The next terrorist attack, as perhaps rightly predicted, could be biological. Further, bird-flu and now swine-flu have also made their impact. However India has nothing to fear. The USA is paying the penalty for having achieved high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. In our great country, with the amount of garbage lying around, the pollution in the air and the quality of tap water, any virus — whether anthrax, bird or swine — would take one look at our surroundings and beat a hasty retreat to the nearest laboratory! Vive le muck! Maybe we should make it the national emblem and congratulate our municipal authorities for their foresight in providing us with the ultimate weapon.
TR Ramaswami, on email