177
Officially, smallpox has been wiped out in the world. There are no longer cases
detected in the world population since 1990. An ethical question remains concerning
smallpox. Are we allowed to destroy old samples of smallpox virus (used as standard
reference material), which are kept in some virology laboratories around the world?
Certainly not [3], because we could no longer prepare proper vaccines without the live
virus samples to start from. And without the vaccine, a small number of wild viruses
could ignite a wide epidemic killing a large proportion of the human population since
the vaccination is no longer mandatory in any country, and a large percentage of
young populations have no longer been vaccinated after the early 1990s.
11.1.2 Existing Active Infective Diseases
11.1.2.1 Anthrax (Carbuncle)
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, toxin-producing, encapsulated, aerobic or
facultative anaerobic organisms. Anthrax, an often-fatal disease of animals, is transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals or their products (woolsorter’s
disease). In humans, infection typically occurs through the skin. Inhalation infection is less common; oropharyngeal, meningeal, and GI infections are rare. For
inhalation and GI infections, nonspecific local symptoms are typically followed in
several days by severe systemic illness, shock, and often death. Empiric treatment is
with ciprofloxacin or doxycycline. A vaccine is available (antitoxin).
Pathogenesis of anthrax takes place since Bacillus anthracis readily forms spores
when germs encounter a dry environment -a condition unfavorable for growth.
Spores resist destruction and can remain viable in soil, wool, and animal hair for
decades.
Spores germinate and multiply in favorable conditions (wet skin, tissue, blood)
and can give human disease by contact (papules, black eschars, contagious also via
fomites), ingestion (raw meat → fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and inhalation
(flu-like illness, respiratory distress, cyanosis, shock, coma). Needless to say, that
biothreats with anthrax attacks through mailings (using spores in powder form)
have already taken place in the USA in 2001 (US Postal Service, Washington DC).
This event highly sensitized the public to the global theme of bioterroristic attacks.
11.1.2.2 Plague (Pestis, Black Death)
Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis (formerly named Pasteurella pestis). Short bacillus with hairpin shape, infects wild rodents and can infect humans via tick bites.
Symptoms are either severe pneumonia or massive lymphadenopathy with high
fever, often progressing to septicemia. Diagnosis is epidemiologic and clinical, confirmed by culture and serologic testing. Treatment is with streptomycin or doxycycline. Unfortunately, a vaccine is not available for the plague.
11 Defense Against Biological Terrorism: Vaccines and Their Characterizations
Officially, smallpox has been wiped out in the world. There are no longer cases
detected in the world population since 1990. An ethical question remains concerning
smallpox. Are we allowed to destroy old samples of smallpox virus (used as standard
reference material), which are kept in some virology laboratories around the world?
Certainly not [3], because we could no longer prepare proper vaccines without the live
virus samples to start from. And without the vaccine, a small number of wild viruses
could ignite a wide epidemic killing a large proportion of the human population since
the vaccination is no longer mandatory in any country, and a large percentage of
young populations have no longer been vaccinated after the early 1990s.
11.1.2 Existing Active Infective Diseases
11.1.2.1 Anthrax (Carbuncle)
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, toxin-producing, encapsulated, aerobic or
facultative anaerobic organisms. Anthrax, an often-fatal disease of animals, is transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals or their products (woolsorter’s
disease). In humans, infection typically occurs through the skin. Inhalation infection is less common; oropharyngeal, meningeal, and GI infections are rare. For
inhalation and GI infections, nonspecific local symptoms are typically followed in
several days by severe systemic illness, shock, and often death. Empiric treatment is
with ciprofloxacin or doxycycline. A vaccine is available (antitoxin).
Pathogenesis of anthrax takes place since Bacillus anthracis readily forms spores
when germs encounter a dry environment -a condition unfavorable for growth.
Spores resist destruction and can remain viable in soil, wool, and animal hair for
decades.
Spores germinate and multiply in favorable conditions (wet skin, tissue, blood)
and can give human disease by contact (papules, black eschars, contagious also via
fomites), ingestion (raw meat → fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and inhalation
(flu-like illness, respiratory distress, cyanosis, shock, coma). Needless to say, that
biothreats with anthrax attacks through mailings (using spores in powder form)
have already taken place in the USA in 2001 (US Postal Service, Washington DC).
This event highly sensitized the public to the global theme of bioterroristic attacks.
11.1.2.2 Plague (Pestis, Black Death)
Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis (formerly named Pasteurella pestis). Short bacillus with hairpin shape, infects wild rodents and can infect humans via tick bites.
Symptoms are either severe pneumonia or massive lymphadenopathy with high
fever, often progressing to septicemia. Diagnosis is epidemiologic and clinical, confirmed by culture and serologic testing. Treatment is with streptomycin or doxycycline. Unfortunately, a vaccine is not available for the plague.
11 Defense Against Biological Terrorism: Vaccines and Their Characterizations