Biological history and risk of Ebola

The characteristics of viruses or bacteria that spread the disease make them biological weapons thousands of years ago and are warranted to be used in modern times.

>>>Russia warns of the risk of Ebola as a biological weapon

Biological weapons rely on the characteristics of disease or transmission of bacteria, bacteria, viruses to create pathogens or death for humans, animals or plants. The degree of influence of this weapon depends on their ability to spread in the human body, animal or plant.

According to the BBC, in a cough, the human body can put thousands of bacteria into the air. The body's mucus is also a source of infection among people who have direct contact with each other.

Black Death is the name of a pandemic that occurred in Asia and Europe in the 14th century. Smallpox is also the reason why 400,000 people in Europe die each year. Although it has been ruled out since the 20th century, if it reappears, it can open a scenario for the end of the world. This is the reason that the US and Russian governments are believed to still keep smallpox virus in secret laboratories.

Gruinard Island used to be a place to test biological weapons during World War II.(Photo: davidicke.com)

The characteristics of biological weapons are infectious, easily spread by sprayers. However, it has no impact on destroying architectural works, facilities such as roads, bridges .

Biological weapons have been used ever since

According to researchers, humans have used the disease as a weapon thousands of years ago. Ancient people used to throw corpses of people infected with germs or infected by germs into the enemy, or even use psychedelic mushrooms and bottles containing solid poison to erode enemy forces.

Biological weapons are often used as a tool to win battles. About 3,500 years ago, Middle Eastern warriors known as Hittite once hid parasites on sheep's body to transmit an infection to the enemy's city. In the Middle Ages, the victim died of a plague would become a biological weapon attacking the enemy.

As technology grows, the ambition to use weapons from viruses is multiplied in many countries around the world. During World War II, the British government experimented with lethal anthrax on the island of Gruinard, Scotland, which left it isolated for 48 years. In the 1930s, the Soviet Union once turned an island in the Aral Sea into an uninhabitable place, with plague-related tests, Venezuelan horse encephalitis or tularemia.

In the years 1940-1941, Japanese troops used to spray bombs containing plague microorganisms in 11 Chinese provinces. In the 1950-1953 period of the Korean War, the United States used bioweapons by dropping insects that caused disease to humans and rice.

Even worse, in 1971, Russia used smallpox weapons, causing 10 people to become infected and three of them died.

Whether Ebola can become a biological weapon or not

The Russian Federal Health Agency (FMBA) recently warned that the Ebola virus, which has killed nearly 1,000 people in West Africa in recent years, could become a biological weapon.

"This risk exists. In fact, Ebola virus can be used as a spray, which easily leads to serious problems," RIA Novosti quoted Vladimir Nikiforov, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases. of FMBA, said.

Father Miguel Pajares, who is infected with the Ebola virus, is being taken to the hospital Carlos III, Spain, after being identified in Liberia.Experts believe that this dangerous virus could also be used as a biological weapon.(Photo: AFP)

Biological weapons are not the same as atomic bombs. To create an atomic bomb, a uranium mine, a nuclear power plant, and many other related technologies are needed. Meanwhile, biological weapons can be built in small laboratories and are easy to disguise. According to the researcher, the discovery of biological weapon manufacturing is not easy, although the Convention on Biological and Hazardous Weapons has been in effect since 1972.

Dr. Peter Walsh of Cambridge University, UK, was the one who warned that terrorists could use the Ebola virus to create "dirty bombs". The Sun quoted the researcher as expressing concern about the risk of major casualties, if a group of people used the virus in a bomb and detonated it in a densely populated neighborhood.

According to Walsh, only a few labs in the world have Ebola virus and they are all being strictly protected. Therefore, the risk may occur if the terrorist group seeks to get this dangerous virus in West Africa.

Earlier, a former head of Russia's health agency, Gennady Onischenko, said he did not rule out the possibility that the outbreak in West Africa was suspicious and could have some artificial intervention.

At least 961 people died of the Ebola virus in the outbreak earlier this year. The disease spread to four West African countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, with a total of 1,700 people infected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 8 announced a state of emergency for an outbreak of Ebola virus, asking the international community to react in a coordinated manner to prevent the disease from spreading.