- Biologic Warfare or Bioterrorism or Economic Biological
Warfare
-
- The threat of intentional introduction of a Foreign Animal
Disease (FAD) into the United States is more likely today than during any
time in our history. The current revolution in biotechnology has made the
development of biological warfare agents easier and cheaper than ever before.
The same technology and expertise that has brought about such wonderful
advances in medical therapies and agricultural production is readily transferable
to the development of biological weapons (BW)
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_1_>
- (1). Any nation or terrorist group with access to pharmaceutical
expertise can easily convert the technology into the development of biological
weapons. Compared to other weapons of mass destruction, biological weapons
are cheap. It has been estimated that the cost of developing a large BW
arsenal is as low as $10 million, compared to $200 million for the development
of a single nuclear weapon.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_2_>
- (2)
-
- Biologic warfare is defined as the use of disease to
harm or kill an adversary's military forces,population, food or livestock.
The equipment required to produce BW agents is now readily available for
legitimate commercial applications. Now seemingly innocent pharmaceutical
industrial equipment, through dual0use technology, has made the development
of biological warfare agents much easier to conceal. The Office of Technology
Assessment has stated that the nations most actively working to develop
BW agents, although limited in number, are from the least stable parts
of the world: the Middle East, South Asia and the Korean Peninsula.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_3_>
- (3) The development of BW weapons provide less-developed
nations with capabilities that are just as lethal and devastating as nuclear
weapons at a fraction of the cost. Eight nations have been implicated in
the development of offensive BW capabilities: Iran, Iraq, Israel, North
Korea, China, Libya, Syria, and Taiwan.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_4_>
- (4) A ninth, Russia, reportedly has ended such activities.
-
- The use of foreign animal diseases against the United
States would likely be a part of economic warfare. Economic biological
warfare is defined as the intentional harming of a nation's agricultural
or ecological infrastructure by use of a biologic weapon.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_5_>
- (5) Foreign animal diseases intentionally targeted against
the United States livestock industries could economically devastate entire
segments of the US economy.
-
- Natural or Man-Made
-
- Differentiating between a natural or man-made disease
outbreak remains a major challenge to defending against a BW attack. Use
of a BW agent under the cover of a naturally occurring epidemic provides
an attacker with deniability. BW agents offer a hostile adversary a unique
and significant advantage because of their ease of production, potential
impact of use, and the ability to exploit US vulnerabilities.
-
- Nature has long waged its own form of biologic warfare.
The epidemic of bubonic plague in medieval Europe is estimated to have
killed one quarter of the population (25 million).
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_6_>
- (6) The 1918 influenza pandemic killed 50 million people
worldwide.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_7_>
- (7) Naturally occurring epidemics have devastated national
economies and societies. The impact of targeted BW agents can only be theorized.
-
- Main Biological Weapon Agents
-
- Many of the traditional offensive biological warfare
agents developed include animal diseases: Bacillus anthracis, Brucella
suis, Coxiella burneti, Fassicella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_8_>
- (8)
-
- Biological Agents Involved in Bioterrorism or Biocrimes
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_9_>
- (9)
- Traditional biological warfare agents Agents associated
with biocrimes and bioterrorism Pathogens Bacillus anthracis Ascaris suum
Brucella suis Bacillus anthracis Coxiella burnetii Coxiella burnetii Francisella
tularensis Giardia lamblia Smallpox HIV Viral encephalitides Rickettsia
prowazekii Viral hemorrhagic fevers (typhus) Yersinia pestis Salmonella
Typhimurium Shigella species Schistosoma species Vibiro cholerae
Viral hemorrhagic fever (Ebola) Yellow fever virus Yersinia enterocolitica
Yersinia pestis Toxins Botulinum Botulinum Ricin Cholera endotoxin Staphylococcal
enterotoxin B Diphtheria toxin Nicotine Ricin Snake toxin Tetrodotoxin
Anti-Crop agents Rice blast Rye stem rust Wheat stem rust
-
- The US Department of Agriculture recently identified
53 animal diseases, which are nonindigenous to the United States, and could
adversely impact the country's livestock industry if introduced either
intentionally or unintentionally.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_10_>
- (10)
-
- The Central Intelligence Agency currently lists 15 animal
pathogens as having potential BW application: African swine fever, Avian
influenza, Bluetongue, Foot and mouth disease, Goat pox, Pseudorabies,
Hog cholera, Lyssa virus, Newcastle disease, Pest des petits, Swine vesicular
disease, Rinderpest, Sheep pox, Porcine enteroviral encephalomyelitis,
and Vesicular stomatitis.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_11_>
- (11)
-
- Possible Scenario
-
- The United States is and likely remains vulnerable to
a bioterrorist attack. Our national security is threatened by the possibility
of a BW event. A BW attack directed at our livestock industries would have
devastating economic implications. Although the direct impact on human
lives would be minimal, the fear of a subsequent attack directed against
the United States population would terrorize our society. Our vulnerability
to a BW attack would be evident to the country and the rest of the world.
-
- A hypothetical scenario for a BW attack directed against
the United States livestock industry follows. The simplistic nature of
this scenario makes it even more frightening. No high-tech medical equipment
is necessary.
