scope:

Purpose

This handbook is intended for use by the Medical Officer in the field. Its purpose is to provide an overview of potential biological warfare agents directed against human beings, problems that might be created during an attack in which a biological agent is utilised, and the current methods available to medical personnel for recognising, preventing, and managing these problems. The following definitions will be used throughout this manual and are as stated in the NATO Military Agency for Standardisation publication on agreed terms, AAP-6:

a. Biological Agent (BA). The NATO definition of a Biological Agent is: a microorganism (or a toxin derived from it) which causes disease in man, plants or animals or which causes the deterioration of material. This document is primarily concerned with BA that have effects on humans.

b. Biological Defence (BD). Biological defence comprises the methods, plans and procedures involved in establishing and executing defensive measures against biological attack. (Procedures, equipment and training would be encompassed in this definition).

c. Biological Warfare (BW). Biological warfare is the employment of BA to produce casualties in man or animals and damage to plants or material. The NATO definition then continues, to include, "or defence against such employment." BA that have potential to be used within BW are termed BW agents.

d. Biological Weapon. A biological weapon is an item of material, which projects, disperses, or disseminates a biological agent; including for example, arthropod vectors.

e. Toxin. A poisonous substance produced or derived from living plants, animals, or microorganisms; some toxins may also be produced or altered by chemical means. Compared with microorganisms, toxins have a relatively simple biochemical composition and are not able to reproduce themselves.