Global Biodefense  August 17, 2023
The U.S. Department of Defense today released the Biodefense Posture Review outlining reforms aimed to posture the DOD in the face of future biothreats through 2035. It outlines significant reforms and lays the foundation for a resilient total force that deters the use of bioweapons, rapidly responds to natural outbreaks, and minimizes the global risk of laboratory accidents. It addresses Naturally Occurring Biological Threats, Accidental Biological Threats, Deliberate Biological Threats, Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, and Risks from Bioincidents. Lines of Effort to Drive Biodefense Actions include, Enhance early warning and understanding to counter biothreats Coordinate and Collaborate for Enhanced Biodefense. The PRC, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, probably maintain the knowledge and capability to produce and employ traditional pathogens and toxins, and at least one country (North Korea) continues to pursue, pathogens that cause highly infectious or contagious diseases, such as anthrax, plague, and toxins, including botulinum toxin. These nations probably also retain the knowledge and ability to employ these agents if necessary… read more.
The Dark Promise of Biotechnology
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