Biological terrorism could kill hundreds of millions of people as genetic engineering unleashes terrifying new weapons, warns Gates
By Dave Burke | Daily Mail | February 18, 2017
Governments overlooking the threat of biological weapons which could one day kill hundreds of millions, Bill Gates has warned.
The richest man in the world has said that biological warfare is not being taken seriously enough.
He warned world leaders in Munich today that a pandemic could wipe out millions of people, and said there is a 'reasonable probability' of this happening in the next 10 to 15 years.
Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of his speech at the Munich Security Conference, Gates said bioterrorism could wipe out far more people than nuclear weapons.
He stated: 'With nuclear weapons, you’d think you would probably stop after killing 100million.
'Smallpox won’t stop. Because the population is naïve, and there are no real preparations. That, if it got out and spread, would be a larger number.'
He believes breakthroughs in genetic engineering will make it easier for terrorists to plot attacks on a massive scale, but claimed security services 'haven't been following biology'.
He told the audience at the conference, The Guardian reports: 'Whether it occurs by a quirk of nature or at the hand of a terrorist, epidemiologists say a fast-moving airborne pathogen could kill more than 30 million people in less than a year.
'And they say there is a reasonable probability the world will experience such an outbreak in the next 10 to 15 years.'
The multi-billionaire added that the most effective way of preparing for a natural pandemic is to get ready for an act of bioterrorism.
He said: 'Getting ready for a global pandemic is every bit as important as nuclear deterrence and avoiding a climate catastrophe. Innovation, cooperation and careful planning can dramatically mitigate the risks presented by each of these threats.'
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ABOUT BIOTERRORISM
The Telegraph | February 18, 2017
As suggested by the name, bioterrorism is the deliberate release of biological agents such as viruses, bacteria or toxins to cause illness or death.
Animals and crops are considered likely targets of bioterrorist activity, with livestock diseases deployed to damage the economy and cause public concern.
The Centre for Disease Control categorises the following as Category A agents, posing a risk to national security:
*Tularemia or "rabbit fever" – Highly infectious and life-threatening
*Anthrax – Non-contagious disease. Notably used by persons unknown in a series of mail attacks in 2001
*Smallpox – Currently only existing in laboratory cultures, but would be a deadly weapon if released once again
*Botulinum toxin – A highly toxic substance that is readily available, due to its use in “botox” cosmetic procedures
*Bubonic plague – The disease that caused the Black Death in Medieval Europe and with a long history of use as a biological warfare agent
*Viral hemorrhagic fevers – Such as Ebola
The single largest recent incident of biological terrorism was the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack in Oregon, USA. Followers of Indian mystic Osho intentionally infected restaurants with salmonella, as part of a plan to incapacitate the electorate and win local elections. 751 people were infected, but there were no fatalities.
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