Biowar—Bioterrorism

Deployment of biological weapons against people, their crops and animals.

Bioterrorism is the international or threatened use of viruses, bacteria, fungi or toxins from living organisms to produce death or diseases in humans, animals and plants.

A bioweapon carries and delivers a pathological organism or its toxin to the target organism.

The biological agent/toxin, called bioweapon, is kept in a suitable container so it remains active and virulent during delivery.

Biological Warfare Agents

Pathogens Small pox virus,Viral encephalitides, Viral haemorrhagic fevers, Bacillus anthracis, Brucella suis, Coxiella brunetti, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis

Toxins Botulinum, Ricin, Stylococcal enterotoxin B Anticropagents Rice blast, Rice stem rust , wheat stem rust.

Bioweapons are more destructive than chemical weapons including nerve gas, similar to the extent of a nuclear explosion; a few kg of anthrax can kill as many people as a Hiroshima size nuclear bomb.

Bioweapons are (a) inexpensive (b) cause far more casualities than conventional weapons, and (c) invisible and difficult to detect. Pathogens produced in mass or their toxins are delivered either as powder or in the form of spray using a variety of devices. Iraq is reported to have conducted research and development work on anthrax, botulin, aflatoxin, wheat cover smut and ricin. Bioweapons are used for Sept.11, 2001 attack on US. Anthrax spores were used by Al-Qaeda.

Various toxins produced by pathogens, act as neurotoxin, like: saxitoxin can kill individuals by blocking nerve conduction directly.

Botulinum toxin, enter nerve terminals and block the release of neurotransmitters. Ricin, of plant origin, can kill cells by blocking protein synthesis in them.

The possible defences against bioweapons include the use of respirator or gas mask, vaccination, administration of proper antibiotics and decontamination.