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Terrorists can use biological weapons to cause mass destruction in the United States. Biological weapons include those viruses and diseases that can reach the targeted places to cause large-scale deaths (Kortepeter & Parker, 1999).
Some of the common viruses and diseases that can be used as biological weapons include smallpox, anthrax, Nipah virus, rise blast, and Chimera virus. All of these viruses can be transmitted to the United States easily because they require just air, food, or water to reach the destination. These days, a deadly disease causing threats to people all over the world is Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The main point regarding this virus is that it causes a fever that leads to instant death of the affected person within days Peters, 1999). This virus can be transmitted to the people living near the affected person through the air and physical contact because of which it is listed in the category ‘A’ of the most hazardous biological weapons. Although this virus is currently affecting the region of Africa, terrorists can spread this virus to the United States by making some affected people enter the borders of the United States through the Caribbean and Mexican routes. Illegal border crossing has been an issue for the government of the United States for a long time.
Drug smugglers and human traffickers use the Caribbean and Mexican routes to smuggle drugs and humans into the United States. To reduce the threat of Ebola, the government of the United States needs to ensure that no Ebola-affected person can enter the country through air and sea routes. The government needs to put into practice some effective viral detection mechanisms at the airports and seaports to ensure that no affected person enters the premises of the United States. As additional measures, the government should increase and improve its border security mechanism to ensure complete protection of the country from outside intrusions.
Moreover, the government should bound the airport and seaport management authorities of all other countries, particularly African and Asian countries, to check all people for Ebola virus before issuing them the clearance to visit the United States of America. Putting these steps into practice, the threat of an Ebola-led attack on the people of the United States can be decreased to a great extent. ReferencesKortepeter, M., & Parker, G. (1999). Potential biological weapons threats. Emerging Infect Dis., 5(4), 523-527.Peters, C. (1999).
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