If Tularemia was used as a bioterrorism weapon, it would most likely be released in aerosol form. The Tularemia bacterium, Francisella Tularensis, is highly infectious. It could be released into highly populated areas where people who inhaled this infectious aerosol would experience extreme respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. Other possible illnesses include: a meningitis infection around the brain and spinal cord, irritation to the heart (pericarditis), and a bone infection, called Osteomyelitis. A small number (10-50 or so organisms) can cause disease.
The bacteria that causes Tularemia to occur widely in nature can be quite easily isolated and grown in quantity in a laboratory,
although manufacturing an effective aerosol weapon would require considerable sophistication. Therefore, it would be an expensive task to manipulate Francisella Tularensis, but by no means impossible.
The bacteria that causes Tularemia to occur widely in nature can be quite easily isolated and grown in quantity in a laboratory,
although manufacturing an effective aerosol weapon would require considerable sophistication. Therefore, it would be an expensive task to manipulate Francisella Tularensis, but by no means impossible.