Page 4 - Lesson 13.xps

Module - V
Biological Warfare
Warfare and
Its Types • Transmissibility: Some microorganisms produce disease, which may be
transmitted from man to man (e.g., Plague) which may cause an epidemic.
However others do not, e.g., Anthrax. The greater the transmissibility, the better
the BW agent.
• Lethality: Some microorganism will produce diseases which are usually lethal
if the target population is not immune (e.g. Small pox). Others will give rise to
Note
illness which are incapacitating rather than lethal (e.g. influenza).

13.2.3 Selection of BW Agents

The characteristics of the BW agent chosen in terms of transmissibility, incapacitation,
and/or lethality will depend on the effect required in the large population. For a micro-
organism to be selected as a BW agent it must meet certain requirements:

(a) Production: Easy to produce in required quantity.

(b) Storage: Easy to store while maintaining its virulence. The BW agent may be
stored as resistant spores (e.g. Anthrax), in liquid growth media, or as a 'freeze-
dried' powder.
(c) Dissemination: The microorganisms must remain viable during transit and
delivery.

(d) Immunity: No widespread or naturally acquired immunity against the chosen
microorganism should exist in the target population.
(e) Sensitivity to Environment: Various environmental factors affect the use of
microorganisms as air-borne BW agents and thus reduce their effectiveness: -
(i) Atmospheric Stability: A BW agent cloud may get rapidly dispersed in
unstable atmospheric conditions.

(ii) Wind Speed: A high wind speed will carry an agent cloud quickly past
the victim who may therefore be less at risk.
(iii) Temperature and Humidity: The survival of BW agents is best assured
by conditions of low temperatures and high humidity.

(iv) Atmospheric Pollution: Because of its chemical nature, atmospheric
pollution has an adverse effect on BW agent.
(v) Sunlight: Most microorganisms are killed by exposure to ultra- violet
light (sunlight); spores are an exception. BW attacks are therefore more
likely at night. The appearance of sunlight could be used to limit the spread
of the attack.

(vi) Precipitation: As the BW agents tend to have very small particle size,
they are unlikely to be washed out of the atmosphere by rain and snow.

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MILITARY STUDIES