Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1

AgentContagiousSymptomsMortality(if untreated)Existenceof vaccineTreatmentSmallpox(virus)YesFever, aches, headache, redspots on face and torso30%YesVaccination within 4 days afterexposure, IV hydrationHemorrhagicfever (viruses)YesVary but include fever,bleeding, shock, and comaVariesNoEbola has no cure, antiviralriboflavin and some antibioticsmay helpInhalationanthrax(bacterium)NoFever, chest pain, difficultybreathing, respiratory failure90–100%YesEarly treatment with Cipro andother antibioticsBotulism(bacterium)NoBlurred vision, progressiveparalysis, death within 24 hoursif not treated60–100%YesEquine antitoxin given early.Intensive care, respiratorPneumonicplague(bacterium)YesHigh fever, chills, headache,coughing blood, difficultybreathing, respiratory failure90–100%NoAntibioticsTularemia(bacterium)NoFever, sore throat, weakness,respiratory stress, pneumonia30–60%Yes(in testing)AntibioticsSmallpox Botulism Plague TularemiaFigure 19-16 Characteristics of common agents that might be used by terrorists as biological weapons.in a crowded subway car, into a public water supply,or into the unprotected, ground-level air intakes foundin most office buildings. A terrorist organization withvolunteers willing to die for their cause could infect volunteerswith a normally fatal disease organism that iseasily transmitted from one human to another. Afterwaiting until they are contagious, the volunteers couldbe sent on airplane trips throughout the world. Millionscould die and the social and economic fabric of affectedsocieties would unravel.According to a 2003 worst-case scenario publishedin the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, ifterrorists release 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of anthraxspores in a city of 10 million people, at least 123,000people would die, even if everyone took the appropriateantibiotics within 48 hours after exposure.A more likely version of this scenario is that the attackmight go unnoticed until a few victims turned upsick at hospitals. Then waves of very sick peoplewould overwhelm hospitals, most of which lackenough stocks of antibiotics, vaccines, equipment, andstaffing to handle such a big surge in emergency patients.Casualties among medical workers would compoundthe crisis and chaos would reign.I know you are thinking: Whoa, enough already.This stuff is depressing and scary. But it is a reality intoday’s world. Let us look at some more hopeful newsabout bioterrorism.Early detection of biological agents is a key to treatingexposed victims and preventing the spread of diseasesto others. Some scientists are trapping commoninsects such as bees, beetles, moths, and crickets to seewhether they can be used as environmental monitors ofchemical and biological agents. Others are trying to developinexpensive and easy-to-use DNA detectors toquickly and accurately diagnose any infectious diseasesuch as smallpox. For example, MIT biologist ToddRider has developed a biological sensor to detect withinminutes dangerous biological agents such as anthrax.He made the sensor out of mouse immune cells by insertinga gene for antibodies for a particular biologicalagent (such as anthrax) along with a gene that causes ajellyfish to glow. When a biological agent activates theantibody, the immune cells of the mouse light up.Also, treatments are available for the most commonbiological agents (Figure 19-16)—unless theyhave been genetically modified to make such treatmentsfail. And outbreaks can be kept under control ifhttp://biology.brookscole.com/miller14427