Bioterrorism and Plague Essay - 1777 Words

Bioterrorism and Plague Plague, also known as Yesirnia pestis, has wreaked havoc since the first documented outbreak in the 6th century, along with changing the course of history. Although bubonic plague is the most common form of plague, pneumonic plague is the more fatal form of the bacteria. It is the only form that has been successfully aerosolized by man and has the potential of taking down a mass of people in days. If used as a bioweapon, it would cause major damage. This paper is designed to inform you of the history, the facts, and the precautions needed to prevent a bioterrorist attack. In 1970, The World Health Organization estimated that 50 kg, or 110 lb, of Y. pestis sprayed over a city would infect 150,000 individuals and†¦show more content†¦And, indeed, another broke out again. The Justinian plague of 561 AD is another example of how badly plague can impact society. It originated in Ethiopia then moved up to Egypt and into Europe killing sixty percent of the populations of Europe, North Africa, and southern and central Asia (Grey, p. 216). Trade made it possible for plague to spread quickly throughout the world. Because trade was so popular during that time plague moved faster than ever. Merchants would travel around trading with each other and taking that deadly disease with them as well. Of all these plague epidemics, the Black Death of 1346 is the most widely known. As an example of severity, China’s population alone dropped from 125 million to 90 million over the course of the fourteenth century due to plague (Boise state, p.1). In Europe, anywhere between 25% to 50% of Europe’s population had fallen victim to this pestilence. If a bioterrorist attack using plague does manage to occur today, the number of deaths will not be as dramatic but the loss will still be significant. There are three main types of existing plagues: Bubonic plague, Septicemic plague, and Pneumonic plague. All three are caused by the bacterium named Yersinia pestis that is found in infected rodents and their fleas (CDC, Plague home page paragraph 1). The oriental rat flea, or Xenopsylla cheopis, is the primary vector, but handling infected animals can also spread plague. Yersinia pestis is a gram-negative bacterialShow MoreRelatedThe Harm Caused by Bioterrorism857 Words   |  3 PagesMicro/Diseases Bioterrorism Bioterrorism is purposefully releasing biological agent toxins to cause harm and terrorize people. Bioterrorism was first thought of somewhere in the 1340’s, this was when diseased horse corpses were catapulted over castle walls in France. Germ warfare was also used in the medieval times in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; human bodies were infected with the plague and used as ammunition in central Europe. 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