biological warfare

biological warfare
warfare that makes use of bacteria, viruses, toxins, etc., to disable or destroy people, domestic animals, and food crops. Abbr.: B.W. Also called biowarfare, germ warfare.
[1945-50]

* * *

Military use of disease-producing or poisonous agents, and the means for defending against such agents.

Biological warfare agents include many bacteria, such as those which cause anthrax, brucellosis, and typhus; viruses that cause diseases such as equine encephalitis; fungi such as rice blast, cereal rust, wheat smut, and potato blight; and toxins such as botulinum and ricin that are extracted from living organisms. Biological warfare dates from ancient times when warring groups would try to poison enemy soldiers with rotting or diseased corpses, infect cattle and horses, or spread contagion through civilian populations. Following the horrors of World War I, a 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of biological agents in warfare; however, this did not prevent Japan from using them in China during World War II. During the Cold War the Soviet Union as well as the U.S. and its allies built huge stockpiles of biological agents. Both sides signed the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, or development of biological weapons and requires the destruction of existing stockpiles, but the Soviets conducted a clandestine program until the 1990s. Biological weapons programs can be concealed easily, and the 1972 convention contains no provisions for inspection and reporting. As a result, many states have been suspected of developing biological warfare agents, and some modern armed forces have prepared defensive measures. These include battlefield sensors, protective garments and masks, sterilizing agents, and vaccines.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • biological warfare — n. the deliberate use of disease spreading microorganisms, toxins, etc. in warfare …   English World dictionary

  • biological warfare — noun uncount the use of harmful bacteria as a weapon in a war …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Biological warfare — For the use of biological agents by terrorists, see bioterrorism. Weapons of mass destruction …   Wikipedia

  • biological warfare — noun the use of bacteria or viruses or toxins to destroy men and animals or food (Freq. 2) • Syn: ↑BW, ↑biological attack, ↑biologic attack, ↑bioattack • Hypernyms: ↑war, ↑warfare …   Useful english dictionary

  • biological warfare — biologinė operacija statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Biologinių medžiagų naudojimas žmonėms, gyvūnams naikinti ar augalams ir medžiagoms pažeisti, arba gynyba nuo tokio naudojimo. atitikmenys: angl. biological operation; biological warfare… …   NATO terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • biological warfare — biologinis karas statusas T sritis apsauga nuo naikinimo priemonių atitikmenys: angl. biological warfare rus. биологическая война ryšiai: žiūrėk – biologinė operacija …   Apsaugos nuo naikinimo priemonių enciklopedinis žodynas

  • biological warfare — biological war·fare wȯr .fa(ə)r, .fe(ə)r n warfare involving the use of biological weapons also warfare involving the use of herbicides …   Medical dictionary

  • biological warfare defence — noun defense against biological warfare • Syn: ↑biological warfare defense, ↑BW defense, ↑BW defence • Hypernyms: ↑defense, ↑defence, ↑defensive measure …   Useful english dictionary

  • biological warfare defense — noun defense against biological warfare • Syn: ↑biological warfare defence, ↑BW defense, ↑BW defence • Hypernyms: ↑defense, ↑defence, ↑defensive measure …   Useful english dictionary

  • biological warfare — noun Date: 1946 warfare involving the use of biological weapons; also warfare involving the use of herbicides …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”