Methods of using bacteriological weapons and methods of prevention. Bacteriological (biological) weapons and the consequences of their use

Biological (bacteriological) weapons are understood as a means of mass destruction of all living things: people, animals and plants. Its action is based on various options for using the pathogenic properties of microorganisms, such as bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, as well as toxins produced by some bacteria. Biological weapons include various formulations of pathogens, as well as means of delivering them to the target - these can be rockets, aerosol dispensers, aerial bombs, which we spoke about earlier, etc. In connection with this definition, several more important definitions should be given, which directly associated with biological weapons.

A biological formulation is a specific multicomponent system that contains pathogenic microorganisms or, more simply, toxins, fillers and additives that increase their stability during their various uses: storage, application and being in an aerosol state, as in cans for example. Also, formulations can be, depending on the agricultural condition, liquid and dry.

Biological agents are a generalized concept of biological formulations, as well as infectious vectors. By effect, they are divided into lethal: based on the pathogens of plague, smallpox and anthrax, and incapacitating, for example, based on the pathogens of brucellosis, cholera.

Delivery vehicles are combat vehicles that ensure the delivery of technical means to the intended target (object of destruction). These include: aviation, ballistic cruise missiles, sabotage groups that deliver special containers with radio command or timer opening systems to the area of ​​application.

Thus, bacteriological weapons have a high combat activity, which affects large territories with little effort and resources. But at the same time, its predictability and controllability are much lower than those of chemical or nuclear weapons.

Ways to use bacteriological agents

Various variations of the introduction of harmful substances into the atmosphere are known. Thus, the methods of using bacteriological weapons include:

aviation bombs and shells;

artillery mines;

packages, including bags, boxes and containers dropped from aircraft or helicopters;

special devices that disperse infected insects;

sabotage methods.

And yet, the main way attackers use bacteriological agents is to infect atmospheric air. The mechanism is as follows: when munitions preloaded with a bacteriological formula burst, a so-called bacteriological cloud (fog) is formed. Spreading along the wind, it disperses and then settles on the surface of the earth, forming an infected area, the area of ​​​​which directly depends on the composition and amount of the formulation, as well as on wind speed.

There are other ways to infect an enemy, for example, in some cases, an ill-wisher can leave contaminated household items in public places: clothes, a bag, food, etc. In this case, the disease can occur as a result of direct contact with an infected object.

Another possible form of the spread of bacteriological weapons is the deliberate abandonment of infected patients when they leave. He, in turn, infects everyone else and becomes a source of infection among the entire population.

Study questions

1. Brief historical background

The causative agents of infectious diseases have been used for military purposes for a very long time. For example, in 1346, an epidemic of plague arose among the Genoese during the siege of the fortress of Kafa (on the site of the present city of Feodosia) by throwing the besiegers of the corpses of people who died from the plague over the ramparts of the fortress.

The idea of ​​using pathogenic microorganisms as means of destruction arose because infectious diseases constantly claimed many human lives, and the epidemics that accompanied wars caused heavy losses among the troops, sometimes prejudging the outcome of battles or even entire campaigns. For example, out of 27 thousand English soldiers who participated in 1741 in the aggressive campaigns in Mexico and Peru. 20 thousand died from yellow fever. From 1733 to 1865, 8 million people died in wars in Europe, of which only 1.5 million were combat losses, and 6.5 million died from infectious diseases.

In our time, it is difficult to even imagine the consequences of the deliberate spread of pathogens. infectious diseases if the population does not know the measures of struggle and protection, clearly and consistently implement them. For this, it is worth recalling examples of epidemic diseases, for example, the tragedy of the year. Then, out of 500 million people who fell ill with influenza, 20 million died, that is, almost 2 times more than were killed during the entire First World War.

In the years leading up to World War II, the most intensive work The Japanese led the way in the development of bacteriological weapons. In the occupied territory of Manchuria, they created two large research centers that had experimental sites where biological agents were tested not only on laboratory animals, but also on prisoners of war and the civilian population of China.

