Biological weapons. Appointment

Types and properties of bacteriological weapons

Basic concepts of bacteriological (biological) weapons

Bacteriological (biological) weapons are a means mass destruction people, animals, destruction of crops and military equipment enemy. Its damaging effect is based on bacteriological agents, which include pathogens (bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi) and toxins produced by bacteria.

Bacteriological (biological) weapons are special ammunition and combat devices with delivery vehicles equipped with bacteriological means.

The following can be used as bacteriological agents:

1) to hit people:

causative agents of bacteriological diseases (plague, tularemia, brucellosis, anthrax, cholera); pathogens viral diseases (smallpox, yellow fever, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis); rickettsial pathogens (typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever); causative agents of fungal diseases (coccidioidomycosis, cardiosis, histoplasmosis);

2) for the destruction of animals:

causative agents of foot and mouth disease, plague of large cattle, swine fever, anthrax, glanders, African swine fever, pseudo-rabies and other diseases;

3) for the destruction of plants:

pathogens of rust of cereals, late blight of potatoes, late wilting of corn and other crops; insect pests of agricultural plants; phytotoxicants, defoliants, herbicides and other chemicals.

Ways of using bacteriological agents

The methods of using bacteriological (biological) weapons, as a rule, are:

Aircraft bombs
- artillery mines and shells
- packages (bags, boxes, containers) dropped from aircraft
- special devices that scatter insects from aircraft
- sabotage methods.

The main method of using bacteriological agents is considered to be the contamination of the surface air layer. When ammunition, equipped with a bacteriological formula, bursts, a bacteriological cloud is formed, consisting of the smallest droplets of liquid or solid particles suspended in the air. The cloud, spreading in the wind, scatters and settles on the ground, forming an infected area, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich depends on the amount of the recipe, its properties and wind speed.

In some cases, for distribution infectious diseases the enemy can leave contaminated household items when leaving: clothes, food, cigarettes, etc. The disease in this case can occur as a result of direct contact with contaminated objects.

A form of spread of pathogens is also possible, such as the deliberate abandonment of infectious patients during the departure so that they become a source of infection among the troops and the population.

Types and properties of the main bacteriological agents

Pathogenic microorganisms are the causative agents of infectious diseases in humans and animals. Depending on the size of the structure and biological properties, they are divided into the following classes:

1) bacteria
2) viruses
3) rickettsia
4) spirochete fungi and protozoa

The last two classes of microorganisms as biological means of destruction, according to experts in the field of biological weapons, do not matter.

1) Bacteria - unicellular microorganisms plant nature, very diverse in shape. The main forms of bacteria: staphylococci, diplococci, streptococci, rod-shaped, vibrios, spirilla.

Their sizes vary from 0.5 to 8-10 microns. Vegetative bacteria, i.e. in the form of growth and development, very sensitive to the effects of high temperatures, sunlight, sharp fluctuations in humidity and disinfectants, and, conversely, retain sufficient stability at low temperatures even down to minus 15-25 ° C. Some types of bacteria, for survival in adverse conditions, are able to be covered with a protective capsule or form a spore. Microbes in spore form have a very high resistance to drying out, lack of nutrients, the action of high and low temperatures and disinfectants. Among pathogenic bacteria, the ability to form spores is possessed by pathogens of anthrax, botulism, tetanus, etc. According to literary sources, almost all types of bacteria used as means of destruction are relatively easy to grow on artificial nutrient media, and their mass production is possible with the help of equipment and processes used by industry in the production of antibiotics, vitamins and products of modern fermentation production. The class of bacteria includes the causative agents of most of the most dangerous diseases human, such as plague, cholera, anthrax, glanders, meliodiosis, etc.

4) Fungi are unicellular or multicellular microorganisms of plant origin. Their sizes vary from 3 to 50 microns and more. Fungi can form spores that are highly resistant to freezing, drying, sunlight and disinfectants. Diseases caused by pathogenic fungi are called mycoses. Among them are such serious infectious diseases of people as coccidioadomycosis, blaotomycosis, histoplasmosis, etc.

Bacteriological agents include pathogenic microbes and toxins produced by them.

To equip bacteriological (biological) weapons, pathogens of the following diseases can be used:

1) Plague is an acute infectious disease. The causative agent is a microbe that is not highly resistant outside the body; in the sputum secreted by humans, it retains its viability for up to 10 days. The incubation period is 1 to 3 days. The disease begins acutely: general weakness, chills, headache appear, the temperature rises rapidly, consciousness darkens. The most dangerous is the so-called pneumonic form of plague. It can become ill by inhalation of air containing the plague pathogen. Signs of the disease: along with a serious general condition, chest pain and cough appear with the release of a large amount of phlegm with plague bacteria; the patient's strength quickly falls, loss of consciousness occurs; death occurs as a result of increasing cardiovascular weakness. The disease lasts 2 to 4 days.

2) Cholera is an acute infectious disease characterized by a severe course and a tendency to spread rapidly. The causative agent of cholera - Vibrio cholerae - is not resistant to the external environment, it persists in water for several months. The incubation period for cholera lasts from several hours to 6 days, on average 1 to 3 days. The main signs of cholera are: vomiting, diarrhea; convulsions; vomit and feces of a patient with cholera take the form of rice water. With liquid feces and vomiting, the patient loses a large amount of fluid, quickly loses weight, his body temperature drops to 35 degrees. In severe cases, the disease can result in death.

3) Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that mainly affects farm animals, and from them can be transmitted to people. The anthrax pathogen enters the body through airways, digestive tract, damaged skin. The disease occurs in 1 to 3 days; it takes place in three forms: pulmonary, intestinal and cutaneous. The pulmonary form of anthrax is a kind of inflammation of the lungs: the body temperature rises sharply, a cough appears with the release of bloody sputum, cardiac activity weakens and, if untreated, death occurs after 2 to 3 days. The intestinal form of the disease manifests itself in ulcerative lesions of the intestines, acute abdominal pain, blood vomiting, diarrhea; death occurs in 3 - 4 days. In the cutaneous form of anthrax, most often exposed areas of the body (arms, legs, neck, face) are affected. An itchy spot appears at the site of contact of the pathogen microbes, which after 12 - 15 hours turns into a bubble with a cloudy or bloody liquid. The bubble soon bursts, forming a black scab, around which new bubbles appear, increasing the size of the scab to 6 - 9 centimeters in diameter (carbuncle). The carbuncle is painful, massive edema forms around it. When a carbuncle breaks through, blood poisoning and death are possible. With a favorable course of the disease, after 5 - 6 days, the patient's temperature decreases, the painful phenomena gradually disappear.

