US Overview:
In the fall of 1941, Secretary of
War Henry L. Stimson requested a report from the National Academy of Science
evaluating and suggesting future steps for the
Based on the report, the US adopted a two-pronged strategy during WWII for its chemical and biological weapons program: Its defensive BW program focused on vaccinate all active duty personnel against possible chemical and biological weapons that the enemy powers could deploy. The offensive program focused primarily on stockpiling anthrax and botulium toxin as a deterrent against Nazi Germany and Japan. The US, however, never used any of its chemical and biological weapons during the war.
Highlight:
Defensive Chemical and Biological Program
· After Pearl Harbor the US feared an enemy power would launch a strategic attack because intelligence report indicated active chemical and biological programs in Nazi Germany and Japan
· Concern regarding biological attack was well-founded. From 1932 to 1945 the Imperial Japanese Army undertook a massive and ethically horrific program to develop biological weapons. The US became aware of this effort, sought intelligence, and took the threat seriously. The FBI investigated repeated overt and covert attempts by Japan to obtain virulent yellow fever virus in 1939.
· Compelled by the report and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the US military decided to vaccinate all active duty personnel with yellow fever vaccine. By the end of 1942, all military personnel received typhoid, smallpox, and tetanus vaccines. Soldiers who refused vaccination were subject to court-martials.
· During World War II, however, a yellow fever vaccine had not yet been licensed for civilian use in the US and an FDA approved vaccine would not be available until 1953. The yellow fever vaccine used in early 1942 contained human serum and despite earlier published reports of unexplained or homologous serum jaundice occurring after its use, the perceived urgency of the biological weapons threat propelled this vaccine into use. Unfortunately, many lots were contaminated by the hepatitis B virus. An epidemic of unexplained hepatitis began in March 1942, and yellow fever vaccination was halted on April 15, 1942. Approximately 51,000 military personnel with symptomatic hepatitis were hospitalized and subsequent investigation of veterans concluded that approximately 330,000 persons had been infected. The deaths of tens of thousands of latrogenic casualties from the yellow fever vaccine experience chilled further use of other experimental vaccines.
Offensive Chemical and Biological Program
· US chemical and biological program focused primarily on exploring the offensive potential of botulinum toxin and anthrax. Smallpox—to a lesser extent—was explored as a possible biological weapon.
US biological weapons research and
development efforts centered around Camp Detrick
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1849920.stm
· In 1943, construction began on a biological weapons research and development facility at Camp Detrick (known at Fort Detrick after 1956) in Frederick, Maryland, which became operational a year later. Camp Detrick was responsible for research and development of biological weapons. From 1940 to 1960, Camp Detrick scientists conducted a series of secret tests that exposed unwittingly members of the public to harmless bacterium in an effort to better understand both the dispersion of biological agents and US vulnerability to attack. Camp Detrick also focused its efforts on the creation of a cloud chamber project. Operational in January 1945, the cloud chamber project was designed to investigate infection via inhalation in small laboratory animals.
· In December 1943, intelligence reports suggested that Germany and Japan was planning a biological attack against the US and urged an intensification of US germ warfare program. Consequently, work began on the development of 500-pound anthrax bombs and botulinum toxin. Fortunately, the reports turned out to be false.
· In the summer of 1944, the US commenced building 500,000 4-pound anthrax bombs, at the request of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The war ended, however, before the order was completed.
· Towards the end of the war, CWS began research into four additional BW agents: brucellosis, psittacosis, tularemia and glanders.
Source:
http://www.stimson.org/cbw/?sn=CB2001121275
http://www.gulfwarvets.com/jama2.htm
http://www.duotone.com/coldwar/biowarfare/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/coldwar/pox_weapon_02.shtml