The smallpox virus biological weapon or research tool. If smallpox were used as a biological weapon today, it would be a major threat to the united states. And we took army issue, air conditioned tents, and every morning when the bodies were. The blind banker, against the dark, lost in austen, the man in the high castle. Since it relates to what we discussed last week, i thought i would share some of the more interesting things i found during my research. Virus is spread by direct contact or inhalation of aerosols. American forces were attempting to free quebec from british control. Jun 04, 2014 in may 2014, the world health assembly met in geneva to debate the destruction of the world last know stockpiles of the variola virus, which causes smallpox. Russia still has a facility that could produce tons of smallpox each year and is still researching more toxic strains. Collette flight was an assistant producer on smallpox 2002 silent. In fact, smallpox was for many centuries devastating to mankind. The years for each continent correspond to the year. Thousands of new, highquality pictures are added every day.
Smallpox eradication was certified in 1980 and the last remaining stocks are now held securely in two laboratories in the usa and russia. Smallpox response teams of health care and emergency workers. Describes the history of smallpox in the americas, covering the arrival of the spanish as carriers, its spread throughout the new world, the development of the smallpox vaccine, the elimination of the disease, and its potential use as a terrorist weapon includes bibliographical references and index the story of a killer what is smallpox. Colette flight explains how the weaponisation of smallpox was perfected. After 911, both films were repeated 2002, quite clearly. Smallpox is a relatively contagious disease, which accounts for its ability to cause massive epidemics. What is the duration of the silent service tv series. Anthony fauci, infectious disease chief at nih, was recorded as saying research priorities will include developing a better smallpox vaccine and quicker methods of diagnosing smallpox. Smallpox 2002 silent weapon was based upon a far less reassuring script. The last outbreak occurred in 1977, it was successfully contained, and the eradication campaign passed into the history books as one of the 20th centurys greatest achievements. Silent weapon 2002 explores the devastating effects of a smallpox attack on the us and uk that eventually kills 60 million people worldwide. This is the second article in a series of papers addressing issues related to biological warfare and bioterrorism. Public health authorities prepare for a possible but unlikely biological attack that uses smallpox as a weapon. This docudrama reports on a fictitious attack made by terrorists using the smallpox.
Bush administration decided to vaccinate frontline military personnel and healthcare and emergency workers against smallpox. Smallpox is spread by humantohuman contact with an infected host and. Silent weapon is to be shown at a g7 conference of health ministers and officials later this year. Silent weapon 2002 problem with the lone nut aspect of the story. Yet in the uk stocks are at about the same level as in 1994, when the government reported to the world health organisation that it held 3. Download citation smallpox 2002 silent weapon mediawatch. Daniel percival was shown on fx again on jan 2, 2005. Get an ad free experience with special benefits, and directly support reddit. Last semester, i gave a presentation in my cas 100 class about smallpox being used as a biological weapon.
Smallpox 2002 documentarystyle footage tells the story of a fictional epidemic unleashed by a terrorist attack. The british considered using smallpox as a biological warfare agent during the french and indian wars 175463, against france and its native american allies at the siege of fort pitt. We wanted to create a new television format to explore this pressing global issue in a powerful and emotive way. Smallpox 2002 silent weapon, bbc2, tuesday 5 february, 9 pm.
Smallpox occupational safety and health administration. In the first documented case of biological warfare, in the 18th century, contaminated blankets used by smallpox patients were distributed among native american. Anyone found a link to a bbc made docudrama called. Smallpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the dna orthopoxvirus, variola major. No escape 1997 a demented terrorist launches nuclear missiles under the sea triggering a wave of tsunami that devastate the coast of southern california. Apr 17, 2017 slide 1 as most of us will know, in april 1789, a catastophic epidemic of smallpox swept through local tribes near port jackson.
Silent weapon is a fictional docudrama produced by wall to wall, showing how a single act of bioterrorism leads to terrifying consequences. Dec 19, 2016 however, it is possible that variola virus the virus that causes smallpox could be used in a biological attack an intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops. I just dont see how such an individual would procur any quantity of smallpox from a corrupt russian scientist from the soviet bw program. Silent weapon 2002 a docudrama that reports on a fictitious attack made by terrorists using the disease of smallpox to attack the world. If it has reminded public health and public authorities graphically of a terrible disease, then it will have done. The variola virus is acquired from direct contact with individuals infected with the disease, from contaminated air droplets, and even from objects used by another smallpox victim books, blankets, utensils, etc. A washington post article in july 2003 noted the recent silence on the part of white house. Judging by commentators reactions, smallpox 2002 silent weapon, screened by the bbc in the uk but to be shown in many countries, was an outstanding success in provoking fear and loathing over an epidemic triggered by a terrorist releasing the virus. Background the premise of it was one man who, in 2002, creates the smallpox virus himself, infects himself, and touches ten people in new york city.
Governments then wound down their vaccination programmes, and the human race. Silent weapon is a fictional docudrama produced by wall to wall, showing how a single act of bioterrorism leads to terrifying consequences globally. Smallpox 2002 fiction and reality collide in a future devastated by the effects of a biochemical weapon. Yet it is prudent to prepare for the possibility that terrorists would kill indiscriminately with biologic weapons white house, 2002b. Deliberate reintroduction of smallpox as a biological weapon would be a horrific experience due to its lack of cure and its devastation rate is much higher than any historic period joel g. Smallpox 2002 silent weapon, bbc2, tuesday 5 february, 9 pm the world has been free from smallpox since 1980.