4) Botulism is an infectious disease caused by botulinum toxin, which is one of the most strong poisonscurrently known. Infection can occur through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, damaged skin and mucous membranes. The incubation period is from 2 hours to a day. Botulism toxin affects the central nervous system, the vagus nerve and the nervous apparatus of the heart; the disease is characterized by nerve - paralytic phenomena. Initially, there is general weakness, dizziness, pressure in the epigastric region, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract; then paralytic phenomena develop: paralysis of the main muscles, muscles of the tongue, soft palate, larynx, facial muscles; in the future, paralysis of the muscles of the stomach and intestines is observed, as a result of which flatulence and persistent constipation are observed. The patient's body temperature is usually below normal. In severe cases, death can occur several hours after the onset of the disease as a result of respiratory paralysis.

5) Meliodiosis is an infectious disease of humans and rodents, similar to glanders. The causative agent, for its similarity to glanders, is called the stick of false glanders. The microbe is a thin stick, does not form spores, has mobility due to the presence of a bundle of flagella at one end, is resistant to drying, at a temperature of 26-28 degrees it remains viable in the soil for up to a month, in water for more than 40 days. Sensitive to disinfectants and high temperatures - under their influence dies in a few minutes. Meliodiosis is a little-known disease that occurs in the countries of Southeast Asia. Carriers are small rodents, in which the disease occurs in chronic form... The pus, feces and urine of sick animals contain many causative agents of meliodiosis. Human infection occurs when eating food and water contaminated with the secretions of sick rodents. As with glanders, the disease can enter the body through damaged skin and mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, etc. With artificial distribution, i.e. in case of application this disease as a component of biological weapons, the germs of meliodiosis can be sprayed into the air or used to contaminate food and food. The possibility of human meliodiosis infection by humans is not excluded, although such facts have not been noted. Patients are subject to isolation because of the similarity of the symptoms of meliodiosis with other diseases. Manifestations of the disease in humans are diverse and can occur in 3 stages. the disease begins in a few days.

6) Sap - chronic illness equine, rarely feline camels and humans, caused by the glanders bacteria. Symptoms: specific nodules, and then ulcers in the respiratory system and on the skin. Infection occurs through contact with sick animals. Sick animals are destroyed. Glanders have been eliminated on the territory of the Russian Federation for a long time, but there is a danger that it can be used as a bacteriological (biological) weapon.

Criteria for assessing the likelihood of using bioagents

Most of the bioagents used as bacteriological (biological) weapons can be used in connection with the following parameters:

Human sensitivity
infectious dose value
ways of infection
contagiousness (infectiousness)
environmental sustainability
the severity of the lesion
possibility of cultivation
availability of means of prevention, treatment, diagnosis
the possibility of covert use
possibility of genetic modification

Based on a set of criteria, the main, pathogenic for humans, bioagents (bacteria, viruses, toxins) were analyzed and the results of the analysis made it possible to assign a rating to each bioagent, i.e. the sum of points characterizing the degree of likelihood of being used as a bacteriological (biological) weapon. In accordance with the rating, bioagents were divided into 3 groups (see table): bioagents with a high probability of their use as a bacteriological (biological) weapon (group I); bioagents, the use of which as a bacteriological (biological) weapon is possible (group 2), and bioagents, which can hardly be used as a bacteriological (biological) weapon (group 3).

Table of distribution of bioagents according to the likelihood of being used as a bacteriological (biological) weapon

1st group (high probability)	2nd group (use is possible)	Group 3 (low probability)
Smallpox Plague anthrax Botulism VEL Tularemia Q fever Marburg Flu Glanders Typhus	Cholera Brucellosis Japanese encephalitis Yellow fever Tetanus Diphtheria	Rabies Typhoid fever Dysentery Staphylococci HIV Parenteral hepatitis, etc.

Therefore, the main attention should be paid to bioagents of the first and partially the second group. In the first group, a particular danger is posed by pathogens of contagious infections, primarily smallpox and plague, which can cause global epidemics (pandemics) with numerous victims, paralyze the activities of the country and entire continents due to the need to introduce strict quarantine.

The most threatened sabotage virus is the variola virus. As you know, the collection of variola virus is safely stored in the USA and in Russia on the recommendation of the WHO. However, there is information that the virus is stored uncontrollably (not destroyed) in some countries and can spontaneously (or may deliberately) go outside the laboratory.

In connection with the abolition of vaccination in 1980, the population of the planet has lost immunity to smallpox. The production of vaccines and diagnostic drugs in the required quantities was discontinued, there are practically no effective treatments, the mortality rate in those who are not vaccinated is 30%. Smallpox is easily transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person, and a long incubation period (up to 17 days) contributes to the spontaneous spread of infection in large regions due to modern fast and numerous means of communication.

Biological weapons (BW) are weapons of mass destruction of people, animals and plants, the action of which is based on the properties of pathogens.

The concept of BW includes biological weapons (BS), biological munitions (BBP) and their delivery vehicles.

Biological agents include bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, chlamydia, fungi used to infect humans, animals and plants. These agents are used in the form of bacterial formulations (dry or liquid), which are a mixture of pathogenic microorganisms with stabilizing substances that ensure the survival of biological agents in an aerosol.

For the first time, the targeted development of biological weapons was started at the beginning XX century.

Before the outbreak of World War II, the most intensive work on the creation of BO was carried out by the Japanese military. They created two large research centers on the territory of occupied Manchuria, in which biological agents were tested not only on laboratory animals, but also on prisoners of war and civilians in China.

Potential BS of a potential adversary includes such microorganisms, which are characterized by:

- the necessary striking efficiency (the degree of mortality or severity of the caused diseases);

- high infectivity (i.e. the incidence of diseases among non-immune contingents with a minimal infectious dose);

- significant stability in the external environment.

Substantial importance is also attached to contagiousness diseases, duration incubation period and some other indicators that summarize the damaging effect and the military-tactical effectiveness of the BS as a whole.

The following can be used as BS to defeat personnel of troops and the population:

· Bacteria - causative agents of plague, anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, glanders, melioidosis and some other bacterial infections;

Rickettsia - the causative agents of epidemic typhus, spotted fever of the rocky mountains, Q - fever;

· Chlamydia - the causative agents of psittacosis;

Viruses - pathogens of smallpox, American equine encephalomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, Dengue fever, Bolivian and Argentinean hemorrhagic fevers, Lassa and Ebola fevers, Marburg disease, Rift Valley fever, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever

· Mushrooms - causative agents of coccidioidosis and other deep mycoses.

Potential BS may also include other types of microorganisms - Korean hemorrhagic fever (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome), Legionnaires' disease, and a number of others.

It should also be borne in mind that, in addition to those listed above, other pathogens that have undergone significant changes through genetic engineering that have provided them with a higher virulence, deviations in the antigenic structure, multiple resistance to antibiotics or other drugs, etc. ...

