Dual-Use Research and Technological Diffusion: Reconsidering the Bioterrorism Threat Spectrum

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001253
• Publication Date: 2011-01-13T21:19:48Z
• Authors: Jonathan E. Suk; Anna Zmorzynska; Iris Hunger; Walter Biederbick; Julia Sasse; Heinrich Maidhof; Jan C. Semenza
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; ddc:610; Opinion; 0303 health sciences; Biomedical Research; QH301-705.5; International Cooperation; 610 Medizin; 610; RC581-607; 16. Peace & justice; Bioterrorism; Risk Assessment; Security Measures; 03 medical and health sciences; Technology Transfer; Biological Warfare; Humans; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Biology (General)

The global security community continues to view a potential bioterrorist event with concern. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, stated “the most important under-addressed threat relating terrorism…is that terrorists using biological weapon” [1]. European Commission believes weapons “may have particular attractions for terrorists” [2]. States on Prevention Weapons Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism it is very likely weapon mass destruction will be used in terrorist attack by end 2013, an more than one nuclear [3].