Effects of Biological Weapons

Infectious diseases have, of course, been with us throughout our history. They have the capability to kill or incapacitate large numbers of people. Such a powerful force will always be of interest to the military. The idea of deliberately using the bacteria and viruses that cause the disease against an enemy seems a terrible thing to even contemplate.

The effects of biological weapons depend on what type is used. Although toxins cannot reproduce within their targets like micro-organisms can, they are generally more lethal. Toxins can kill within minutes or hours whereas micro-organisms can be present for days or weeks before the symptoms appear. This means that a biological attack can occur before anyone realises, or even without being noticed at all as it could be taken as an outbreak of disease. Such an attack can have an impact long after it takes place. It also depends on what form such an attack takes. Biological weapons can be delivered in a missile warhead or in the form of a bomb. However, the most effective way is probably as an aerosol dispersal much like a crop spray.

As you would expect, the effects of a biological weapon depend on exactly what happens. To have the desired effect most biological agents have to be breathed in or ingested. In the case of anthrax, contact with the skin is likely to cause infection. The weather certainly makes a difference to the effectiveness as well.

Examples of the effects of different types of biological weapons are as follows:

Anthrax

A bacterial agent that, although not contagious, is lethal if inhaled.

Smallpox:

A highly contagious viral agent. It has a very high death rate and travels through air easily.

Plague

Another bacterial agent but this one is highly contagious. It causes a type of pneumonia that is lethal if not caught early. Has an incubation period of 1-5 days.

Ebola

A fever caused by a viral agent. This is extremely lethal and leads to bleeding from all orifices. There is no cure or treatment.

Botulinum

A toxin that causes muscular paralysis resulting in death.

The very nature of biological weapons would almost certainly lead to panic and terror in the civilian population in the event of an attack, or even a suspected attack. In the US in 2001, anthrax was sent through the post to addresses such as senators and newspapers. Although this did indeed lead to the deaths of five people, the resulting panic throughout the country showed just how quickly an attack could destabilise a nation.