Biological weaponsThe history of biological weapons use

Few comprehensive, definitive histories of biological warfare have been written, many events reported in the literature never happened, and few details are available about some uses of biological weapons which most certainly did occur. A review of the literature on actual and alleged instances of biological warfare finds that the incidence of illicit biological agent use has been greater than many people may realize, even as the effects have been relatively limited.

These are the findings of an article published in Health Security, a peer-review journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The publisher notes that the article is available free on the Health Security Web site until 1 October 2015.

In “The History of Biological Weapons Use: What We Know and What We Don’t,” W. Seth Carus of National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, D.C., provides a historical perspective of biological weapons development and alleged use from the earliest primitive uses through germ theory, advances in science and technology, and major wars. Carus reviews the main gaps in current knowledge and the implications of false allegations.

“In this article, Dr. Carus delivers a superb and authoritative history of mankind’s biological weapons use,” says Editor-in-Chief Thomas V. Inglesby, M.D., and CEO and director of UPMC Center for Health Security in Baltimore, Maryland. “As we think about how to prevent biological weapons use in the future, it is critical to understand their role in the past, and this article provides a comprehensive view of that past. Dr. Carus also points out how much we don’t know and prescribes the research agenda that would help us answer important questions.”

— Read more in W. Seth Carus, “The History of Biological Weapons Use: What We Know and What We Don’t,” Health Security 13, no. 4 (10 August 2015): 219-55 (doi:10.1089/hs.2014.0092)