136
Biohazards are classified according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) [24] as:
– category A: includes biohazard agents that are easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person and lead to high mortality rates. They require special
action for public health preparedness and might cause public panic and social
disruption. As such, category A biohazards have the highest priority while having
the potential to pose risk to national security. Examples are Bacillus anthracis,
botulinum toxin, Yersinia pestis or Variola virus.
– category B: includes biohazards that are moderately easy to disseminate, have
moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates and require specific enhancements of diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance. A notable example is the ricin toxin.
– category C: includes emerging pathogens (e.g. Nipah virus, hantavirus) that
could be engineered for mass dissemination and with potential for high morbidity and mortality rates resulting in major health impact.
Noteworthy, while the classification of biological agents is a basic requirement
for both biosafety and biodefense strategies, different classification schemes for
biohazards exist at international level. Several inconsistencies have been reported,
for example the Influenza virus was listed in the highest threat group according to
the Russian biodefense categorization, but was included in the second highest category by the European Union classification, and was not specifically listed by the
U.S. CDC [25].
8.6 Biohazards and Bioterrorism
Diseases caused by biological health hazard agents are not only a public health issue
but also a problem of national security. Biohazards can be weaponized for use in
bioterrorism. Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or
other harmful agents to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants [26].
Furthermore, bioterrorist attacks may cause mass panic and fear among the public,
chaos in many spheres of life, economic losses and loss of faith in state authorities.
A notable example is “Amerithrax” event in the U.S. (2011): soon after the terrorist
attacks of 9/11, letters contaminated with anthrax spores were placed in the
U.S. mail. Overall, 22 clinical anthrax cases and 5 deaths were reported. The ensuing investigation (one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement) resulted in hundreds of million dollars spent on remediation, disruption of the
mail service, fear and distrust in the government ability to protect its citizens.
Weapons of mass destruction in bioterrorism include devices produced for military or terrorist purposes, that can cause a large number of victims, or have a broad
impact on human life. Such weapons may make use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents (CBRN) and are illegal to produce and stockpile, under
the regulation of the Biological Weapons Convention enacted in 1975. Whereas
D. C. Schmid
Biohazards are classified according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) [24] as:
– category A: includes biohazard agents that are easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person and lead to high mortality rates. They require special
action for public health preparedness and might cause public panic and social
disruption. As such, category A biohazards have the highest priority while having
the potential to pose risk to national security. Examples are Bacillus anthracis,
botulinum toxin, Yersinia pestis or Variola virus.
– category B: includes biohazards that are moderately easy to disseminate, have
moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates and require specific enhancements of diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance. A notable example is the ricin toxin.
– category C: includes emerging pathogens (e.g. Nipah virus, hantavirus) that
could be engineered for mass dissemination and with potential for high morbidity and mortality rates resulting in major health impact.
Noteworthy, while the classification of biological agents is a basic requirement
for both biosafety and biodefense strategies, different classification schemes for
biohazards exist at international level. Several inconsistencies have been reported,
for example the Influenza virus was listed in the highest threat group according to
the Russian biodefense categorization, but was included in the second highest category by the European Union classification, and was not specifically listed by the
U.S. CDC [25].
8.6 Biohazards and Bioterrorism
Diseases caused by biological health hazard agents are not only a public health issue
but also a problem of national security. Biohazards can be weaponized for use in
bioterrorism. Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or
other harmful agents to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants [26].
Furthermore, bioterrorist attacks may cause mass panic and fear among the public,
chaos in many spheres of life, economic losses and loss of faith in state authorities.
A notable example is “Amerithrax” event in the U.S. (2011): soon after the terrorist
attacks of 9/11, letters contaminated with anthrax spores were placed in the
U.S. mail. Overall, 22 clinical anthrax cases and 5 deaths were reported. The ensuing investigation (one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement) resulted in hundreds of million dollars spent on remediation, disruption of the
mail service, fear and distrust in the government ability to protect its citizens.
Weapons of mass destruction in bioterrorism include devices produced for military or terrorist purposes, that can cause a large number of victims, or have a broad
impact on human life. Such weapons may make use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents (CBRN) and are illegal to produce and stockpile, under
the regulation of the Biological Weapons Convention enacted in 1975. Whereas
D. C. Schmid