Using the achievements of biological science, in particular, molecular biology and genetics, new strains of pathogens are purposefully created that cannot be indicated, possessing resistance to drugs, disinfectants, increased toxicity and other pathogenic properties.

Features of biological weapons:

High pathogenicity (infectivity, virulence - the ability to infect a person with small numbers of microbial cells (from a few to a thousand);

High combat effectiveness - the ability to cause mass diseases through various routes of infection;

The possibility of an epidemic due to the high contagiousness of some BS;

Long-term existence of a focus of bacteriological infection (resistance of some pathogens in the external environment, especially spore forms);

The presence of a shorter incubation period from the moment of infection to the manifestation of the disease (from several hours to three days), the duration of which depends not only on the type of pathogen, but also on the route and dose of infection. It is more likely to expect an aerosol method of using BW, which allows infection through the respiratory tract and in large doses of microbial cells, which will lead to a reduction in the incubation period;

Difficulty detecting the fact of using BO;

Difficulty and duration of BO indication, especially when using combined formulations of pathogens;

Difficulty in diagnosing diseases, especially when using combined formulations and unusual routes of entry into the human body;

The possibility of long-term storage of BW and the relative low cost of production.

WAYS OF APPLICATION OF BO:

Creation of a biological aerosol that contaminates the air surface layers atmosphere;

· Use of infected vectors for vector-borne infection of people;

· Latent (sabotage) contamination of food, drinking water, indoor air, and other objects of the external environment.

Air contamination is carried out with the help of BBPs, consisting of at least two parts: a tank filled with a BS recipe and a device that transfers (generates) BSs into an aerosol state as a result of an explosion, by the action of compressed air or chemical reagents.

BBUs that generate aerosols through an explosion or chemical reagents (for example, carbon dioxide), include aerial bombs (mainly of small caliber), artillery shells and mines.

BS aerosol generators, operating with the help of compressed gas, are installed on airplanes, missiles, balloons delivering BBPs to the target, as well as on ground installations and other devices that ensure the creation of bacterial (biological) aerosol near the combat formations of troops.

Depending on the type and design of the BBP, the sources of aerosol formation are divided into linear (raised or ground) and point (multipoint and multi-multipoint).

Linear sources raised above the earth's surface are created when a BS is sprayed from an aircraft (cruise missile and other delivery vehicles) at an altitude of 50-200 m. The source track length reaches several kilometers. The resulting aerosol cloud spreads in the direction of the wind, gradually reaching the surface of the earth.

Ground sources are formed using special aerial bombs, artillery shells, mines, or covertly installed ground devices.

A multi-point aerosol source is created using special cassettes with spherical aviation bombs, the design of which ensures their dispersion over an area approximately equal to the height of the cassettes.

The aerosol formed in the air as a result of the use of BBP is a large amount of liquid or solid particles of the BS formulation of non-uniform size.

Coarse particles settle in the immediate vicinity of the aerosol source, intensively infecting the terrain, vegetation and objects in the path of the aerosol cloud. These particles in the future can (as a result of dust formation under the influence of wind, movement of people and equipment, a blast wave and other factors) form secondary aerosols, the propagation of which occurs in the same way as the primary ones.

Fine particles, the size of which does not exceed 1-5 microns, being the most stable aerosol fraction, settle extremely slowly (about 13 cm / h) and are able to travel long distances.

Particles ranging in size from 1 to 5 microns, when inhaled, enter the respiratory tract of a person and are retained in the smallest bronchi and alveoli - the most sensitive areas to infection respiratory system.

The spread of the aerosol cloud over the territory is determined by the direction and speed of the wind, as well as the degree of vertical stability of the atmosphere. Depending on these parameters, as well as on the type and power of the aerosol source, the duration of the passage of the aerosol cloud over the objects can be from one to several tens of minutes or more.

A characteristic feature of such a cloud is the possibility of diffusion (penetration) of aerosol particles into unsealed structures located in the path of its movement. Indoors and shelters that are not equipped with filtering and ventilation devices, the BS concentration can be significantly higher than outside, where the BS is adversely affected by environmental factors.

The decay of bacterial (biological) aerosols occurs both as a result of their physical destruction and as a result of the biological action of environmental factors, such as wind, movement and turbulent mixing of surface air layers.

In addition to BS aerosols, a potential adversary can use various arthropods (mosquitoes, fleas, lice, ticks, flies, etc.) artificially infected with bacteria, rickettsia and viruses, which for a long time retain the ability to transmit pathogens to humans, to defeat the personnel of the troops and the population. The lifespan of these vectors of infection ranges from several days and weeks (mosquitoes, flies, lice) to a year or even several years (fleas, ticks).

The viability of insects and mites depends on environmental conditions, especially temperature and humidity. Therefore, the application likely adversary infected vectors by dispersing them on the ground is likely only in the warm season at an air temperature of 10 ° C and above, a relative humidity of at least 50% and in the presence of natural factors approaching the natural habitat of arthropods.

The delivery of infected arthropods to the target can be carried out using specially designed aerial bombs and containers.

Relatively small areas of infection, the likelihood of quick detection of the fact of a bacteriological attack, high sensitivity of vectors to environmental conditions, the effectiveness of insecticidal preparations and repellents, and some other factors significantly limit the use of arthropods for the mass spread of BS.

A sabotage method of infection is also possible.

The most likely to be expected is an aerosol method of using BO.

Of the main measures to localize and eliminate the use of bacteriological (biological) weapons by the enemy, the following can be distinguished:

Active detection of cases;

Examination by medical teams of identified patients;

Conducting an emergency non-specific prophylaxis;

Conducting sanitization, disinfection, deratization and disinfestation measures;

Organization of hospitalization of patients using a specially designated transport for this purpose;

Indication and identification of the pathogen;

Carrying out regime-restrictive measures (quarantine, observation);

Conducting sanitary and educational work, sanitary and hygienic and anti-epidemic measures.

Incredible facts

At one time or another, people tried to use every opportunity to find a new viable option to destroy each other. We have demolished forests, "overturned" religion, philosophy, science and even art in order to fuel the desire of humanity to drink more blood from each other. We've even built some of the most serious viral, bacterial and fungal weapons along the way.

The use of biological weapons dates back to the ancient world. In 1500 BC. the Hittites in Asia Minor understood the power of a contagious disease and sent a plague to enemy lands. Many armies also realized the full power of biological weapons, leaving infected corpses in the enemy's fortress. Some historians even say that the 10 biblical plagues that Moses "summoned" against the Egyptians may have been biological warfare campaigns rather than vengeful divine acts.

