The Emerging Threat of Bioterrorism

The emerging threat of bioterrorism.

The threat of bioterrorism focuses attention on overall preparedness to address the challenges posed by new and reemerging infectious diseases. Bioterrorism scenarios illustrate the diversity of disciplines and perspectives required to confront these threats, whether naturally occurring or purposely caused. The need to strengthen existing and develop new partnerships is clear. Since late 1992, ...

Bioterrorism: An Emerging Global Health Threat

The threat of bioterrorism has heightened over the past few years, given the history of asymmetric warfare. This threat posed by biological weapons is especially challenging, given the unique characteristics of these agents coupled with the dearth of knowledge in this particular subject by health care first responders. As the history of biowarfare has shown, exposure to even minute quantities o...

The threat of bioterrorism.

The threat of smallpox and bioterrorism.

Smallpox (variola) was a devastating disease with a high case-fatality rate. Although the disease was eradicated in 1977, the remaining stocks of smallpox virus constitute one of the most dangerous threats to humanity. The smallpox virus is highly specific for humans and non-pathogenic in animals. There is no antiviral treatment and a vaccine is active only if administered in the first four day...

The threat of bioterrorism returns the fear of smallpox.

In t roduct ion Recent revelations about the biological weapons programs of Iraq and the former Soviet Union and attempts by cults and other groups to develop biological weapons have elevated the threat of a deadly bioterrorist attack. A major diplomatic effort aimed at strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention is underway to help reduce this threat and public health authorities are scram...