Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Zoonoses likely to be used in bioterrorism.
- Journal:
- Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Ryan, C Patrick
- Affiliation:
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health · United States
Plain-English summary
This research discusses the potential use of certain diseases that can spread from animals to humans, known as zoonoses, in acts of bioterrorism. It highlights that only basic skills are needed to create and use biological weapons, which have been a part of military history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a list of high-priority agents that could be used in such attacks, most of which can affect both animals and people. The only exception is smallpox, which no longer exists in the wild due to successful vaccination efforts. The study emphasizes the importance of collaboration between medical and veterinary professionals to address these threats effectively.
Abstract
Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other agents used "to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. Only modest microbiologic skills are needed to produce and effectively use biologic weapons. And biological warfare has afflicted campaigns throughout military history, at times playing an important role in determining their outcomes. There is a long list of potential pathogens for use by terrorists, but only a few are easy to prepare and disperse. Of the infectious diseases, the vast majority are zoonoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's highest-priority bioterrorism agents are in Category A. The only disease that does not affect animals in Category A is smallpox, which was eliminated by a worldwide vaccination program in the late 1970s. Because these diseases can infect animals and humans, the medical and veterinary communities should work closely together in clinical, public health, and research settings.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19006970/