Vaccine race amid fears terrorists could unleash ‘airborne Black Death’

Scientists are racing to create a vaccine after warnings that terrorists could unleash a modified version of pneumonic plague as a bioweapon.

Pneumonic plague is a cousin to bubonic plague, which killed a third of Europe’s population in the 14th century Black Death, and is almost always fatal.

Researcher Dr Ashok Chopra, who is working to create a vaccine with America’s Department of Defense says that making the bacteria is disturbingly simple.

It could also be easy for terrorists to make strains resistant to known antibiotics, Dr Chopra warns.

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Dr Chopra said, ‘Terrorists can easily grow the bacteria and make the strains resistant to antibiotics.

‘The pneumonic plague is very contagious and very hard to treat. It could kill millions.

‘Think of the Black Death of the 14th century. It is not unrealistic that we would experience the same number of mass casualties. It could be quite devastating.’

‘It is really easy to grow the organism. You require a very low dose and not very sophisticated equipment.’