1 Biological Agents Slides will automatically advance seconds after clicking on start button

2 Contents  Why Biological Weapons?  Anthrax  Plague  Small Pox  Tularemia

3 Why Biological Weapons?  Hard to detect Colorless and odorless Colorless and odorless  Powerful Some agents are contagious which makes containment difficult Some agents are contagious which makes containment difficult  Inexpensive Cheaper than nuclear or chemical weapons Cheaper than nuclear or chemical weapons

4 Anthrax  What is it? A disease caused by a bacterium. A disease caused by a bacterium.  What forms are there? Inhalation, skin and gastrointestinal. Inhalation, skin and gastrointestinal.  How is it spread? It is NOT contagious. It is NOT contagious. Anthrax is considered by many to be the biggest bioterrorism threat because its spores are easy to grow and release Anthrax is considered by many to be the biggest bioterrorism threat because its spores are easy to grow and release

5 Plague  What is it? A disease caused by a bacterium. A disease caused by a bacterium.  What forms are there? Bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic. Bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic.  How is it spread? Pneumonic plague is contagious. Pneumonic plague is contagious. Three major outbreaks of the disease have caused millions of deaths around the world. The last major outbreak occurred in the 1860s.

6 Smallpox  What is it? A disease caused by a virus. A disease caused by a virus.  What forms are there? Variola major and variola minor. Variola major and variola minor.  How is it spread? It is HIGHLY contagious. Smallpox patients usually remain contagious for weeks. It is HIGHLY contagious. Smallpox patients usually remain contagious for weeks. Smallpox was officially declared eliminated in 1979 by the World Health Organization. However some experts believe that some nations/or terrorist groups could possess the virus and use it as a weapon. Smallpox was officially declared eliminated in 1979 by the World Health Organization. However some experts believe that some nations/or terrorist groups could possess the virus and use it as a weapon.

7 Tularemia  What is it? A disease caused by a bacterium. A disease caused by a bacterium.  What forms are there? Six forms. Pneumonic tularemia is caused by breathing in the bacteria and is the most likely form that would be caused by a terrorist attack. Six forms. Pneumonic tularemia is caused by breathing in the bacteria and is the most likely form that would be caused by a terrorist attack.  How is it spread? It is NOT contagious. It is NOT contagious.

8 References  Center for Disease Control (CDC)