EC Microbiology

Bioterrorism remains a major threat to global security, a concern for any scientist, public health professional or medical responder. A threat, that is so insidious, that, its effects only became known days or weeks after the attack or release of the microbial agent. How can these agents be identified and tackled quickly remains a major challenge for microbiologists and scientists, especially as microorganisms are ubiquitous, and ease of acquisition increasingly less difficult, while those who are willing and ready to strike fear, are living within. Dissemination via mailing is gaining the concern of many as a route or possible vulnerability that the microscope must be focused on. Few cases are enumerated here, to stimulate discussion, in other to facilitate policy development to assist in identification of threat, while not negatively impacting the usefulness of mailing of specimens for meaningful scientific research.

 Keywords: Bioagents; Bioterrorism; Point of Entry; Courier or Mailing Route Vulnerability

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