This document provides an overview of bioterrorism and biological weapons. It discusses the history of using biological agents as weapons dating back to the 1300s. The "top four" bioterrorism agents are described as anthrax, plague, smallpox, and botulism. Details are given about anthrax and smallpox, including how they infect humans and their symptoms. The US biodefense projects called Project Bioshield are summarized, which provided funding for research into bioterrorism countermeasures. Overall prevention and response are discussed.

1. AMIYA KUMARMANDAL
Part-II
Rollno- BY0417

2. OVER VIEW
Introduction
History of bioterrorism
Why Biological Weapons?
Agent of Bioterrorism
Update on Anthrax
Small pox
Biodefense Project
What can you do to help?
References

3. INTRODUCTION
• Biological weapons infectious agents
(bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoan etc.) used to
intentionally inflict harm on humans.
• Generally, the types of agents used as
biological weapons cause systemic diseases,
hemorrhagic fevers, pneumonias, or involve
toxins and biological poisons.

4. HISTORY
• 1346, Kaffa: Attacking Mongols catapulted
cadavers of plague victims into city
• 1710: Russians used plague victims against
Swedes
• World War I: Germany sent infected horses
and mules into Allied lines
• World War II: Japanese military unit 731 killed
thousands of Chinese in Ping Fan, Manchuria,
with various agents, including Anthrax

5. Why Biological Weapons?
Although challenging to develop, still easier
and cheaper to obtain than nuclear weapons
Soviet scientists with expertise defected to
rogue nations
Potential to cause destruction and hysteria

6. The “Top Four” Bioterrorist Agents
B.anthracis, the bacterium that causes
anthrax.
Yersini pestis, the bacterium that causes
plague.
Variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox.
Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that
causes botulism.

7. Bacillus anthracis- the cause of Anthrax
B. anthracis is a gram-positive spore-forming
rod. Spores are the infective forms for humans
and other animals (approx. 1 by 9
micrometers in size).
Anthrax can enter the human body through
the intestines (ingestion), lungs (inhalation), or
skin (cutaneous) and causes distinct clinical
symptoms based on its site of entry.
The second form of anthrax, the most lethal
form, is inhalation anthrax.

8. Anthrax

10. Small pox
Smallpox is a devastating and disfiguring
disease that is highly infectious.
It is caused by Variola virus (also known as
smallpox virus).
Smallpox in aerosol form can survive for at
least 24 hours.

11. Small pox

12. Small pox
The face of Biological Warfare

13. BIODEFENSE PROJECT
On July 21, 1994, the U.S. government
approved a 10 year, $6 billion program called
Project Bioshield.
Project Bioshield has 3 main goals:
1) relaxation on procedures for bioterrorism
related research grants
2) creating a market for new biomedical
countermeasures
3) permission of unapproved
countermeasures for emergency situations.

14. • More information can be
found at:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/c
rs/terror/RS21507.pdf.

15. PROJECT BIOSHIELD
Project BioShield Act passed in 2003:
Allowed federal agencies (CDC, HHS and USDA)
to use FDA pre-approved products on civilians or
soldiers facing bio-threat hazards.
Research and development of novel
bioremediation methods are currently being
studied.
Whatever method used in Biodefense, it will
require collaboration of media, public and the
world to maintain a safe environment and ensure
safety of its people.

16. BIODEFENSE RESEARCH
Development of countermeasures that will
work against a variety of pathogens and/or
toxins.
Develop animal models to support drug and
vaccine efficacy studies.
Devise novel delivery systems and
temperature stabilization technologies for
vaccines and drugs.

17. How Can You Help ?
Don’t crowd emergency rooms if you are not
acutely ill
Talk with your primary care physician.
Antibiotics not helpful unless there is a clear
indication.
No role for nasal swabs as diagnostic tool!
Have a high index of suspicion for atypical skin
lesions, clusters of cases among friends, co-workers.

18. REFERENCES
Read Anthrax: A Possible Case History:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/inglesby.htm
http://www.newruskincollege.com/maxweber/id16.ht
ml
http://69.36.186.201/article.php?art_ofn=nd04wright
http://webnetarts.com/socialjustice/biowar.html
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/bioterrorexpertwar.
html
http://webs.wichita.edu/mschneegurt/biol103/lecture2
0/lecture20.html