Bioterrorism and bioterrorism preparedness: Historical perspective and overview

The epidemics and pandemics of natural infectious diseases caused by communicable agents have changed the course of human history frequently. In the context of bioterrorism, infectious diseases are not only a public health issue, but also an issue of national and international security. Because most bioterrorism events would be covert, health care providers would be the "first responders" by diagnosing and reporting the event to public health authorities. This response would lead to immediate involvement of security and law enforcement agencies. This article provides an overview and historical perspective of bioterrorism and bioterrorism preparedness.