Bioterrorism, in the last decade, has become a real threat to the world. Since the anthrax attacks on American soil in 2001, the world has become aware of the potential risk of an anthrax attack. Anthrax is the disease caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacteria. Ever since early history, anthrax has occurred in livestock animals and in humans. The bacteria prevent the macrophages from communicating with the rest of the body. Thus, the body cannot fend of anthrax and slowly organs begin to deteriorate. However, a series of antibiotics and vaccinations are available in case of an exposure to anthrax.
Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax, has recently become a greatly feared pandemic. The breakout of anthrax on American soil in October of 2001 opened the world's eyes to the possibilities of bioterrorism of anthrax. Since then, government associations, such as the CDC and EPA, have taken precautions in case of another bioterrorist attack, particularly an anthrax attack.
The history of anthrax dates back to biblical times in ancient Egypt (Anthrax Info 1). In 16th Century B.C., the Israelites were under the control of powerful Ramses II. According to Bible, a series of plagues fell upon Egypt in attempt to free the Israelites. One of these plagues involved the death of the cattle, sheep, and goats. Many historians believed the cause of death was due to anthrax inhalation. The first non-livestock case of anthrax occurred in the early 19th Century (Anthrax Info 4). After coming into contact with anthrax infected animals, many farmers were cutaneously inoculated with anthrax. This outbreak sparked the scientific research of anthrax.
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Written documentation of anthrax began with Robert Koch's discovery of the bacteria that caused anthrax. Koch performed experiments that explained the attributes of anthrax. Using the spleens of anthrax infected animals, Koch inoculated mice (Elsevier 3). The mice later died and Koch concluded that anthrax could be transferred through the bloodstream. Koch also grew Bacillus anthracis in a culture to further his research. During the incubation process, Koch noticed that the bacteria formed spores when faced with a harsh environment (Elsevier 4). He later discovered that such spores could still cause the anthrax disease. Because of his revolutionary findings, Koch is credited with discovery of anthrax.
Using Koch’s discoveries, 20th Century scientists began developing weaponized anthrax. Due to the spores’ durability, anthrax has been a very favorable biological weapon. The first incident of weaponized anthrax was recorded during the First World War.
Guillemin, J. (2005). Biological weapons: From the invention of state-sponsored programs to contemporary bioterrorism Columbia University Press.
Though biological weapons have been available for under a century, there is a long history of their use between 1914 and 1972. Chemical warfare was first introduced in 1914 at the beginning of World War I. Because of the new style of warfare with automatic weapons, trenches were dug out from the ground to defend against a slaughter. The introduction of this issue caused us to invent weapons such as the grenade, flame thrower, and finally, biological weapons. Biological weapons were distributed by hoses, grenades, and aerial attacks. By doing this, we eliminated many enemy trenches and saved a large amount of Ally lives. (Menace)
The 2001 anthrax attacks was one of the worst bio-weapon attacks on the US in history. The attacks where done through the mail. The anthrax was placed in envelopes with a letter and mailed from various locations to different people and organizations. The anthrax filled letters ended up killing 5 people, causing 17 to become sick and exposing anthrax it is believed to as many as 30,000 people. During the mail process spores of anthrax from the letters escaped and got on mailroom equipment exposing postal employees. If a person was exposed to enough anthrax and developed symptoms they typically died in a few days. Postal workers during the attacks where told that anthrax will appear as a white powder t...
Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) is a bacterium that infects organisms through sporulation. Bacillus anthracis is can be aerobic (needs oxygen) or, facultative anaerobic (does not require oxygen). It is also a gram positive bacterium that can be found in the soil of humid and damp climates (Hicks, 2012). The bacterium is part of the species Bacillus Cereus (Koehler, 2009). It is known to infect life forms four different ways. Infection can be caused through digestion, eating food that is contaminated with the bacteria. Another way is through inhaling; which occurs through breathing in the spores. The third way of becoming infected is through the skin, known as cutaneous; this infection occurs through open wounds. The newest form discovered of infection is through injection; the use of needles (Hicks, 2012). Though it is not common to be found in wealthy countries; there have been numerous outbreaks in Europe and the United States. It is also being considered for bioterrorism (Sweeney, 2011). Symptoms of the early stages of anthrax can be misunderstood for less lethal conditions (Hicks, 2012). For patients with a possible anthrax infection can be determined by gram positive staining. It can also be diagnosed by confirmatory testing, such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) (Sweeney, 2011). PCR focuses on certain DNA strands for replication and identifying what the organism is (Genetic, 2014). Anthrax toxin antagonists can be considered for healing; but antibiotic therapy is the most common use of treatment (Sweeney, 2011).
The French were the first to start experimenting on chemical agents in 1912. They first used it on their people as riot control to capture criminals that who had robbed a bank. They used 26 millimeter grenades filled with chemical agents into the center of the group criminals they were attempting to apprehend. It was not said if it was effective but continued to look into using it for other means. However, the Germans at this time had not been interested in producing any kinds of chemical weapons.
On September 18th and the weeks following, a multitude of letters containing the Bacillus Anthracis bacterium were mailed to various New York news stations. Individuals at 5 different stations became ill with similar symptoms that included vomiting and shortness of breath. This began the nationwide panic known as the Amerithrax Investigation. The Amerithrax investigation was said to be the worst biological attacks in all of US History. Three weeks later, on October 9th, two more letters, containing the anthrax bacterium was mailed to two Democratic senators. In all of the 7 attacks, over 22 people developed infections, over half being life-threatening. The letters themselves confused federal investigators. In the sets of letters addressed to the media, certain T’s and A’s were bolded. When added together, the groups of letters formed 3 codons that corresponded to 3 amino acids. These amino acids pointed federal investigators towards a possible culprit, Bruce Edwards Ivins, a scientist for the US government in Frederick, Maryland.
