Biological Weapons and Bioterrorism

Biological Weapons and Bioterrorism:

An Introduction to the Topic with Resources and Terminology for

German Translators44th Annual ATA Conference, Phoenix, 2003

11:55 AM ATA Conference, Phoenix 2003 (c) U. Walter

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Objective

• Introduction to the topic with definitions of biological weapons, bioterrorism

• Overview of the agents (dirty dozen) considered most dangerous by the CDC

• Some resources in print and online• Terminology?


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What is a biological weapon?


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Biological Weapons - Definitions I

• “(1) Microbial or other biological agents, [...], of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;

• (2) Weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”

(Biological Weapons Convention, 1972)


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Biological Weapons - Definitions II

• “A biological weapon is a weapon with a mechanism of action based on the release of a biological warfare agent. Biological warfare agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins that can be used as weapons because of their biological, i.e. disease causing, effects. Biological weapons affect living organisms only.”

(A. Th. Schäfer, my translation)


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Biological Weapons - Definitions III

• Biological warfare agents (biologische Kampfstoffe) : The actual active ingredient of the weapon

• Biological weapons (biologische Waffen): Active ingredient plus a means of delivery (bombs, granades, sprayers, etc.)


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Biological Weapons Agents and Targets

• Agents:• Bacteria • Viruses• Toxins• Fungi

• Targets:• Humans

• Mortality / Morbidity / Fear

• Animals• Food supply / Economy / Fear

• Plants• Food supply / Economy


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How are biological weapons used?

• In wars (armed conflicts)

• In terrorist attacks


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Biological Warfare

• “Banned” by the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972 (effective 1975, signed by 140 states)

• Officially regarded as despicable by almost every state

• Difficult to use efficiently in a war• Relatively cheap, but dangerous to use

Most likely use of bioweapons: Bioterrorism


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Bioterrorism - Definition

„Bioterrorism can be defined as the intentional release, or threatened release of disease-producing organisms or biologically active substances derived from living organisms for the purpose of causing death, illness, incapacity, economic damage, or fear. These organisms are considered weapons of mass destruction, or mass casualty weapons.“ (Weinstein, RS, Alibek, K: Biological and Chemical Terrorism, Thieme 2003)


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Which agents shouldwe be most concerned about?


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Bioterrorism - Dirty Dozen

• CDC classify organisms and toxins into three groups:

• Diseases / agents in Category A• Easily disseminated or transmitted from person to

person • High mortality rates, potential for major public health

impact• Possibly cause public panic and social disruption• Require special action for public health preparedness


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Biological Weapons - Category A

Bacteria Viruses Toxins

Bacillus anthracis(Anthrax/Milzbrand)

Chlostridium botulinus toxin(Botulism/Botulismus)

Variola major(Smallpox/Pocken)

Yersinia pestis(Plague/Pest)

Filoviruses(e.g., Ebola, Marburg)

Francisella tularensis(Tularemia/Hasenpest)

Arenaviruses(e.g., Lassa, Machupo)


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• CDC Category B:• Moderately easy to disseminate• Moderate morbidity rates and low mortality

rates • Require specific enhancements of CDC's

diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance


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Biological Weapons - Category B

Bacteria ToxinsBurkholderia mallei & pseudomallei(Glanders & Meliodosis / Rotz & Pseudorotz)

Epsilon toxin ofChlostridium perfringens

Coxiella burnetii(Q Fever / Q-Fieber)

Brucella species(Brucellosis/Brucellose)

Ricin toxin fromRicinus communis(Castor bean /Rizinusbohne)Salmonella species, Shigella, E. coli

(Food safety threats)Enterotoxin B (Staphylococcal)Rickettsia prowazekii

(Typhus fever / Fleckfieber ) VirusesChlamydia psitacci(Psittacosis /Papageienkrankheit )

Alphaviruses(Encephalitis/Gehirnentzündung)


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• CDC Category C• Emerging pathogens• Availability• Ease of production and dissemination• Potentially high morbidity and mortality rates,

major health impact


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Biological Weapons - Category C

VirusesNipah virusHantavirus


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What makes these agents effective biological weapons?


