In the war against terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) pose a potential strategic scenario (White, 2012). R. James Woolsey, former head of the Central Intelligence Agency believes terrorist possessing the capabilities of WMD represent the single most serious threat to United States national security ( ). The challenges of WMD are; they are easy to build and easy to hide. One of the most challenging weapon types of WMD are biological agents. These agents are viewed as infectious (replicating) and classified in four categories: (1) natural poisons, or toxins, that occur without human modification, (2) viruses, (3) bacteria, and (4) plagues (White, 2012). Biological weapons kill by spreading a disease that is normally fatal or tricks
…show more content…
Botulism is classified in three forms; (1) Foodborne botulism that occurs when one ingest pre-formed toxin which leads to illness within a couple of hours. This particular form of botulism is very dangerous because contaminated food may be available to other persons; (2) Infant botulism occurs when infants harbor the bacteria in their intestinal tract; and (3) Wound botulism can occur when the wound is infected with the bacteria that secretes the toxin. Symptoms from foodborne botulism begin within 6 hours to 10 days. These symptoms can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficult swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness traveling down the body. In very serious incidents, paralysis of the breathing muscles can result in a person to stop breathing and die. Botulism cannot be passed from one person to another; however foodborne botulism can affect people in all age …show more content…
This disease was first recognized by scientist in 1911. During the 1930s and 1940s, scientists realized tularemia’s ability to infect whole populations during the outbreaks of water-borne disease in Europe and the Soviet Union. Individuals exposed to tularemia become sick generally within three to five days. There are several types of tularemia that exist, and which type one gets depends on how and where the bacteria enter the body. For example, the most common form of tularemia is Ulceroglandular tularemia that results in symptoms which include: skin ulcer that originated at the site of the infection, swollen and painful lymph gland, fever, chills, headache, and
Botulism is classified in three forms; (1) Foodborne botulism that occurs when one ingest pre-formed toxin which leads to illness within a couple of hours. This particular form of botulism is very dangerous because contaminated food may be available to other persons; (2) Infant botulism occurs when infants harbor the bacteria in their intestinal tract; and (3) Wound botulism can occur when the wound is infected with the bacteria that secretes the toxin. Symptoms from foodborne botulism begin within 6 hours to 10 days. These symptoms can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficult swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness traveling down the body. In very serious incidents, paralysis of the breathing muscles can result in a person to stop breathing and die. Botulism cannot be passed from one person to another; however foodborne botulism can affect people in all age …show more content…
This disease was first recognized by scientist in 1911. During the 1930s and 1940s, scientists realized tularemia’s ability to infect whole populations during the outbreaks of water-borne disease in Europe and the Soviet Union. Individuals exposed to tularemia become sick generally within three to five days. There are several types of tularemia that exist, and which type one gets depends on how and where the bacteria enter the body. For example, the most common form of tularemia is Ulceroglandular tularemia that results in symptoms which include: skin ulcer that originated at the site of the infection, swollen and painful lymph gland, fever, chills, headache, and