Biological weapons use disease-causing organisms or toxins, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or substances they produce, to deliberately harm or kill people, animals, or crops. Historically studied examples include anthrax, plague, smallpox, and botulinum toxin.
They are banned by the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which prohibits developing, producing, stockpiling, or acquiring them. Over 180 countries are parties. Unlike the Chemical Weapons Convention, the BWC has no formal inspection body, so verification is a long-standing weakness.Â
The Writer explains biological weapons, their historical background, potential public health consequences, international prohibition, disease prevention measures, emergency preparedness, and global efforts to reduce biological security threats.Â
Their impact can be severe: infectious agents can spread beyond the intended target, cause mass illness, overwhelm healthcare systems, and create fear and economic disruption. Real cases include Japan’s Unit 731 in World War II and the 2001 US anthrax letter attacks.
