Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Military Compound 19, a microbiology facility in
Sverdlovsk (now Ekaterinburg, Russia). Cases of
high fever and difficulty in breathing occurred, and
about 40 fatalities developed. Autopsies revealed
severe pulmonary edema and serious toxemia [50].
Livestock died of anthrax along the extended axis
of the epidemic zone out to a distance of 50 km
[51]. The military appropriated a local hospital for
patient care, and vaccination and antibiotics were
provided to area residents. Some Western scien-
tists suspected that Military Compound 19 was a
biological warfare research facility, and attributed
the epidemic to the accidental airborne release
of anthrax spores [51]. The Soviets claimed that
the epidemic was caused by ingestion of anthrax-
contaminated meat purchased on the black market
[52]. Russian president Boris Yeltsin admitted in
1992 that the facility had been part of an offen-
sive biological weapons program and that the
epidemic had been caused by an unintentional
release of anthrax spores. It was eventually deter-
mined that air filters had not been activated early
on the morning of April 3. Upon autopsy, inhala-
tion anthrax was identified as the cause of death in
victims. At least 77 cases and 66 deaths occurred,
constituting the largest documented epidemic of
inhalation anthrax [53].
tamination and immunization against biological
agents [36]. Anti-personnel biological agent cluster
bombs were delivered to PBA for filling with
Brucella suis
in 1954, and large scale production
of
Francisella tularemia
was established in 1955.
Soviet Marshal Zhukov announced in 1956 that
biological and chemical weapons would be used
by their armed forces for mass destruction in future
wars. Consequently, US efforts to increase military
effectiveness were implemented [36].
In 1962, the Desert Test Center was established
at Ft. Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah and had
as its mission the testing of biological weapons
and defense systems at extra-continental test sites.
During 1964-1966, a virus and rickettsiae produc-
tion plant was built at PBA. Various types of
munitions were delivered to PBA, filled and
stored there. These munitions were never shipped
anywhere except for test purposes [36].
In June 1966, testing of the New York City
subway system assessed vulnerability of U.S. cities
to covert biological attack. The simulant
B. globigii
was disseminated within the subway tubes and
from the street into the subway stations. Simulant
data indicated that large numbers of people could
be exposed to infectious doses [55]. Also during
the 1960s, Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense
(SHAD) tested releases of aerosolized biological
and chemical simulants in the Pacific Ocean [56].
On November 25, 1969, President Richard M.
Nixon visited Fort Detrick and announced a new
national policy on biological weapons: “I have
decided that the United States of America will
renounce the use of any form of deadly biological
weapons that either kill or incapacitate” [57].
During 1970-1972, complete destruction was
performed of biological weapon stocks and muni-
tions. In January 1975 President Gerald R. Ford
signed the Biological Weapons Convention on the
prohibition of the development, production and
stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin
weapons.
With the de-establishment of the biological
warfare laboratories, the U.S. Army Medical
Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAM-
RIID) was established at Fort Detrick. Early defen-
sive research products included investigational new
2.14 US Biological Weapons Program
In 1946, a report to Secretary of War Stimson
noted that the potential of biological weapons
had not been completely assessed, and recom-
mended that the program be continued to provide
an adequate defense. From 1947-1949 small scale
outdoor testing was conducted at Camp Detrick
using two biological simulants,
Bacillus globigii
and
Serratia marscens
[54].
In 1950, the biological weapons program was
expanded with efforts to develop retaliatory biolog-
ical weapons based on the threat of the USSR. In
1951, an anticrop bomb was developed, tested and
placed in production for the Air Force. A biolog-
ical production facility at Pine Bluff Arsenal
(PBA) Arkansas began operations in 1954. Further
expansion at Camp Detrick occurred in 1953.
Data was obtained on personnel protection, decon-
