biowarfare
Military disease deployment
Biowarfare is warfare using biological agents—bacteria, viruses, or toxins—to harm enemy populations, livestock, or crops.
The term covers both the practice and the broader category of weapons: international treaties banning biowarfare.
Also called biological warfare or germ warfare.
Spore-forming bacterial disease
- smallpoxDeadly pustular viral infection
- botulinumParalysis-causing bacterial species
- ricinToxic castor compound
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
brucellosis · glanders · VX · sarin · pathogen · toxin · virus · bacteria
Preventing hostile expansion
- hazmatToxic materials needing precautions
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- immunizationProtective medical injection
detection · surveillance · countermeasures · prophylaxis · antidotes · quarantine · filtration · early-warning
Weaponized infectious agents
- attackAggressive act against another
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
- state-sponsoredBacked by national authorities
vulnerability · exposure · contamination · covert · release
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- tacticalStrategically planned
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
munitions · warhead · bomblet · weaponization · battlefield · clandestine · military-grade · dual-use
Cultural or social prohibition
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- indiscriminateLacking selective judgment
- gain-of-functionAcquired new capability
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
Binding pact between nations
- nonproliferationRestricting weapons dissemination
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- verificationProving something accurate
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
compliance · disarmament · UN · WHO · moratorium · oversight · regulation · accountability
anthrax
Spore-forming bacterial disease
- smallpoxDeadly pustular viral infection
- botulinumParalysis-causing bacterial species
- ricinToxic castor compound
plague · brucellosis · glanders · VX · sarin · pathogen · toxin · virus · bacteria · spore
containment
Preventing hostile expansion
- hazmatToxic materials needing precautions
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
immunization · detection · surveillance · countermeasures · prophylaxis · antidotes · quarantine · filtration · early-warning · stockpile
bioterrorism
Weaponized infectious agents
- attackAggressive act against another
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- asymmetricNot identical on both sides
state-sponsored · vulnerability · exposure · contamination · covert · release
offensive
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
- strategicDeliberately planned for advantage
- tacticalStrategically planned
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
stockpile · munitions · warhead · bomblet · weaponization · battlefield · clandestine · military-grade · dual-use
taboo
Cultural or social prohibition
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- indiscriminateLacking selective judgment
- gain-of-functionAcquired new capability
whistleblower · Nuremberg · controversy · debate · stigmatization
treaty
Binding pact between nations
- nonproliferationRestricting weapons dissemination
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- verificationProving something accurate
inspection · compliance · disarmament · UN · WHO · moratorium · oversight · regulation · accountability · transparency
- bioweaponsanthrax, bioterrorism, smallpox, ricin, botulism
- WMD threatschemical weapons, bioterrorism, chemical weapon, poison gas, nerve agent
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
biowarfarepeace
Freedom from disturbance
peacemaking · diplomacy · harmony · disarmament · reconciliation
biowarfarebiodefense
Protection from biological attacks
medicine · public health · disease prevention · vaccination · disease eradication
biowarfareconventional warfare
Armed conflict using standard military forces
conventional arms · conventional weapons · nuclear warfare · cyberwarfare · mechanized warfare
war, warrior, biology, warfare, bio, biological, biosynthesis, bioweapon, biohazard