What Does It Mean Bioterrorism - Research Paper Example

Abstract Bioterrorism is one of the most dangerous forms of terrorism. Bioterrorism poses serious threat to the public health surveillance system of a society and cause widespread socio-psychological effects. With the advent of genetic engineering, bioterrorism can become instrumental in mass destruction as well. The basic tenet of bioterrorism is minimal effort leading to maximum damage. Biological weapons are relatively easy to manufacture, maintain, and disseminate. The perceived grievances and goals of bioterrorism are diverse. It is effective in hitting the public morale and pressurizes the government easily. The threat level or risk to the contemporary society due to bioterrorism is extremely high. Modern technologies can help bioterrorism become more lethal and precise. Governments around the world must take concrete steps to stop bioterrorism. Bioterrorism Introduction Terrorism has emerged as a prominent threat to the peaceful existence of human society. Terrorism rapidly evolved in the twentieth century. There have been attempts to define terrorism at the international level but with little success. For example, there is a controversy that who are terrorists and who are freedom fighters. The international community could not reach a unanimous definition of terrorism through the United Nations Organization although the menace is taking the lives of thousands of people every year around the world. The Islamic militant groups and the ultra left organizations are the most prominent terrorist groups in the recent days. However, the contemporary study of terrorism is marked principally by continuing confusion about its general significance for modern political life (O’Sullivan, 1986). Bioterrorism is an act of human malice intended to injure and kill civilians and is associated with a higher rate of psychiatric morbidity (Ursano et al, 2004). A bioterrorist attack is an intentional release of bacteria, viruses, and other agents utilized to infect and kill animals, plants, and most importantly, human beings. These agents might be found in nature. But bioterrorists would increase their capability to cause diseases, their resistance to existing medicines and healthcare mechanisms, and ability to get spread throughout the environment. Air, water, or food may be the media of the transmission of the harmful biological agents. Usage of biological agents in terrorist activities can be extremely difficult to detect, and hence the terrorists can utilize it very effectively. Tenets of Bioterrorism Bioterrorism cannot be associated with a definite ideological, political, or religious view. Terrorists with any agenda can use biological agents. Bioterrorism would act through certain socio-psychological processes. The possible ways of bioterrorist attack would probably create similar medical emergencies and work through processes of designed epidemics. However, any terrorist act can be associated to behavioral or social scientific perspectives since the nature of a terrorist attack greatly depends on the socio-psychological thinking and background of the terrorists involved (Smelser & Mitchell, 2002). Utilization of biological agents is difficult to be detected. A biological agent may not cause serious illness for even several hours after contamination. This feature of bioterrorist attack ideally strengthens the tenet of ‘hit and run’, which is important particularly in urban warfare. An attack using biological agent would give the terrorist enough time to escape. Moreover, biological agents can create widespread panic. The effects of most of the biological agents are generally felt all at a sudden. In a populace hit by bioterrorist attack, the suddenness of the deliberate outbreak would certainly hit the public morale hard. Intimidation thus becomes another important tenet of bioterrorism that would add to its socio-psychological morbidity. It is feared that terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, etc. may use biological agents to advance their extremist political and religious agenda. The main benefit for the terrorist group that uses bioterrorism is the extent of damage achieved by minimal effort. Perceived Grievances and Goals “The microbial world is invisible, mysterious, frightening and unknown to many, including leaders, members of the media, and general public.” Therefore, the extent of panic caused by biological agents can be far greater than the actual damage. “A hurricane is usually an isolated event with subsequent consequences. In contrast, a terrorist attack with a biological agent, due to incubation period of microorganisms and evolving echoes and exposure, fear, and possible spread of contagion, is a process-trauma with consequences spread widely over time. In addition, there is the threat of further attacks, announced or covert.” (Ursano et al, 2004) The perceived grievances thus involve serious interventions in mass psychology and public health. The goal of any terrorist activity is to intimidate public and pressurize the