For approximately three-thousand years, smallpox has ravaged and plagued the four corners of the globe. In fact, in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it was claimed to be the most infectious disease in the West, with an astounding 90% mortality rate in America. It wasn't until 1796, with English surgeon Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccination, that the world saw relief from this devastating virus. However, even with this inoculation in use, the world continued to witness death from both the virus and the vaccine. In the year 1966, it was estimated that 10-15 million infected citizens world wide had passed away from smallpox that year alone ( “History” 12). As a result of these devastating numbers, in the following year, 1967, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) created a program to eradicate the smallpox virus. Ten years later, in 1977, the estimated 10-15 million cases had dwindled down to one; a man in Somalia. Three years later, W.H.O. officially announced that smallpox had been eradicated, leaving the only remaining virus cultures stored and guarded in laboratories in Russia and the United States. Inoculations ceased, smallpox epidemics were non-existent, and the virus was no longer a concern. In order to ensure complete eradication of this deadly virus, the W.H.O. insisted that the remaining smallpox cultures be destroyed by 1999 ( “Smallpox Eradication” 2). However, despite the W.H.O.'s recommendation, the remaining cultures continue to be contained and protected to this day, five years after the suggested date of elimination.
Anthrax is a very contagious, soil-borne disease. It is caused by Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is a disease that is very common in herbivores which is why cattle and bison are so susceptible to it. Anthrax infections are very rare in humans. Anthrax is susceptible to most antibiotics, so treatment of animals at early signs of the disease should be effective. Treatment with antibiotics, such as Anthrax Spore Vaccine will counteract the vaccine, so should not be administered to animals who have been recently
Prior to the identification of the virus in 1967, very little is known about the history of the virus. It is possible that the disease had existed previously, but no information exists about the virus prior to 1967. The virus was identified by virologists in Marburg and Hamburg, Germany, three months after the initial outbreak.
Anthrax has been around for thousands of years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anthrax is believed to have originated in Egypt and Mesopotamia in the late 1300s B.C.E. during the time of the 10 plagues. Many believe it was the fifth plague. Ancient Greece and Rome also discovered anthrax, as the famous author Homer referenced it in The Iliad around 700 B.C. (https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/resources/history/index.html). For many years, anthrax was studied in detail. Robert Koch was the first person to note the life cycle of the disease, and in 1881, the first vaccine for animals was created (https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/resources/history/index.html). Anthrax is mostly found in animals such as ovine, bovine, equine, etc. It is a zoonotic disease meaning, it can be transferred from animal to human. People began to contract anthrax from meat consumption, specifically meat from cattle. As the animal vaccine became more popular, it was noted that the vaccine helped to lower the number of reported human anthrax
Another man that made discoveries that reinforced those of Pasteur was Robert Koch. Robert Koch isolated the germ that causes tuberculosis, identified the germ responsible for Asiatic cholera, and developed sanitary measures to prevent disease. (1) In the late 1880s, genes, white blood cells, and aspirin were discovered. An Augustinian monk from Austria, Johann Gregor Mendel, experimented in the crossplanting of pea plants.
Other ways are having a bioterrorisim attack ocure or having an open wound an anthrax spore can land in that next thing you know you have anthrax. Another way is eating not fully cooked meat from an infected animal. Other ways of getting anthrax are inhaling spores that are floating around in the air or even just having contact with an infected animal can give you this fatal disease that can be passed from anything with spores or bacteria on it can get passed to anyone or anything which could result in any animant object getting
In October of 2001, the United States was attacked with a form of biological terrorism in which anthrax was hidden in certain letters sent through the postal services. Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, is a common disease received by livestock but is usually very rare among humans in the United States. However, anthrax is a very dangerous disease when contracted by a person and can result in severe breathing problems and death. In the weeks following the 9/11 attacks, the population of the U.S. was jolted into mass fear and panic, and the anthrax attacks exacerbated this trepidation. Our response teams, government, and pharmacies collectively struggled to control the situation, which proved that our country was woefully unprepared
On October 4th 2001 Bob Stevens is the first to open a letter containing Anthrax. A day later on October 5th, Bob Stevens dies from inhalation of anthrax at age sixty three. On October 8th trace amounts of anthrax are found in the offices where Stevens worked, the offices of American Media forcing the building to be shut down. The next day more letters infected with anthrax are posted ( Cite). Shortly thereafter an NBC employee is tested for anthrax poisoning and is found positive. Tom Daschle, a former senator, reports that anthrax was found in his office. A seven month old baby tests positive for anthrax after visiting ABC News’s Manhattan office. After the baby test positive for anthrax eight more people fall ill with anthrax poisoning and four
Anthrax is a lethal disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. There are three principal forms of the disease in humans-cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational-depending on the route of exposure. Of these, inhalational anthrax is the most dangerous; it is rapidly fatal; and it has been used as a deadly biological warfare agent in the last decade. Suitable animal models of inhalational anthrax have been utilized to study pathogenesis of disease, investigate bacterial characteristics such as virulence, and test effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics. To date, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and nonhuman primates are the principal animal species used to study inhalational anthrax. Mice are valuable in studying early pathogenesis and bacterial characteristics. Few pathologic changes occur in the mouse models but may include marked bacteremia and lymphocyte destruction in the spleen and mediastinal lymph nodes. Rabbits and guinea pigs rapidly develop fulminate systemic disease, and pathologic findings often include necrotizing lymphadenitis; splenitis; pneumonia; vasculitis; and hemorrhage,