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biological warfare definition
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Biological warfare (also called germ warfare) is the intentional use of living organisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi), their products (toxins), or other biological agents to cause disease, incapacitation, death, or agricultural/ecological damage in humans, animals, or plants for military, strategic, or terror objectives.
Key points:
- Targets: people, livestock, crops, or ecosystems can be targeted to achieve strategic effects (e.g., casualties, disruption, denial of resources).
- Means: agents may be disseminated in various ways, but discussion of methods or operational details is harmful and not appropriate.
- Legal status: most states prohibit development, production, stockpiling and use of biological weapons. The 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and earlier instruments such as the 1925 Geneva/1925 Protocol reflect international prohibitions.
- Related terms: biological terrorism refers to similar acts by non‑state actors; biodefense/ public‑health preparedness refers to measures to detect, prevent, respond to, and mitigate biological threats.
Because of their potential for mass harm and uncontrollable spread, biological weapons raise serious ethical, legal and humanitarian concerns.
Key points:
- Targets: people, livestock, crops, or ecosystems can be targeted to achieve strategic effects (e.g., casualties, disruption, denial of resources).
- Means: agents may be disseminated in various ways, but discussion of methods or operational details is harmful and not appropriate.
- Legal status: most states prohibit development, production, stockpiling and use of biological weapons. The 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and earlier instruments such as the 1925 Geneva/1925 Protocol reflect international prohibitions.
- Related terms: biological terrorism refers to similar acts by non‑state actors; biodefense/ public‑health preparedness refers to measures to detect, prevent, respond to, and mitigate biological threats.
Because of their potential for mass harm and uncontrollable spread, biological weapons raise serious ethical, legal and humanitarian concerns.
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