Bio-Terrorism & Bio-Defence - Hardcover

Chari, P R

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 8173046077 ISBN 13: 9788173046070

Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 2005

Synopsis

The use of biological weapons in warfare is as old as history itself. Several countries have used them in the last century. What is new at this juncture, especially after 9/11, is fears that biological weapons might be used to cause mass disruption, if not mass destruction, and against very difficulty defensible targets like agricultural crops and livestock. Epidemiologists are also aware that new diseases are constantly appearing due to changes in either the ecology or human behaviour, compounding the problems of their prevention and cure. They could also be artificially manufactured by state and non-state actors, which is becoming progressively easier due to the rapid advances being made in bio-technology like gene manipulation. Terrorist groups are known to be interested in developing and using biological weapons. Several countries are also known to be currently researching into these weapons. Regrettably, international efforts to develop a regime to verify the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention have failed, and the present attempts to establish and alternate system simply lack credibility. The technological, legal and political challenges to stopping the proliferation of biological weapons are, however, intricate and immense. This volume seeks to address these issues of bio-terrorism and bio-defence. They are grouped under three major heads relating to national and international efforts to combat biological weapons, bio-terrorism and bio-defence. A fourth section deals with investigations into SARS and bird flue, a chronology of important cases relating to the use of these weapons, and a bibliography of the important literature on the subject.

About this title

Synopsis

This volume seeks to address the issues of bio-terrorism. They are grouped under three major heads relating to national and international efforts to combat biological weapons, bio-terrorism and bio-defence.

Edition details

• Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8173046077
• ISBN 13: 9788173046070
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 246