Updated on November 15, 2015
Whether you’re aware of it or not, countries are consistently gearing up for the potential of a biological attack. And the fact of the matter is that biological attacks have been around since 1,000 BC. www.securitydegreehub.com has created an infographic entitled “Biological Attack: Are We Ready?” detailing the history of biological attacks, and where the United States scores on a biological awareness report card.
Biological attacks started back in 1,000 BC, when the Chinese used arsenic smoke. By 1945, the Spanish were offering wine laced with the blood of lepers to the French. In 1763, British officers devised a plan to give blankets infected with smallpox to Native Americans at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, and as recent as 2001, letters laced with Anthrax showed up at the mailboxes of politicians and government offices.
America is increasingly aware of the threat of biological attacks, and spends 5.5 billion per year preparing for them, however, on a scorecard grading for things like medical management, communication, and attribution, America’s scores are strikingly low. In fact, out of 149 positive reports for pathogens since the start of the BioWatch program, none have been found to be actual pathogens-they’ve all been false alarms.
The Federal Centers for Disease Control have over 40 agents listed as possible bioterrorism agents, and this infographic touches on the symptoms and survival rate of some of the worst on the list, including Anthrax, Botulism, Plague, and Smallpox.
