Research and Development in BW and CW in Relation to the Defense of the Continental United States

Research and Development in BW and CW in Relation to the Defense of the Continental United States

The Committee of BW highlights some of the most pressing BW agents that could be used against the United States, either covertly or in sabotage. The Committee also emphasizes some of the areas that the U.S. needs to improve its research and development on in order to prepare for an attack.

1949

The Committee names wheat rusts, foot and mouth disease, and botulinus toxin as some of the diseases they are most concerned about an enemy choosing as an agent for sabotage. They also share that there are significant weaknesses in detection (no reliable rapid detection and identification methods), protection (only some agents have effective treatments/therapies), and decontamination (vapor-phrase decontaminants and counter agent clouds have yet to be developed) of BW agents.