The term bioterror is often used loosely to describe nuclear, biological, and/or chemical (NBC) terrorism.

The U.S. government is especially worried about the Big Six bioterrorism threats: anthrax, smallpox, plague, tularemia, botulism toxin, and viral hemorrhagic fevers (like the Ebola virus).

While less well-known than the other diseases, tularemia and botulism toxins could conceivably be aerosolized, causing severe respiratory illness and paralysis, respectively.