BW

File: 950811_009pgv_94p.txt
Page: 94p
Total Pages: 1

Filename:009pgv.94p
                                                          
Subject: BW



We have known for several years that Iraq had Bacillus anthracis 
(the causative agent of anthrax) and botulinum toxin in its 
inventory. Cultures of these agents have legitimate commercial and 
health-related uses and banning their sale by US firms would
not have precluded their acquisition by Iraq.

There is no indication that Iraq used any BW agents during the 
Gulf War. Neither were there intelligence reports of allied or 
Iraqi military or civilian casualties that could be
attributed to BW agent exposure.

The agents referred to in subject article all cause acute 
illness--not chronic, with fairly rapid onset of symptoms leading 
to rapid recovery, if treated, or to death. If troops had
been exposed to these agents, manifestations consistent with 
exposure would have been apparent soon after exposure and would 
have been diagnosable. These illnesses would not have been passed 
along to family members. In fact, botulinum toxin is not an
infectious agent, but a toxin obtained from the Clostridium 
botulinum organism. It can make the individual exposed to it ill, 
but is not contagious.

Illnesses caused by biological warfare agents, including the ones 
mentioned in the article, are easily diagnosed.

      Large numbers of dead sheep and goats were found in the 
vicinity of An Nuayriah in late August 1990. Approximately 20 to 
30 sites with 40 to 50 carcasses each (90 percent sheep and 10 
percent goats) were discovered in remote regions. Ninety percent 
of the carcasses were adults. The carcasses were in varying stages 
of
decomposition, and several had lacerated throats. The outbreak was 
attributed by local sources to Hemorrhagic septicemia caused by 
Pasteurella Spp. (multocidae), but other causes, such as 
enterotoxemia, were not specifically ruled out. Ministry of 
Agriculture officials and local shepherds considered these deaths 
to be routine for this time of the year and stated that similar 
outbreaks of this scale have occurred in the past. Samples
of blood and tissue were sent to USAMRlID for analysis. USAMRIID 
ruled out Bacillus anthracis as the causative agent.

   [      (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)    ]

 (Information received from  
[   (b)(6)   ]        )