I was involved in a serious smallpox defense exercise in 2002. The premise was infect ten men in the Middle East, fly to Montreal, get on a bus to Florida, one guy gets off every 200 miles, in NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, etc.
30 million dead, minimum.
The balloons are very dangerous because they are human directed, entering our airspace with unknown intent, and more are on the way in response to our reaction to the first one.
We have to stop them right now - but not because of germs.
I’m no longer part of “we”, as in no more TS/SCI or active duty.
I’ll just watch and hope competent people replaced me and the others I served with.