Bioterrorism: an historical perspective

Abstract

During the Middle Ages it was recognised that victims of infections could become weapons themselves. Victims of plague were catapulted into the city of Caffa (Feodosiya, Ukraine) and the epidemic of plague that followed forced the retreat of the Genoese forces from the city. Pizarro is said to have given smallpox-contaminated clothing to South American native people in the 15th century. In 1763 it is reportedthat Captain Ecuyer of the Royal Americans deliberately distributed variola-contaminated blankets and a handkerchief to enemy American Indian tribes. This was followed several months later by a large smallpox outbreak amongst various Indian tribes in the Ohio area.