Which statement describes a downside of using a biological weapon?

Which statement describes a downside of using a biological weapon?

• A. Causes immediate massive casualties but is hard to treat
• B. May be easily treated with antibiotics
• C. Remains inert for long periods
• D. Requires no containment measures

Answer: (B)

A key point is that medical countermeasures can blunt the impact of a biological threat. If the agent is susceptible to antibiotics, healthcare systems can diagnose cases early, treat infected individuals promptly, and contain the spread, which greatly reduces casualties. That makes relying on a biological weapon unreliable and diminishes its intended effect, which is why this statement correctly describes a downside. The other ideas assume properties that aren’t universally true—biological agents aren’t guaranteed to stay inert or to bypass containment and public health responses—so they don’t capture why such weapons are often less effective than hoped.

A key point is that medical countermeasures can blunt the impact of a biological threat. If the agent is susceptible to antibiotics, healthcare systems can diagnose cases early, treat infected individuals promptly, and contain the spread, which greatly reduces casualties. That makes relying on a biological weapon unreliable and diminishes its intended effect, which is why this statement correctly describes a downside. The other ideas assume properties that aren’t universally true—biological agents aren’t guaranteed to stay inert or to bypass containment and public health responses—so they don’t capture why such weapons are often less effective than hoped.