Bioterrorism

Bioterrorism is terrorism using germ warfare, an intentional human release of a naturally-occurring or human-modified toxin or biological agent.

Related Topics:
Terrorism - Germ warfare - Toxin - Biological agent

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The term is difficult to objectively define since there are varying definitions of biowar, biodefense, biosecurity, and also varying definitions of terrorism itself. Accordingly, it is perhaps better to refer to 'incidents' rather than 'attacks' and to restrict the term to current rather than historical events.

Related Topics:
Biowar - Biodefense - Biosecurity - Terrorism

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Biological agents are usually dispersed by an aerosol spray (inhaled or ingested). The main difficulty in mounting an attack is to disperse the agent in a manner that would infect large numbers of people. For example, in dispersing an aerosol, one would have to ensure that the particles would be of exactly the right size, otherwise the particles would quickly leave the atmosphere before moving far from the source or remain in the atmosphere and be diluted before having a chance to infect people. Furthermore, an aerosol that is too large or small would be filtered by the respiratory system either before it reached the lungs or exhaled if it did.

Related Topics:
Aerosol - Respiratory system

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Biological agents used as weapons usually have an incubation period of several days before any symptoms appear.

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