Bio-Terrorism/L.R.
Reddy. New Delhi, APH, 2002, viii, 225 p., $28. ISBN 81-7648-311-7.Bio-Terrorism/L.R.
Reddy. New Delhi, APH, 2002, viii, 225 p., $28. ISBN 81-7648-311-7.
Contents: Preface. 1. History of biological warfare and current threat. 2. Understanding the threat. 3. Bio-Terrorism as a public health threat. 4. Medical aspects of the chemical threat. 5. More chemical arms use in Gulf war. 6. Chemical weapons, made in the U.S. 7. Biological warfare agents. 8. Personal protection. 9. Biological warfare : the world at risk—a time to act. Appendices. Index.
"Biological and chemical weapons have had a long and checkered history. Incidentally, instead of proliferating, like conventional warfare, the use of biological and chemical warfare (CBW) has decreased over time.
"The advent of biotechnology, namely in the fields of microbiology, molecular chemistry and genetic engineering have opened new doorways for human race to propel itself to a better future. However, like all things, there is a darker, more sinister side to biotechnology. One element of this "dark side" is the manufacture and proliferation of biological and chemical weapons.
"For example, Iranian scientists revealed that they could easily create person specific or group specific viruses and bacteria. If Hitler had these weapons at his disposal, he needn’t have gone through all that trouble to drag jews into concentration camps and gas them. He’d simply have to release a few "Israelite specific" pathogens into the water supply and let nature takes its course.
"With the diagnosis of cases of Anthrax in Florida, USA on October 11, 2001 and deaths reported due to disease from Kolar district, Karnataka, India in September 2001 it is now time that we sit up and take a note regarding the possible threat of what has been called a biological warfare.
"This book elaborately discusses the burning issues of biological warfare in the contemporary world. It will be highly informative to all concerned." (jacket)