1. BIOTERRORISM

2. What is Bioterrorism ?
 Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of
biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins.
 These are used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants.
 Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in
food.
 Bacteria Viruses Toxins

3. History
 Biological terrorism dates as far back as ancient Roman civilization.
 This early version of biological terrorism was used to destroy enemy
forces.
 It continued on into the 14th century.
 The use of disease as a weapon in history exhibited a lack of control
aggressors had over their own biological weapons.

4.  Over time, biological warfare became more and more
sophisticated.
 Countries began to develop weapons which were much more
effective.
 One significant enhancement in biological weapon
development was the first use of anthrax.
 This became a weapon of choice because it is easily
transferred.
 During world war 1 the use of poisonous
mustard gas became the biological weapon
of choice.

5. How is bioterrorism such a threat?
 Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be extremely
difficult to detect.
 They do not cause illness for several hours to several days.
 Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread
from person to person and some like anthrax, cannot.

6.  The world is largely unaware.
 They have long term consequences
 Rapid evolution
 Undetectable and easy transported from country to country.

7. Types of bioterrorism agents
Category A agents
1. Smallpox virus
2. Anthrax
3. Plague
4. Botulism
5. Viral hemorrhagic fevers

8. Category A
 This Can be easily transmitted from person to person.
 Might cause public panic and social disruption

9. Category B agents
1. Glanders
2. Melioidosis
3. Psittacosis
4. Q fever
5. Ricin
6. Staphylococcal
7. Typhus

10. Category B
 Are moderately easy to disseminate
 Result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates

11. Category C agents
1. Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MTB)
2. Nipah Virus
3. Hantavirus

12. Category C
 Category C agents are pathogens.
 These might be engineered for mass dissemination
 They are easy to produce and have potential for high morbidity
or mortality.

13. Recent incidents
 2001 Anthrax attack
 2003 Ricin letter incidents

14. International response
The 1925 Geneva Protocol
 Prohibits the use of asphyxiating, poisonous, or other
gases and all analogous liquids, materials or devices in
warfare
 ‘Customary international law’
 Bans use not possession
 No-first-use-treaty

15. 1972 Biological Weapons Convention
 First treaty to ban an entire class of weapons
 Prohibits development, production, stockpiling and
acquisition of biological weapons
 Does not obstruct non-hostile use of biological agents but
still covers future weaponisation of agents.

16. Protection against bioterrorism
 Physical protection
Gas mask
 Immunological protection
Mass Vaccination

17. THANK YOU