Threats from Chemical and Biological Warfare

Biological, chemical and other non-nuclear threats, such as cyber and drone attacks, constitute class of weapons that may not cause as much mass physical destruction as nuclear weapons can, but can result in significant mass effects on, and/or mass disruptions to, a targeted populace. Weapons experts still debate whether these non-nuclear weapons can truly be considered weapons of mass destruction, however, certain types of biological weapons, such as weaponized smallpox or anthrax, could in principle harm millions of people depending on the scenario and the extent of the population’s exposure to the biological weapons. Biological weapons use microorganisms or natural toxins to produce disease in humans, animals or plants. To act as a weapon, pathogens need a means for tramsmission. Delivery by bombs or missiles is possible but not necessary. For example, a country or a terrorist group might contaminate food and water supply or use insects, exposed individuals or aerosols to spread a pathogen. Recently, diseases like Ebola have proven highly infectious, lethal and a challenge to contemporary medicine. This book will provide some of the tools for students to research the area of chemical and biological warfare and, given that opportunity, to make their own judgements of the facts and opinions of many different agencies.

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