A confluence of recent events has focused increasing attention on the potential human and national security implications of threats from biological sources. CUSA’s work on new biological threats to human and national security considers how the increasingly globalized nature of modern society amplifies threats from biological sources including new and re-emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, and biological weapons. Our research on biological security occurs along two tracks: Biological Weapons and Infectious Disease and Security.

Biological Weapons

The 2001 mailing of Anthrax spoors to various government officials and media organizations and the 2004 mailing of Ricin to government officials are recent examples of use biological weapons. While the use and development of biological weapons has been prohibited by the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, there is increasing concern that these weapons could be developed and used by both state and non-state actors. While threats from biological sources are not new, changes in the world system brought about by new technologies and increased mobility have created new forms of threat and vulnerabilities that need to be considered.

Food Security

CUSA's research on food security looks at threats confronting the global food system to consider how the security landscape is being reconstructed by transnational networks that impact worldwide economic, technological, and cultural practices. Through examinations of current food security challenges, including hunger, natural infectious disease, accidental contamination of food supplies, and nefariously employed biological agents, we consider the evolving relationship between hunger, disease, and security. Recent questions about the safety of food systems even in industrialized countries highlight the need to ensure a global food system that provides all people with safe, healthy and affordable food produced through environmentally sustainable methods.

 

Infectious Disease and Security

Processes of globalization have brought an tremendous increase in speed and movement among the global population. One of the implications of this increased mobility is a potential increase in threats from naturally occurring disease epidemics. Concurrent with our research focus on Biological Weapons, CUSA is also committed to exploring threats and potential remedies to security threats from infectious diseases. The emergence of news diseases such as SARS and new strains of disease from Avian flu to Swine flu could have significant impacts on nations, businesses, and individuals. CUSA has partnered with entities such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, IUCN, and Bio Economic Research Associates (bio-era™) to develop research projects to examine threats from natural biological sources.

 

 

Information about Pandemic Influenza and Avian Influenza

An influenza (flu) pandemic is a widespread outbreak of disease that occurs when a new flu virus appears that people have not been exposed to before. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza. Seasonal flu outbreaks are caused by viruses that people have already been exposed to; flu shots are available to help prevent widespread illness, and impacts on society are less severe. Pandemic Flu spreads easily from person to person and can cause serious illness because people do not have immunity to the new virus.