Enhancing bio-security: the need for a global strategy

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SIPRI, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

2006

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Introduction

In order to prevent the spread of biological weapon programmes from countries where they

previously existed and to prevent terrorists from acquiring biological agents, materials and know-

how, so-called threat reduction activities have been undertaken that include eliminating biological

weapon-relevant equipment and infrastructure and redirecting the efforts of former weapon

scientists to peaceful activities.

One important aim of these activities has been to enhance safety when working with pathogens

(bio-safety); another is to improve security at facilities where such work is carried out in order to

preclude unauthorized access to agents, materials and knowledge (bio-security). Emerging and re-

emerging diseases pose a threat to humankind,2 and global bio-security measures are an essential

element of the efforts to decrease the risk of the use of biological agents for bio-terrorism.