Since those early days, advances in medical science have led to a dramatic improvement in our understanding of harmful pathogens and how our immune systems fight them. However, while these advances have led to vaccinations and treatments, they have also led to the further militarization of some of the most destructive biological "agents" on the planet.

The first half of the 20th century was marked by the use of biological weapons such as anthrax by both the Germans and the Japanese. Then it began to be applied in the USA, Great Britain and Russia. Today, biological weapons are illegal because their use was banned in 1972 by the Biological Weapons Convention and the Geneva Protocol. But at a time when a number of countries have long destroyed their stocks of biological weapons and stopped research on this topic, the threat remains. In this article, we'll look at some of the top biological weapons threats.

The term "biological weapon" typically gives rise to mental images associated with sterile government laboratories, special uniforms, and test tubes full of bright liquids. Historically, however, biological weapons have taken on much more mundane forms: paper bags full of plague-infested fleas, or even a blanket, as was the case in the 1763 war between France and India.

By order of Commander Sir Jeffrey Amherst, British troops brought smallpox-infected blankets to Indian tribes in Ottawa. Native Americans were particularly susceptible to the disease because, unlike Europeans, until then, they did not experience smallpox, and therefore did not have adequate immunity. The disease "cut" the tribes like wildfire.

Smallpox is caused by the variola virus. In the most common forms of the disease, death occurs in 30 percent of cases. Signs of smallpox are fever, body aches, and a rash that develops from fluid-filled ulcers. The disease spreads primarily through direct contact with the skin of an infected person or through body fluids, but it can also spread through the air in a tight, confined environment.

In 1976, WHO took the lead in efforts to eradicate smallpox through mass vaccination. As a result, the last case of smallpox infection was recorded in 1977. The disease was effectively eradicated, however, laboratory copies of smallpox still exist. Both Russia and the United States have WHO-approved smallpox specimens, but since smallpox has played a role as a biological weapon in the special programs of several nations, it is not known how many secret stocks still exist.

Smallpox is classified as a Class A biological weapon due to its high mortality rate and the fact that it can be transmitted through the air. Although there is a smallpox vaccine, usually only medical workers and military personnel, this means that the rest of the population is in the zone of potential risk if this type of biological weapon is used in practice. How can a virus be released? Probably in aerosol form, or even the old-fashioned way: by sending an infected person directly to the target area.

In the fall of 2001, letters containing white powder began to arrive in the offices of the US Senate. When rumors spread that the envelopes contained spores of the deadly anthrax bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, panic broke out. Anthrax letters infected 22 people and killed five.

Due to their high mortality and resistance to environmental change, anthrax bacteria are also classified as a class A biological weapon.The bacterium lives in the soil, and often grazing animals on it usually come into contact with the bacterial spores while searching for food. A person can become infected with anthrax by touching the spore, inhaling or swallowing it.

In most cases, anthrax infection occurs through skin contact with spores. The most deadly form of anthrax infection is inhalation, in which the spores enter the lungs and then the cells of the immune system carry them to the lymph nodes. There, the spores begin to multiply and release toxins that lead to the development of problems such as fever, breathing problems, fatigue, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Among those infected with the inhaled form of anthrax, the highest mortality rate is observed, and, unfortunately, all five victims of the 2001 letters fell ill with this form.

The disease is extremely difficult to catch under normal conditions, and it is not transmitted from person to person. However, medical professionals, veterinarians and military personnel are routinely vaccinated. Along with the lack of widespread vaccination, "longevity" is another feature of anthrax. Many harmful biological bacteria can only survive under certain conditions and for a short period of time. However, the anthrax bacteria can sit on the shelf for 40 years and still pose a deadly threat.

These properties have made anthrax a "favorite" biological weapon among related programs around the world. Japanese scientists conducted human experiments using aerosol spraying of anthrax bacteria in the late 1930s in occupied Manchuria. British troops experimented with an anthrax bomb in 1942, and they managed to pollute the Greenard Island landfill so thoroughly that 44 years later, it took 280 tons of formaldehyde to disinfect the soil. In 1979 Soviet Union accidentally released an anthrax bacterium into the air, killing 66 people.

Anthrax remains one of the most famous and best dangerous species biological weapons. Numerous biological weapons programs have worked over the years to produce and improve the anthrax virus, and as long as a vaccine exists, mass vaccination will only be viable if there is a massive attack.

Another well-known killer exists in the form of the Ebola virus, one of a dozen different types of hemorrhagic fevers, unpleasant diseases accompanied by profuse bleeding. Ebola made headlines in the 1970s when the virus spread to Zaire and Sudan, killing hundreds in the process. Over the following decades, the virus retained its deadly reputation, spreading in lethal outbreaks throughout Africa. Since its discovery, at least seven outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Europe and the United States.

Named for the Congo region in which the virus was first discovered, scientists suspect that it usually lives in its native African animal host, however, the exact origin and range of the disease remains a mystery. Thus, specialists were able to detect the virus only after it infected humans and primates.

An infected person transmits the virus to others through contact of healthy people with the blood or other secretions of an infected person. In Africa, the virus is particularly adept at being transmitted there through hospitals and clinics. The incubation period of the virus lasts 2-21 days, after which the infected person begins to show symptoms. Typical symptoms include headache, muscle pain, sore throat and weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some patients suffer from internal and external bleeding. Approximately 60-90 percent of infections are fatal after 7-16 days of illness.

Doctors don't know why some patients recover faster than others. They also do not know how to treat this fever as there is no vaccine. There is only a vaccine for one form of hemorrhagic fever: yellow fever.

Although many doctors worked to develop methods of treating the fever and prevent its outbreaks, a group of Soviet scientists turned the virus into a biological weapon. Initially, they faced the problem of growing Ebola in laboratory conditions, they managed to achieve greater success in this field by cultivating the Marburg hemorrhagic fever virus. However, in the early 1990s, they managed to solve this problem. While the virus usually spreads through physical contact with the secretions of an infected person, researchers have observed how it spread through the air in a laboratory setting. The ability to "release" weapons in aerosol form only strengthened the position of the virus in class A.

The Black Death destroyed half of Europe's population in the 14th century, a horror that continues to haunt the world even today. Dubbed the "big death," the mere prospect of the virus returning is shocking people. Today, some researchers believe that the world's first pandemic may have been hemorrhagic fever, but the term "plague" continues to be associated with another Class A biological weapon: the bacteria Yersinia pestis.

Plague exists in two main strains: bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic plague usually spreads through the bite of infected fleas, but it can also spread from person to person through contact with infected body fluids. This strain is named "after" swollen glands in the groin, armpits and neck. This swelling is accompanied by fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. Symptoms appear after two to three days and usually last one to six days. If you do not start treatment within 24 hours after infection, then in 70 percent of cases, death cannot be avoided.

