Some biological warfare agents include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other living organisms that can kill or incapacitate their victims. Most biological agents can fall into one of four major groups. Three of these categories are microorganisms; these include bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses. The other category is made up of bacterial toxins these are poisonous chemicals that are produced by chemicals. The two agents that I am going to discuss are anthrax and small pox.

Anthrax is a highly lethal infection caused by infection with the gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. It is said that anthrax usually will occur in hoofed animals but as we know it can also infect humans. In naturally acquired cases, organisms will gain entrance though open wounds on the surface of the

Smallpox is a highly contagious virus that can spread throughout the air and infects 30% of the people who are exposed to it. Smallpox is extremely dangerous as there is no known cure for it. Smallpox is easily spread whether it be from person to person or though infected blankets, linens, and clothing. It is facts such as these that make it such a likely choice for use in a biological attack. It is said that about 30% of the people who become infected with the smallpox virus will die, and any survivors will be left permanently scared, disfigured, or blinded for life. Like most viruses, smallpox can be prevented with a vaccine. The World Health Organization held a worldwide vaccine campaign that begun in 1967 but it came to an end in 1980 when the disease was officially declared eradicated. In the United States the vaccination stopped in 1972 because the disease was thought to be “stamped out”.

skin. They also may be inhaled or ingested. Anthrax is very rarely contracted from person to person contact, if it even occurs at all. A terrorist group presumably would probably release intentional contamination, released through the aerosol route. Once released these spores can withstand to heat, cold, drying, and chemical disinfection. Spores can remain viable for several years (up to 200 years in one case) in the top six inches of soil and in animal products. Animals that die of anthrax exposure release massive amounts of spores into the soil, which may remain for decades before it is ingested again. Inhalation anthrax has an incubation period of 1-6 days. Symptoms are similar to the flu including, fever, fatigue, cough, mild chest discomfort. These are rapidly followed by severe respiratory distress with dyspnea, diaphoresis, stridor, and cyanosis. Death and shock will occur within 24-36 hours. Cutaneous anthrax begins with a small, painless red macule that progresses to papule that then vesiculates. Finally developing into a black eschar surrounded by moderate to severe edema. This black eschar gave the name ‘anthrax’ which is derived the Greek word anthrakos meaning ‘coal’. There is also the intestinal disease form if anthrax. This comes usually following the consumption of contaminated food. This disease is characterized by acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Symptoms can include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever is usually followed by abdominal pain

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