The Sverdlovsk Antrax Epidemic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Sverdlovsk Antrax Epidemic - Research Paper ExampleThe CIA, which had satellite photographs of the military bow of Sverdlovsk suggested that there was a laboratory instalment in the military base. Soviet emigrants and dissidents had also heard somewhat the death of people in the citys southern part and ascribed these deaths to hazardous clouds emanating from the military base. The US therefore strongly believed that an explosion at Sverdlovsks main military base had spread lethal anthrax spores over the city, leading to the death of hundreds of people (Guillemin, 2002). The Soviets however rebutted any action regarding biological weapons and at various international conferences, they tried proving their tainted meat story. They also refused to refusal to permit researchers get into Sverdlovsk for investigations. As a restricted military area, Sverdlovsk was off-limits to foreigners (Pbs.org, 1995 and Wampler & Blanton, 2001). Western inspectors to this day have not been permi tted to visit this military facility (Pbs.org, 1995).Approximately five thousand people got exposure to the aerosol. Roughly, three thousand workers were present in the ceramics manufacturing plant on April 2, and eighteen of them passed away. This events attack rate has been estimated at two percent. Of the victims, two-thirds were men, with the median mature being forty-five. Though they were definitely exposed, no children or young people were affected the youngest victim being a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher who was suffering from tuberculosis (Guillemin, 2002).