the CIA in Fort Detrick, anthrax and botulism were widely regarded as the two most effective options. During the 50s, a highly lethal strain was discovered during the biological warfare program. The CIA continued to hold 5 grams of clostridium botulinum, even after Nixon's ban on biological warfare in 1969. During the Gulf War, when the United States were concerned with a potential biowarfare attack, the efforts around botulism turned to prevention. However, the only way to make antitoxin in America until the 90s was by drawing antibodies from a single horse named First Flight, raising much concern from Pentagon health officials. Iraq Iraq has historically possessed many types of germs, including botulism. The American Type Culture Collection sold 5 variants of botulinum to the University of Baghdad in May 1986. 1991 CIA reports also show Iraqis filled shells, warheads, and bombs with biological agents like botulinum (though none have been deployed). The Iraqi air force used the code name "tea" to refer to botulinum, and it was also referred to as bioweapon "A." Japan A Japanese cult called Aum Shinrikyo created laboratories that produced biological weapons, specifically botulinum, anthrax, and Q fever. From 1990 to 1995, the cult staged numerous unsuccessful bioterrorism attacks on civilians. They sprayed botulinum toxin from a truck in downtown Tokyo and in the Narita airport, but there are no reported cases of botulism as a result. See also List of foodborne illness outbreaks Botulinum toxin References Further reading External links Botulism in the United States, 1889–1996. Handbook for Epidemiologists, Clinicians and Laboratory Technicians. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases 1998. NHS choices CDC Botulism: Control Measures Overview for Clinicians University of California, Santa Cruz Environmental toxicology – Botulism CDC Botulism FAQ FDA Clostridium botulinum Bad Bug Book USGS Avian Botulism Biological weapons Conditions diagnosed by stool test Foodborne illnesses Myoneural junction and neuromuscular diseases Poultry diseases Wikipedia infectious disease articles ready to translate Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate