'Insect-based' biological weapons easier option than nukes for terrorists

London, Jan 6 (ANI): While countries are leaving no stone unturned to keep their security up to date, an academic has cautioned that terrorists could easily launch a devastating attack on nations using swarms of insects to spread a deadly disease.

Jeffrey Lockwood, professor of entomology at Wyoming University and author of 'Six-legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War', warned that terrorists would find it "relatively easy" to develop insect-based weapon than developing a nuclear or chemical weaponHe claimed that it's easy to transport Rift Valley Fever or other diseases in a country by a terrorist with a suitcase.

According to the World Health Organisation, Rift Valley Fever is an east African disease that "can cause severe disease in both animals and humans, leading to high rates of disease and death."

"I think a small terrorist cell could very easily develop an insect-based weapon," The Telegraph quoted Lockwood as telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He claimed that it would "probably be much easier" than developing a nuclear or chemical weapon.

He added: "The raw material is in the back yard. It would be a relatively easy and simple process. A few hundred dollars and a plane ticket and you could have a pretty good stab at it."

Also, he suggested that there's a need for governments to have a strong "pest management infrastructure, which could absorb and respond to an introduction" of infected insects.

He stressed that making the effort to stop everything coming in at the border would not work. (ANI)