Infectious Diseases in Critical Care Medicine

Table 2

A Brief History of Biological Warfare and Bioterrorism (

Continued

)

Dates

Biological agent(s)

Method of delivery

Comments

1979

B. anthracis

Accidental release of spores (airborne) from

weapons plant in Sverdlovsk, USSR.

77 anthrax cases with 66 deaths.

1984

S. typhimurium

Rajneeshee Cult contaminated salad bars in 10

restaurants in Dalles, Oregon.

Outbreak involves 751 patients, and

45 hospitalization. Significant economicharm is suffered by individual businessesand the community.

1991

Ricin

Deliver ricin by application through the skin with

contaminated skin products (aloe and dimethylsulfoxide).

Attack aborted by the FBI.

1995

B. anthracis

and

Botulinum

toxin

Iraq confirms it has produced offensive weapons

utilizing these agents.

1995

B. anthracis

,Botulinum

toxin, Q fever, Ebola virusin aerosol form

Aum Shinrikyo employed biological, chemical, and

nerve gas agents.

Biological weapons attacks failed but sarin gas

attack killed 12 and sickened 5500 in the Tokyosubway.

1997

Shigella dysenteriae

Laboratory employee.

Contaminated muffins and donuts sickening 45

laboratory employees with 4 requiringhospitalization.

2001

B. anthracis

Spores sent through U.S. mail to multiple states

and Washington DC.

5 deaths, 22 infections and closing of a major postal

facility in Hamilton, New Jersey.

July 31, 2008

Bruce E. Ivins, an employee of the US biodefense laboratories at Fort Detrick, Maryland, committed suicide

after learning of the impending indictiment against him for the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States.

Steven Hatfill, whose name was leaked as a “person of interest” settled his lawsuit against Attorney General

John Ashcroft and the Department of Justice for a one-time payment of $2.825 million and a $150,000annuity.

Source

: From Refs. 1, 2, 5, and 11.

Bioterrorism Infections in Critical Care 437