Bioterrorism and Microbial Forensics

This chapter discusses the history of bioterrorism and biological warfare from the first known cases where biological organisms were used as weapons to modern cases that occurred in the 21st century. Not all biological organisms have the same potential to be used as bioterrorism agents and according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention they are classified into three categories: A, B, and C. The A category contains biological agents such as anthrax, smallpox, and the plague that can be easily disseminated and have high mortality rates. The identification, collection, and analysis of biological samples are critical for successful detection of microbes, and this chapter discusses the latest microbial forensic protocols and best practices in microbial forensics. Fast and precise identification of microbes is crucial for identification of bioterrorism events, and in this chapter criteria for considering an outbreak unusual are discussed through cases of these events in recent history. In final remarks, this chapter elaborates on SARS-CoV-2 as a potential bioterrorism agent and the importance of biosafety and biosecurity protocols and actions being implemented in every government’s program for public health preservation.