Biological Agents

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors examine the issue of biological agents as weapons in mass violence incidents. The chapter begins with an overview of the threat within the broader context of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats from non-state actors. The specific vulnerabilities of the United States are addressed, as is the state of preparedness. The “pathogen threat matrix” is also used to describe and categorize different pathogens' threat levels. These threats are further described in terms of how these pathogens impact their human hosts and how they are propagated within human populations. Finally, the challenges of prevention and investigation of attacks using biological agents are considered. It is concluded that while no significant attack using biological agents has yet occurred, both the likelihood and dangerousness of such a threat is increasing over time as biotechnology continues to develop.