Why is botulinum toxin an attractive BW?
The botulism toxin can be used in an aerosol attack and may result in many causalities. If the toxin is inhaled symptoms might not appear for several days (61). Fortunately, botulism cannot spread to others who have close contact with them. One gram of this toxin if dispersed and inhaled evenly could kill 1 million people. If released as an aerosol it could incapacitate or kill 10% of the people within 500 meters downwind of the BW release. There are seven different types of the toxin. Antibodies used to treat botulism are only useful in treating people that have toxins A, B and E in their systems. If botulinum toxin to any of the other 4 toxins were released antitoxin therapy would not be helpful. Treatment of this disease is labor intensive, may require expensive equipment and takes weeks to months before the persons completely recover. Laboratory Diagnosis Physicians may consider the diagnosis if the patient’s history and physical examination suggest botulism. However, a number of o
