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Biological agents - the unseen enemy

USMC News
Story by Sgt. Frank R. Santiago
Story Identification Number: 2003210141029

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(February 7, 2003) -- With the recent build up of service members in the Middle East, it is important for military members to be educated on what they should do in case they come in contact with a biological agent.

This is part two of a three-part series on nuclear, biological and chemical hazards emphasizing the history, creation and symptoms of exposure to such agents.

The use of biological weapons in warfare has been recorded throughout history. Two of the earliest reported uses occurred in the 6th century B.C., with the Assyrians of Syria poisoning enemy wells with rye fungus, and Solon of Athens use of the purgative herb hellebore during the siege of Krissa, Greece.

In 1346, plague broke out in the Tartar army during its siege of Kaffa, a city on the Black Sea. The attackers hurled the corpses of plague victims over the city walls.

* Biological weapons are inexpensive and accessible. A small pharmaceutical industry or even moderately sophisticated university or medical research laboratory can generate a significant offensive.

Biological weapons are sometimes known as the" poor man's nuclear bomb."

* Biological weapons can be delivered by warheads on missiles, rockets, artillery, aerial bombs or released airborne by means of a simple crop sprayer.

* There are many types of biological warfare agents. Of the many generated, some agents contain organisms that pose a high-priority risk to national security because they can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person, they result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major health impacts among Marines.

* The best protection from a biological attack is the M-40 protective mask, which is standard issue for any Marine in the field.

ANTHRAX

There are three types of this disease: cutaneous (skin), gastrointestinal (stomach), and inhalation anthrax.

* Cutaneous anthrax can occur when bacteria enters a break in the skin. It is the most common naturally occurring type.

It can be transferred from handling contaminated animal products, such as meat, wool, or hides.

Symptoms begin as a small bump then progresses to a larger blister in one to two days, followed by a black scab called an eschar.

* Gastrointestinal anthrax can occur when eating raw or undercooked contaminated meat. Gastrointestinal anthrax is very rare and there have not been any documented cases in the United States in the 20th century. Symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever, followed by severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, and severe diarrhea. If left untreated, death results in 60 percent of all cases.

* Inhalational anthrax can occur when inhaling as few as 5,000-6,000 anthrax spores. This is possible in a single deep breath. A lethal dose of anthrax is considered to be 10,000 spores. Anthrax spores are tasteless, odorless, and invisible. Spores are relatively easy to produce, remain dangerous for decades, and can be spread in the air easily. Initial symptoms can develop in one to six days, and resemble a common cold. Mild symptoms can progress very rapidly after a few days to severe breathing problems and shock. If left untreated, death rate exceeds 99 percent.

Even when treated aggressively in a state-of-the-art hospital 45 to 80 percent of patients could die. Because of its deadliness, inhalational anthrax is the type of anthrax potential enemies have the capability to use against Marines.

PLAGUE

There are three types of this disease: bubonic, primary septicemia, and pneumonic. In a biological warfare scenario, the plague could be delivered via contaminated fleas on rodents causing the bubonic type of plague and may also be spread from person to person by droplets.

* Bubonic plague can incubate in your body from two to 10 days. Common effects are high fever, and one or more tender lymph nodes.

Bubonic plague may progress spontaneously to the septicemia form with organisms spread to the central nervous system and lungs producing pneumonic disease.

* Pneumonic plague may develop within two to three days. The onset is a vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness, high fever, chills, headache, pain in muscles, cough with bloody mucus and toxemia. In untreated patients, the mortality is 100 percent with the terminal event being respiratory failure, and circulatory collapse.

SMALLPOX

Smallpox has a narrow host range confined to humans.

* This virus is transmitted by direct face-to-face contact with an infected case and occasionally by aerosols.

Smallpox virus is highly stable and retains infectivity for long periods outside of the host. The incubation period is typically 10 to 17 days.

The illness begins with warning symptoms lasting two to three days, with vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness, fever, shivering or trembling, headache, and backache. This is followed by fever and the progression of lesions on the skin.

Fatality rate is approximately 35 percent in unvaccinated individuals. Upon recovery, permanent joint deformities and blindness may follow.

Information above was compiled from the following sources.

USAMRIID's Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, Fourth edition, Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), Federation of American Scientists, MilitaryHP.com, U.S. Military Equipment Information, and Biotechnology Industry Organization.