Biological Weapons and Threats Plague As a Biological Weapon

 
Plague can be used as a biological weapon to harm and kill people and cause economic and social instability in the targeted country. A plague is an infectious illness with the potential of causing severe sickness in people (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). While the bacteria that cause plaque, Yersinia pestis, get to people when they handle infected animals or are bitten by an infected flea, it can be used as a biological weapon to sicken people. Terrorist groups can use Y. pestis as a bioweapon by releasing it in populated cities or areas. This bacterium is available in nature in most parts of the world. It is possible to grow Y. pestis in a laboratory and release it into the air.

Terrorists can use Y. pestis in an aerosol attack by releasing droplets or tiny particles containing the bacterium. Once people inhale it, they develop pneumonic plague, a serious lung infection. Infected individuals can spread the disease to others through close contact (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). The condition would cause severe illness and, in worst cases, death if not promptly treated. Notably, advanced knowledge and technology are required to weaponize the bacterium. While the government is prepared for the bioterrorist attack using Y. pestis, the medical and public health community’s ability to respond to such an outbreak, it would be challenging to respond to the plague effectively. There is a shortage of healthcare professionals, of whom most of them may not be well acquainted with the signs and symptoms of the disease and how to contain its spreading.

W5: Agrotourism
Agroterrorism is a significant national security threat in the United States, like in any other country in the world. This kind of terrorism is a subset of bioterrorism, which involves the thoughtful introduction of plant or animal diseases to cause economic damage, fear, and social instability (Haley, 2019). Execution of the agroterrorism act in the United States would have potential adverse impacts on the country’s agricultural sector and the economy. The possible consequences of agroterrorism include the suffering of animals, loss of valuable crops and animals, decreased food production, and disruption of the livestock industry. Introducing pathogens to crops and animals can cause an outbreak of diseases that might be challenging to control due to the population affected. Suffering and death of animals as the destruction of crops may be inevitable when the government controls the diseases.