An Introduction to Biosecurity Literature

Core Technical References

• Medical Management of Biological Casualties (The Blue Book) — A fundamental clinical handbook for managing biological casualties in the field.
  Read Online (PDF)
• Smallpox and its Eradication — By Frank Fenner, Donald A. Henderson, Isao Arita, Zdenek Jezek, and Ivan Danilovich Ladnyi. A massive historical and scientific record of humanity’s victory over a global killer.
  View on Amazon
• Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare — Senior Editors: Joel Bozue, Christopher K. Cote, and Pamela J. Glass. Part of the Textbook of Military Medicine series, covering warfare, weaponry, and management.
  Read Online (PDF)
• Nebraska Isolation & Quarantine Manual — Edited by Theodore J. Cieslak, Mark G. Kortepeter, Christopher J. Kratochvil, and James V. Lawler. An essential guide for modern bio-emergency response.
  View on Project MUSE

Investigative & Narrative Non-Fiction

• Outbreak Culture: The Ebola Crisis and the Next Epidemic — By Pardis Sabeti and Lara Salahi. This work examines the institutional and human barriers that often impede global response.
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• The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story — By Richard Preston. The classic that brought high-containment “hot zones” into public consciousness.
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• The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World out of Balance — By Laurie Garrett. A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into emerging diseases and the fragility of public health.
  View on Amazon
• Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World — By Ken Alibek and Stephen Handelman. An insider’s account of the Soviet Biopreparat.
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• Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic — By David Quammen. An expert exploration of zoonotic “spillover” events.
  View on Amazon
• Fever!: The Hunt for a New Killer Virus — By John G. Fuller. A narrative on the discovery of Lassa Fever in West Africa, considered a foundational discovery story.
  Read on Archive.org
• Virus Hunter: Thirty Years of Battling Hot Viruses Around the World — By C. J. Peters and Mark Olshaker. Decades of experience battling viruses at the CDC and USAMRIID.
  View on Amazon
• Germs: Biological Weapons and America’s Secret War — By Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, and William Broad. A detailed history of biological weapon development and threats.
  View on Amazon

Looking Toward the Future

Modern biosecurity challenges are evolving rapidly. Experts are increasingly concerned about the reduction in scientific investment and the “convergence” of new technologies. The combination of 3D printing, localized manufacturing, and drones could shift biological threats from strategic “weapons of mass destruction” to much more targeted tactical applications.

Inspiration for this guide was drawn from the extensive work and presentations of Mark Kortepeter, MD, MPH, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and author of Inside the Hot Zone.