How big of a threat is bioterrorism?

Question

What are the chances of a terrorist group like Al Qaeda pulling off a major bioterrorist attack in the United States? What could be used (Anthrax? Smallpox?) and how much damage could conceivably be caused?

p.s. I am NOT a terrorist. I'm writing a paper on the effects of terrorism on society.

Answer 1

this is an issue of scale.
in the middle east, they are happy with returns of <50 people.
we think in terms of thousands.
getting and delivering pathogen of sufficient size to do significant damage is unlikely.
we have the largest supply, and aren't inclined to let joe anybody drive thru the arsenal gates and say i am here to rip off a couple of canisters of a biological agent. Coul;d you direct me to the proper dump?
A guy with a few semesters of biochem, or micro bio copuld grow a fair stock of bugs, that without too much effort can be introduced to the common areas we congregate like malls and sports arenas.
the problem is that bugs are very specific in thier enviornmental requirements, and the moment you introduce them to the atmosphere/a new enviorn, their half life begins.
as an example, i could cultivate e coli, and get it pretty pure, put it in a squirt gun, but then how do i introduce it to another organism? squirt it in peoples eyes? that would guarentee infection, but by the time i squirted the 4th person mall security is grabbing my *** and asking a bunch of quwestions, most of which i don't want to answer truthfully.
savin, sapron, sdomething like this was manufactured in japan and introduced to a subway car(s?) a few years back. it was chosen for its ease of deqaling with these issues, but in america, getting the bug starter kit is very difficult, so that it has to be brought to america.
if i had a couple million bux and some support i couild scare the hell out of a lagre metropolitan area, but do little damage. i am of the opinion that the water system is the most vunerable to tampering, but once again, technical knowlege and good lock picking skills are needed,
this is an area that is great for tv movies, but on a practical matter, the untrained is sol. look at how much prep the 911 boys went thru.
i could shut down the traffic system of la easier than i could introduce a pathogen to the la water system.
in the same vein, the canadian border is americas threat. alomost any pakistani can enter canada. the border is full of unpatrolled roads into the us from canada.
the coastline of canada is a smugglers paradise. if i were dirtball, that is the avenue i would pursue.

Answer 2

Potentially it is a huge threat. Epidemics of contagious disease have killed more people than all wars and natural disasters combined. The possibility of a bio-terrorism attack disabling a society - either directly by incapacitating numerous people, or indirectly by creating fear and division related to contagion - is both real and significant.

For terrorists serious about causing real damage, the intentional introduction of a highly contagious respiratory disease - such as SARS or bird flu - would be most effective. These agents are capable of spreading rapidly before cases are effectively detected, and sustaining an extensive epidemic after the initial event.

While cholera is both highly contagious and deadly; it is unlikely to spread unless the local public health situation is compromised, and does not travel to distant locales with the speed or efficiency of respiratory disease.

As deadly as anthrax is, historically it has not been shown to spread effectively from person to person before cases are identified and isolated; large scale attacks are impractical and a self-perpetuating epidemic is highly unlikely. It is, specifically, a terror weapon, which can cause fear and disruption but not seriously impair an entire society.

Answer 3

I think anything is possible. No one could conceive anything like 9/11 happening and it did. As far as a hypothetical bioterror attack, I don't know. Terrorists are craftier than me and I really don't try to think up how I can kill mass amounts of people. I would imagine nerve gas or something of that nature.

By the way, I love how you said you're NOT a terrorist! lol

Answer 4

Not many people realize that Howie Mandell is the leader of the World Illuminati and plans to depopulate the world using genetically altered bird flu.

Answer 5

I can't tell you how much damage it could cause.

Answer 6

It is a big threat and it would be devastating.