Lesho M E, Dorsey M D, Bunner D
Department of Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, USA.
West J Med. 1998 Jun;168(6):512-6.
Selected events in the history of biological weapons are highlighted to increase physicians' awareness of the threat of biological weapons. The hostile use of biological substances originated in antiquity and pervades the history of human conflict. Although difficult to verify at times, the use of such weaponry has not been limited to national militaries. Disgruntled civilians and even physicians have used biological weapons to promote their interests. Their potency, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to manufacture and deploy them with little sophistication, or under the semblance of legitimate commercial endeavors, will ensure that biological weapons remain a constant threat to public health.
本文着重介绍了生物武器历史上的一些特定事件，以提高医生对生物武器威胁的认识。生物物质的恶意使用起源于古代，并贯穿于人类冲突的历史。尽管有时难以核实，但此类武器的使用并不局限于国家军队。心怀不满的平民甚至医生都曾使用生物武器来谋取自身利益。生物武器的巨大威力、成本效益，以及制造和部署它们所需的技术门槛较低，或可在合法商业活动的表象下进行，这将确保生物武器始终对公众健康构成威胁。
