The threat of biological warfare is real – a new book describes the potential devastation
Biological War tells the story of a hypothetical but realistic pathogen that quickly causes anarchy and mass casualties around the world.
Annie Jacobsen's book "Biological War: A Scenario" paints a harrowing picture of the devastating consequences that could arise from a biological warfare incident. The narrative unfolds in a gripping, thriller-like style, interweaving factual information with speculative scenarios.
The story begins with an overview of the history of biotechnology and the development of biological weapons, tracing back to the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the subsequent violations during World War II and the Cold War. The Biological Weapons Convention of 1975 aimed to eliminate these weapons, but loopholes allowed for "defensive" or predictive research, often masquerading as vaccine development or pathogen detection.
This research, dubbed "dual-use," has expanded in recent years, with scientists engineering potential pandemic candidates. While these efforts are intended to anticipate and prevent natural outbreaks, they also pose a significant threat if misused. As a result, the number of biosafety laboratories with the highest risk rating has increased, despite stringent safety measures, raising concerns about the likelihood of lab leaks.
The hypothetical scenario in Jacobsen's book starts with a leak at the Vector Institute in Koltsolvo, Siberia, where a scientist involved in a lab fire accidentally infects a traveler. This primary contact then spreads the disease, leading to an airborne plague that quickly spreads across the globe. The book highlights the failure of authorities to respond effectively, with officials initially mistaking the outbreak for a bad batch of fentanyl.
The pandemic, caused by a genetically engineered strain of Yersinia pestis bacterium (the cause of the plague), proves to be highly resistant to antibiotics and produces both encephalitis and a feeling of euphoria in infected individuals, exacerbating its spread. The text also mentions the involvement of various US military departments in monitoring global data, receiving information about the lab leak, a mass vaccine rollout, and a government cover-up.
Despite the horrifying nature of the scenario, Jacobsen's book includes sidebars detailing the current state of opioid overdoses and government distrust among US citizens, adding to the overall atmosphere of gloom. The narrative also features a cast of modern influencers, YouTubers, conspiracy theorists, and anti-vaxxers, highlighting the potential societal impact of such a catastrophe.
The book concludes with the US government declaring martial law, citing the Insurrection Act, in an attempt to protect the inadequate rollout of medical supplies. While some aspects of the story may seem exaggerated, the book is grounded in credible sources, including interviews with ex-military and government experts, defected Russian biological weapons engineers, and even the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