The pneumonic form of plague is less common and spreads by airborne droplets. Symptoms of this type of plague include high fever, cough, bloody mucus, and shortness of breath.

Plague victims, both dead and alive, have historically served as effective biological weapons. In 1940, there was an outbreak of plague in China after the Japanese threw bags of infected fleas from planes. Scientists in several countries are still investigating the possibility of using the plague as a biological weapon, and since the disease still occurs in the world, a copy of the bacteria is relatively easy to obtain. With appropriate treatment, the death rate for this disease is less than 5 percent. There is no vaccine yet.

Death from infection with this infection occurs in five percent of cases. The small gram-negative bacillus is the causative agent of tularemia. In 1941, the Soviet Union reported 10,000 cases. Later, when there was a fascist attack on Stalingrad the following year, this number rose to 100,000. Most of the infections were recorded on the German side of the conflict. Former Soviet biological weapons researcher Ken Alibek argues that this surge in infection was not an accident, but was the result of biological warfare. Alibek will continue to help Soviet scientists develop a vaccine against tularemia until his escape to the United States in 1992.

Francisella tularensis occurs naturally in no more than 50 organisms and is especially common among rodents, rabbits and hares. A person usually becomes infected through contact with infected animals, through insect bites, or through ingestion of contaminated food.

Symptoms usually appear after 3-5 days, depending on the route of infection. The person may experience fever, chills, headache, diarrhea, muscle pain, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. Symptoms similar to pneumonia may also develop. If untreated, respiratory failure and death follows. The illness usually lasts no more than two weeks, but during this time, infected people are mostly bedridden.

Tularemia is not spread from person to person, it is easily treated with antibiotics and can be easily avoided with a vaccine. However, this zoonotic infection is very quickly transmitted from animal to person, and it is also easy to catch if it spreads in the form of an aerosol. The infection is especially dangerous in aerosol form. Because of these factors, after the end of World War II, the United States, Britain, Canada and the Soviet Union began working on making it a biological weapon.

Take a deep breath. If the air you just breathed contains botulinum toxin, you won't know. Deadly bacteria are colorless and odorless. However, after 12-36 hours, the first symptoms appear: blurred vision, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. At this point, your only hope is getting botulism antitoxin, and the sooner you get it, the better for you. If untreated, muscle paralysis occurs, and later paralysis of the respiratory system.

Without breathing support, this poison can kill you within 24-72 hours. For this reason, the deadly toxin is also classified as a class A biological weapon. However, if the lungs are given help and support in their work at this moment, then the mortality rate immediately drops from 70 percent to 6, nevertheless, it will take time to recover, since the poison paralyzes the nerves and muscles, effectively cutting off the signal from the brain. To fully recover, the patient will need to "grow" new nerve endings, and this takes months. Although a vaccine exists, many experts are concerned about its effectiveness and side effectsso it is not widely used.

It is worth noting that this neurotoxin can be found anywhere the globe, especially in soil and marine sediments. People are primarily exposed to the toxin from eating spoiled food, especially canned foods and meats (such as canned fried mushrooms and fish).

Its power, availability, and limitations on healing have made botulinum toxin a favorite among biological weapons programs in many countries. In 1990, members of the Japanese sect Aum Shinrikyo sprayed a toxin to protest some political decisions, but they failed to cause the mass death they expected. When the cult, however, switched to sarin gas in 1995, they killed dozens and injured thousands.

Numerous biological organisms prefer the food crops grown. Ridding cultures of their enemies is an important task for a person, because without food, people will start panic and riots.

A number of countries, especially the United States and Russia, have devoted a lot of research to diseases, as well as insects that infect food crops. The fact that modern agriculture tends to focus on the production of a single crop only complicates matters.

One such biological weapon is rice blast, a disease caused by the imperfect fungus Pyricularia oryzae. The leaves of the affected plant become grayish in color and fill with thousands of fungal spores. These spores multiply rapidly and spread from plant to plant, significantly impairing their performance or even destroying the crop. While breeding disease-resistant plants is a good defensive measure, rice blast is a serious problem because you need to breed not just one resistance strain, but 219 different strains.

This type of biological weapon does not work for sure. However, it can lead to severe starvation in poor countries, as well as financial and other losses and problems. A number of countries, including the United States, use this rice disease as a biological weapon. By this time, a huge amount of harmful fungus had been collected in the United States for the commission of potential attacks on Asia.

When Genghis Khan invaded Europe in the 13th century, he accidentally brought a terrible biological weapon into it. Rinderpest is caused by a virus that is closely related to the measles virus and affects cattle and other ruminants such as goats, bison and giraffes. The condition is highly contagious, causing fever, loss of appetite, dysentery, and inflammation of the mucous membranes. Symptoms persist for about 6-10 days, after which the animal usually dies from dehydration.

Over the centuries, people have constantly brought "sick" cattle to different parts of the world, thereby infecting millions of cattle, as well as other domestic and wild animals. At times, outbreaks in Africa have been so severe that they turned starving lions into cannibals and forced herders to commit suicide. However, thanks to a massive vaccination program, rinderpest has been brought under control in much of the world.

Although Genghis Khan took possession of this biological weapon by accident, many modern countries such as Canada and the United States are actively researching this type of biological weapon.

Viruses adapt and evolve over time. New strains are emerging, and sometimes close contact between humans and animals allows life-threatening diseases to jump to the top of the food chain. With the constant increase in the number of people on earth, the emergence of new diseases is inevitable. And every time a new outbreak appears, you can be sure that someone is sure to begin to view it as a potential biological weapon.

The Nipah virus belongs to this category, since it became known only in 1999. The outbreak occurred in a region of Malaysia called Nipah, infecting 265 and killing 105 people. Some believe the virus naturally develops in the organism of fruit bats. The exact nature of the transmission of the virus is uncertain, however, experts believe that the virus can spread through close physical contact or contact with body fluids of a sick person. No cases of person-to-person transmission have yet been reported.

The illness usually lasts 6-10 days, causing symptoms ranging from flu-like mild to severe encephalitis-like or brain inflammation. In some cases, the patient is characterized by drowsiness, disorientation, convulsions, moreover, the person may even fall into a coma. Death occurs in 50 percent of cases, and there is currently no standard treatment or vaccination.

The Nipah virus, along with other emerging pathogens, is classified as a class C biological weapon. Although no country is officially investigating the virus as a biological weapon, its potential is broad, with a 50 percent fatality rate making the virus a must-watch.

What happens when scientists start digging into the genetic makeup of dangerous organisms, reworking it?

