NCJ Number
219805
Journal
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism Volume: 30 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 691-721
Date Published
August 2007
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This paper suggests a strategy and techniques for countering three terrorist threats: “terrorist-induced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), anthrax, and citrus canker.
Abstract
The most contagious of all mammal diseases, FMD is not a single virus, but comprises seven variants, with multiple strains of each variant. Of known diseases, FMD bears attention because it is highly infectious, easily carried with no risk to humans, and potentially devastating to livestock industries. FMD has the potential for serious and rapid spread across national borders, bringing with it serious socioeconomic and public health consequences. Strains of FMD are readily available to terrorists; the map of FMD-affected nations roughly overlays that of weak states. Anthrax, along with small pox, is viewed by many as the weapon of choice for biological warfare, having the highest potential for mass human casualties and disruption. Anthrax spores (inhalation anthrax) are highly virulent, causing death at the rate of 95-100 percent for untreated individuals. Citrus canker is a disease of citrus found throughout the world, carrying the potential to devastate the citrus fruit market. A brief comparison of the extent of knowledge, common goals, and utility and fit of supporting systems across two cases of agricultural disease outbreak (FMD and citrus canker) and one case of bioterrorism (anthrax) indicate that system design must allow for and offset as much as possible the delays, slippage, incoherence of information, and inherent tendency for an initial underestimate of the problem and overreaction in developing solutions. The outline of a proposed strategy involves denying advantage, responding in-depth, and retaining the initiative. 4 tables and 128 notes