Bioterrorism is the terrorist act of manipulating natural components to sabotage an enemy. It has existed for thousands of years, but in different forms. To take one example in point, the article “History of Bioterrorism” states that the Assyrians poisoned their enemies' wells with ergot in the 6th century BC. More recent examples of bioterrorism include inhaling anthrax from mail received in 2001 ( Office of the Surgeon General). While these are just recorded acts, there is a whole other story about what should happen once a victim is diagnosed with any type of bioterrorism and what treatment, if any, they should undergo. For example, the medical response and treatment are different for anthrax, smallpox, and tularemia. The medical response and treatment depend on the severity of the case and the type of bioterrorism. There are many factors that affect how to handle a situation. To begin with, the initial approach to a bioterrorism scene determines the fatal outcome of the situation. Furthermore, the technique used to spread an infection is crucial because it determines which method would be best as a counterattack. For example, Robert Bourke states in his book Counter-Terrorism for Emergency Responders that "vapor release from nerve agents or blisters will require greater insulation and downwind distances [than] a liquid spill" (338). Another important factor to improve the situation is distance and sensing devices. First responders should keep their distance for their own safety; “detection devices . . . will help determine the presence of officers and assign isolation and evacuation distances” (338). Bourke notes that "the best survey method for fir... middle of the paper..." quotes Burke, Robert. Anti-terrorism for rescuers. 2nd ed. Florida: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, 2007. Print."Communicating in the Early Hours with Bioterrorism Agents." Agents of bioterrorism. CDC Emergency Risk Communication Branch (ERCB), Division of Emergency Operations (DEO), Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR), May 14, 2007. Web. July 22, 2012. “History of Bioterrorism.” Chronological. Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, 1997. Web. July 22, 2012. http://www.bio-terry.com/HistoryBioTerr.html.Khardori, Nancy., ed. Preparedness for bioterrorism. Federal Republic of Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2006. Print.Schlossberg, David. Medical interventions for bioterrorism and emerging infections. Pennsylvania: Handbook in Healthcare Co., 2004. Print.