Biological Weapons: Could Smallpox Be Used as a Weapon?

Biological Weapons: Could Smallpox Be Used as a Weapon?

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to expand the boundaries of our knowledge by exploring some relevant material relating to the analysis of Biological Weapons. As the name suggests, biological weapons are made of viruses, bacteria and other living agents of a highly contagious and virulent terrifying. In this paper, the author will examine the question whether Smallpox can be used as a weapon.

Discussion

Smallpox is a disease caused by a virus of the poxvirus group. Used as a biological weapon, the virus could be spread by aerosol. Smallpox is a contagious disease caused by inhalation and to a lesser extent the skin. Mortality ranged from 1% to 30%. The excitation of smallpox in humans is viruses of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Poxviruses are the largest and best known animal viruses. They have properties similar to those of primitive cells. However, the pox viruses, such as the entire virus are not able to operate metabolism, and are therefore dependent with respect to the protein from the host. Infected with a poxvirus cell has a DNA synthesis outside of the core, which normally only in intracellular organelles, such as mitochondria occurs. Smallpox can directly be transferred from person to person through respiratory droplets when coughing. The incubation period is one to two and a half weeks, but usually, it last for 12 to 14 days. The order in which the skin lesions (lesions) occur is typical: macula (spot), papule, vesicles (blisters), pustules (pimples), crust (Tucker, 2001).

The smallpox virus was applied for the first as time as a biological weapon by white settlers in North America in 1763 against the Indians. Indian was given blankets and scarves, previously used by patients with this disease. Indians not expecting this deceit found they carried blankets to their camps, and there they became a source of further infection. Smallpox is a group of diseases that can be used as a biological weapon because (Snow, 2003):

infectivity (transferred from person to person through the air, as well as direct and indirect contact)

lack of resistance of the population (not involving grafting)

difficulties in identifying at an early stage of the attack (affects eradication )

can lead to disorganization of the health service.

General History says that the Spanish conquistadors were victorious because they had better weapons, such as cannon and musket. In 1519 Hernán Cortés landed on the Aztec empire.. Because Cortés was white-skinned, was greeted as a god and as such tried to rule. In 1520, another group of Spaniards came from the Cuban, further rendering to the edge in today's Mexico. Among them was the African servant, infected VARV (smallpox virus). When Cortes learned of the group, he went and defeated them. During the fight one of the men was infected with Cortés. When Cortés returned to Tenochtitlán, they brought the disease with them. In a short time the Aztecs realized that Cortes is not a god and raised a ...