Since 1941, work has been actively carried out in the United States on the creation and possible use of biological agents for military purposes, a special military scientific research service has been created, large research laboratories, experimental laboratories in the state of Mississippi, and enterprises for the production of biological agents and their storage in the state of Arkansas have been built. , a test site in Utah and a number of other facilities. Most of the work on the creation of bacteriological weapons was carried out in the strictest secrecy.

The adoption in 1972 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological Weapons and on Their Destruction was a great victory for the progressive forces of the whole world.

It is necessary to emphasize such a feature of biological weapons as the possibility of reverse action. The use of a number of the most virulent pathogens of contagious (contagious) diseases creates the danger of defeating friendly troops and the population. For this reason, for example, the expediency of using the plague agent and some others is questioned. More acceptable are anthrax, yellow fever, tularemia, brucellosis, Q fever and Venezuelan encephalomyelitis. From anthrax and yellow fever, people without treatment usually die within a few weeks. Brucellosis, Q fever, and Venezuelan encephalomyelitis are rarely fatal, but the illnesses they cause last more than 2-3 months.

2. Bacteriological (biological) weapons

Bacteriological (biological) weapons (BW) are weapons of mass destruction and are designed to kill people, farm animals and plants, to contaminate food, fodder and water supplies.

Bacteriological weapons can be used with the help of aircraft, missiles, artillery shells, mines and sabotage in the form of liquid or dry (powder) formulations, aerosols containing pathogens various diseases, as well as by the spread of insects, rodents.

The most likely objects for the use of BW can be: large administrative and industrial centers, railway junctions and stations, sea and river ports, water supply sources; food bases and warehouses, etc.

People can be affected by inhaling contaminated air, by contact with microbes and toxins on the mucous membranes, by eating contaminated food and water, as well as by the bites of infected insects (rodents) and direct contact with sick people.

The main signs of the use of BO are: the trail of a low-flying aircraft, deaf explosions of bombs (shells) with the formation of a cloud, droplets or powdery substance on the soil, the appearance of a significant number of insects or their varieties that have not previously been found in the area, as well as mass disease people or death of animals. With the sabotage use of BO, infection occurs covertly, without obvious external signs. The latent period ranges from several hours to several days and depends on the type of disease.

TO characteristic features BOs include:

The ability to infect people and animals in negligible doses;

The presence of a latent period of the disease;

Long duration to maintain damaging properties;

The ability of many diseases to be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy body;

Difficulty in detecting pathogens of infectious diseases;

Strong psychological impact and etc.

The basis of the damaging effect of bacteriological weapons is bacterial agents: pathogenic microbes (bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi) and toxins (poisons) produced by some bacteria.

Bacteria - microorganisms of plant origin, invisible to the naked eye, multiply very quickly by simple division and are capable of causing severe epidemiological diseases. Bacteria are killed by exposure to sunlight, disinfectants and boiling.

Toxins are potent poisons produced by bacteria.

As bacterial agents, only those microbes that are resistant to drying, have the ability to infect with minimal doses, quickly cause severe diseases, and are difficult to recognize and, consequently, to treat, can be used.

These include pathogens: plague, anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, glanders, melisodosis, smallpox, botulinum toxin and other especially dangerous infectious diseases.

When using aerosols, the air becomes infected, forming a bacterial cloud, which, under the influence of wind, can spread over considerable distances, creating vast areas of infection with an area of ​​several hundred square kilometers.

Bacteria-infected areas of the terrain and all environmental objects can be dangerous for several hours, days and even weeks. Settled aerosols can again rise by ascending air currents and be retained for some time in the surface layers of the atmosphere. Due to their small size, biological aerosols, like coal dust, can easily enter the room through cracks in windows, open windows or doors that are not tightly closed.

Through Airways a person can contract many infections, even those that are not transmitted naturally through the air.