-
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Attack--A terrorist group
wishing to show the weakness of the United States has targeted our agricultural
industry to demonstrate the vulnerability of the United States to a BW
attack. The terrorist group decided to use FMD because of its ease of availability
around the world. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that easily
spreads by: 1, direct or indirect contact with infected animals; 2, spread
of aerosol from infected animals; 3, feeding contaminated garbage; 4, contact
with contaminated objects; 5, artificial insemination; and 6, contaminated
biologicals.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_12_>
- (12)
-
- Although the direct impact on human health would be minimal
to none, its affect on the animal industry would be severe due to the control
measures that would be necessary to contain it: 1, stop movement of animal
and animal products in the area affected; 2, slaughter infected animals;
3, destroy carcasses; 4, disinfect vehicles leaving the infected areas;
and 5, mass vaccination campaign.
-
- A likely course of events might involve follow:
-
- * A member of the terrorist group travels to Asia (possible
China) to obtain scabs or fluid from infected animal
-
- * Terrorist infect a small herd of swine to act as a
incubator
-
- * Samples are collected from herd and buffered at a pH
between 6.5 and 11 to maintain viability and are placed in aerosolizesers
-
- * Members of the terrorist group travel to major livestock
center in the United States
-
- * Members of the terrorist group gain access to major
livestock markets throughout the United States
-
- * Members spray aerosolized FMD into pens of cattle and
swine in sale barns, and trucks
-
- * Animal are then dispersed to different parts of the
country
-
- * Some animals begin to develop symptoms as early as
12 hours after exposure, but initially are attributed to shipping stress
-
- * After initially exposed animals have been moved out,
the pens and grounds are contaminated and posed to infect the next group
of animals to enter the livestock market
-
- The biologic economic warfare cycle has begun. Before
FMD can be initially diagnosed, it has already spread beyond the initial
confines of the livestock markets. Trucks hauling animals from market are
dispersing the agent around the country. After the initial diagnosis, herds
are being quarantined around the country. USDA personnel are responding
to multiple reported suspect herds, and resources are being spread thin.
The news media has picked-up on the news of possible FMD outbreaks, and
the public is becoming concerned. Misinformation concerning the Food and
Mouth Disease in animals, and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in children
is causing public panic. After the FMD serotype has been determined and
linked to Asia, the source will not be determined and the possibility of
a BW attack will begin to be considered.
-
- Recent Events That Illustrate the Threat of BW Agents
on National Economies
-
- Some recent events involving animal diseases that help
to illustrate the economic impact of major epizootics are the Nipah Virus
in Malaysia, and the Foot and Mouth Disease in Taiwan.
-
- Nipah Virus, Malaysia
-
- Prior to the outbreak of Nipah virus in Malaysia, swine
was the primary livestock industry in the country. Malaysia had an estimated
swine population of 3.3 million. Malaysia was self-sufficient in pork production
and exported to other countries in the region. Nipah virus was a previously
unknown virus identified in 1998 primarily in pigs and human in Malaysia.
The virus, first misdiagnosed as Japanese encephalitis in humans, caused
over 250 human cases in Malaysia, including 100 deaths. In humans, the
disease manifests with fever, severe headache, myalgia, and symptoms of
encephalitis or meningitis. The case fatality rate in human cases approached
40 percent.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_13_>
- (13)
-
- The apparent source for human infection is direct contact
with pigs. Transmission of the virus is believed to be from body fluids
of infected swine such as urine, saliva, and respiratory secretions. Human-to-human
transmission has not been documented. In pigs the virus manifests as rapid
and labored breathing, and explosive and nonproductive cough, neurologic
changes, including lethargy or aggressive behavior. The primary control
measure was culling of pigs. In the 3 affected states, almost 900,000 pigs
were killed. Transportation of pigs within the country was banned.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_14_>
- (14) Other countries in the region banned the importation
of pork products from Malaysia. At one point in the outbreak, Malaysian
authorities blamed the disease on a deliberate attack by rival Asian countries
trying to slow down Malaysia's recovery from the Asian Economic Crisis
of the 1997.
-
- Foot and Mouth Disease, Taiwan
-
- The Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak during 1997 in Taiwan
devastated the island's export-oriented pork industry.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_15_>
- (15)
-
- The FMD that ravaged Taiwan's swine industry is believed
to have been brought into Taiwan through smuggled animals, meat products,
or illegal immigrants from mainland China.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_16_>
- (16)
-
- The epizootic which first appeared in March 1997, affected
6,123 farms and over one million animals, and resulted in the depopulation
of 3.8 million pigs.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_17_>
- (17)
-
- A one point in the outbreak, it was being blamed on a
deliberate introduction of FMD into Taiwan by mainland China. It has been
estimated that it would take two to five years for Taiwan pork industry
to recover from this outbreak.
- <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html#N_18_>
- (18) The economic impact on Taiwan has been estimated
in the billions of dollars.
-
-
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- http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/battle
-
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-
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-
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- http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/battle
-
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July-August 1999
-
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-
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-
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Edition 1999, Central Intelligence Agency
-
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of Agriculture, Revised 1998
-
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Center for Emerging Issues, http://www.aphis.usda.gov
-
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Center for Emerging Issues, http://www.aphis.usda.gov
-
- 15. 1997-98 Taiwan White Paper,
- http://www.amcham.com.tw
-
- 16. Taiwan on Full Alert Against FMD from Mainland China,
- http://www.taipei.org
-
- 17. Update of Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in Taipei
China,
- http://ss.niah.affrc.go.jp
-
- 18. Foot and Mouth Disease Plagues Taiwan Swine Industry,
http://www.aes.purdue.edu/AGnswrs/1997
- http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/avma/villard.html
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