Microorganisms as biological weapons

Although Biological Weapon Convention signed by most of the World Health Organisation member states in 1972 prohibited the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons, the usage of such weapons could not be prevented. The 2001 anthrax attack in United States of America showed that these weapons can still be used on civil population especially by terrorist organizations. The common properties of microorganisms which can be used as biological weapons include ease of production, resistance to prophylactic or therapeutic measures and high virulence. Lists of microorganisms which can be used as biological weapons have been declared by several institutions and these lists are currently reviewed. The preventive measures that should be considered against biological weapons have legal, military, communication and health aspects. The most efficient way for the establishment of health care system is the proper management of public health issues which are critically important in terms of prevention from biological weapons.