“The potential for terrorist attacks against agricultural targets (agroterrorism) is increasingly recognized as a national security threat, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. In this context, agroterrorism is defined as the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear of the safety of food, causing economic losses, and/or undermining social stability. The response to the threat of agroterrorism has come to be called “food defense.” This report addresses the use of biological weapons against agriculture, rather than terrorists using agricultural inputs or equipment in attacks against non-agricultural targets…and focuses primarily on biological weapons because [they] generally are considered the more potent agroterrorism threat.”
By Jim Monke
Browse By Region
Browse By Type
Browse By Date Range
Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness
- June 28, 2011
- | Filed under North America, Report, and 2001-2025
Airborne Transmission of Influenza A/H5N1 Virus Between Ferrets
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus can cause morbidity and mortality in humans but thus far has not acquired the ability to be transmitted by aerosol or respiratory droplet (“airborne transmission”) between humans. To address the concern that the virus could acquire this ability under natural conditions, we genetically modified A/H5N1 virus by site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent serial passage in ferrets. The genetically modified A/H5N1 virus acquired mutations during passage in ferrets, ultimately becoming airborne transmissible in ferrets. None of the recipient ferrets died after airborne infection with the mutant A/H5N1 viruses. Four amino acid substitutions in the host receptor-binding protein hemagglutinin, and one in the polymerase complex protein basic polymerase 2, were consistently present in airborne-transmitted viruses. The transmissible viruses were sensitive to the antiviral drug oseltamivir and reacted well with antisera raised against H5 influenza vaccine strains. Thus, avian A/H5N1 influenza viruses can acquire the capacity for airborne transmission between mammals without recombination in an intermediate host and therefore constitute a risk for human pandemic influenza.
- June 27, 2012
- | Filed under Europe, North America, Other, Report, and 2001-2025
Amerithrax: Expert Behavioral Analysis Panel
Chief Judge Lamberth authorized the Panel with “examining the mental health issues of Dr. Bruce Ivins and what lessons can be learned from that analysis that may be useful in preventing future bioterrorism attacks.” In its 285-page document, the Panel analyzed the available investigative records including mental health records that had been secured through court order of Judge Lamberth. The Panel did not attempt to apply or derive a bioterrorist profile. No Panel member subscribes to the idea that a bioterrorist profile exists and the concept is not mentioned in the Report.
- April 1, 2012
- | Filed under North America, Report, and 2001-2025
An Introduction to Biorisk Management and Dual Use in the Life Sciences
This volume is one of the most relevant results of a cooperative effort among Quaid-i-Azam University, Landau Network Centro Volta, and Sandia National Laboratories and is aimed to provide the Pakistani life-sciences academic community with better instruments for education on managing biorisk and dual-use issues. The joint project which produced this volume also assessed the current awareness of these emerging topics among young scientists in Pakistan, with a survey on hundreds of students and young practitioners in the life sciences in almost 40% of the institutes offering higher education in the life sciences in the country. The volume provides a collection of educational materials and an introduction to the various aspects of biorisk management, tailored to the needs and interests of the Pakistani scientific contexts and levels. Information include the laboratory risk management, biosafety and biosecurity concepts, scientific case studies, historical overview, bioethics on dual use, legal and regulatory aspects, management principles and reference documents.
- February 6, 2012
- | Filed under Europe, Middle East, North America, South Asia, Featured, Report, and 2001-2025
An Investigation of Biosecurity Education for Life Scientists in the Asia-Pacific Region
Research Report for the Wellcome Trust Project on `Building a Sustainable Capacity in Dual-use Bioethics
Masamichi Minehata
This investigation aims to provide an insight to help support Asia-Pacific countries in developing biosecurity education for life scientists in order to prevent the destructive use of science. The investigation develops two stages of analysis. Firstly, the current national policy trends of regional countries on biosecurity, biosafety and bioethics issues are set out. Secondly, the investigation examines the survey results of the current state of biosecurity education at university level life science degree courses in Asia-Pacific. By doing so, the investigation is designed to identify a potential gap between national policy provisions of biosecurity issues and the implementation level of biosecurity education at universities in the region. Finally, the investigation considers potential approaches to promote biosecurity education.