In Greek and Roman mythology, a chimera is a combination of body parts of a lion, a goat, and a snake into one monstrous form. Artists of the late Middle Ages often used this image to illustrate the complex nature of evil. In modern genetic science, a chimeric organism exists and contains the genes of a foreign body. Given its name, you probably assumed that all chimeric organisms must be gruesome examples of human invasion of nature to pursue their nefarious goals. Fortunately, this is not the case. One such chimera, which combines genes for the common cold and polio, may help treat brain cancer.

However, everyone understands that the abuse of such scientific achievements are inevitable. Geneticists have already discovered new ways to increase the lethality of biological weapons such as smallpox and anthrax by customizing their genetic structure. By combining genes, however, scientists can create weapons that can cause two diseases to develop at the same time. In the late 1980s, Soviet scientists worked on Project Chimera, during which they studied the possibility of combining smallpox and Ebola.

Other possible abuse scenarios are the creation of multiple strains of bacteria that require specific triggers. Such bacteria die down for a long period of time until they become active again with the help of special "stimuli". Another possible variant a chimeric biological weapon is the effect of two components on a bacterium so that it begins to work effectively. Such a biological attack will not only lead to higher human deaths, but can also undermine public confidence in health initiatives, in humanitarian workers and in government members.

Biological or bacteriological weapon Is a type of weapon of mass destruction (WMD), which uses various pathogens to destroy the enemy. The main purpose of its use is the massive destruction of the enemy's manpower, in order to achieve this, epidemics of dangerous diseases are provoked among his troops and civilians.

The term "bacteriological weapon" is not entirely correct, since not only bacteria are used to inflict defeat on the enemy, but also viruses and other microorganisms, as well as toxic products of their vital activity. In addition, the composition of biological weapons includes means of delivery of infectious agents to the place of their use.

Sometimes an entomological weapon is singled out as a separate species, which uses insects to attack the enemy.

Modern warfare is whole complex actions aimed at destroying the enemy's economy. Biological weapons fit perfectly into his concept. After all, you can infect not only enemy soldiers or its civilian population, but also destroy agricultural crops.

Biological weapons are the oldest weapons of mass destruction; people tried to use them in ancient times. This has not always been effective, but it has sometimes led to dramatic consequences.

Currently, biological weapons are outlawed: a number of conventions have been adopted prohibiting their development, storage and use. However, despite everything international conventions, the press regularly reports on new developments of this prohibited weapon.

Many experts believe that bacteriological weapons are even more dangerous than nuclear weapons. Its properties and features are such that they may well lead to the complete destruction of the human race on the planet. Despite modern advances in medicine and biology, it is not yet possible to talk about the victory of mankind over diseases. We still cannot cope with HIV and hepatitis, and even the banal flu leads to regular epidemics. The action of biological weapons is not selective. A virus or pathogenic bacterium does not understand where its own and someone else's, and once released, they destroy all living things in their path.

History of biological weapons

Humanity has repeatedly faced devastating epidemics and waged a huge number of wars. Often, both of these disasters went hand in hand. Therefore, it is not surprising that many military leaders came up with ideas about using infections as weapons.

It should be noted that high rates of morbidity and mortality were common in the armies of the past. Huge crowds of people, vague ideas about sanitation and hygiene, poor nutrition - all this created excellent conditions for the development of infectious diseases in the troops. Very often, much more soldiers died from illness than from the actions of the enemy army.

Therefore, the first attempts to use infections to defeat enemy troops were made several thousand years ago. The Hittites, for example, simply sent people sick with tularemia to the enemy camp. In the Middle Ages, new methods of delivering biological weapons were invented: the corpses of people and animals who died from some fatal ailment were thrown into besieged cities with the help of catapults.

The worst result of the use of biological weapons in ancient times is the epidemic of the bubonic plague in Europe, which broke out in the 14th century. During the siege of the city of Kafa (modern Feodosia), the Tatar Khan Janibek threw the corpses of people who died from the plague behind the walls. An epidemic began in the city. Some of the townspeople fled from her on a ship to Venice, and in the end they brought the infection there.

Soon, the plague literally wiped out Europe. Some countries have lost up to half of the population, the victims of the epidemic numbered in the millions.

In the 18th century, European colonialists supplied the North American Indians with blankets and tents, which were previously used by patients with smallpox. Historians are still debating whether this was intentionally done. Be that as it may, the resulting epidemic practically destroyed many of the indigenous tribes.

Scientific progress has given humanity not only vaccinations and antibiotics, but also the ability to use the most deadly pathogens as weapons.

The process of rapid development of biological weapons began relatively recently - around the end of the 19th century. During the First World War, the Germans unsuccessfully tried to cause an epizootic of anthrax in the enemy troops. During World War II, Japan created a special secret unit - Detachment 731, which carried out work in the field of biological weapons, including experiments on prisoners of war.

During the war, the Japanese infected the Chinese population with the bubonic plague, resulting in the deaths of 400,000 Chinese. The Germans actively and quite successfully spread malaria on the territory of modern Italy, and about 100 thousand Allied soldiers died from it.

After the end of the Second World War, these weapons of mass destruction were no longer used, at least no signs of their large-scale use were recorded. There is information that the Americans used biological weapons during the Korean War - but this fact has not been confirmed.

In 1979, an anthrax epidemic broke out on the territory of the USSR in Sverdlovsk. It was officially announced that the cause of the outbreak is the consumption of meat from infected animals. Modern researchers have no doubt that the real reason for the defeat of the population with this dangerous infection was an accident at a secret Soviet laboratory where biological weapons were developed. In a short period, 79 cases of infection were registered, 68 of which were fatal. This is a clear example of the effectiveness of biological weapons: as a result of accidental infection, the mortality rate was 86%.

Features of biological weapons

Benefits:

High efficiency of application;
Difficulty in timely detection by the enemy of the fact of the use of biological weapons;
The presence of a latent (incubation) period of infection makes the use of this WMD even less noticeable;
A wide variety of biological agents that can be used to defeat the enemy;
Many types of biological weapons are capable of epidemic spread, that is, the defeat of the enemy, in fact, becomes a self-sustaining process;
The flexibility of this weapon of mass destruction: there are diseases that temporarily render a person incapacitated, while other ailments lead to death;
Microorganisms are able to penetrate into any premises, engineering structures and military equipment also do not guarantee protection against infection;
The ability of biological weapons to infect humans, animals, and agricultural plants. Moreover, this ability is very selective: some pathogens cause human diseases, others only infect animals;
Biological weapons have a strong psychological effect on the population, panic and fear instantly spreads.

It should also be noted that biological weapons are very cheap, it is not difficult to create them even for a state with low level technical development.

However, this type of weapons of mass destruction also has a significant drawback that limits the use of biological weapons: they are extremely indiscriminate.

