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After attending the lecture and completing any assigned videos/readings the student will be able to:

Define terms from the terminology list.
Define bioterrorism and list reasons why bioweapons are used.
List the 4 criteria for assessing biological threats.
List the 3 categories of bioterrorism agents and the criteria defining each category.
Provide examples of microbial agents within each category.
Discuss the causative agent of the diseases profiled in each category.
Explain how anthrax or tularemia could be used as biological weapons.
Describe why Q fever is considered a Category B agent and how it could be disseminated.
Explain why Hantavirus would be difficult to use as a bioweapon.
Define agroterrorism and discuss its potential profound impact on populations.
Explain why Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Rice Blast are considered forms of agroterrorism.
List the 5 pillars of biosecurity.
Discuss why African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) is a focus of biosecurity efforts.

CDC's definition: "A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but they can potentially be altered to enhance their ability to cause disease, increase resistance to current medications, or improve their environmental spreadability. Biological agents can be disseminated via air, water, or food."

Usage and Analysis:
- Approximately 16 nations possess or have possessed biological weapons capabilities.
- Bioweapons are cost-effective in production compared to nuclear or chemical weapons.
- They yield high impact with lethal effects at very small (minute) doses.
- Most bioweapons are odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
- Many can be inhaled and do not destroy building structures, creating panic and anxiety instead.
- Biological agents can contaminate the environment for prolonged periods.

Notable Historical Instances:
- 6th century BC: Assyrians poisoned water sources with rye ergot fungus.
- 1155 AD: Emperor Barbarossa poisoned well water using human remains.
- 1346 AD: Mongols used catapults to launch plague-infected bodies over city walls.
- 1495 AD: Spanish soldiers mixed leprosy patient blood with wine to poison enemies.
- 1754 AD: Smallpox-laden blankets were given to Native Americans by British forces.
- 1863: Confederates sold clothes from smallpox-infected patients to Union troops.
- 1937-44: Unit 731 of Japan conducted biowarfare tests, infecting wells with cholera.

Public Health Impact:
- Evaluate whether healthcare systems can handle mass illness and proper disposal of bodies.
Delivery Potential:
- Assess the availability, quantity production, ease of dissemination, and viability of the agent in the environment.
Public Perception:
- Gauge the risk of mass panic and the enforcement of quarantine measures.
Public Health Preparedness:
- Review surveillance systems, diagnostic measures, training of personnel, and funding for research and development.

Category A:
- Characteristics include high mortality rates, significant public health effects, and severe public panic.
- Examples include:
- Ebola virus
- Marburg virus
- Lassa virus
Category B:
- Representing the second-highest threat level.
- Agents are moderately easy to disseminate with a moderate morbidity rate.
- Examples: Q Fever, Brucellosis.
Category C:
- Includes emerging pathogens potentially engineered for mass dissemination in the future.
- Examples: Nipah virus, Hantavirus, MDR Tuberculosis, SARS, and MERS Coronaviruses.

Anthrax:
- Caused by Bacillus anthracis, commonly found in soil.
- Used historically and potentially as a bioweapon due to its lethality in small doses.
Tularemia:
- Francisella tularensis, requires few organisms to cause disease. Highly infectious and potentially aerosolized for use in biowarfare.

Q Fever:
- Caused by Coxiella burnetii, predominantly found in livestock like sheep and cattle.
- Symptoms include flu-like illness and can be disseminated effectively as a bioweapon.

Hantavirus:
- Rodent-borne, two strains exist (HFRS and HCPS), challenging to weaponize due to difficulties in detection and short viability outside a host.

Definition: Agroterrorism involves the use of biological agents targeting agricultural producers, livestock, and crops. It can lead to significant economic and ecological consequences.
Examples:
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD):
- Affects cloven-hoofed animals, is highly contagious, but nonfatal. High economic impact if disseminated, can disrupt agriculture and tourism.
- Rice Blast:
- Caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, devastating to rice crops, with potential use as a bioweapon due to ease of dispersal and resistance to control measures.

Biosecurity is defined as a combination of management practices designed to prevent the transmission of disease-causing agents by managing the movement of carriers such as people and animals.
It encompasses both internal measures (like facility sanitation) and external strategies (like controlling visitor access).

Physical Security:
- Measures to control facility access, including barriers and surveillance.
Personnel Reliability:
- Background checks for those handling sensitive materials.
Transport Security:
- Safe transport protocols for biological materials including proper packaging.
Information Security:
- Protecting sensitive data about biological materials through secure storage.
Material Control and Accountability:
- Tracking biological materials throughout their lifecycle to ensure no unauthorized access.

Overview: ASFV is highly contagious among pigs with a mortality rate up to 100%, though it poses no threat to human health.
Current statistics reveal significant outbreaks and livestock losses, emphasizing the importance of biosecurity protocols to manage outbreaks and minimize economic disasters.