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International Response: Global Biological Security Guidelines Needed, Expert SaysBy Mike Nartker Without improved security measures, terrorists could try to obtain pathogens by stealing them from research facilities or by purchasing them under false pretenses, according to Jonathan Tucker, a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace. During a presentation at the institute’s Washington headquarters, Tucker cited several examples of poor security at research facilities, such as those found by a U.S. Agriculture Department investigation that found that many of the department’s 124 laboratories were vulnerable to theft (see GSN, May 13, 2002). While the United States and other countries have sought to domestically improve laboratory security with new regulations (see GSN, Jan. 29), an international system of biological security guidelines is needed to avoid gaps of weak enforcement that terrorists might attempt to exploit, according to Tucker. Such guidelines should address physical security, pathogen accountability and facility personnel concerns, he said. At a minimum, according to Tucker, a new system of international guidelines should include the registration and licensing of research facilities that work with an agreed list of pathogens. The new guidelines should also include physical security requirements for facilities based on the perceived levels of theft risk, as well as pathogen inventory and collection audit procedures to prevent diversion, he said. Tucker warned, however, that quantitative inventory control procedures would not fully guarantee security because a potential terrorist could steal a minute sample of a pathogen and use it to produce large amounts. In addition, new security guidelines should also focus on facility personnel concerns, such as periodic background checks, Tucker said, adding that scientists and technicians should receive security education and training. Regulations concerning the transfer and export of pathogens should also be included in the new system, he said. Tucker said his proposal mainly focused on preventing terrorists from illegally obtaining pathogens for use in weapons. It would do little to prevent state proliferation of biological agents or to prevent states from providing terrorists with such agents, he said. An August meeting of the Biological Weapons Convention experts group, scheduled to be held in Geneva, could be used as a launching point for the development of new international security guidelines, Tucker said. Convention members should create a technical experts group — which could include representatives from international organizations and scientific organizations — to develop the guidelines, which could then be individually implemented through national legislation, he said. An international oversight mechanism may also be needed to ensure uniformity and to prevent security gaps, Tucker added. New guidelines should be developed with a focus on the inclusion of those developing countries with the least secure research facilities into the system, according to Tucker. To this end, a minimum-standards level should be created that countries could meet either through labor-intensive measures for developing countries and more capital-intensive measures for industrialized nations, he said. Standards should also have an appropriate level of flexibility to be tailored to individual facilities, Tucker said. The system should also focus on compliance via incentives, not through punishments, he said. Once the guidelines are created, states that choose to implement them could also agree to participate in annual review meetings that could be organized by an international secretariat, Tucker said. At these meetings, countries could report on the implementation of the guidelines at a national level, as well as participate in information exchanges to aid the implementation of new biological security standards, he said.
From June 19, 2003 issue.Smallpox: Smallpox Immunization Programs StalledU.S. officials said yesterday that the national smallpox immunization campaign had come to an effective halt, the New York Times reported (see GSN, June 13). The civilian smallpox immunization program, which was intended to inoculate 500,000 civilian health care workers by the end of February, has so far immunized only 37,608 volunteers. Health officials said 100 more are being immunized each week. The U.S. Defense Department has immunized 454,856 military personnel, and is inoculating 1,000 each week as a “maintenance” effort, according to Col. John Grabenstein, who ran the defense immunization effort. Raymond Strikas, who directed the civilian immunization program for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that volunteer interest had dropped off after March and the program was now paused. The U.S. military victory in Iraq, a long delay in the compensation plan for sickened volunteers (see GSN, May 1) and other public health concerns hampered the program, according to Strikas. U.S. President George W. Bush originally indicated the vaccine would eventually be available to the general public, “but there’s been relatively little clamoring for that,” Strikas said. “We accept where we are, given the circumstances. We can make this work,” he added (Donald McNeil, New York Times, June 19).
