BIOWARFARE – A PERIL GAINING GROUND

Abstract

Bioterrorism, a biotechnologist’s unethical nightmare has become reality at present. Bioweapons has not just cropped up in the age we live in; it is a classic technique indeed. Evidences proved the usage of bio-agents as war agents and commonly against enemies bygone. From the use of insects as means to bring the foes out of their caves by Palaeolithic man and distribution of letters containing spores of B. anthracis to spread anthrax, bioterrorism has emerged in many ways. Bioterrorism means the intentional use of bio-agents like insects, viruses, bacteria, toxins from plants and animals to produce mass casualties bringing terror and disrupt the normal balance of a particular place or even a nation. Earlier these bio-terror agents were difficult to produce and they require state-of-the-art research facilities, which have become inessential at present. Technological innovations and developments have led to easier production of these bioweapons at lower cost and even in small scale facilities. These agents are generally lethal in shorter durations; they are almost undetectable and untreatable in most scenarios. All these make them an attractive warfare agent. At present proper knowledge about possible bioweapons, their impact and treatment option are the top most necessitate. But the information available on bioweapons is very less due to many reasons. Thereby this review tries to give a briefer understanding of bioweapons based on the available literature.