In case of an outbreak, which virus is most likely to be monitored due to its potential as a bioweapon?

The smallpox virus is closely monitored in the context of potential bioweapons due to its historical significance and devastating effects on human populations. Smallpox is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate, making it a formidable agent for bioterrorism. The virus is also unique in that there is no specific treatment for smallpox, and it can lead to severe health consequences for those infected.

Moreover, the global population is largely unvaccinated against smallpox following its eradication in 1980, which increases vulnerability. The last known natural outbreak occurred in the late 1970s, but the virus is stored in laboratories for research purposes, thereby raising concerns about its potential use as a weapon.

While the anthrax virus and bubonic plague are also considered biological threats, they do not possess the same level of transmissibility and potential for widespread outbreaks that smallpox does. Influenza, while capable of causing pandemics, typically does not meet the criteria to be classified specifically as a bioweapon in the same way that smallpox does, due to its various strains and the availability of vaccines that can mitigate outbreaks.