ABSTRACT
Biological warfare involves employment of toxins of biological origin that are intentionally used for causing epidemic, disease, to eradicate or debilitate humans’ lives and even animals and plants may undergo collateral damage. The approach for toxin inoculation may be via bacteria, virus, fungi, plants, etc. However, the desired effect similar to conventional warfare may not be obtained as biological agent does not show immediate effects because of their incubation period which leads to short or long-time delay for desired results. But they are advantageous in terms of acquirement, production, culture, economical, easy availability, etc. Therefore, it is an attractive option to terrorists or groups involved in war or proxies around the world. The biological agents possess potentials which are equivalent to conventional or chemical warfare agents. As these agents also produce obstruction of main cellular metabolism and fatalities that may ultimately causes death. In most cases, these toxins have acted very quickly when given in low but lethal doses. The fungus if developed as biological warfare agent seems to be more disastrous because of non-availability of any vaccines or cure to it which is evident in case of Coccidioides spp. Therefore, it has become an essential factor to anticipate biological warfare or bioterrorism an evident phenomenon for future vigilance and timely detection of precise agents will 38be crucial for the masses. Also, the role of medical health authorities will have to participate significantly during biological warfare otherwise it can prove to be disastrous with mass casualties, disease, disabilities, death, chaos among civil population and disruption of economy of a state or world as well. It collectively brings about death, disease to large population along with social and political disorder. Hence, this chapter attempts to review various aspects of biological warfare and underline their successful evaluation in the process of bio-safety level.
