Bioterrorism is a type of warfare that makes use of biological agents or biological weapons to inflict harm to enemy.

1. Submitted By,
AVIPSA
MISHRA
M.Sc. Part-1
Roll No-BY2916
avipsa.linu3@gmail.com

2. CONTENTS…….
•Introduction
•What is Bioterrorism???
•Biological weapon
•Why use biological weapons
•Types of biological weapons
•Effects of biological attack
•Biotechnology and biological warfare
•Advanced biological warfare agents
•Preventive majors
•Geneva protocol
•Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
Advances in DNA technology has led to its issue in the field of
forensics.
The use of DNA has recently found strong acceptance as a
mean of identifying individuals in legal cases like identification
of victims, paternity test, medical diagnostics, forensic
archaeology, DNA fingerprinting etc.
However, developments in recombinant DNA techniques have
brought with it the dangers of producing superbugs for use of
biological weapons

4. WHAT IS BIOTERRORISM ??......
Bioterrorism is a type of warfare that makes use of
biological agents or biological weapons to inflict harm to
enemy.
Biological weapons use toxins or chemicals produced
by microorganisms, plant or animals.
Infectious agents such as, virus, protozoan or fungi
are intentionally used to inflict harm to others.
These agents are invisible and microscopic, yet,
deadly.

5. BIOLOGICAL WEAPON…….
A biological weapon is a combination of biological agents
such as viruses, bacteria & their derivatives like toxins
and the means of keeping the agents alive & virulent,
transporting it to where it will be dispersed and a
dissemination mechanism.
Terrorists can get control of these weapons
& can cause harm.

6. HISTORY
Indigenous people used toxic from plant in tip of arrow.
Greek shoulders put dead body in water resource of enemies
British Commander Sir Jaffrey Amherst orders blankets used
in smallpox clinic n gifted them to native Americans.
In 1992 Aum Shinrikyo(religious group)
- weaponized anthrax, q fever
- travelled Zaire to find Ebola
2001 SEPTEMBER-after 9/11 attack on world
trade center, Anthrax letter were sent to
several locations U.S.

7. WHY USE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ?
Have the ability to cause infection
quickly.
Life span is high.
Spreading capacity is high.
If stored, it will be stable.
It is resistant to environmental condition.
It is difficult to trace.
It is invisible & microscopic.

8. SOME BIOLOGICAL AGENTS & EFFECTS
DIPTHERIA
ANTHRAX SALMONELLA
SMALLPOXINFLUENZATUBEROCULOSIS
DENGUE FEVER
MALARIA TYPHOID CHOLERA

9. TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS..
These bioterrorism agents can be separated
into 3 categories depending on how easily they
can be spread and the severity of illness or
death they cause .
These are categorized as;
1.Catagory-A
2.Catagory-B
3.Catagory-C

10. CATEGORY-A
These high priority agents include organisms or toxins that pose
the highest risk to the public and national security because,
 They can be easily spread or transmitted from person to
person.
They result in high death rate & have the potential for major
public health impact.
They might cause public panic & social heath disruption.
Ex.-Smallpox virus, Anthrax, Plague, Botulism, Ebola etc
ANTHRAX PLAGUE EBOLA

11. CATEGORY-B
These agents are second highest priority because,
They are moderately easy to spread.
They result in moderate illness rates & low death rates
They require specific enhancements of CDC’s(Center for
Disease Control & prevention) laboratory capacity &
enhanced disease monitoring.
Ex.-Glander, Meliodosis, Ricin. Q fever, Typhus,
Staphylococcal
RICIN
GLANDERS
TYPHUS

12. CATEGORY-C
These 3rd highest priority agents include emerging
pathogens that could be engineered for mass spread in
the future because,
They are easily available.
They are easily produced & spread.
They have potential for high mortality rate & major
health impact.
Ex-Multi drugs resistant Tuberculosis, Nipah virus,
Hanta virus
HANTA VIRUS NIPAH VIRUS

13. EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL ATTACK
Biological attacks have very harmful effect.
According to World Health Organization
 Release of 50k.g. of Anthrax spores in 40k.m.² area will
cause 1 lac death of people.
Release of 50k.g. of plague spores in 20k.m.² area will
cause 36000 death of people.

14. BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL
WARFARE…
 Biological warfare is the international use of micro-
organisms & toxins, generally of microbial, plant or
animal origin to produce disease & death in humans,
livestock & crops.
 Historically, bioweapon agents of concern have
included a selective group of pathogens & toxins. They
are all naturally occurring organisms or their toxic
product.
 These are mainly of 2 types,
1. Genetically modified agents
2.Advanced biological warfare
agents(ABW)

15. GENETICALLY MODIFIED AGENTS
With the advent of recombination DNA technology, an
organism’s genetic make up may be altered & genetically
modified biological warfare agents may be produced.
Examples of genetic modification includes
*Antibiotic resistance
*Increased aerosol stability
*Heightened pathogenesis
ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
AGENTS
Developed technology across multiple disciplines in the
biological sciences have revolutionized biowar by
facilitating an entirely new class of fully engineered agents
referred to as advanced biological warfare agents.

16. TECHNOLOGY AT WORK
Forensic teams work hard to identify biological agents,
their origins & effects.
Labs are working on advanced detection system to
detect early attacks, identify at risk areas, and to give
proper treatment.
Bio surveillance system collects data to detect bioterror
attack as far as possible.

17. PREVENTIVE
MEASURES
Full international cooperation on
dealing with this problem is needed.
We have to educate at risk population.
Coordination between the potential
producers & user of biological weapon is
needed.
There should be improve on
biowarfare monitoring techniques &
apparatus
Proper contacts to obtain stockpile
supplies like antibiotics, immune sera,
vaccines etc is needed.
Should familiarize the medical staff
with the agents.

18. GENEVA PROTOCOL
Use of biological weapons was banned in
international law by the Geneva protocol of
1925.
The 1972 biological and toxin weapons
convention extended to ban to almost all
production , storage, and transport of any types
of biological weapons

19. CONCLUSION
Infrastructural development regarding the care
facilities and community health, proper health
care from the grass root level and education will
be the best approach to protect, respond and
defend the ongoing consequences 0f
bioterrorism

20. Any queries please……….