government. Moreover, there are the goals of maximum damage, speedy escape, and widespread fear. For example, in the year 2001, many cases of anthrax attacks were reported in USA. Letters that were laced with infectious anthrax were deliberately delivered to the US Congress and the offices of news media. Five people were killed in the spree of these attacks. But the overall effect of these attacks on the US polity was profound. These attacks stimulated the policy makers to define biosecurity and biodefense. Even, legislation to improve public health preparedness and response capacity was moved (Borelli, 2007). Thus the easiest goal of bioterrorist attack is to intimidate and affect the target populace. With the advent of genetic engineering, biological weapons can be made more lethal and possibly, infections caused by them can be made incurable or more resistant to medicines. Thus, bioterrorism can have intense effects and achieve diverse goals of targeted or mass destruction. Threat Level or Risk to the Contemporary Society A well plan bioterrorist attack can severely damage public health and healthcare management system of the targeted populace. Bioterrorism can be an attractive weapon since the biological agents are comparatively inexpensive and easy to produce or obtain. Utilization of biological agents can be made almost anywhere, any time, and by any terrorist group. This fact threatens the surveillance system of the society as a whole. In fact, widespread panic and fear beyond the levels of actual physical impairment are caused by bioterrorist activities. Economic and socio-psychological disruption is the prominent risks associated with bioterrorist attacks. The threat level of destroying healthcare information and management system in a country thus becomes high. A widespread spree of bioterrorist attacks can seriously challenge the role of clinical information systems and public health surveillance (Wagner, 2004). Moreover, utilization of more dangerous and controlled varieties of agents like anthrax, small pox, tularemia, botulism toxin, and viral hemorrhagic germs can lead to mass destruction. Sophisticated use of biological agents can wipe out the entire population of a country. Although military policy makers do not advocate the utilization of biological weapons since these may get targeted against the friendly forces as well, bioterrorists probably would not have such concerns. They can secretly operate across very large geographical areas. The power of genetic engineering can make bioterrorism more dangerous and precision guided. Even, bioterrorist activities can threaten the very existence of human beings. Risk of bioterrorism is thus very high with respect to the contemporary society since twenty first century technologies can make the menace more lethal and unstoppable (Joy, 2007). Conclusion Terrorism cannot be appreciated or supported in any form. Unfortunately, there are some countries like Iran which provide support to terrorist organizations. Therefore, the international community must define terrorism unanimously and take concrete steps to stop terrorism as a whole. Some people associate romanticism to terrorism, which has no practical meaning and terrorists, should not be regarded as martyrs by any culture or country. So, there should be no room of confusion in modern political life as far as terrorism is concerned (O’Sullivan, 1986). Adopting strict stance against all forms of terrorism is necessary and bioterrorism is no exception. With the advent of modern techniques such as genetic engineering, biological weapons may become more and more dangerous. The terrorists who are likely to use biological agents should be brought to the book or eliminated by violence if necessary. The biotechnological engineering facilities should be kept under strict surveillance and protection. All countries should abandon the manufacturing of harmful biological agents lest the designs of genetically engineered germs may fall in the hands of terrorists by sabotage or accident. Most importantly, policies to provide prevention and protection against bioterrorist attacks should strongly be enforced. Public health surveillance system should be strengthened worldwide to promote preparedness against bioterrorist attacks. References Borelli, J.V. (2007). Bioterrorism: Prevention, Preparedness, and Protection. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Joy, B. (2007). Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us: How 21st Century Technologies Threaten to Make Humans an Endangered Species. New York: Random House O’Sullivan, N. (1986). Terrorism, Ideology and Revolution. Boulder: Westview Press Smelser, N.J. & Mitchell, F. (2002). Terrorism: Perspectives from the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Washington D.C.: National Academies Press Ursano, R.J., Norwood, A.E., & Fullerton, C.S. (2004). Bioterrorism: Psychological and Public Health Interventions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wagner, M.M. (2004). Healthcare Information Management Systems. New York: Springer-Verlag Read More