Biological
Agent |
Early
Symptoms |
Disease |
Treatment or
Prevention |
| Smallpox Vaccinations
stopped in 1981 when the disease was declared eradicated. But even people who were once
vaccinated are now vulnerable. Immunity wears off in about 7 years. |
About 12 days; Fever, headache,
nausea |
Chickenpox-like rash transforms
into hard blisters. Highly contagious, smallpox kills 1/3 of its victims. |
No cure. Only 15 million doses of
vaccine remain to protect the uninfected, enough for 1 of every 23 Americans. |
| Anthrax A government
study estimated that about 200 pounds of anthrax released upwind of Washington could kill
up to 3 million people. |
2 to 10 days, or as long as 7
weeks; flu-like symptoms. |
Then, within 1 to 3 days, shock
and breathing problems cause death for close to 100% of victims. |
If given early enough, antibiotics
can prevent exposed people from falling sick. The vaccine is reserved for military use. |
| Plague Between 1980 and
1994, 18,739 cases of history’s most feared contagious disease were reported in 20
countries. |
Symptoms occur within 1 to 6 days
after inhalation of the pneumonic form. |
High fever, cough and labored
breathing lead to respiratory failure and death. Unlike anthrax, it is contagious. |
Rapid use of antibiotics can be
effective. A vaccine is not currently being produced in the United States. |
| Botulism toxin The single
most poisonous substance known is typically food-borne but could be developed as an
aerosol weapon. |
24 to 36 hours; blurred vision and
difficulty swallowing and speaking. |
The nerve toxin paralyzes muscles,
leading to respiratory failure and death. |
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention maintains the botulism antitoxin supply. |
| Tularemia The United
States studied this infectious organism as a weapon in the 1950s and 1960s. |
3 to 5 days; fever, chills,
headache, weakness. |
Resulting inflammation and
hemorrhaging of the airways can lead to death. |
Without antibiotics, 1/3 of
victims die. A vaccine is under review by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| Hemorrhagic fevers, such as
Ebola The origin of Ebola, for example, is unknown, but it is probably transmitted
to humans by animals. |
3 to 5 days; fever, muscle aches,
diarrhea. |
Hemorrhaging of fluids out of
tissues and orifices. 30% to 90% of victims die. |
Some diseases respond to
anti-viral drugs, but these are in short supply. |
| Source: CDC |