ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Volume ...

Anthrax WeaponizationMembers of an EPA and United States Coast Guard cleanup crew prepare to enter the American Media Inc. office building in Boca Raton, Florida, where atleast two people contracted anthrax through a deliberately contaminated letter mailed to the facility in October, 2001. AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS.combined with the use of antibiotic and supportive therapiesoffer the best chance of survival once an inhalationanthrax infection has been established.A major factor that contributes to the spread of anthraxis the ability of the bacterium to form a spore. Thespore is a tough shell that houses the genetic material ofthe microbe, and can preserve this material almost indefinitelythrough harsh environmental conditions that wouldkill the growing bacteria. When conditions become morehospitable—as when the spores are breathed into thewarm and moist environment of the lungs—the spores”germinate“ and bacterial growth resumes.Most biological warfare experts concur that the manufactureof sufficient quantities of anthrax spores to permitan aerial assault or to form the payload of missiles requiresmanufacturing facilities and skilled personnel, andis a formidable challenge. Nonetheless, given time, fundingand desire, an organization can muster the necessaryresources. For example, the terrorist group Aum Shinrikyo,which was responsible for the release of Sarin gas in aTokyo, Japan, subway station in 1995, also released spores40 Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security