Editing Bioterrorism (section)

==Scenarios==
There are multiple considerable scenarios, how terrorists might employ biological agents.<ref name="croodybook"/> In 2000, tests conducted by various US agencies showed that indoor attacks in densely populated spaces are much more serious than outdoor attacks. Such enclosed spaces are large buildings, trains, indoor arenas, theaters, malls, tunnels and similar. Contra-measures against such scenarios are building architecture and ventilation systems engineering. In 1993, sewage was spilled out into a river, subsequently drawn into the water system and affected [[1993 Milwaukee Cryptosporidiosis outbreak|400,000 people in Milwaukee]], Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Petersen |first1=Carolyn |title=Cryptosporidium and the food supply |journal=The Lancet |date=May 1995 |volume=345 |issue=8958 |pages=1128–1129 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(95)90972-9|pmid=7723540 |s2cid=26919903 }}</ref> The disease-causing organism was [[cryptosporidium parvum]]. This man-made disaster can be a template for a terrorist scenario.<ref name="croodybook"/> Nevertheless, terrorist scenarios are considered more likely near the points of delivery than at the water sources before the [[water treatment]].<ref name=croodybook/> Release of biological agents is more likely for a single building or a neighborhood. Counter-measures against this scenario include the further limitation of access to the water supply systems, tunnels, and infrastructure. Agricultural [[crop-duster]] flights might be misused as delivery devices for biological agents as well.<ref name=croodybook/> Counter-measures against this scenario are background checks of employees of crop-dusting companies and surveillance procedures.

In the most common hoax scenario, no biological agents are employed.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lathrop |first1=Peggy |last2=Mann |first2=Linda M. |title=Preparing for bioterrorism |journal=Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=219–223 |date=2001|pmc=1305820 |pmid=16369620 |doi=10.1080/08998280.2001.11927766 }}</ref> For instance, an envelope with powder in it that says, “You've just been exposed to anthrax.” Such hoaxes have been shown to have a large [[psychological warfare|psychological impact on the population]].<ref name=wheelis>{{cite journal |last1=Wheelis |first1=Mark |last2=Casagrande |first2=Rocco |last3=Madden |first3=Laurence V. |title=Biological Attack on Agriculture: Low-Tech, High-Impact BioterrorismBecause bioterrorist attack requires relatively little specialized expertise and technology, it is a serious threat to US agriculture and can have very large economic repercussions |journal=BioScience |date=July 1, 2002 |volume=52 |issue=7 |pages=569–576 |doi=10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052[0569:BAOALT]2.0.CO;2 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Anti-agriculture attacks are considered to require relatively little expertise and technology.<ref name=wheelis/> Biological agents that attack livestock, fish, vegetation, and crops are mostly not contagious to humans and are therefore easier for attackers to handle. Even a few cases of infection can disrupt a country's agricultural production and exports for months, as evidenced by [[Foot-and-mouth disease|FMD]] outbreaks.