Historical Aspects of Bioterrorism: Factors Determining the Possibility of Using Pathogenic Biological Agents as Biological Weapons

Abstract

Every year, the number of potentially life-threatening pathogenic biological agents (PBAs) is rapidly growing, which are represented by viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, chlamydia, protozoa, fungi, genetically engineered constructs and modified microorganisms, prions and toxins. The use of PBAs for the purpose of destroying society, the economic resources of the country, deteriorating the quality of food and water supplies, intimidating the population, provoking internal unrest, destabilizing government, and creating economic, socio-psychological and environmental crises is nothing more than biological terrorism. The numerous international agreements, treaties and protocols that have been developed and ratified to date, limiting the production and use of weapons of mass destruction, do not guarantee the elimination of the risks of illegal acquisition and use of biologically active substances by terrorist organizations, which does not exclude the possibility of committing acts of bioterrorism. In this regard, the preservation and strengthening of administrative-legal, medical-biological, sanitary-epidemiological, veterinary and phytosanitary and other measures should form the basis of the state policy of the Russian Federation to counter the use and spread of PBAs.

Keywords

• pathogenic biological agents
• biological weapons
• viruses
• bioterrorism
• biological weapons convention