Bioterrorism: What You Need to Know About the Invisible Threat

What Is Bioterrorism and Why Should You Care?

Bioterrorism is the deliberate use of bacteria, viruses, or toxins to cause illness or death. Unlike traditional weapons, biological agents don’t destroy buildings or infrastructure, but they can wreak havoc on human health, agriculture, and economies. These attacks can lead to massive public health crises, widespread panic, and severe economic damage.

Throughout history, bioterrorism and biological warfare have been used in various ways. Back in the 14th century, enemy forces catapulted plague-infested corpses into cities to spread disease. During the French and Indian War, smallpox-infected blankets were handed out as weapons. Today, bioterrorism has evolved into a much more sophisticated threat, thanks to advances in biotechnology. Genetic engineering now makes it possible to modify pathogens, making them even more deadly and contagious.

With technologies like CRISPR, synthetic biology, and biohacking, bioterrorism is no longer just a concern for governments and large organizations. In today’s world, even individuals with basic lab skills can manipulate biological agents. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed vulnerabilities in global biosecurity, raising concerns that terrorist groups might exploit similar pathogens in the future.

A Look at Bioterrorism Through History

Biological weapons have been around for centuries, used in wars and conflicts across different eras. Let’s take a quick tour of some notable moments in bioterrorism history:

Ancient and Medieval Times:

• Assyrians (6000 BCE): Poisoned enemy water supplies with fungi.

• Tatars (1346): Threw plague-ridden corpses into the besieged city of Kaffa, spreading the Black Death.

18th and 19th Century:

• French and Indian War (1754–1767): The British handed out smallpox-infected blankets to Native American tribes.

20th Century:

• World War I: Germany infected livestock being sent to Allied forces with anthrax and glanders.

• World War II: Japan’s infamous Unit 731 conducted horrific biological experiments on civilians, testing plague, anthrax, and botulinum toxin.

• Cold War: The U.S., the Soviet Union, and other countries ran extensive bioweapons programs. The Soviets attempted to weaponize smallpox and plague.

Over time, biological weapons became more advanced and increasingly seen as a serious global security threat.

Different Types of Biological Weapons and How They Spread

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes biological agents into three main groups based on their danger level:

Category A (Most Dangerous): Highly contagious and lethal, these agents pose the greatest threat.

·       Examples: Anthrax, Plague, Tularemia, Botulinum toxin, Smallpox, Ebola, Marburg virus

Category B: Less deadly but still a major public health risk.

·       Examples: Brucellosis, Q Fever, Salmonella, Shigella, Ricin toxin

Category C: Emerging pathogens that could be engineered into biological weapons in the future.

·       Examples: Nipah virus, Hantaviruses

How Do Bioweapons Spread?

·       Airborne (Aerosols): The most effective method—tiny particles inhaled into the lungs can cause deadly infections.

·       Food and Water Contamination: Pathogens mixed into food or water supplies can quickly sicken large populations.

·       Infected Insects: Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas can carry and spread biological agents.

·       Injection: Direct injection of toxins or pathogens into a target.

Public spaces like shopping malls, stadiums, and transportation hubs are particularly vulnerable to bioterror attacks.

What Makes a Perfect Bioweapon?

A biological weapon doesn’t need to be flashy—it just needs to be deadly and hard to detect. The ideal bioweapon has the following traits:

·       High toxicity: A small dose should cause significant harm.

·       Easy spreadability: It should be transmissible through air, water, or direct contact.

·       Human-to-human transmission: The best (or worst) bioweapons spread easily between people.

·       Resilience: They should survive environmental conditions like heat, sunlight, and disinfectants.

·       Hard to detect: No smell, taste, or visible signs that would warn people in time.

Because of these factors, some bacteria and viruses are far more suitable for weaponization than others.

The Reality of Bioterrorism: Attacks from 1970 to 2019

Between 1970 and 2019, 33 bioterror attacks were recorded, leading to 9 deaths and 806 injuries.

Where Have These Attacks Happened?

·       United States (21 attacks)

·       Kenya (3 attacks)

·       United Kingdom (2 attacks)

·       Pakistan (2 attacks)

·       Japan, Colombia, Israel, Russia, Tunisia (1 attack each)

Most Commonly Used Biological Agents:

·       Anthrax (20 attacks)

·       Salmonella (5 attacks)

·       Ricin (3 attacks)

·       Human waste (2 attacks)

·       Botulinum toxin (1 attack)

·       HIV-infected razors (1 attack)

One of the most infamous bioterror attacks in history was the 2001 anthrax mail attacks in the U.S., which killed five people and caused nationwide panic.

How Bioterrorism Affects Humans and Animals

Since most bioweapons are zoonotic (meaning they jump from animals to humans), unusual outbreaks in animals can serve as an early warning sign.

·       Anthrax attacks: Typically affect grazing animals first.

·       Avian flu (H5N1): First detected in poultry before spreading to humans.

Veterinarians and public health experts play a critical role in detecting and preventing bioterror threats.

Beyond health consequences, bioterrorism also affects economies. A single attack can disrupt food supply chains, cause mass panic, and lead to strict quarantines that cripple industries.

Example: A citywide release of 100 kg of anthrax spores could kill up to 3 million people.

How Technology Is Making Bioterrorism Even More Dangerous

Advancements in biotechnology and genetic engineering have made bioterrorism more accessible than ever.

·       CRISPR gene-editing technology allows for the modification of viruses and bacteria, making them more lethal or resistant to treatments.

·       Synthetic biology enables scientists (or bad actors) to create biological agents from scratch.

·       Biohacking—DIY biology experiments—has led to concerns that individuals with basic lab skills could create bioweapons.

These technologies, once limited to state-run bioweapons programs, are now available to anyone with the right tools and knowledge.

Is the World Ready for the Next Bioterror Threat?

Bioterrorism is not science fiction—it’s a real and growing concern. As technology advances, the risk of biological weapons falling into the wrong hands increases. Governments, scientists, and public health officials must remain vigilant.

The best defense? Preparedness. Investing in biosecurity measures, strengthening global cooperation, and educating the public are the most effective ways to prevent a catastrophic bioterror attack.

What do you think? Are we ready to handle the next big biological threat?

We got inspired by those articles to create this content

• Jstor.org
• Elsevier
• Nih
• Nih