Two agents, botulinum toxin and anthrax, were selected as candidate biological warfare agents.

The biological weapons programme also began research on other agents, including ricin toxin and Clostridium botulinum spores.

When the facility was utilized for the production of botulinum toxin in 1990, the production of vaccine was suspended.

In 1988, Iraq also began to produce botulinum toxin at a refurbished fermentation unit at the single cell protein facility at Al Taji.

Early in 1989, the production of botulinum toxin was started at Al Hakam, while pilot scale production of anthrax and aflatoxin began at Salman Pak.

The remnants of biological munitions which Iraq declared had been filled with Bacillus anthracis, botulinum toxin and aflatoxin were provided to the inspectors for verification.

In addition, Iraq provided the locations where the unilateral destruction of bulk agents, including Bacillus anthracis, botulinum toxin, Clostridium perfringens and aflatoxin, had taken place.

In addition, sampling and analysis of the fragments of biological munitions unilaterally destroyed by Iraq revealed the presence of DNA fragments of Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum.

Production of botulinum toxin and anthrax began with the use of bench top fermenters, and experimentation commenced using a range of animals to study inhalation and other exposure routes and effects.

In specific cases, and primarily in adult patients, botulinum toxin can be used either as a permanent therapeutic approach, or as a temporary measure to prevent contracture of muscles prior to surgery7.

Failure of conservative treatments described above may lead to consideration of various therapeutic injections such as local anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine), Anti inflammatory drugs and or corticosteroids, botulinum toxin (BTX, BOTOX), or a combination of the three.

This did not ease inspectors concerns on the level of Iraq's achievements until, in 1997, three bombs filled with liquid and chemically inactivated botulinum toxin were unearthed from the destruction site declared by Iraq and sampled.

By the end of 1986, the biological work at Muthanna was scaled up with the intention to produce botulinum toxin at pilot scale and a proposal was made to affiliate the single cell protein facility at Al Taji (some 20 km north of Baghdad) to the biological weapons programme.