Bioterrorism: Viral agents as weapons of mass destruction

Many different viruses from a wide range of viral families have the potential use as weapons of mass destruction for use by terrorists. Key characteristics that may indicate an attack include an outbreak of disease outside its naturally occurring geographic area, a high incidence or unusual presentation of disease, and identification in domesticated animals or wildlife that serve as reservoirs. Areas that are in urgent need of research include early detection methods, vaccines for immunization, and chemotherapeutic treatment modalities.