Bioterrorism: responding to an emerging threat

Margaret A. Hamburg

Trends in Biotechnology 2002, 20:296-298

Only a few years ago bioterrorism was considered a remote concern but few today are complacent about the possibility of biological agents being intentionally used to cause widespread panic, disruption, disease and death. By its very nature, the biological weapons threat – with its close links to naturally occurring infectious agents and disease – requires a different paradigm than that for conventional terrorism, military strikes or attacks caused by other weapons of mass destruction. This evolving threat presents the medical, public health and scientific communities (importantly including biotechnology) with a set of difficult and pressing challenges. This article provides a brief overview of the threat from biological weapons, the nature of a bioterrorist attack and some of the issues that need to be addressed if we are to make meaningful progress to prevent or contain this disturbing and potentially catastrophic danger.

The tragic attacks of 11 September 2001 and the subsequent use of anthrax as a weapon have brought new attention to the threat of bioterrorism in the USA and elsewhere. We must acknowledge that neither technical barriers nor moral repugnance will protect us from the use of harmful biological agents. Further, we must recognize that this evolving threat presents the medical, public health and scientific communities with a set of difficult and pressing challenges.

A biological event would most probably unfold as a disease epidemic, spread out in time and location before authorities even realize that an attack has occurred. Furthermore, opportunities for access to dangerous pathogens can be relatively routine, significant damage can be done even without large quantities of material or an elaborate delivery mechanism, and new possibilities for exploitation are embedded in the very science and technology advances that hold great promise for health.

There is an urgent need for systematic study and action that targets what is needed to control the development, proliferation and use of biological weapons, as well as the crucial elements of response should an attack occur. Clearly, this will require new thinking about how to define and implement meaningful solutions and the full engagement of the biomedical community.

What is the threat?

As we mobilize to respond to the threat of bioterrorism, it should be recognized that biological warfare is not new. Documented attacks date back centuries, including the catapulting of plague victims over the city walls during the Tatar siege of Kaffa, or the 'gifts' of smallpox-contaminated blankets to Native Americans during the French–Indian War [1]. Modern history confirms that biological weapons were explored by many nations, although most programs were officially terminated with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) treaty, which was developed in 1972 and has now been ratified by >140 nations. The BWC prohibits the possession, stockpiling and use of biological weapons, although it contains no provisions for monitoring, inspection and enforcement [2].

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19th June - 2nd July 2002

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