[steve86]

And you have to wonder if there has been some breakthrough in preservation technology: something like freeze-drying bacteria that later would be reconstituted. I'm pretty sure similar scenarios exist in nature; will have to rely on my biologist friends to confirm.

[endthematrix]

" I'm pretty sure similar scenarios exist in nature"

Bubonic Plague that ravaged the Asian steppes and Europe slowed in winter. That's when the rats nested in holes. When the weather warmed...out came the nasties again.

[SAJ]

Do that, laddie. While you're at it, ask your ''biologist'' friends -- the notion of BW has little to do with practical biology, I do hope your friends have dealt in what is usually termed the field of ''bioweaponry'' -- Question: What naturally and commonly occurring (and usually highly lethal, to H. Sapiens) **bacterial** agent, not viral, not biochemical, is it that can be absorbed right through the skin?

Just for your convenience, the answer to this Q has been known for some decades. The difficulty in turning this particular bacterium into an effective BW agent is...that noone has been willing to attempt to aerosolise it on a WMD basis; the risk of losing a top scientist IN such attempt is/has been generally deemed unacceptable. (smile...)

So...your answer to the Q is:

________________ .

Do fill in the blank, when or if you can do. Thank you!