biothreat
Dangerous pathogen risk
A biothreat is a biological agent—such as a pathogen, toxin, or organism—that poses a danger to human health, agriculture, or the environment.
The term appears most often in contexts of bioterrorism, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity: The lab was designed to study potential biothreats.
Biothreat can also describe the broader risk such agents represent: Anthrax remains a significant biothreat.
Global disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- choleraBacterial disease causing fatal dehydration
typhoid · anthrax · smallpox · dengue · tuberculosis · yellow fever · avian flu · swine flu
Spore-forming bacterial disease
Microscopic infectious agent
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- transmissionSending of information
outbreak · spread · contamination · vector · carrier · host · incubation · symptoms
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- detectionAct of finding something
preparedness · countermeasures · vaccination · immunization · contact tracing · isolation · lockdown · early warning
Protection from biological attacks
- biosafetyProtection from biological hazards
- weaponizationMaking something harmful
- dual useHaving two purposes
- lab safetyPractices preventing research injuries
pandemic
Global disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
cholera · typhoid · anthrax · smallpox · dengue · tuberculosis · yellow fever · avian flu · swine flu · hemorrhagic fever
anthrax
Spore-forming bacterial disease
- ricinToxic castor compound
- botulinumParalysis-causing bacterial species
- smallpoxDeadly pustular viral infection
plague · brucellosis · toxin · nerve agent
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
transmission · outbreak · spread · contamination · vector · carrier · host · incubation · symptoms · microbe
quarantine
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
detection · preparedness · countermeasures · vaccination · immunization · contact tracing · isolation · lockdown · early warning · rapid response
biodefense
Protection from biological attacks
- biosafetyProtection from biological hazards
- weaponizationMaking something harmful
- dual useHaving two purposes
lab safety · gain of function · intelligence · critical infrastructure
biothreatchemical warfare
Combat using toxic substances
nuclear threat · cyberattack · conventional warfare · chemical weapon · nuclear weapon
biothreatbiodefense
Protection from biological attacks
biosecurity · biotherapy · biomedicine · vaccine · antidote
biothreatbiosafety
Protection from biological hazards
biosecurity · biodefense · health security · disease prevention · biological safety
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