Likelihood: Very Unlikely
In March 2001 the Journal of the American Medical Association published a report speculating about the effects of an aerial spraying of anthrax. The same article named intentional contamination of the U.S. food supply as another bio-terrorism concern.
The report also pointed out that Aum Shinrikyo, the terrorist group responsible for the release of sarin in a Tokyo, Japan, subway station in 1995,
dispersed aerosols of anthrax and botulism throughout Tokyo on at least 8 occasions. For unclear reasons, the attacks failed to produce illness.
Safeguards
- Botulism is not contagious. It requires direct exposure, which is difficult to effect on a mass scale.
- Botulism is treatable. In the past 50 years the proportion of patients with botulism who die has fallen from about 50% to 8% because of improved medical care in intensive care units.
- The CDC maintains the national botulism anti-toxin supply, and offers clinical consultation around the clock to physicians. A network exists to identify all incidences of botulism. New technology may be useful in quickly expanding the supply.
- A botulism vaccine is available. Widespread vaccination, however, would end medical uses of the toxin for treating migraine headaches, back pain and cerebral palsy.
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