After applying a pathogenic virus or anthrax bacillus, you cannot guarantee that the infection will not devastate your country. Science is not yet able to provide guaranteed protection against microorganisms. Moreover, even a pre-created antidote can be ineffective, because viruses and bacteria are constantly mutating.

That is why in recent history biological weapons were practically not used. This trend is likely to continue in the future.

Biological weapons classification

The main difference between different types of biological weapons is the pathogen used to defeat the enemy. It is he who determines the basic properties and characteristics of weapons of mass destruction. The causative agents of various diseases can be used: plague, smallpox, anthrax, Ebola, cholera, tularemia, tropical fever, as well as botulism toxins.

For the spread of infections can be used different means and ways:

artillery shells and mines;
special containers (bags, bags or boxes) thrown from the air;
aerial bombs;
devices that disperse aerosols with an infectious agent from the air;
contaminated household items (clothing, shoes, food).

Entomological weapons should be singled out separately. This is a type of biological weapon in which insects are used to attack the enemy. IN different time bees, scorpions, fleas, Colorado beetles and mosquitoes were used for these purposes. The most promising are mosquitoes, fleas and some types of flies. All these insects can carry various diseases humans and animals. At various times, pest breeding programs have existed to wreak havoc on the enemy's economy.

Protection against weapons of mass destruction

All methods of defense against biological weapons can be divided into two large groups:

preventive;
emergency.

Preventive methods of struggle include vaccination of military personnel, civilians, and farm animals. The second direction of prevention is the creation of a whole complex of mechanisms that allow the infection to be detected as quickly as possible.

Emergency methods of protection against biological threats include various methods of treating diseases, preventive measures in emergency cases, isolation of the focus of infection, and disinfection of the area.

During the Cold War, exercises were repeatedly held to eliminate the consequences of the use of biological weapons. Other modeling methods were also used. As a result, it was concluded that a state with a normally developed medicine is able to cope with any known types of such weapons of mass destruction.

However, there is one problem: modern work on the creation of new types of combat microorganisms is based on the methods of biotechnology and genetic engineering. That is, the developers create new strains of viruses and bacteria with unprecedented properties. If such a pathogen breaks free, it can lead to the beginning of a global epidemic (pandemic).

Recently, rumors about the so-called genetic weapons have not died down. Usually, it means genetically modified pathogenic microorganisms that are capable of selectively affecting people of a particular nationality, race or gender. However, most scientists are rather skeptical about the idea of \u200b\u200bsuch a weapon, although experiments in this direction have definitely been carried out.

Biological Weapons Conventions

There are several conventions prohibiting the development and use of biological weapons. The first of them (the Geneva Protocol) was adopted back in 1925 and explicitly prohibited such work. Another similar convention appeared in Geneva in 1972; as of January 2012, 165 states ratified it.

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Biological weapons of mass destruction (BW) are intended to destroy the personnel of military units, the population, animals, agricultural land, damage to water sources, military equipment and certain types weapons on enemy territory.

Biochemical weapons are represented by toxins, viruses, microorganisms and the consequences of their vital activity. Delivered by all types of rocket and artillery weapons, aviation. It is spread by disease vectors (people, animals, natural processes).

The use of biological weapons of mass destruction in history

Viruses have been used as weapons of mass destruction since time immemorial. Below is a table listing the first reports of biological weapons used by adversaries in military conflicts.

Date, year	Event
3rd century BC	Historians have confirmed the use of "natural" biological weapons. During the siege of fortresses and fortified settlements, the warriors of the great commander of that time, Hannibal from Carthage, imprisoned poisonous snakes in clay containers and threw them across the enemy's territory. Together with the defeat of the defenders by the bites of reptiles, panic reigned and the will to win was humiliated.
1346	The first experience of using biological means of exterminating the population by spreading the plague. During the siege of Kafa (today - Feodosia, Crimea), the Mongols underwent a biological epidemic of this disease. They are forced to retreat, but before that, the corpses of their patients were moved through the city walls, provoking the death of the defenders of the fortress
1518	The statehood of the Aztecs, like themselves, was destroyed with the help of smallpox, which was introduced by the Spaniard-conquistador E. Cortez. The rapid spread of the disease was ensured by the massive transfer of things to the aborigines, previously belonging to the sick on the mainland.
1675	It became possible to study microprocesses of reproduction, mutations of pathogens, since the first microscope was invented by a doctor from Holland A. Leveguk
1710	Russian-Swedish war. The plague is again used for military purposes. The Russians won a victory, including by infecting enemy personnel through the bodies of their own soldiers who died from the plague infection
1767	Anglo-French military confrontation. British General D. Amherst annihilated the Indians who supported the French by giving them smallpox-infected blankets
1855	L. Pasteur (French scientist) began the era of discoveries in microbiology
1915	The first world War... The allies, the French and the Germans, used anthrax infecting animals. Herds of horses and cows were vaccinated and driven into enemy territory
1925	The consequences of the use of biological weapons, the inability to control the processes associated with them, forced the leading countries of the world to sign the Geneva Convection banning their use for military purposes. Only the United States and Japan have not joined the Convention
1930-1940	Japanese military scientists are conducting massive experiments in China. Historically, the fact of the death of several hundred people in the city of Chusheng from the bubonic plague, where the infection occurred as a result of an experiment by the Japanese
1942	The fact of experimental anthrax infection of sheep on a remote island near Scotland has been established. It was not possible to stop the experiment. To avoid further spread of the disease, all life on the island had to be destroyed with napalm.
1943	The year when the United States is tightly engaged in the creation of biological weapons. The Pentagon decided to use viruses invisible to the human eye as a weapon of mass destruction
1969	Unilaterally, US representatives announced the further non-use of biological weapons
1972	Adopted the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention. Development, production and any operations with such weapons are prohibited. Entry into force delayed
1973	America's Declaration to Eliminate All Biological Weapons, Except A Small Number For Experimental Purposes
1975	Convention entered into force
1979	In Yekaterinburg (formerly Sverdlovsk), an outbreak of anthrax that claimed 64 lives. The disease is localized in a short time. No credible reason has been officially announced
1980	The world has learned that smallpox has been destroyed
1980-1988	Confrontation between Iran and Iraq. Biological weapons were used by both sides
1993	Attempted terrorist anthrax attack in the Tokyo subway by the extremists of the Aum Shinrikyo organization
1998	States initiate mandatory vaccination of military personnel against anthrax
2001	USA. Terrorists are sending out letters with anthrax spores, resulting in the infection and death of several American citizens.

The history of the creation of biological weapons and their use, as can be seen from the above table, contains many facts of the use of combat viruses.

