Present Position of Bacteriological Warfare - A Brief Review

Present Position of Bacteriological Warfare - A Brief Review

A review of biological warfare capabilities, promising agents, countermeasures, and military utility by Canadian authorities. Based heavily on collaborations with the UK and US.

1947

The biological underpinnings of BW agents are becoming well documented, but the enactment of these agents as weapons is lagging. Provides thorough discussion of mostly bacterial and toxin agents, noting that work on viruses is much more challenging, as they require cultivation in tissue. Focuses a lot on epidemic capability. Goes into much detail about research into production, field trials, storage, environmental persistence, and countermeasures for each agent. Agents covered in detail include anthrax, Coccidiodes, Brucella, plague, tularemia, melioidosis, typhoid, and botulinum toxin.