| dc.description.abstract | Viral disease outbreaks have long inspired fear in human populations. Highly pathogenic
infectious disease has shaped world history, primarily by impacting the outcome of wars
and other global conflicts and precipitating human movement. Historic accounts have
documented the catastrophic consequences and human suffering associated with
widespread viral outbreaks like smallpox virus, yellow fever virus, measles virus, human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(SARS-CoV), the 1918 influenza virus and others (51). News accounts and film have
reinforced the serious threat posed by the emergence of new viral diseases as well as the
catastrophic consequences of intentional release of highly pathogenic viruses in human
populations. As illustrated by the SARS epidemic and the continuing evolution of the
H5N1 avian influenza, global and national infectious disease outbreaks can overwhelm
disaster medical response networks and medical facilities, disrupt global economies, and
paralyze health and medical services by targeting health care workers and medical staff
(21). This review focuses on viruses of humans, animals and plants that are viewed as
potential weapons of mass disruption to human populations, critical plant and animal
food sources, and national economies; and will consider whether and how the availability
of synthetic genomics technologies will change this landscape. | en |
