The bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 and finally the events of September 11, 2001 have forced Americans to face the fact that terrorism is not something that happens overseas. Chemical and biological agents are increasingly being used as weapons of terrorism. The recent attacks on the U.S. mail supply system with anthrax has emphasized the need for advances in microbial forensics. The capacity to counteract threat agents in food is highlighted by mercury poisoning of Israeli citrus, Salmonella poisonings by the Rajneesh cult of a salad bar in Oregon, and Shigella contamination of baked goods.

Stockpiling of vaccines and antibiotics may not be enough to counter unknown threats; novel intervention strategies are urgently needed. Recent experiences with West Nile Fever in the U.S. addresses the need to study vector borne disease as a potential bio-weapon. Covert introduction of infectious disease compounds difficulties that existing surveillance systems are designed to detect. Seamless systems analysis and integration will be necessary to successfully counteract an attack with a chemical or biological weapon.