Threats and Biosecurity
An Evolving Development Pipeline:
Emergent Threats and Biosecurity
New approaches are needed to treat chronic global infections and protect against biosecurity threats
COVID-19 was not the first pandemic, it was only the most recent.
It wasn’t the first pandemic to lead to millions of deaths. Flu pandemic of 1918 killed an estimated 17 to 50 million people, and Black Death killed between 75 and 200 million people. COVID has so far led to the deaths of 7 million people.
Furthermore, events of 2022-2023 have shown how volatile the world is and how fragile peace can be.
However, is there a real threat from biological weapons?
Are there any reliable opinions? Which countries are the threats?
Possible agents which can be used in biological weapons include but are not limited to:
- Smallpox virus
- SARS-CoV-1 (original 2003 SARS)
- SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Ebola virus
- Marburg virus
- Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
- Hantaviruses
- Laboratory developed chimeric viruses
Clear and Present Danger: Biological Warfare
Findings of the US Department of State report Adherence to and Compliance With Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, April 2022
FINDING
“The United States assesses that the Russian Federation (Russia) maintains an offensive BW program and is in violation of its obligations under Articles I and II of the BWC.”
FINDING
“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continued to engage in activities with dual-use applications, which raise concerns regarding its compliance with Article I of the BWC.”
“Available information shows the PRC engaged in activities that raise concerns with regard to its obligations under Article I of the BWC.”
FINDING
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s (Iran’s) activities continue to raise concerns regarding its compliance with Article I of the BWC. The United States continues to assess that Iran has not abandoned its intention to conduct research and development of biological agents and toxins for offensive purposes.”
FINDING
“The United States assesses that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) has an offensive BW program and is in violation of its obligations under Articles I and II of the BWC.”