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From Agent to Weapon I

• “Poor man’s atomic bomb”• Cheap, but still challenging:

• Obtain agent (organism / toxin)• Isolate, purify, concentrate (weaponization)• Make stable and dispersible

• Aerosolization (liquid droplets / dust )• Direct addition to water / food• Use of vectors (e.g., mosquitoes)


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From Agent to Weapon II

• Effective weapons:• Inexpensive and easy to produce• Easy to weaponize• Easy to disseminate• Easy to hide and transport• Short and predictable incubation period• Maintain potency and persist in environment


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From Agent to Weapon III

• Effective weapons:• Illness produced is lethal and/or incapacitating• Illness produced is difficult or impossible to

treat• Illness produced is highly contagious• Name of the disease induces fear


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Bioweapons Research

• Biodefense research is going on in the US and Germany, other countries

• Confidential and classified • Vaccines, treatments, antidotes• Problem: narrow line between defensive

and offensive research


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Dual-Use Problem

• Dual-use: Technology with military and civilian purposes

• German: “Dual-use” or “mit doppeltem Verwendungszweck”

• Problem: Hard to distinguish between research and production facilities for civilian (i.e., medical, pharmaceutical) and military purposes


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Current Bioweapons Headlines

• Highlight Genetic Engineering Aspects:• Nov. 1: Bioterror Researchers Build a More

Lethal Mousepox• October: Spanish Flu Virus of 1918 Genetically

Reconstructed• Today: Bacillus anthracis suspected in mail

facilities near Washington• Automated detection


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Detecting a Bioterrorist Attack• Most likely covert (except some toxins)• Effects will be noticed some time after the

attack (incubation period)• Can be missed: Salmonella poisoning by

religious cult in Oregon in 1984• Important: Health care providers need to

know signs, need to report suspicious and confirmed cases


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Ethical Considerations I

• To publish or not to publish?• Pro:

• Research needs to be validated by peers• Unpublished research is not science• Publishing furthers collaboration, progress in search

for vaccines/treatments

• Contra:• Makes knowledge accessible to potential terrorists,

attackers


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Ethical Considerations II

• To translate or not to translate?• Factors to consider:

• Who is the client?• How public is the material involved?• When dealing with confidential/classified

materials:• Measures to assure confidentiality• Liability issues?


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Where should I start reading?


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Ressources - Books (EN)

• Weinstein, R.S., Alibek, K.: Biological and Chemical Terrorism, Thieme, 2003• Emphasis on medical aspects, details on my potential

bioweapon agents and diseases produced

• Alibek, K., Handelman, S.: Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World--Told from Inside by the Man Who Ran It, Delta, 2000• Detailed history of the impressive Soviet BW program


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Ressources - Books (EN)

• Osterholm, M.T., Schwartz, J: Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe, Delta, 2001• Written by a leading US scientist, Director of the

University of Minnesota‘s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy


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Ressources - Books (DE)

• Schäfer, A. T.: Bioterrorismus und Biologische Waffen, Verlag Dr. Köster, 2002• Thorough introduction, understandable for

people w/out biological background, covers biological, medical, political, historical aspects


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Ressources - WWW (EN)

• eMedguide: Bioterrorism and Public Health, Internet Resource Guide, 2002

• CDC Website: www.bt.cdc.gov• JAMA: http://jama.ama-assn.org/

• Bioterrorism related articles are available free of charge

• Sunshine Project: www.sunshine-project.org


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Ressources - WWW (DE)

• RKI web site: www.rki.de/INFEKT/BIOTERROR/ALLGEMEINES.HTM

• Sunshine-Project: www.sunshine-project.de• Various newspapers offer useful collections

of articles• DocCheck password?


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Which dictionaries will be most helpful?


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Dictionaries• Microbiology• Molecular Biology• Biochemistry• Medicine• Agriculture• Politics & Administration, Legal• Military


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Materials

• Available next week (hopefully...)

• www.drulrikewalter.com/html/ata1.html

• E-mail me / leave card if you want to be

notified!


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Acknowledgments

Ideas & Suggestions

• Dorothee Racette• Eva Stabenow• Frieda Gordon Dilloo

In memoriamDr. Wolfgang Groß

1957 - 2003

Biological Weapons and Bioterrorism

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