The ancient Hittites suspected use of biological weapons

The first documented experience with biological weapons in warfare refers to the II century BC - this hypothesis, Canadian researchers Trevisanato Siro. According to the scientist, save the Hittite period show that the Hittites used tularemia infected sheep to weaken the military power of its neighbors. Hittite Empire was formed in the II millennium BC in Anatolia (modern Turkey). Warlike Hittites regularly staged devastating attacks on neighboring states. The surviving correspondence with the Egyptian Pharaoh Phoenicians Akhenatenom reports of the terrible epidemic, the Phoenician city Simiru plagues around 1335 BC. According Trevisanato described symptoms of the disease, called "Hittite plague" correspond tularemia - a particularly dangerous infection caused by a bacterium Francisella tularensis. Reservoir of tularemia are rodents can also be infected sheep, pigs, horses and other pets. A person infected with tularemia by mosquitoes. In the absence of treatment for tularemia kills up to 15%. Invaded shortly after the onset of the disease and Hittites sacked Simiru. After this epidemic began "tularemia" in the Hittite Empire - probably brought the disease Hittite land of the Phoenicians stolen pets. A few years later, a serious weakening of the epidemic and the internal conflicts of the Hittite had to go to war with the state of Asia Minor Arzawa. Hittite likely to survive in this war were small, but the victory Arzawa prevent a new epidemic. After Trevisanato before it began Arzawa began abandoned sheep, the residents indicated their flocks were taken. As suggested by the researchers, these animals had lead planted specifically for the Hittite plague in the enemy camp. The victim of the first in the history of "biological weapons" is also an epidemic of nowhere a "curse" associated sheep appeared. According to an employee of the American James Martin Center for Non-proliferation of biological weapons, Jonathan Tucker, Trevisanato hypothesis is very interesting, especially as the causative agent of tularemia, is considered a potential biological weapon than now. At the same time, opponents believe Trevisanato dubious assumption that thousands of years ago the Hittites had lived so well represent the distribution mechanisms perform particularly dangerous infections to tamper with infected cattle.