At all times, people tried to use every opportunity to find a new viable option to destroy each other. We have demolished forests, "overturned" religion, philosophy, science and even art in order to fuel the desire of humanity to drink more blood from each other. We've even built some of the most serious viral, bacterial and fungal weapons along the way.
10. Smallpox
The term "biological weapon" typically conjures up mental images associated with sterile government labs, special uniforms, and test tubes full of bright fluids. Historically, however, biological weapons have taken on much more mundane forms: paper bags full of plague-infested fleas, or even a blanket, as was the case in the 1763 war between France and India.
9. Anthrax
In the fall of 2001, letters containing white powder began to arrive in the offices of the US Senate. When rumors spread that the envelopes contained spores of the deadly anthrax bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, panic began. Anthrax letters infected 22 people and killed five.
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8. Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Another well-known killer exists in the form of the Ebola virus, one of a dozen different types of hemorrhagic fevers, unpleasant diseases that involve profuse bleeding. Ebola made headlines in the 1970s when the virus spread to Zaire and Sudan, killing hundreds in the process. Over the ensuing decades, the virus retained its deadly reputation, spreading in lethal outbreaks throughout Africa. Since its discovery, at least seven outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Europe and the United States.
7. Plague
The Black Death wiped out half of Europe's population in the 14th century. This horror, called the "big death", continues to haunt the world even today. The mere prospect of the return of the plague stick is shocking people. Today, some researchers believe that the world's first pandemic may have been hemorrhagic fever, but the term "plague" continues to be associated with another Class A biological weapon: the bacteria Yersinia pestis.
6. Tularemia
Despite the fact that death from infection with this bacterium occurs in only five percent of cases, the microorganism that causes the development of the disease is one of the most dangerous infectious bacteria on Earth. In 1941, the Soviet Union reported 10,000 cases. Later, when there was a fascist attack on Stalingrad the following year, this number rose to 100,000. Most of the infections were recorded on the German side of the conflict. Former Soviet biological weapons researcher Ken Alibek argues that this surge in infection was not an accident, but was the result of biological warfare. Alibek will continue to help Soviet scientists develop a vaccine against tularemia until his escape to the United States in 1992.
5. Botulism
Take a deep breath. If the air you have just breathed contains botulinum toxin, you will not know. Deadly bacteria are colorless and odorless. However, after 12-36 hours, the first symptoms appear: blurred vision, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. At this point, your only hope is to get botulism antitoxin, and the sooner you get it, the better for you. If untreated, muscle paralysis occurs, and later paralysis of the respiratory system.
4. Rice blast
A large number of bacteria, viruses and toxins pose a serious threat to humans, but many living organisms prefer another prey: grown food crops. Ridding cultures of their enemies is an important task for humans, because without food, people will panic, unrest and, ultimately, death.
3. Rinderpest
When Genghis Khan invaded Europe in the 13th century, he accidentally brought in a terrible biological weapon. Rinderpest is caused by a virus that is closely related to the measles virus. The virus affects cattle and other ruminants such as goats, bison and giraffes. The disease is highly contagious, causing fever, loss of appetite, dysentery and inflammation of the mucous membranes. Symptoms persist for about 6-10 days, after which the animal usually dies from dehydration.
2. Nipah virus
Viruses adapt and evolve over time. New strains are emerging, and sometimes close contact between humans and animals allows life-threatening diseases to "jump" to the top of the food chain. With the constant increase in the number of people on earth, the emergence of new diseases is inevitable. And every time a new outbreak appears, you can be sure that someone is sure to begin to view it as a potential biological weapon.
1. Virus of the Chimera
Plague, smallpox, anthrax - the most deadly viruses in the world, are not dangerous in themselves. They acquired all their most dangerous properties in the process of evolution. But what happens when scientists start digging into the genetic makeup of these organisms, reworking it? What horror can be born if you add to this the human desire to change their natural design? Unfortunately, the creation of such life forms is not just pages of a fantasy novel, it is already happening.
In Greek and Roman mythology, a chimera is a combination of body parts of a lion, a goat, and a snake into one monstrous form. Artists of the late Middle Ages often used this image to illustrate the complex nature of evil. In modern genetic science, a chimeric organism exists and contains the genes of a foreign body. Given its name, you probably assumed that all chimeric organisms must be gruesome examples of human invasion of nature to pursue their nefarious goals.