An item of material which projects, disperses or disseminates a biological agent including arthropod vectors is a?

• A. Biological weapon
• B. Biological agent
• C. Chemical weapon
• D. Nuclear weapon

Answer: (A)

Dissemination devices for biological agents are classified as biological weapons. The key idea is the difference between the agent itself and the means used to spread it. An item that projects or disseminates a biological agent—and that can even include vectors like infected insects—is designed to spread harm, which makes it a biological weapon. The biological agent is the organism or toxin, while the weapon is the vehicle that delivers it. Chemical weapons involve toxic chemicals, and nuclear weapons rely on a nuclear explosive; neither category describes a device whose purpose is to spread a biological agent.