In Iraq's arsenal: Nature's deadliest poison

USA Today ^ | 9/26/2002 | Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY

[ex-Texan]

In the year since an unknown bioterrorist stuffed envelopes with anthrax and mailed them, the government has stockpiled anthrax vaccine and antibiotics, planned mass vaccination campaigns and ordered 209 million fresh doses of smallpox vaccine.

Yet the United States is still unprepared to contend with other agents on its A-list of potential biowarfare threats, especially botulinum toxin, an experimental terror tool of Saddam Hussein's.

[ex-Texan]

Forget Anthrax and Smallpox. This is what Saddam has planned for the U.S. and our troops.

[Huck]

Iraq an imminent threat? Naaaaaah. What's the hurry? Can't we wait til after the mid-terms?

[Billthedrill]

A bit of scare-mongering on the part of USAToday here - the key to botulinum toxin is that it is an enteric toxin, that is, you have to swallow it. Breathing it won't do you - that's why the U.S. stopped developing it as a biological agent. It's every bit as deadly as the article claims, but it is very difficult to distribute - putting it in the water supply, for example, is potentially deadly to anyone who drinks it immediately, but the toxin is a rather complex molecule that breaks down rapidly in sunlight or in the presence of chlorine.

This is also incorrect: Most people think of botulism as a scary byproduct of careless home and commercial canning, because the bacterium grows — and produces toxin — only in airless environments such as vacuum-packed jars and cans.

Not so - the organism (Clostridium botulinum) is anaerobic, that is, it reproduces in the total absence of oxygen. However, production of the toxin takes place in an environment where a tiny percentage of oxygen is present, a "microaerophilic" environment - a leaky can or jar, for example. That's why dented or swollen cans are a danger sign.

The toxin is probably most useful in a terrorist scare threat to a water supply, and then more so for the panic than actual mortality. On the battlefield it's virtually useless - it breaks down too rapidly to be an area denial weapon, and as mentioned above, doesn't have a handy vector to function as an antipersonnel weapon. As far as toxicity per volume it's the champ, but that's about it.

[Uncle George]

Baghdad could within 45 minutes send a missle over Isreal and air burst this toxin and kill millions. But Tommy Dashhole has other more important things to do like disrupting the Senate vote on Iraq for his Political pandering.

[archy]

Forget Anthrax and Smallpox. This is what Saddam has planned for the U.S. and our troops.

Not quite. For use where they have the artillery and barrage rocket launchers to deliver it, yes.

For use by Saddam's agents or co-conspiritors in the continental United States, I think it'll be something else, far more transmissible, and far more devistating both to the civilian population and the U.S. economy.

-archy-/-

[backhoe]

Some useful info:

Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical Warfare- Survival Skills, Pt. II

The Web of Terror

Jihad! Across the World....

The little shop of NBC Horrors-- Yellow Rain-

The Poor-Boy Nuke-- Bioterrorism***

Sen Fred Thompson confirms Iraq is threat to U.S.

Links to information on Iraqi Nuclear Weapons Systems and Design (VERY Scary!)

IRAQ- some links to terror

[antidisestablishment]

Thank you! Why all the scare mongering, lately? Chemical and biological weapons are generally not very effective--except in creating panic. Seems our press is a willing ally to our enemies.

[Lil'freeper]

The article is very interesting but has too much of the wrong information. I'm left wondering the following:
1. Is it the bacterium or the actual toxin that we're facing? If it is the toxin, how does it function in the body that a vaccine can work against it or is that the role of the antitoxin? Can a vaccinated person fight off the toxin? The article wasn't too clear.
2. How is it dispersed? Is it a powder, a volatile liquid, a fog of large droplets?
3. How does it enter the body? Must it be inhaled, contact mucus membranes, touch the skin?
4. How long can it remain in the 'environment' before degrading? Does it break down in sunlight, oxygen, etc? How long do surfaces remain contaminated?

I'd love for a knowledgable FReeper to fill us in.

[Lil'freeper]

Guess I should have read the whole thread instead of reading the article twice. Yours is the more useful information- thanks!

[okie01]

See #3 by Billthedrill.

A very informative response.

[kosta50]

Good reply. Botulin toxin is also readily destroyed by boiling canned foods.

Steve Sternberg could have researched it a bit better. Or maybe he just left out important details intentionally? This is an example of yellow journalism and cheap propaganda at its worst.

[thescourged1]

Exactly.

Otherwise, why would be be trying so hard to put together a nuclear weapon? Don't need a nuke, if bioweapons are viable alternatives. Much cheaper and easier to make too.

[spetznaz]

Hey ......Saddam just wants this for Botox treatment to his face! Just for Botox .......

[PsyOp]

Ping!

[MHGinTN]

Saddam's bio and chemical threat is more a function of his farming it out to terrorists infiltrating this country; Saddam's nuclear blackmail is his regional trump. If daschle and his mordent men(hillary is one of same) succeed in postponing military driven disarmament of Saddam (and the traitorous bastards are trying very hard to do so, in their political interests), the opportunity to crush Iraq and disarm them will be lost except at much greater risk and with very high casualties to our troops and the region. Wake up, America! Daschle and the democrat heirarchy are the greatest threat to OUR health and well being and they exercise their treachery from within!

[Digger]

We can't forget anthrax or smallpox because the drug lobby won't let you. Follow the money. Then you will know & understand the treachery being placed on the citizens. Read about the cipro that was so costly & probably was a less effective antibiotic than simple penicillin or another cheaply priced drug. Again, you all been snookered. Just read it for yourselves.

[thescourged1]

Point well taken sir.

Sometimes I forget I'm a civilian now, and subject to different threats (like virtual defenselessness).

[Frohickey]

The toxin is probably most useful in a terrorist scare threat to a water supply, and then more so for the panic than actual mortality.

I think the Europeans have been attacked by this toxin. Only way to explain why they are averse to taking baths. ;)

[SauronOfMordor]

For use by Saddam's agents or co-conspiritors in the continental United States, I think it'll be something else, far more transmissible, and far more devistating both to the civilian population and the U.S. economy.

Look for Muslims to start applying for jobs in large dairy facilities and the places that ship supplies to fast-food outlets

[SLB]

Your take on this? When I was about 11 or 12 a neighboring family were all killed, I think there was a total of about 5 counting both parents, by botulism from some canned beans. We continued to can and still do. Just have to be careful.