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Anthrax Report |
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What is Military Grade Anthrax?
Check out the Situation in the US
Is this State Terrorism?
Investigate the Pathology
Some Facts
- Anthrax spores can lie dormant for 50 years
- 1993. Notorious terrorist release in Japan underground
- 1986. Scottish Island of Gruinard decontaminated after 40 years
- 1979. 70 people killed in one release
- Success of treatment depends on type of Anthrax and speed of diagnosis.
Background
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by spore-forming bacteria - Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, but it can infect humans in three ways:
- by breathing Anthrax spores,
- by eating infected meat that has not been cooked sufficiently
- by absorption through the skin.
Anthrax reproduces in the body, releasing virulence factors that destroy cells and attack the immune system. Damage to the body depends on which organ the anthrax spore colonises. Antibiotics can be used to treat skin anthrax and have been shown to be effective in the laboratory against the anthrax bacillus. Whilst effective against the bacillus, antibiotics do not reduce the amount of virulence factor in victims.
Vaccines
There are vaccines for most strains of the disease. Vaccine treatment involves three injections given 2 weeks apart followed by three additional injections given at 6, 12, and 18 months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are recommended thereafter.
Terrorism
In 1993, the Aum Shrinkyo cult attempted to release anthrax spores in downtown Tokyo one month before a nerve gas attack. This was the first instance of anthrax to be used as a weapon against a civilian population.
The main problem with infecting a large population with anthrax, is that it's necessary to release a lot of spores over a large area and the wind has to be in the "right" direction. The method of spreading could be either by plane, or by explosive charge, however crop spraying a town centre would be traceable and the spores may well be damaged in an explosion.
Accidents
Anthrax occurs naturally. But, there have been a number of accidents caused in the manufacture, storage and testing of Anthrax. In 1979, less than one gram of anthrax spores was accidentally released from a military biological weapons laboratory in Sverdlovsk, now known as Ekaterinburg, in the Ural Mountains. The invisible cloud of anthrax spores travelled up to three miles and killed at least 70 individuals. Just one fifth of those who contracted the disease survived. Studies concluded that the incubation period of the disease was between 2 and 45 days.
Gruinard Island
Earlier, during World War 2, the British army conducted explosives testing with anthrax spores on Gruinard Island, off the coast of Scotland. The spores remained viable for 36 years following the tests. In fact in 1986, the decision was taken to decontaminate the island. It took 280 tons of formaldehyde and 2000 tons of seawater. The island is now declared safe.
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A microscopic view of the Anthrax bacteria |
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Listen - Ernesto Blanco, the
first man to be successfully treated for inhalation anthrax. October 27 |
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Scientists work on Anthrax vaccine at Porton Down 1964 |
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Listen - Dr Alistair Hay, Professor of Toxicology explains what lessons were learned from Gruniard. October 12 |
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