Fungi cause disease directly by infection or indirectly through mycotoxins. Fungi
that are used as weapons might be targeted against humans, livestock, or crops. Humans
and animals encounter fungi and mycotoxins through inhalation, ingestion, and contact
with skin and mucous membranes. Effective fungal bioweapons would require the ability
to cause significant destruction and a means of delivery to target populations or
farms. Effective countermeasures against fungal bioweapons would be able to prevent
or treat this damage. This article describes several potential biological warfare
or bioterrorism fungal species and mycotoxins in regard to their biology, epidemiology,
potential for weaponization, and the clinical features, prevention, and treatment
of the diseases that they cause.
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Article info
Footnotes
“The Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense (U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force), the Department of Homeland Security, or other Federal Agencies.”
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