The Most Deadly Biological Weapons

A number of biological weapons have been used over the years, some of which are extremely deadly. These include:

Anthrax:

Anthrax is a lethal disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus Anthracis. It can be used as a biological weapon by contaminating food, water, and even aerosols. The most terrifying aspect is that it is both tasteless and odourless.

Botulinum Toxin:

This toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. It is highly toxic and can be spread through contaminated food and water. Historical records suggest its use against prisoners during World War II.

Tularemia:

Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella Tularensis, was reportedly used as a biological weapon by the Soviet Union against the German Army during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.

Aflatoxin:

Aflatoxin, a product of the Aspergillus fungi, was weaponized by Iraq and was discovered by the United Nations Special Commission in 1995. It was subsequently destroyed during the Gulf War.

Why is Bioterrorism Considered More Dangerous Than Other Forms of Terrorism?

Bioterrorism poses a significant threat due to several reasons:

1. Biological agents are easy and cheap to obtain, making them an attractive tool for terrorism.
2. These agents can be easily spread and disseminated.
3. Bioterrorism can cause widespread fear and panic, beyond the actual physical damage.
4. The potential for large-scale loss of life is immense.
5. Even small quantities of these agents can have devastating effects.
6. Detection of these agents can be challenging and time-consuming, allowing for widespread and catastrophic spread.

What are the Different Types of Bioterrorism Agents?

Bioterrorism agents are classified into three categories based on their potential to cause harm:

1. Category A: High-priority agents. Examples include diseases like Plague and Smallpox.
2. Category B: Moderate-priority agents. Examples include diseases like Glanders and Ricin poisoning.
3. Category C: Low-priority agents. Examples include diseases like Nipah virus infection and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

The Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention 1972

1. The Convention was signed in 1972 and came into force in 1975.
2. As of 2019, the treaty has been signed by 109 countries and 183 nations are party to it. The most recent addition to the treaty was Tanzania.
3. This was the first multilateral disarmament treaty that banned the production of Biological Weapons.
4. The treaty prohibits nations from producing, stockpiling, acquiring, or retaining biological agents that can be used as weapons.
5. India ratified this treaty in 2015.
6. The operations of this treaty are reviewed at the Review Conferences. So far, eight such conferences have been held.
7. The eighth Review Conference was held in 2016 in Geneva. Unfortunately, it did not yield any substantial outcome.
8. The next review conference, the ninth one, will be held in Geneva in 2021.

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