the risk of such an attack seems inflated beyond reason, the alternative is to do nothing. But then, if the vaccinations were not carried out, and an anthrax weapon were used against US military personnel, the results would of course be catastrophic. The DOD faced a similarly pressing dilemma during the GulfWar where, as A1 Mauroni describes, If DOD held back on developmental vaccines and pretreatments to troops in the Gulf, and Saddam initiated CB warfare, the outcry would have been deafening. ... 

Anthrax remains both a serious public health hazard and a very real biological weapon threat. Deliberate release of an anthrax weapon in a populated area could have catastrophic implications. An economic model developed by the Centers for Disease Control... 

More recently, anthrax has been used as a biological weapon in the United States and a total of 22 cases were identified. Six fatalities occurred due to inhalation of the causal agent, Bacillus anthracis. Use of microorganisms for agroterrorism as well as infection of companion animals, and the potential development of genetically engineered agents have made the twenty-first century more vulnerable than past centuries. 

Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Anthrax... 

Fire To control small fires use dry chemical, sand, soda ash or lime or fight fire around the biological agent or weapon with normal fire extinguishing materials, but do not spread or scatter infectious substance. If without risk, move any containers containing anthrax or any other infectious substance from the area of the fire. 

---