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

The Sverdlovsk Antrax Epidemic - Research Paper Example The CIA, which had satellite photographs of the military base of Sverdlovsk suggested that there was a laboratory facility in the military base. Soviet emigrants and dissidents had also heard about the death of people in the city’s southern part and ascribed these deaths to hazardous clouds emanating from the military base. The US therefore strongly believed that an explosion at Sverdlovsk’s 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 permitted 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 factory on April 2, and eighteen of them passed away. This event’s attack rate has been estimated at two percent. Of the victims, two-thirds were men, with the median age 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).