British Medical Association Warns of Growing Bio-Weapons Threat

The British Medical Association says governments must act now to reduce the threat posed by biological weapons, and that the opportunities for effective action are shrinking.

In a report released Monday, the Association says states should come to agreement and strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, which comes up for renewal in 2006. It says governments must fully implement the convention's requirements.

The BMA head of Science and Ethics, Doctor Vivienne Nathanson, said the situation today might be worse than five years ago. She said it has never been easier to make biological weapons and that if governments do not act soon, it may become virtually impossible to mount defenses against them..