3. Characteristics of infectious diseases

Plague- an acute contagious disease of humans and some animals. The causative agent of plague is the plague microbe (wand). Under natural conditions, this is a disease of wild rodents (ground squirrels, jerboas, rats, etc.), which is spread among animals by fleas. Having drunk the blood of a sick animal, they become contagious. Periodically arising among wild rodents in certain places, the plague persists in these primary natural foci. The transfer of infection to rats and mice, as well as to domestic animals, the release of plague from a natural focus and spread beyond it is dangerous for people.

Human infection occurs through the skin and mucous membranes upon contact with sick animals (when removing skins and butchering carcasses) or when bitten by an infected flea. From person to person, the plague is transmitted through the air (with pulmonary disease), through fleas and infected things of the patient. The source of infection can also be the corpses of people who died from the plague. The incubation (hidden) period is 2-6 days. The disease is accompanied by a general sharp intoxication, damage to the cardiovascular and nervous systems. There are bubonic, skin, pneumonic and septic forms of plague. An exceptional danger to others is a person suffering from its pulmonary form. Patients are hospitalized in special medical institutions.

The population in the focus of bacteriological damage must strictly comply with all the requirements of the civil defense medical service. The speed of elimination of the outbreak largely depends on the organization of the population.

Infectious patients are transported, as a rule, in ambulances or in specially adapted vehicles. It is impossible to transport sick people with the wounded, as well as patients with various infectious diseases on the same car. It is forbidden to transport infectious patients on passing vehicles.

When transporting infectious patients, it is necessary to have dishes for collecting the patient's secretions, disinfectants for disinfecting these secretions and hands, as well as medicines for emergency care. Accompanying infectious patients must strictly observe the precautionary measures: put on dressing gowns over the clothes, bandages on the head; cover the nose and mouth with a respirator or cotton-gauze bandage. Having delivered the patient to a medical institution, the accompanying persons undergo a complete sanitization. Disinfect vehicles in the hospital where the sick person was taken.

general characteristics biological weapons. The main types of pathogens of infectious diseases and the features of their damaging effect. Ways and means of using biological weapons

General characteristics of biological weapons

Biological weapons are special ammunition and combat devices with means of their delivery to the target, equipped with biological means; it is intended for mass destruction of people, farm animals and crops.

The basis of the damaging effect of biological weapons is biological agents (BS) - biological agents specially selected for combat use, capable of causing serious diseases (damages) when they penetrate into the body of people (animals, plants).

Features of the damaging effect of BO

1. BO selectively affects mainly living matter, leaving intact material values, which can then be used by the attacking side. In addition, some biological agents are capable of infecting only humans, others - farm animals, and others - plants. Only a few agents are dangerous for both humans and animals.

2. BO has a high combat effectiveness, since the doses of biological agents that cause infection are negligible, significantly exceeding the most toxic poisonous substances in this.

3. BO is capable of hitting manpower over areas of tens of thousands or more square kilometers, which allows it to be used to hit highly dispersed manpower even in the absence of data on its exact deployment

4. The damaging effect of BO manifests itself through a certain, so-called incubation (latent) period, which lasts from several hours to several days and even weeks. The incubation period can be shortened or lengthened depending on various factors. These include the magnitude of the dose of biological agents that have entered the body, the presence of specific immunity in the body, the timeliness of the use of medical protection, physical state and previous exposure of the body to ionizing fluxes. During the incubation period, the personnel fully retain their combat capability.

5. BW is characterized by a duration of action due to the property of some biological agents to cause diseases capable of epidemic spread. On the other hand, some biological agents long time remain in external environment in a viable state (months and years). An increase in the duration of BO action is also associated with the possibility of the spread of some biological agents by artificially infected blood-sucking vectors. In this case, there is a danger of the formation of a persistent natural focus of infection, the presence in which will be dangerous for personnel.

