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| walls using catapaults. | walls using catapaults. | ||
| Use of such weapons was banned in international law by the ] of 1925. Despite this, |
Use of such weapons was banned in international law by the ] of 1925. Despite this, research was carried out in Britain during ] that left a ] contaminated with ] for the next 48 years. Considerable research on the topic was performed by the United States, the ], and probably other major nations throughout the ] era, though it is generally believed such weapons were never used. | ||
| the topic was performed by the United States, the ], and probably other major nations throughout the ] | |||
| era, though it is generally believed such weapons were never used. | |||
| The ] reported on ], ] that the United States army has been developing weapons-grade anthrax spores at a biological and chemical weapons facility in Utah at least since ]. | The ] reported on ], ] that the United States army has been developing weapons-grade anthrax spores at a biological and chemical weapons facility in Utah at least since ]. | ||
| Diseases likely to be considered for use as biological weapons include |
Diseases likely to be considered for use as biological weapons include Anthrax, ], ] and ] because of their lethality (if delivered efficiently), and robustness making aerosol delivery feasible. | ||
| A successful biowarfare attack could theoretically result in thousands, possibly even millions of deaths (though such a catastrophic attack would be difficult to mount with currently-known diseases), and could result in severe disruptions to societies and economies. | A successful biowarfare attack could theoretically result in thousands, possibly even millions of deaths (though such a catastrophic attack would be difficult to mount with currently-known diseases), and could result in severe disruptions to societies and economies. | ||
Revision as of 05:33, 6 March 2002
The use of bacteria, virus or other disease-causing organism as a weapon of war. Also known as germ warfare.
Biological warfare is believed to have been practised in the Middle Ages, often by flinging victims of the Black Death over castle walls using catapaults.
Use of such weapons was banned in international law by the Geneva convention of 1925. Despite this, research was carried out in Britain during World War II that left a Scottish Island contaminated with anthrax for the next 48 years. Considerable research on the topic was performed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and probably other major nations throughout the Cold War era, though it is generally believed such weapons were never used.
The Washington Post reported on December 13, 2001 that the United States army has been developing weapons-grade anthrax spores at a biological and chemical weapons facility in Utah at least since 1992.
Diseases likely to be considered for use as biological weapons include Anthrax, pneumonic plague, cholera and smallpox because of their lethality (if delivered efficiently), and robustness making aerosol delivery feasible.
A successful biowarfare attack could theoretically result in thousands, possibly even millions of deaths (though such a catastrophic attack would be difficult to mount with currently-known diseases), and could result in severe disruptions to societies and economies.
2001 anthrax attack
Numerous cases of anthrax broke out in the United States in the fall of 2001, caused deliberately. They may well be the first use of biological warfare since the signing of the convention, and possibly the first act of bioterrorism.
Naval Toxicology Manual http://braddock.com/library/nstm/470v0r3.pdf
Nerve Agents http://www.opcw.nl/chemhaz/nerve.htm
Potomac Institute Course Notes http://www.potomacinstitute.org/pubs/bt1proc.pdf
Survival-Mindset.com http://www.survival-mindset.com/survival_g4.htm
The Terrorist Threat, Parts I, II & III http://www.sgaus.org/dahlke.htm
US Army Treatment Summary Sheet http://www.emergency.com/2001/bio-treatment.htm
WHO: Health Aspects of Biological and Chemical Weapons http://www.who.int/emc/pdfs/BIOWEAPONS_FULL_TEXT2.pdf