Final answer:
Biowarfare is conducted by governments or military organizations as a part of warfare, while bioterrorism is carried out by individuals or groups with the goal of instilling fear or achieving political, social, or religious objectives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Biowarfare and Bioterrorism
Biowarfare and bioterrorism have similar goals of intentionally causing harm through the release or spread of disease agents. However, there are key differences between the two:
- Intent: Biowarfare is conducted by governments or military organizations as a part of warfare, while bioterrorism is carried out by individuals or groups with the goal of instilling fear or achieving political, social, or religious objectives.
- Scale: Biowarfare typically involves large-scale operations and may target military personnel or infrastructure, while bioterrorism tends to involve smaller-scale attacks and may target civilian populations.
- Accountability: Biowarfare is subject to international laws and treaties, while bioterrorism is illegal under domestic and international law.
For example, the use of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis in the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States is considered an act of bioterrorism, as it was carried out by an individual and targeted the civilian population.