Over the past fifteen years we have faced not only the threat of a biological attack, but also natural epidemics such as avian flu, Ebola and Zika viruses and global pandemics. We must protect our country from the potential use of biological agents by terrorist organizations. A report signed by the National Biosurveillance Integration Center on the threat of man-made and natural biological disasters entering the United States.
“The effects of climate change, global connectivity, advances in biotechnology and instability in the Middle East, Africa and Asia increase the likelihood of a biological event at home. Synthetic biology and gene editing offer great medical breakthroughs in perspective. However, they also offer international terrorist organizations an opportunity to modify organisms for harmful purposes. Likewise, emerging avian influenza outbreaks and antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a risk to the United States. Within 24 hours, an individual infected with a pathogen (natural or artificial) can land on our coasts and trigger an outbreak with national or global consequences ". These risks were highlighted earlier in a Congressional testimony from the director of the National Intelligence James Clapper.
Founded in 2004, the mission of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center is to identify a potential biological event and activate all the procedures for the characterization, localization and monitoring of a biological event of national importance. Biological units are present in over 900 federal and 1.500 state offices.
During the latest Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Department of Homeland Security provided interdepartmental intelligence to state and local governments and directed research to characterize the threat, filling gaps in public health and operational responses. We screened 42.000 passengers at five international airports. We must remain vigilant as biological threats continue to evolve as new ones emerge ”.
The US Defense Network: The "BioWatch" Program
“To combat large-scale biological events we have always active bio-detection and bio-surveillance programs. The former ensures the detection of threats by isolating them. The second is responsible for public health at a broader level in the post-infection phases. The program Biowatch guarantees planning, training and early diagnosis in the event of a biological attack. With more than 30 major metropolitan areas across the country, the program engages major agencies. If attacked, Biowatch activates and supervises the main agencies and coordinates effective responses to a potentially catastrophic bioterrorism event. Our enemies continue to develop biotechnology ”.
In the last two years, Biowatch it has been independently validated. Four independent tests have been conducted over the past six years and 30.400 samples run to monitor operations. Biowatch was first activated last year when a man in Denver was identified with the Francisella tularensis bacterium that causes tularemia, also called rabbit fever.
(photo: US DoD)
