• Anthrax is almost always DEADLY if not treated early.
  
• Spores can be produced in large quantities using basic knowledge of biology.
  
• Spores can be stored for decades without losing potency.
  
• Spores can be easily spread in the air by missiles, rockets, artillery, aerial bombs & sprayers.
  
• We KNOW there are potential adversaries developing it as a weapon.

Biologicals are cheaper and easier to make than nuclear or chemical weapons, and they can be equally as devastating.

• At least 7 of our potential adversaries have worked to develop an offensive biological warfare capability using anthrax.
  
• Iraq has admitted to producing and weaponizing anthrax.
  
• The Former Soviet Union produced hundreds of tons of weapons-grade anthrax spores.
  
• There is no indication of exposure.

• There is no cloud or color.
  
• There is no smell.
  
• There is no taste.
  
• There is no indication of an attack when dispersed by aerosol spray.
  
• There is no effective treatment for unvaccinated victims of inhalational anthrax.

• Antibiotics will suppress infection only if administered early after exposure -- usually within the first 24 - 48 hours.
  
• By the time symptoms develop, it is highly likely death will occur despite the best efforts of modern medical science.
  
• 99% lethal to unprotected individuals.

Data Sources:

Chin J, ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2000

Brachman PS, Friedlander AM. Anthrax. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, ed. Vaccines, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1999 (not available online)

Inglesby TV, Henderson DA, Bartlett JG, Ascher MS, Eitzen E, Friedlander AM, Hauer J, McDade J, Osterholm MT, O'Toole T, Parker G, Perl TM, PK, Tonat K, Working Group on Civilian Biodefense. Anthrax as a biological weapon: Medical and public health management. Journal of the American Medical Association 1999;281:1735-45

LTC George W. Christopher; LTC Theodore J. Cieslak; MAJ Julie A. Pavlin; COL Edward M. Eitzen, Jr. Biological warfare: A historical perspective. JAMA. 1997;278:412-417.

Office of the Secretary of Defense Proliferation: Threat and Response

Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Assessing the Risks (PDF VERSION)

Technologies Underlying Weapons of Mass Destruction (PDF VERSION)

http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/Flash_interface/default.html

Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease spread by contact with infected animals, handling infected products, eating infected meat, or breathing weapon-dispersed anthrax spores.

What it is:

Anthrax is produced by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. A tough protective coat allows the bacteria to survive for decades as spores.

Anthrax is dangerous because, it is:

• Highly lethal
  
• One of the easiest biological agents to manufacture
  
• Relatively easy to develop as a weapon
  
• Easily spread in the air over a large area
  
• Easily stored and dangerous for a long period

Three types of Anthrax infection:

Cutaneous Anthrax - primarily involving the skin,caused by contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Gastrointestinal Anthrax - caused by eating of contaminated meat.

Inhalation Anthrax - caused by inhaling anthrax spores
**MOST DEADLY - BIGGEST THREAT**

Incubation period - 1 to 6 days between exposure and symptoms.

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax include:

• Viral-like aches & pains
  
• Fever, malaise, fatigue, cough and mild chest discomfort followed by severe difficulty breathing

• Treatment is usually not effective after symptoms are present.
  
• High dose antibiotic treatment after symptoms appear can lower the death rate from 99% to about 80%.

What these bacteria do:

• The disease occurs when spores enter lungs, migrate to the lymph nodes, change to the bacterial form, multiply, and produce toxins.
  
• These toxins cause bleeding and destruction of structures in the middle of the chest (medical term: hemorrhagic necrotizing mediastinitis).

Data Sources:

Chin J, ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2000

Brachman PS, Friedlander AM. Anthrax. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, ed. Vaccines, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1999 (not available online)

Inglesby TV, Henderson DA, Bartlett JG, Ascher MS, Eitzen E, Friedlander AM, Hauer J, McDade J, Osterholm MT, O'Toole T, Parker G, Perl TM, PK, Tonat K, Working Group on Civilian Biodefense. Anthrax as a biological weapon: Medical and public health management. Journal of the American Medical Association 1999;281:1735-45

http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/Flash_interface/default.html

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