User:Sandeep Skm

Biological Disaster

Introduction : Biological disasters define the devastating effects caused by an enormous spread of a certain kind of living organism – that may the spread a disease, virus, or an epidemic. Biological disasters can also be simply, a sudden growth in the population of a certain kind of plants or animals, e.g., a locust plague.

Causes : *Aerosols - biological agents are dispersed into the air, forming a fine mist that may drift for miles. Inhaling the agent may cause epidemic diseases in human beings or animals. · Animals - some diseases are spread by insects and animals, such as fleas, mice, flies, mosquitoes, and livestock. · Food and water contamination - some pathogenic organisms and toxins may persist in food and water supplies. Most microbes can be killed, and toxins deactivated, by cooking food and boiling water. Most microbes are killed by boiling water for one minute, but some require longer. Follow official instructions. · Person-to-person - spread of a few infectious agents is also possible. Humans have been the source of infection for smallpox, plague, and the Lassa viruses.

Effects : Black Death occurred when conditions were favourable for increase in the number of rats, and cholera attained a pandemic form when the causative agent entered urban areas which had inadequate sanitation facilities. Similarly, post WW I, the movement of population led to the rapid spread of the Spanish influenza virus.