Putting Bioterrorism in Perspective

Abstract

Bioterrorism is defined as terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents that may be naturally occurring or in a human-modified form. Bioterrorism usually exists under certain general conditions including countries with people who are closely packed, starving, under severe stress, and lack a sense of both community and hope. Categories of terror in this context include: 1) natural cause of death and disease, stochastic events, 3) global heating, 4) individual acts of terrorism, 5) resource wars and 6)reintroduced diseases. Although bioterrorism can cause a real threat, it must be dealt with in the context of cautious risk analysis and hazard evaluation instead of unreasonable fear.