BIOTERRORISM – ARE WE READY TO FACE ANOTHER BIOLOGICAL WAR

Abstract

The bioterrorism is threatened / premeditated utilization of biological agents/ weapons including viruses, bacteria, toxins and various other microorganisms to reason deaths and/or illness in plants, animals, humans etc. As majority of the agents/products used as biological agents are zoonotics, there is major concern about the possibility to use animals as the source. Livestock owners and veterinarians may be the first among those who identify initial cases of act of bioterrorism. Biological agents can be categorized into three classes. Biological agents of category (A) can cause easy transmission from animal to human except smallpox; as it has no reservoir of animal, human to human, cause increased mortality and can cause major health impact globally. Agents in category (B) cause moderate transmission; causing moderate morbidity and low mortality. Agents in category (C) belong to characteristics which can be engineered for spreading them globally or into massive community. We lack the adequate capability for prevention of these biological attacks, but prevention measures should be taken for decreasing the risks. For restriction of access of dangerous biological weapons to population, increased laboratory testing or scrutiny for causative agents, high control for investigations and proper measurement of prevention are necessary. Along with human measures and testing, veterinary laboratories should be included in surveillance on national level.