Federal Office for Civil Protection, SPIEZ LABORATORY
Explanatory notes
This section sets out the most important properties of known viruses with bioweapon potential. They include the following parameters:
Classification
- Into which category, family and genus do these viruses fall?
Genome architecture
- How are viruses structured?
- Nucleic acid type
- Coated or non-coated
- Molecular weight
- Size of virus particles
Host spectrum
- Which species are a natural reservoir for these viruses?
- What are the transmission paths?
Origins
- In which part of the world and in which region do these viruses originate?
Clinical information
- How long is the incubation time?
- What are the symptoms of infection?
- When do the first symptoms appear?
- How high is the manifestation index (*) and lethality (**)?
- When does the immune response become detectable?
Pathology
- Where is the virus located?
- What are its specific pathological characteristics?
Diagnosis
- What methods and resources are available to ensure early diagnosis?
Therapy
- What therapies are currently available?
(*)
The manifestation index refers to the number of diseased individuals relative to the number of infected individuals.
(**)
The lethality refers to the number of individuals who have died from an infectious disease relative to the total number of infected individuals.