History of biological warfare

Before the 20th century, the use of biological agents took three major forms:

<ul><li>Deliberate contamination of <a href="/facts/Food/RgNq6NAK">food</a> and <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a> with <a href="/facts/Poison/XIQjhpsw">poisonous</a> or contagious material</li>
<li>Use of <a href="/facts/Microbe/pysJYcE2">microbes</a>, <a href="/facts/Biological_toxin/11oUNk7n">biological toxins</a>, animals, or plants (living or dead) in a weapon system</li>
<li>Use of biologically inoculated fabrics and persons</li></ul>
In the 20th century, sophisticated bacteriological and virological techniques allowed the production of significant stockpiles of weaponized <a href="/facts/Bio-agents/4YnbS6Em">bio-agents</a>:

<ul><li>Bacterial agents: <a href="/facts/Anthrax/svk0t5G4">Anthrax</a>, <a href="/facts/Brucella/erCr0WsS">Brucella</a>, <a href="/facts/Tularemia/YGQKDcrW">Tularemia</a>, etc.</li>
<li>Viral agents: <a href="/facts/Smallpox/cxNeetP4">Smallpox</a>, <a href="/facts/Viral_hemorrhagic_fever/TARXxnRD">Viral hemorrhagic fevers</a>, etc.</li>
<li>Toxins: <a href="/facts/Botulinum/F2LTx09G">Botulinum</a>, <a href="/facts/Ricin/6R9wsnRc">Ricin</a>, etc.</li></ul>

History of biological warfare open-in-new

History of biological warfare