Silent weapon both bbc, 2001 dramatised the fear of chemical and biological terrorist attack on urban areas already based on a postcold war reality the urban scenarios of both films partly referenced the tokyo anthrax attack of 20 march 1995. However, it is possible that variola virus the virus that causes smallpox could be used in a biological attack an intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops. Find daniel percival stock photos in hd and millions of other editorial images in the shutterstock collection. On december, 2002, president bush announced an ambitious smallpox vaccination plan. Pdf to describe a general overview of smallpox, clinical presentation, diagnosis. Smallpox is a serious, contagious and some times deadly disease caused by the orthopox virus. Smallpox definition of smallpox by medical dictionary. We began production on smallpox 2002 in february 2001. Silent weapon was a unique and daring assignment undertaken by the bbc and which was carried out against a backdrop of scathing criticisms for its catastrophic dimension. Smallpox 2002 silent weapon connecting repositories. Bioterrorism the virus smallpox used as a biological weapon. Starting in new york the attack is ruthlessly carried out by one man travelling around the city infecting people as he goes. Smallpox response teams of health care and emergency workers would be created, and members. The virus only exists is two laboratories, one in russia and one in the united states.
Silent weapon 20 th century fox, 2002, 100 min, tv, dir. The silent weapon 2002 is an excellent semidocumentary that mixes a story about a smallpox outbreak with interviews with experts. Simon chinn is a double oscarwinning british film producer, founder of red box films and cofounder of lightbox. New smallpox and smallpox 2002 see more smallpox demon. Feb 06, 2002 smallpox 2002 silent weapon, bbc2, tuesday february 5, 9pm10. All smallpox movie posters,high res movie posters image for smallpox. It occasionally uses real scientists to produce a chillingly scientifically accurate what if scenario. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges from the smallpox 2002. The programme was all the more effective because it was largely completed before the events of 11 september last year, rather than in response to them. This makes it an official international emergency case, with its potential to spread throughout the world in a short period. Mar 19, 2002 read smallpox 2002 silent weapon, current biology on deepdyve, the largest online rental service for scholarly research with thousands of academic publications available at your fingertips.
A docudrama that reports on a fictitious attack made by terrorist using the disease of small pox to attack the world. Fiction and reality collide in a future devastated by the effects of a biochemical weapon. December 2002, president bush announced the volunteer. Smallpox virus, an orthopoxvirus with a narrow host range confined to humans, was an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world until recent times. December, 2002national smallpox vaccination policy is announced. According to critics, the choice made by the corporation was all the more surprising as this production did not fall within the remit of quality television by. As the dead increased, it became apparent that we werent going to be able to deal with it in a conventional manner in the city morgues. Mar 21, 2011 last semester, i gave a presentation in my cas 100 class about smallpox being used as a biological weapon. The increase worries many analysts, government officials, and scientists, who wonder whether the money will be. So weve decided to keep guardian journalism free for all readers. Its deliberate release in 2002 leads to the most devastating global plague ever known.
Silent weapons website that the heritage of documentary, and the ways in which contemporary filmmakers must work in response to it, is most clearly outlined. This docudrama reports on a fictitious attack made by terrorists using the smallpox virus. The smallpox virus must be continuously transmitted from human to human to survive. Smallpox virus article about smallpox virus by the free. Daniel percival stock photos, editorial images and stock. Biological hazards and bioterrorism free coursework from. Silent weapon was the major programme that came out of this period, and aimed to tell the story of the greatest act of mass murder in history. In a pamphlet, on the origin of the vaccine inoculation, published in 1801, jenner famously articulated the vision of immunizing people against smallpox. So we ve decided to keep guardian journalism free for all readers. The network prefaces the movies with a disclaimer that the film is for entertainment only and is fictitious, reminding us of orson wells and his war of the worlds radio broadcast in the 1930s. Thanks to a successful worldwide vaccination effort in the 20 th century, smallpox has been wiped out. Using the victims of the plague as a weapon in medieval warfare and spread of smallpox as a weapon during the war against the indians when. Smallpox does still exist in labs around the world though.
The film, shot in documentary style but employing actors, begins with a single, suicidal terrorist who infects himself with smallpox on april 1, 2002. With brian cox, bolen high, leigh zimmerman, tara hugo. Would you like us to send you a free inspiring quote delivered to your inbox daily. Smallpox 2002 silent weapon, bbc2, tuesday february 5, 9pm10. Please download the bioterror bible via the zip files below. Using hindsight and video diaries the film looks back on the. All of our articles and podcasts and essays are free, and we want to keep it.
Set in the near future, looking back at 2002, the programme was semiimprovised and shot in a documentary style, interspersed with a dramatised story is footage of real smallpox victims. So, we decided to take over governors island and turn it into a morgue. Governments then wound down their vaccination programmes, and the human race moved on, untroubled by. Smallpox was used as a biological weapon during the frenchindian wars in the united states 17541767, when british soldiers gave the indians blankets that had been used by smallpox patients. Japan considered the use of smallpox as a biological weapon in world war ii.
Anyone found a link to a bbc made docudrama called smallpox 2002. Variola major is the most serious and most common form of smallpox. Feb 16, 2007 smallpox 2002 fiction and reality collide in a future devastated by the effects of a biochemical weapon. He is responsible for some of the most successful feature. Smallpox as a bioweapon although naturally occurring smallpox has been eradicated, there is still heightened concern that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. The end of an era 1994two british disc jockeys present their life stories. Silent weapon eradicated from the world in 1977, smallpox reemerged as a potential terrorist weapon at the end of the 20 th century. Fx network thriller about a worldwide terroist attack using smallpox as a very effective wmd.
This was a time when aboriginal tribes were actively, and. He is responsible for some of the most successful feature documentaries of recent years including man on wire and searching for sugar man. There is also a less serious form called variola minor. This was shown on tv in 2002 and its been uploaded to youtube but its in four parts and i can only find 1, 2 and 4.