6. The possibility of covert use of BO and difficulties in the timely indication and identification of biological agents.

7. BO has a strong psychological impact. The threat of the use of BW by the enemy or the sudden appearance of dangerous diseases (plague, smallpox, yellow fever) can cause panic, depression, thereby reducing the combat capability of troops and disorganizing the work of the rear.

8. A large volume and complexity of work to eliminate the consequences of the use of BW, with the possible occurrence of serious environmental impact. Biological agents affect humans, animals and vegetable world, microorganisms. This can lead to their mass death, reduction in numbers to such a level at which they cannot continue their further existence as species. The disappearance of one or a group of biological species in an ecological community seriously disturbs the ecological balance. The resulting vacuum can be filled by a biological species - a carrier of a dangerous infection acquired in natural conditions or as a result of the use of BW. In turn, this will lead to the formation of vast areas of persistent natural focality, in which it is dangerous for humans to live.

Biological agents are capable of causing diseases when they enter the body through the respiratory organs along with air, through the gastrointestinal tract with food and water, through the skin (through abrasions and wounds, and when bitten by infected insects).

The main types of pathogens of infectious diseases and the features of their damaging effect

As biological means, the enemy can use:

For the defeat of people - botulinum toxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin, causative agents of plague, tularemia, anthrax, yellow fever, Q fever, brucellosis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis and other diseases;

For the defeat of farm animals - pathogens of anthrax, glanders, foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, etc.;

For the defeat of agricultural crops - pathogens of rust of cereals, late blight of potatoes and other diseases.

For the destruction of crops of grain and industrial crops, one can expect the enemy to deliberately use insects - the most dangerous pests of agricultural crops, such as locust, Colorado potato beetle, etc.

Microorganisms, including pathogens of infectious diseases, depending on the size, structure and biological properties are divided into the following classes: bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi.
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms visible only under a microscope; reproduce by simple division. They quickly die from exposure to direct sunlight, disinfectants and high temperature. Bacteria are insensitive to low temperatures and even tolerate freezing. Some types of bacteria to survive in adverse conditions able to be covered with a protective capsule or turn into a spore with great resistance to these factors. Bacteria cause such serious diseases as plague, tularemia, anthrax, glanders, etc.

Fungi are microorganisms that differ from bacteria in a more complex structure and methods of reproduction. Fungal spores are highly resistant to drying, exposure to sunlight and disinfectants. Diseases caused by pathogenic fungi are characterized by damage to internal organs with a severe and prolonged course.

Features of the damaging effect of toxins

microbial toxins- products of vital activity of certain types of bacteria with high toxicity. When ingested with food, water in the human body, animals, these products cause severe, often fatal poisoning.

The most dangerous of the known bacterial toxins is botulinum toxin, leading to death in 60-70% of cases if not promptly treated. Toxins, especially when dried, are quite resistant to freezing, fluctuations relative humidity air and do not lose their damaging properties in the air for up to 12 hours. Toxins are destroyed during prolonged boiling and exposure to disinfectants.

When a certain amount of a toxin enters the body, it causes a form of disease called poisoning or intoxication.

The penetration of toxins into the body occurs mainly in three ways: through the gastrointestinal tract, the wound surface and the lungs. From the place of primary penetration, they are carried by blood to all organs and tissues. The toxin in the blood is partially neutralized by special cells of the immune system or specific antibodies that are produced by the body in response to the introduction of the toxin. In addition, the detoxification process takes place in the liver, where the toxin enters with the bloodstream. Removal of the neutralized toxin from the body in most cases is carried out by the kidneys.

The manifestations of the toxic effect of microbial toxins are different and are associated with their predominant damage to certain organs and those changes in the body that occur due to a violation the functions of these organs.

Individual toxins affect the nervous tissue, block the conduction of impulses along the nerve fibers, disrupting the regulatory influence nervous system muscles, resulting in paralysis.

