Use of Typhoid as a Biological Terrorism Weapon

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Introduction

Salmonella typhoid bacteria have over 100 strains in the world today. Most cause illness in humans, but only a few of those strains cause the illness Typhoid Fever (Pike, 2014). Typhoid is a bacterium that has been very devastating to the human race for centuries. Typhoid thrives in undeveloped countries and countries with high populations and poor sanitation procedures. But, it is still a relevant disease here in the United States because of its ease of spread once someone is infected (Pollack, 2003). Antibiotic treatment is usually successful when treating Typhoid Fever, but it still has the ability to cause death, even with treatment of advanced medicine and antibiotics. When one thinks of salmonella, they will most commonly think of a food borne illness (food poisoning symptoms) caused by eating raw or undercooked animal products such as undercooked chicken or pork. That is the effect of some strains of the bacteria, but not the one that causes typhoid fever (Pike, 2014).

Typhoid Facts and History

Salmonella enterica typhi (typhoid fever causing bacteria) are parasites with no other known living environment outside of humans (Pike, 2014). Typhoid has the ability to cause large outbreaks and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified Salmonella species with other food safety threats as high priority potential bioterrorism agents (Baggier, Burwen, Haber, & Ball, 2004). Salmonella enterica typhi is one of three species of the Salmonella genus. Typhoid gets its name from Typhos, which means smoke, or to cloud, or vapor. It was thought to be transmitted through a “cloud of sickness called miasma” (Pike, 2014). When someone recovers from typhoid fever, about 3-5% become carriers o...

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... Health from Nemours. Retrieved from

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/salmonellosis.html

Pollack, David B. (2003). Salmonella Enterica Typhi. Retrieved from

http://web.uconn.edu/mcbstaff/graf/Student%20presentations/Salmonellatyphi/Salmonellatyphi.html.

Pike, John. (2000-2014). Weapons of Mass Destruction. GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved from

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/bio-typhoid.htm

SIU School of Medicine. (2014). Overview of Potential Agents of Biological Terrorism.

Retrieved from http://www.siumed.edu/medicine/id/bioterrorism.htm

Typhoid Fever. (2014). In Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/611776/typhoid-fever

Typhoid Mary. (2014). In Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved from

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/611790/Typhoid-Mary

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