From June 17, 2003 issue.Smallpox: Many Decline Vaccine Despite Monkeypox FearsMany people eligible to receive the smallpox vaccine, because of their potential exposure to the U.S. monkeypox outbreak, are choosing not to receive the vaccine, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, June 12). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week recommended that the nation’s smallpox vaccine, stockpiled to defend against bioterrorism, be used to stem the spread of monkeypox. There have been 82 reported cases of monkeypox nationwide, AP reported. It is unclear how many people have come into contact with the monkeypox virus through infected animals or people. Herb Bostrom, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Communicable Diseases, said “the numbers are very, very small.” Authorities in Wisconsin notified 90 people who were eligible to receive the smallpox vaccine at a clinic Saturday, but none of those people showed up, according to Milwaukee Health Commissioner Seth Foldy. Ohio and Illinois, both states with suspected monkeypox outbreaks, have not offered the smallpox vaccine at all, according to AP (Jenny Price, Associated Press/ABCNews.com, June 17).
From June 13, 2003 issue.Anthrax: FBI Completes Draining of Maryland PondThe FBI has finished draining a pond near Frederick, Md., and is now preparing to search the sediment at the bottom as part of the bureau’s investigation into the fall 2001 anthrax attacks, Frederick and law enforcement officials said yesterday (see GSN, June 11). Frederick’s police chief was informed late Wednesday that the draining — which began Monday — had been completed, Frederick Public Information Officer Nancy Poss said. Officials believe it could take several weeks to examine the bottom of the pond for further evidence (Kevin Bohn, CNN.com, June 12). The FBI has asked Phillips and Jordan Inc. — a general contractor specializing in heavy earth moving that worked to sift through the rubble of the World Trade Center — to assist in searching the pond, said Page Riley, the company’s chief engineer. “We’re just basically up there trying to help the FBI,” Riley said Wednesday. “They drained the pond today and they’re going to try to get in there and start going through the pond bottom,” Riley said (David Keim, KnoxNews.com, June 12). Anthrax Attacks “Perfect Crime” Meanwhile, a scientist at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in Utah has said the anthrax attacks could be “the perfect crime.” No fingerprints were found on the letters used in the attacks and there is apparently no other evidence pointing to the person responsible, said Army microbiologist Jeff Mohr. “They can’t crack it because there’s no forensic trail. It was a perfect crime,” Mohr said. FBI agent George Dougherty said, however, that some evidence is being discovered in the case, although he refused to provide further details (Paul Foy, Associated Press/Casper Star-Tribune, June 12).
From June 13, 2003 issue.Smallpox I: United States Immunizes More Than 37,000 CiviliansU.S. health officials have immunized more than 37,000 civilian volunteers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today (see GSN, May 28; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release, June 12).
From June 13, 2003 issue.Smallpox II: Japanese Vaccine Headed to United StatesA California drug company has purchased a 25-year-old Japanese smallpox vaccine and will soon begin testing it in the United States, the Daily Yomiuri reported today (see GSN, May 28). The vaccine — purchased by VaxGen for use in combating bioterrorism — is reportedly one of the safest in the world. So Hashizume, president of Japan’s Poliomyelitis Research Institute, developed the vaccine in the 1970s. The vaccine has been held in cold storage since the Japanese government ended mandatory vaccinations in 1976 (Makiko Tatebayashi, Daily Yomiuri, June 13).
From June 13, 2003 issue.U.S. Response: Homeland Security Department Assumes Control of Plum Island FacilityThe U.S. Homeland Security Department announced last week that it would assume management of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center off Long Island, N.Y., which studies animal pathogens (see GSN, June 24, 2002). Homeland Security and the U.S. Agriculture Department, which currently manages the facility, have begun a joint management program to oversee a four-month transition period, according to a Homeland Security press release. Under the new management, Plum Island researchers will contribute their expertise to Homeland Security’s biological counterterrorism efforts, which includes the prevention of agricultural terrorism, the release said (see GSN, June 12). “We look forward to working closely with our USDA colleagues on a focused research and development program and management plan that will help us prevent, respond to, and recover from agroterrorism attacks,” said Homeland Security Undersecretary Charles McQueary. “Our commitment to making a safer and more secure environment for our nation and our agricultural community is a top priority,” he said (U.S. Homeland Security Department release, June 6).
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