Bacterial Warfare: The Use of Biologic Agents in Warfare
Item Details
Title
Bacterial Warfare: The Use of Biologic Agents in Warfare
Topics
Evaluates possibility of BW in response to public interest/concern. Reviews practical limitations to development and use of biological weapons. Covers Intestinal Disease, Respiratory Disease, Insect-Transmitted Disease, Infective (Non-Communicable) Disease, Toxins, Animal Diseases.
Date
1933
Conclusions
Most candidate diseases are well controlled by modern sanitation or public health, and thus not useful for military purpose. Respiratory disease would show promise, but its lack of control/targeting is reason enough to disincentivize its use. Infective diseases (especially anthrax) are the most likely to be successful, since they are non-communicable. However, delivery mechanisms are a huge hurdle. Overall, the technical and logistical challenges make BW currently impractical.
Source
Fox, L.A. Bacterial Warfare: The Use of Biologic Agents in Warfare. The Military Surgeon, March, 1933. Reprinted by The Military Surgeon, 90(5), May 1942. p. 563-579. http://www.jstor.org/stable/17695. Accessed March, 2024.
Citation
“Bacterial Warfare: The Use of Biologic Agents in Warfare,” Collection of Biothreat Risk Assessments (COBRA), accessed January 15, 2025, https://cobrabiosecurity.org/items/show/531.