Why is it considered a possible terror weapon?
The possible use of plague as a weapon has been studied for at least 60 years. The Japanese reportedly tried to use bomblets to spread infected fleas during World War II. Both the U.S. and the former Soviet Union developed methods for releasing plague bacteria into the air during the 1950s and 1960s. Plague is considered to be a possible biological weapon because: • The bacteria can be released into the air, potentially infecting large numbers of people. • Bacteria released into the air will cause the dangerous pneumonic form of plague. • Pneumonic plague can be passed from one person to another, further spreading the illness. • Pneumonic plague is a serious illness with a high death rate. • An outbreak of pneumonic plague would cause extreme fear and panic. The first sign of a pneumonic plague attack would be a wave of people seeking medical treatment for severe respiratory problems, about one to two days after the attack. By that time, the bacteria would no longer be present in the a
