Biological and Chemical Weapons

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

ANTHRAX
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The spore produces a toxin that can be fatal.
How is Spreads: The spores can spread by inhalation, a break in the skin, or ingestion.
Symptoms: Usually symptoms appear within seven days. Inhalation anthrax infection can start out like a common cold before acute symptoms such as severe breathing problems and shock. Cutaneous (skin) symptoms are a reddish brown sore that breaks open and forms a scab. Infection by consuming contaminated food is characterized by inflammation of the intestinal tract, leading to vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. Death can occur within 24 hours of the onset of acute symptoms.
Treatment: Antibiotics, including penicillin. A delay in the use of antibiotics -- even in terms of hours -- may lessen chances for survival.
Prevention: Vaccine

BOTULISM
Botulism toxin -- the most potent lethal substance known to man -- is made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
How it Spreads: Botulism toxin can be inhaled or ingested via contaminated food or water.
Symptoms: Double vision, slurred speech, dry mouth and muscle weakness, which also starts at the top of the body and works its way down. Symptoms begin from six hours up to two weeks after exposure. Death can be caused by paralysis of the breathing muscles within 24 hours.
Treatment: Botulism antitoxin, supplied by the CDC.
Prevention: Vaccine

PLAGUE
The causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, is found in rodents and their fleas.
How it Spreads: The plague bacterium could be disseminated by aerosol, resulting in the pneumonic form with the potential for secondary spread of cases through respiratory droplets of those infected.
Symptoms: Within one to six days after exposure, the first signs of illness are fever, headache and weakness, which can lead to shock and death within two to four days.
Treatment: Antibiotics within 24 hours of first symptoms.

SMALLPOX
The variola virus, commonly known as smallpox, was eradicated from the world in 1977, except for stocks of it kept in two World Health Organization reference labs. It is unknown whether it is being held in other labs in violation of WHO policy. Smallpox comes in two forms: variola minor or the more deadly variola major.
How it Spreads: The smallpox virus is relatively stable and the dose required for infection is small, making it a candidate for aerosol release. It could then be further spread by the saliva droplets of infected people.
Symptoms: The incubation period is about 12 days following exposure. Symptoms include fever, fatigue and aches, followed by a rash with lesions and can lead to death within the first two weeks of the illness.
Treatment: No proven treatment at this time.
Prevention: Vaccine

TULAREMIA
The causative agent of tularemia is Francisella tularensis, considered one of the most infectious pathogenic bacteria known.
How it Spreads: Humans can become infected with tularemia through bites by infected anthropods, contact with contaminated water or food, and inhalation of infective aerosols.
Symptoms: Earlier symptoms of infection by aerosol could be similar to those of influenza or atypical pneumonia. The symptoms can occur within a few days or as long as two weeks after exposure. If untreated, the patient experiences progressive weakness and weight loss and can die within two weeks.
Treatment: Antibiotics
Prevention: A vaccine is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) refers to a group of illnesses caused by several distinct families of viruses. While some of these viruses cause relatively mild illnesses, others cause severe, life- threatening ones, such as Ebola.
How it Spreads: Many VHF viruses are known to naturally reside in an animal or insect host, however the hosts of some VHF viruses remain unknown, including that of Ebola and Marburg viruses. Some VHF viruses can be transmitted by the body fluids of infected people.
Symptoms: Reactions vary depending on the type of VHF, but symptoms often include fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches and exhaustion. Severe cases cause bleeding under the skin and in internal organs. Some types of VHF cause kidney failure.
Treatment: Generally there are no treatments other than supportive therapy for VHFs.
Prevention: Vaccines are available for only two VHFs: yellow fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever.

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CHEMICAL WEAPONS

SULFUR MUSTARDS
Sulfur mustards are vesicants and alkylating agents, more commonly known as blister agents. They are colorless when pure but are generally a yellow to brown color and have a slight garlic or mustard odor. Sulfur mustard in vapor and liquid forms can be absorbed through the eyes, skin and mucous membranes.
Health Effects: Sulfur mustards cause skin, eye and respiratory tract injury. They may also cause bone marrow suppression and neurologic and gastrointestinal toxicity. Although cellular changes occur within minutes of contact, pain and other clinical effects are delayed for one to 24 hours.
Antidote: There is no antidote for sulfur mustard toxicity. Decontamination of all potentially exposed areas within minutes after exposure is the only effective means of decreasing tissue damage.

VX
VX is a highly toxic compound in both its liquid and vapor form that attacks the central nervous system. It is considered at least 100 times more toxic by entry through the skin than the nerve-agent sarin, and twice as toxic by inhalation. VX can persist for long periods under average weather conditions and for months in very cold conditions.
Health Effects: VX can cause death minutes after exposure. It can enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, through the eyes and through the skin. Symptoms can vary but commonly include runny nose, water eyes, drooling, excessive sweating, difficulty in breathing, dimness of vision, nausea and twitching. It kills by attacking the body's voluntary muscle and gland "on switch," causing the muscles to tire so they can no longer sustain breathing.
Antidote: Immediate treatment is decontamination by removing clothing and flushing the eyes and skin with water. Hospitals in many communities are stocking the antidotes.

SARIN
Sarin is a highly toxic compound in both its liquid and vapor state that attacks the central nervous system.
Health Effects: Sarin can cause death minutes after exposure. It enters the body by inhalation, ingestion, through the eyes and the skin. Symptoms vary but commonly include a runny nose, watery eyes, drooling and excessive sweating, difficulty in breathing, dimness of vision, nausea, vomiting, twitching and headache. It kills by attacking the body's voluntary muscle and gland "on switch," causing the muscles to tire so they can no longer sustain breathing.
Antidote: Immediate treatment is decontamination by removing clothing and flushing eyes and skin with water. Hospitals in many communities are stocking the antidotes.

CHLORINE
Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent odor that is heavier than air. It reacts violently with many organic compounds, creating a fire and explosion hazard.
Health Effects: Chlorine is corrosive to the eyes and the skin and can cause tearing, blurred vision and burns. Inhalation may cause labored breathing and lung edema. The symptoms of lung edema often do not manifest until a few hours after exposure. High exposure levels may result in death.
Antidote: Fresh air in the case of inhalation and rinsing with plenty of water in case of exposure to skin and eyes.

HYDROGEN CYANIDE
Hydrogen cyanide is an extremely flammable, colorless gas or liquid. It gives off toxic fumes in a fire and is highly explosive.
Health Effects: Exposure irritates the eyes, the skin and the respiratory tract. Symptoms are burning and redness for the skin and eyes. Inhalation causes confusion, drowsiness and shortness of breath, leading to collapse. The substance can affect the central nervous system, resulting in impaired respiratory and circulatory functions. Exposure can be fatal.
Antidote:Fresh air in the case of inhalation and rinsing with plenty of water in the case of skin or eye exposure.