Anthrax is a lethal disease with great potential
as a weapon. Anthrax has great historical and scientific significance,
as it was the basis for the famous postulates of Robert Koch. Anthrax
is a bacterial infection caused by the endospores of Bacillus
anthracis (B. anthracis) which, depending on route of
entry), which through abrasions in the skin leads to cutaneous lesions.
This is often self-limiting and can be treated; Ingestion or inhalation
of the bacilli gives rise to systemic infection, which is often fatal.
The problem with anthrax as a weapon lies in its
delivery as the most ideal and effective mode of delivery would be
by air, but aerosolisation of anthrax spores is near impossible and
the technology required is quite advanced. This is because the spores
tend to stick together and form lumps which would be too heavy to
be dispersed and timely sink to the ground. Delivery by bombs is out,
as the explosion would incinerate majority, if not all of the spores.
Also to be effective high concentrations of the bacteria would be
required. The next considerable method would be contamination of food
supply e.g. livestock, sweets but in order to do this direct access
to the target would be required.
Fig. 1: Bacillus anthracis visible under a microscope. Source.
