What are biological agents?

Biological agents are viruses, bacteria and fungi that have potential applications in biological cylinders or bioterrorism. As biological agents, a wide range of infectious agents could potentially be deployed, and several nations have carried out extensive research programs to identify these agents and develop methods of responding to biological attacks. Like nuclear weapons and chemical agents, biological agents are considered to be weapons of mass destruction. Biological agents are often deadly and are highly effective, even in small quantities. It is also very difficult to kill and able to disperse widely and quickly across a large area. They can act in a wide range of ways. Some release toxins that kill humans and animals, while others attack the body in some way, causing damage to the nervous system, acute bleeding, pulmonary problems, diarrhea and sweeping symptoms.

There are a number of concerns about biological substances. The first is that the release of biological organisms is very difficult to control. If a napThe terrorist has released anthrax in one country, could quickly spread to neighboring regions or be transferred by a current of the current. Also, biological agents do not distinguish between civilians, soldiers, friends and enemies and can cause serious long -term damage such as land and waterway contamination.

Many nations have signed contracts in which they agreed to refrain from using biological substances in the war and destroy the reserves of such agents. However, research programs on biological agents still prosper in many countries, under the argument that people must be prepared for the deliberate or accidental release of the biological agent. The safety and security of some programs was Questioned, especially as a result of the revelation about the alienated biological material, which came from the laboratories in Russia at the end of the 20th century.

While the international community agreed that the use of biological agents should be forbiddenIen, terrorists did not sign any such agreement, which is the cause of great concern. Some biological agents are very easy to obtain and cultivate, with laboratories around the world freely supply biological materials for research. As a result, terrorists could easily start attacking biological agents in the target area of ​​their choice. Counter -terrorist programs around the world have specific units that monitor the sale of various potentially dangerous organisms, and these programs also audit laboratory security in legitimate laboratories and perform routine screening for biological agents for people and goods that exceed international borders.