Review Article

A Review of Viruses as Biological Warfare Agents with Medical Aspect

Abstract

Since ancient times, various types of weapons have been used to eliminate the enemy, whether at the level of soldiers, farms, livestock, or property. Among those weapons was the use of biological agents such as microbes to achieve these goals, and this is what is known as biological warfare (BW). Dangerous aspects in use of biological agents as BW represented by the ability to be produced by relatively simple facilities and cost. Besides BW can be easily loaded on weapon and dispersed widely though air, water and food to infect people. Also, BW the harmful effect cannot be detected immediately after used but it can take days to weeks to be appeared. Treatment of these biological agent may be not available or hard to performed. All these parameters can make general panic and significant fear among population or troops; therefore, theses trend can attract bioterrorist to use these advantages to perform their dangerous purposes. Good preparedness is required overcoming potential of biological attack on civilian or military facilities.