What is bioterrorism?

Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism where there is the intentional release of biological agents
(bacteria, viruses, or other germs). This is also referred to as germ warfare. Terrorism is defined
by the United States government as the "unlawful use of force and violence against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social objectives." The term "terrorism" does not imply what weapon
is being used. In addition to biological agents, terrorists can also utilize traditional weapons
(guns), chemical agents and nuclear bombs. While a biological agent may injure or kill people,
animals, or plants, the goal for the terrorist is to further their social and political goals by making
their civilian targets feel as if their government cannot protect them. Many biological agents are
found in nature; however, they can be modified by the terrorist to make them more dangerous.
Some of these agents can be transmitted from person to person, and the infection may take hours
or days to become apparent.

What are the biological agents that can be utilized for bioterrorism?
While any germ, bacteria, or virus could potentially be utilized by terrorist, there are a number of
biological agents that have been recognized as being more likely to be utilized. The reason for
these agents being of concern is based on their availability to terrorists and the ease by which
these agents can be disseminated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has developed a classification system for biological terror agents, which is available on their web
site (Categories). The classification is based on the likelihood of the agent being used and the
risk posed by each agent. The agents (and the diseases they cause) are listed in table 1, including
hyperlinks for those wishing to learn more about a specific agent or disease. However, it is
almost impossible for most people to memorize all the details about each of these agents. It is
more important for the general public to understand the risk of bioterrorism and the appropriate
response to a terrorist attack.
Table 1: BIOTERRORISM AGENTS AND THE DISEASES THEY CAUSE
Disease caused by
Biologic agent
the agent
Bacillus anthracis
Anthrax
Clostridium botulinum toxin
Botulism
Yersinia pestis
Plague
Variola major
Smallpox
Francisella tularensis
Tularemia
Filoviruses (for example, Ebola, Marburg) and arenaviruses (for example, Viral hemorrhagic
Lassa, Machupo)
fevers
Brucella species
Brucellosis
Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens
Food poisoning
Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella
Food poisoning
Burkholderia mallei
Glanders
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Melioidosis
Chlamydia psittaci
Psittacosis
Coxiella burnetii
Q fever
Ricin toxin
Ricinus communis (castor beans)
poisoning

Table 1: BIOTERRORISM AGENTS AND THE DISEASES THEY CAUSE

Disease caused by
Biologic agent
the agent
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B
Food poisoning
Rickettsia prowazekii
Epidemic typhus
Vibrio cholerae
Cholera
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cryptosporidiosis
Alphaviruses (for example, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine
encephalitis, western equine encephalitis) and flaviviruses (for example,
Viral encephalitis
West Nile encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, dengue fever)
Influenza virus
Influenza
MDR TB and XDR
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
TB