BIOTERRORISM shot way up the developed world’s agenda this year, especially in the US.
The anthrax attacks in the US in 2001 killed just five people, but there was widespread panic, Congress nearly shut down and the cost ran into billions. It was obvious the world was completely unprepared for such an event.
Afterwards, the debate began in earnest about how to prevent terrorists getting hold of deadly pathogens. Scientists were up in arms about restrictions on their freedom to work on anything they choose and to publish results, but the US rushed through half a dozen laws to control…
