Key facts

Biological weapons use microorganisms like virus, bacteria or fungi to spread disease

Agents such as anthrax, botulinum toxin and plague could pose a huge public health threat, killing large numbers of people

A biological attack could be confused with a natural outbreak of disease, hampering the response and control

There are fears that pathogens could be modified to become deadlier or more transmissible

Overview

Biological weapons spread infectious agents or toxins to kill humans, animals or plants or contaminate a country’s food and/or water supply.…