homeland security forum responses(212)

A biological attack is the most likely type of CBRN attack that either a lone wolf terrorist or a terrorist organization could use on United States soil.  Biological attacks have already been seen through the course of United States history such as Anthrax in 2001, the multiple cases of Ricin attacks over the past 15 years, and even the Rajneeshee bioterror attacks in 1984.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has measures in place to prevent and stop the spread of contamination in the events of an attack, but even these cannot guarantee our safety. 

The main reason that biological attacks are the easiest for a terrorist to achieve is that they are simply the easiest for someone in the United States to get their hands on.  Manufacturing Ricin from the castor bean is very simple and can be done much easier than creating an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) or a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD).  Just simply putting together the science it takes to create an RDD or IND is too much for a lone wolf or even a terrorist organization to accomplish.  There is constant monitoring of the amount of radiation in any given area by the EPA and any small spike will be noticed in an instant.

I do not believe that there is much more the United States can do to limit the proliferation of biological weapons to reduce the prospect of an attack, and the best we can be is be prepared in the event of such an attack.  Biological weapons are silent killers and can be transferred without the host even knowing, there are obvious white powders like Anthrax and Ricin, but there are also Ebola or Smallpox that can infect thousands without the person even knowing until it might be too late.

CDC. (2013, November 15). Preparation and Planning for Bioterrorism Emergencies. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://emergency.cdc.gov/bioterrorism/prep.asp

Riedel, S. (2004, October 17). Biological warfare and bioterrorism: a historical review. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicane: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200679/