I.  Introduction

• Estimated that at least 17 countries actively involved in biolgical warfare
  
  
• Bioterrorism: intentional use of disease causing microorganism or toxin to infect people (or livestock or plants) to cause civil unrest.
  
  
• Biological warfare: intentional use of disease causing microorganism or toxin to infect people (or livestock or plants) to gain a military advantage.
  
  
• History of biological weapons

III.  Agents of Biological Warfare

• "[Biological weapons] can be more effective, pound for pound, than the hydrogen bomb." --Richard Preston
  
• Most Likely Agents

             3.  botulism toxin

             4.  Other agents

• Yersinia pestis
  
• viral hemorrhagic fever agents
   

IV.  Are We Prepared?

• Anti-terrorist bill
  
  
• PulseNet
  
  
• Laboratory Response Network
  
  
• BL-4 Laboratories
  
  
• Public Health Security & Bioterrorism Preapredness Act, HR 3348