Deadly microbes – microbes used as a biological weapon

Due to the development of civilization, people’s needs and expectations increase. The global development of civilization, the desire of some countries to expand their borders and achieve a higher political, social and military influence, cause insecurity among the people. Security is one of the main factors for the proper functioning of individuals and whole societies. Currently, a major threat to people is terrorism. Especially dangerous is the use of biological weapons for this purpose, which significantly interferes with a sense of security and restricts the freedom of human activities. Currently, biological terrorism is a global threat associated with the use of weapons for political or religious reasons. The threat from radical religious fundamentalists is particularly dangerous. The most common biological threat agents are microorganisms causing zoonoses, i.e. diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans. The most dangerous are Bacillus anthracis , Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis . They are characterized by high virulence, ease of spread and the possibility to obtain and use them at low cost. The aim of this paper is to characterize, based on the available literature, the most dangerous microorganisms which pose a potential threat to humans as biological warfare. The article also provides basic information on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by pathogens which can be used in a bioterrorist attack. 1. Introduction. 2. Anthrax ( Bacillus anthracis ). 2.1. Pathogenicity of anthrax. 2.2. Diagnosis and treatment of anthrax. 3. Plague ( Yersinia pestis ). 3.1. Pathogenicity of Yersinia pestis. 3.2. Diagnosis and treatment of plague. 4. Tularemia ( Francisella tularensis ) . 4.1. Pathogenicity of Francisella tularensis. 4.2. Diagnosis and treatment of Francisella tularensis. 5. Ebola virus. 5.1. Pathogenicity of Ebola virus . 5.2. Diagnosis and treatment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). 6. Summary