Other toxins, acting mainly in the intestines, disrupt the process of absorption of fluid in it, which, on the contrary, exits into the intestinal lumen, as a result of which diarrhea and dehydration of the body develop.

In addition, toxins act on various internal organs, where they penetrate with blood, disrupting cardiac activity, liver and kidney functions. A number of toxins, being in the blood, can have a direct damaging effect on blood cells and blood vessels, and disrupt blood clotting processes.

Ways and means of using biological weapons

The effectiveness of the action of BO depends not only on striking abilities pathogens, but also to a large extent from right choice ways and means of their application. The following ways of using BO are possible:

Pollution of the surface layer of air by spraying biological formulations (pathogens);

Aerosol method;

Dispersal of artificially infected blood-sucking disease vectors in the target area is a transmissible method;

Direct contamination by biological weapons and military equipment, water supply systems (water sources), catering facilities, food products in warehouses, as well as air in rooms and facilities that have importance with the help of sabotage equipment - a sabotage method.

The most effective and probable way to use biological means is to create a biological aerosol using small bombs loaded into disposable bomb clusters, containers, warheads of guided and cruise missiles, as well as through various spraying devices (pouring and spraying aircraft devices, mechanical aerosol generators), mounted on airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, balloons, ships, submarines, ground vehicles.

Pouring and spraying aircraft devices allow reaching surface air aerosol contamination over large areas.

One-time bomb cassettes and containers can contain several tens and even hundreds of small biological bombs. Dispersion of small bombs allows you to simultaneously and evenly cover large-sized objects with an aerosol. The transfer of a biological formulation into a combat state is carried out by an explosion of an explosive charge.

Transmissive method consists in the deliberate dispersal of artificially infected vectors in a given area. The method is based on the ability of blood-sucking carriers to easily perceive, retain for a long time, and through bites and secretions transmit pathogens of a number of diseases dangerous to humans and animals. So, certain types mosquitoes transmit yellow fever, fleas - plague, lice - typhus, ticks - Q fever, encephalitis, tularemia, etc. The influence of weather conditions is determined only by their impact on the vital activity of carriers. It is believed that the use of infected vectors is most likely at temperatures of 15°C and above and a relative humidity of at least 60%. This method is considered as an auxiliary.

For the delivery and dispersion in the target area of ​​disease vectors, as well as insect pests of agricultural crops, entomological ammunition can be used - aerial bombs and containers that provide protection against adverse factors during the flight and landing (heating and soft landing on the ground).

It is not excluded the use of radio and remotely controlled balloons as delivery vehicles and balloons. Drifting along with the prevailing air currents, they are capable of landing or dropping biological munitions on appropriate commands.

Diversionary method is very affordable and effective, does not require special training. With the help of small-sized devices (portable aerosol generators, spraying canisters) it is possible to infect the air in crowded places, in the premises and halls of railway stations, airports, subways, social, cultural and sports centers, as well as at facilities of great defense and state importance. Possible contamination of water in urban water supply systems using pathogens of cholera, typhoid fever, plague.

Biological agents can be used by tactical, transport and strategic aircraft.

According to the views of foreign military experts, the use of biological weapons is possible both on the eve and during military operations in order to inflict massive losses on personnel, make it difficult to conduct active hostilities, disrupt the work of facilities and the economy of the rear as a whole. At the same time, biological munitions are supposed to be used both independently and in combination with nuclear, chemical and conventional weapons in order to significantly increase overall losses. So, for example, the previous exposure of the body to ionizing radiation from a nuclear explosion sharply reduces its protective ability against the action of BS and shortens the incubation period.

Principles for the use of biological weapons(surprise, massing, careful consideration of the conditions of use, combat properties and characteristics of the damaging effect of pathogens) are generally the same as for other types of WMD, in particular, chemical weapons.

