[Update on biological weapons and bioterrorism. Important that health services pay attention to unusual events]

Abstract

Biological weapons and biological terrorism have recently been in focus due to the deliberate release of Bacillus anthracis via mail delivered in the USA. Since the 1930s biological weapons have been developed in a number of countries. In 1975 a biological and toxin weapons convention prohibiting the use of these weapons were signed by a large majority of world countries. Unfortunately, a number of countries have failed to respect this treaty. The Soviet union continued and expanded its biological weapons program and after the Gulf war it was revealed that Iraq also had an extensive bio-weapons program. Large scale deliberate release of for example B. anthracis or an epidemic following a release of smallpox virus would have a devastating effect. This has urged the world community to strengthen the biological and toxin weapons convention with a control function which as of yet has not been successful. Furthermore, many countries including Sweden, increase stocks of antibiotics and smallpox vaccines. Sweden is also increasing preparedness regarding diagnostics of these and similar agents and is setting up an epidemiological task force that can be used in infectious disease emergencies such as the deliberate release of a biological weapon.