Definition and classification of biological weapons

Biological weapons are distinguished from other types of mass destruction weapons by the following:

Biological bomb causes epidemics... The use of BW is accompanied by massive contamination of living beings and territories in a small amount of time;
Toxicity... Small doses of the causative agent of the disease are required for damage;
Propagation speed... The transfer of BO components is carried out through air, direct contacts, mediation by objects, etc.
Incubation period. The appearance of the first signs of the disease can be observed after a long period of time;
Conservation... In certain conditions, causative agents of diseases have a long latency period before the onset of activation conditions;
Infected area... BO propagation imitation showed that even limited amounts of aerosols can infect targets at a distance of up to 700.0 km;
Psychological action... In areas where weapons of this nature were used, panic, fear of people for their own lives, as well as the inability to perform daily tasks were always recorded.

Types of biological weapons (briefly)

To understand what constitutes a biological weapon, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the data given in the table.

Name	Description	A photo
Smallpox	The disease is caused by the variola virus. Death in 30.0% of infected people. It is accompanied by a critically high fever, rash, ulcers.
Siberian ulcer	BO class "A". The soil that is comfortable for bacteria is soil. Animals become infected from contact with grass, and people through breathing or ingestion. Symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, lymph node growth, joint and muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The mortality rate is high.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever	The course of the disease is represented by profuse bleeding. Infection occurs from contact with the patient's blood or secretions. Incubation from two to twenty one days. Symptoms: pain in muscles, joints, diarrhea, bleeding of internal organs. Mortality 60.0-90.0%, with incubation 7-16 days.
Plague	It comes in two forms: bubonic and pulmonary. It is spread by insects and direct contact with patient secretions. Symptoms: swelling of the inguinal glands, fever, chills, weakness, etc. Their first appearance in one - six days. Mortality is 70.0%, if treatment is not started for the first day of infection.
Tularemia	Infection occurs through insect bites, contact with sick animals, or after consuming contaminated foods. Symptoms: progressive weakness, joint and muscle pain, diarrhea and sometimes similar to pneumonia. Signs appear after three to five days. Mortality not more than 5.0%
Botulinum toxin	Belongs to class "A". It is transmitted by airborne droplets. Symptoms appear within a day and a half and are represented by: dysfunction of the visual organs, difficulty swallowing. Causes paralysis of muscles and respiratory system without immediate treatment. Mortality 70.0%
Rice blast	The action is aimed at the defeat of crops. The disease is triggered by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae. There are over 200 strains.
Rinderpest	The disease affects all types of ruminants. Infection occurs rapidly. Symptoms: changes in mucous membranes, diarrhea, fever, loss of ability to eat, and the like. Death due to dehydration after six to ten days. The livestock with infected animals is destroyed.
	The carrier of the virus has not been precisely identified. It manifested itself in 1999 in Malaysia, where the outbreak infected 265 people, with a fatal outcome in 105 cases. Symptoms range from flu to brain replacement. Death with a 50% probability within 6-10 days.
Chimera virus	They can be created by combining the DNA of various viruses. For example: colds and polio; smallpox - Ebola and the like. No cases of use have been recorded. The consequences are not predictable.

Protection against weapons of mass destruction

Protection against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is represented by a set of measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the enemy's bacteriological (nuclear, chemical, biological) weapons on residents, military formations, economic facilities, and the environment.

Events involve:

reconnaissance units of all branches of the military;
engineering, motorized rifle units;
military (civilian) doctors;
chemical, veterinary and other services;
management of administrations and enterprises and other officials, where their responsibilities are related to the population.

Protection of the population. It provides:

training in the basics of weapons of mass destruction;
construction of protective structures;
preliminary preparation of food and essentials;
evacuation of the population to suburban areas;
timely notification;
rescue operations;
provision of medical assistance to victims;
provision of personal protective equipment;
monitoring the state of the area, reconnaissance and control of changes.

Protection of farm animals includes:

dispersal of animal stock on farms with equipment for air filtration;
preparation of feed and water;
veterinary treatment;
organization of work to prevent recurrence of infections;
vaccination, other means of preventing infection;
condition monitoring and timely detection of deviations from the health norm.

Plant protection presented by:

growing crops resistant to harmful environments;
measures to preserve the seed fund;
carrying out preventive measures;
destruction of areas where crops could receive a pathogenic effect due to the use of OM and BW.

Food protection:

equipment of warehouses, taking into account the possible use of weapons of mass destruction;
dispersal of available food supplies;
moving in specially equipped wagons;
use of special packaging;
carrying out measures for decontamination (disinfection) of food products and containers.

Protection of water sources presented by:

when organizing centralized water supply, take into account the likelihood of using weapons of mass destruction;
open water sources deepen;
systems are equipped with additional special filters;
preparation of reserve streams is in progress;
round-the-clock security is organized;
the condition of the water is constantly checked with an in-depth analysis.

The timely receipt of intelligence information about weapons of mass destruction, which include all types of biological weapons, from the enemy at times reduces the onset of possible consequences, gives time to carry out protective measures in a comprehensive manner.

Biological Weapons Convention

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological Means of Mass Destruction (Modern Biological Weapons) and on Their Destruction (BTWC) is the result of many years of international activity after the Protocol adopted in Geneva (signed on June 17, 1925, entered into force on February 8, 1928) on the prohibition of the use of asphyxiant, poisonous or other similar gases and bacteriological agents in war (Geneva Protocol).

countries signed the BTWC conditions

The conditions of the BTWC (signed on 04/10/1972, entered into force on 03/26/1975) were adopted in 163 countries. The United States joined the BTWC in 1972, but refused to sign protocols providing for a number of measures to monitor its implementation.

Further work of the international community in organizing BTWC events is attached to the results of the Review Conferences:

the date	Decision
1986	Annual report on the measures taken by the participating countries.
1991	The expert group "VEREX" was created
1995-2001	Negotiation process on a system for monitoring compliance with the requirements of the Convention
2003	The issue of the interstate mechanism for ensuring the security of BW was considered
2004	They discussed international measures to investigate the alleged use of BW and mitigate the consequences. At the same time, the powers of international institutions have been expanded in identifying outbreaks of infections.
2005	The provisions of the Code of Response and Conduct of the Scientific Community were approved.
2006	The final text of the Declaration was adopted and a decision was made for the further implementation of the BTWC.

So far, no effective control mechanisms have been created to verify information about the absence of biological weapons development. With a certain degree of confidence, it can be argued that experts from certain foreign countries did not stop such research. For example, a biological rifle with explosive bullets is being developed in NATO laboratories, which can create local foci of bacteriological contamination of enemy military units.

This is evidenced by periodic outbreaks of epidemic diseases in different parts of the world. But the mechanisms of international containment guarantee the safety of the Russian population.