biological attack
Pathogen-based assault
A biological attack is the deliberate release of pathogens—bacteria, viruses, or toxins—to cause illness or death in people, animals, or crops.
Such attacks may target military forces or civilian populations: Officials feared a biological attack on the water supply.
The term encompasses both terrorism and state-sponsored warfare using disease as a weapon.
- bioterrorismWeaponized infectious agents
- germ warfareCombat using disease agents
- anthraxSpore-forming bacterial disease
- anthrax scareFear of bacterial attack
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
outbreak · contagion · smallpox · nerve agent · nerve gas · pandemic · hazmat · hazmat suit · ground zero · mass casualty · contamination · epidemic · public health emergency · toxin · warfare · plague · spores · infection
- attacksassault, raid, strike, offensive, charge
- warfarebattle, combat, war, armed conflict, military strategy
- war violencemassacre, bombardment, bombing, shelling, combat
biological attackbombing
Attack with explosives
chemical attack · missile strike · cyberattack · gunfire · physical assault
biological attackbiodefense
Protection from biological attacks
vaccination campaign · disease prevention · quarantine measures · epidemic response · biosecurity
biological, attack, biology, biologic, biologically, biologist, attacks, attacked, attacking