Antibiotic and vaccine resistance, plus more accessible genetic engineering, raises the spectre of superbug weapons. Meanwhile vital agriculture is vulnerable. Diseases of livestock or crops disrupt economies and exports, and could tempt commercial competitors as well as classic terrorists. So the world struggles to come to grips with the latest menace. There is a treaty banning biological weapons, but we are only now writing verification measures for it and they may not be effective.
Efforts continue to unearth what has gone on in Russia, South Africa and Iraq.
And scientists around the world are working on ways to detect and defeat, verify and prevent deliberate disease, from vaccines to DNA libraries to germ-proof sealant tape. New Scientist has charted the rise in concern about bioterrorism, from Los Alamos to Siberia, and is following the story. Follow the links on this page to keep up to date with what's happening. Don't be afraid.