title: Bioterrorism: pathogens as weapons.
abstract: Biowarfare has been used for centuries. The use of biological weapons in terrorism remains a threat. Biological weapons include infectious agents (pathogens) and toxins. The most devastating bioterrorism scenario would be the airborne dispersal of pathogens over a concentrated population area. Characteristics that make a specific pathogen a high-risk for bioterrorism include a low infective dose, ability to be aerosolized, high contagiousness, and survival in a variety of environmental conditions. The most dangerous potential bioterrorism agents include the microorganisms that produce anthrax, plague, tularemia, and smallpox. Other diseases of interest to bioterrorism include brucellosis, glanders, melioidosis, Q fever, and viral encephalitis. Food safety and water safety threats are another area of concern.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Pharmacologist Private Practice, Randolph, MA 02368, USA. forensicrxguy@aol.com
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bokor
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000639:trends; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010595:Pharmacists; D010930:Plague / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D024382:Professional Role; D012899:Smallpox / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents