In October 2001, just weeks after 9/11, letters filled with white powder containing Bacillus anthracis spores were mailed to news offices and U.S. senators [11, 21]. The attack killed five people and hospitalized 17 others, causing widespread panic and forcing a fundamental change in how the world viewed microscopic threats [14, 21]. It proved that biological agents could be used to incite terror and disrupt entire governments [13, 21]. From Offense to Defense
Today, the biodefence story is increasingly about the convergence of technologies [19]. biodefence
: Experts from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense argue that natural pandemics, like COVID-19, are as much a biodefence concern as intentional attacks [9, 10]. In October 2001, just weeks after 9/11, letters
: Advances in synthetic biology and AI have lowered the bar for creating lethal, novel pathogens in laboratories [2, 19]. It proved that biological agents could be used
: Modern strategy aims for an " Apollo Program " for biodefence: a world where we can detect and neutralize any biological threat in days, not years [10].