In the offensive, biological weapons are supposed to be used to destroy personnel of reserves and second echelons located in areas of concentration or marching, as well as rear units. In defense, the use of biological weapons is recommended to destroy personnel, both first and second echelons, large command posts and rear facilities. To solve operational-tactical tasks, the enemy can use BS with a short incubation period and low contagiousness.

When acting on strategic objects, the use of BS with a long latent period and high contagiousness is more likely.

Biological (bacteriological) weapons is a means of mass destruction of people, animals and plants. Its action is based on the use of the pathogenic properties of microorganisms (bacteria, rickettsia, fungi, as well as toxins produced by some bacteria). Biological weapons include formulations of pathogens and means of delivering them to the target (missiles, aerial bombs and containers, aerosol dispensers, artillery shells, etc.).

The damaging factor of biological weapons is pathogenicity, i.e., their ability to cause disease in humans, animals and plants (pathogenicity). The quantitative characteristic (parameter) of pathogenicity is virulence (degree of pathogenicity).

Features of biological weapons

Biological weapons have a number of specific features, the most important of which are:

• epidemic - the possibility of mass destruction of people in vast areas in a short time;
• high toxicity, far exceeding toxicity (1 cm 3 suspension of the psittacosis virus contains 2x10 10 doses that infect humans);
• contagiousness - the ability to be transmitted through contact with a person, animal, objects, etc.;
• incubation period, reaching several days;
• the possibility of preservation of microorganisms, in which their viability in the dried state is maintained for 5-10 years;
• range of propagation - simulators of biological aerosols during tests penetrated at distances of up to 700 km;
• difficulty of indication, reaching several hours;
• strong psychological impact (panic, fear, etc.).

As biological means, the enemy can use pathogens of various infectious diseases: plague, anthrax, brucellosis, glanders, tularemia, cholera, yellow and other types of fever, spring-summer encephalitis, typhus and typhoid fever, influenza, malaria, dysentery, smallpox and etc. In addition, botulinum toxin can be used, which causes severe poisoning of the human body. For the defeat of animals, along with the pathogens of anthrax and glanders, it is possible to use foot-and-mouth disease viruses, plague of cattle and birds, swine cholera, etc.; for the defeat of agricultural plants - pathogens of rust of cereals, late blight of potatoes and other diseases, as well as various pests of agricultural crops.

Infection of people and animals occurs as a result of inhalation of air, contact with microbes or toxins on the mucous membrane and damaged skin, ingestion of contaminated food and water, insect and tick bites, contact with contaminated objects, injury from fragments of ammunition filled with biological agents, as well as as a result of direct contact with sick people (animals). A number of diseases are quickly transmitted from sick people to healthy people and cause epidemics (plague, cholera, typhoid, influenza, etc.).

The main ways of using biological weapons are aerosol, transmissible (the use of insects, ticks and rodents) and sabotage.

Means of protecting the population from biological weapons

The main means of protecting the population from biological weapons include: vaccine-serum preparations, antibiotics, sulfonamides and other medicinal substances used for special and emergency prevention of infectious diseases, means of individual and collective protection, chemical substances used to neutralize pathogens of infectious diseases.

If signs of the use of biological weapons by the enemy are detected, they immediately put on gas masks (respirators, masks), as well as skin protection and report this to the nearest civil defense headquarters, the director of the institution, the head of the enterprise, organization.

As a result of the use of biological weapons, zones of biological contamination and foci of biological damage. A zone of biological contamination is an area of ​​terrain (water area) or an area of ​​​​airspace infected with pathogens within dangerous limits for the population. The focus of biological damage is the territory within which, as a result of the use of biological agents, mass diseases of people, farm animals and plants have occurred. The size of the focus of biological damage depends on the type of biological agents, the extent and methods of their application.

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases among the population in the lesion, a complex of anti-epidemic and sanitary-hygienic measures is carried out: emergency prevention; observation and quarantine; sanitary treatment of the population; disinfection of various infected objects. If necessary, destroy insects, ticks and rodents (disinfestation, deratation).