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Vennis IM, Boskovic M, Bleijs DA, Rutjes SA. Complementarity of International Instruments in the Field of Biosecurity. Front Public Health 2022; 10:894389. [PMID: 35712271 PMCID: PMC9195852 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.894389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the devastating impact of infectious disease outbreaks and the threat of emerging and re-emerging dangerous pathogens, independent of their origin. Natural, accidental, and deliberate disease outbreaks all need systems in place for an effective public health response. The best known international instrument in the field of public health is the WHO International Health Regulations (2005). Although the International Health Regulations are mainly focused on natural disease outbreaks, the actions to take to comply with them also contribute to biosecurity and non-proliferation. This paper examines in case of full implementation of the International Health Regulations, what other actions states should take to comply with international biosecurity instruments, including the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, to effectively prevent and defend against intentional biological threats. An overview of international instruments from different disciplines regarding biosecurity is presented. Furthermore, this paper clarifies the similarities between the international biosecurity instruments and addresses the additional requirements that instruments stipulate. From a detailed comparison between the instruments it can be concluded that, to adhere to all legally-binding international biosecurity instruments, specific non-proliferation and export control measures are necessary in addition to full implementation of the International Health Regulations. Additionally, an overview of non-legally binding instruments in the field of biosecurity is presented and practical implementation examples are highlighted. Compliance with legally binding instruments can be improved by precise guidance provided by non-legally binding instruments that are clear and attuned to the situation on the ground. To improve understanding of the existing international instruments, this paper aims to provide an overview of the international legal biosecurity framework to biosecurity experts, policymakers, civil servants, and practitioners. It offers possible practical applications for the politico-legal context and accommodates the enhancement of full employment of biosecurity resources for an improved multidisciplinary capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris M. Vennis
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Biosecurity Office, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | | | - Diederik A. Bleijs
- Biosecurity Office, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Saskia A. Rutjes
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Biosecurity Office, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
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Hoque MN, Faisal GM, Chowdhury FR, Haque A, Islam T. The urgency of wider adoption of one health approach for the prevention of a future pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONE HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.14202/ijoh.2022.20-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurring outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses serve as a reminder that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected. Therefore, multisectoral, transdisciplinary, and collaborative approaches are required at local, regional, and global levels to tackle the ever-increasing zoonotic threat. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 zoonosis has been posing tremendous threats to global human health and economies. The devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic teaches us to adopt a "One Health Approach (OHA)" to tackle a possible future pandemic through a concerted effort of the global scientific community, human health professionals, public health experts, veterinarians and policymakers through open science and open data sharing practices. The OHA is an integrated, holistic, collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach to tackle potential pandemic zoonotic diseases. It includes expanding scientific inquiry into zoonotic infections; monitoring, and regulating traditional food markets, transforming existing food systems, and incentivizing animal husbandry and legal wildlife trade to adopt effective zoonotic control measures. To adopt an OHA globally, research and academic institutions, governments and non-government sectors at the local, regional, and international levels must work together. This review aimed to provide an overview of the major pandemics in human history including the COVID-19, anthropogenic drivers of zoonoses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse zoonoses, the concept of OHA and how an OHA could be utilized to prevent future pandemic threats to the human-animal-ecosystem interfaces. In addition, this review article discusses the strategic framework of OHA and possible challenges to implement OHA in practice to prevent any future pandemics. The practices of open data sharing, open science, and international collaboration should be included in the OHA to prevent and/or rapidly tackle any health emergencies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Nazmul Hoque
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Golam Mahbub Faisal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Farhan Rahman Chowdhury
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Amlan Haque
- School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, Sydney Campus, Australia
| | - Tofazzal Islam
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh
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Khan T, Tanveer F, Muhammad J. Improving Biosecurity in Pakistan: Current Efforts, Challenges, and Recommendations on a Multidimensional Management Strategy. Health Secur 2021; 19:254-261. [PMID: 33956522 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2020.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly advancing biotechnological research and easy access to biological information have created challenges for preventing their intentional misuse. Because of the dedicated efforts of science and policy leaders in Pakistan, the country is on the road to becoming a regional role model in ensuring biosafety and capacity for biosecurity. Although Pakistan has made remarkable efforts promoting a culture of biosafety and biosecurity, several constraints persist related to sustainable development and the expansion of the biosecurity capacity in Pakistan. Studies suggest there is little understanding of dual-use research of concern among the majority of life scientists in Pakistan. Further, Pakistan has yet to fully develop and implement approaches for risk assessment, frameworks for oversight and regulation, or tools and procedures for monitoring and reporting situations in which misuse of biological materials might occur. More data are needed to answer questions about key biosecurity hazards specific to the country or region and the procedures that may be required for periodic risk assessments. Integrating biosecurity into the existing infrastructure with limited resources is key challenge in implementation. More coordination is required among various stakeholders to develop an effective biosecurity framework. This article focuses on Pakistan's strides toward biosecurity preparedness in terms of protecting pathogens, toxins, or biological technologies with dual-use risks to prevent their malevolent use. We propose a multidimensional biosecurity management model at the national level to strengthen the biosecurity enterprise in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Khan
- Tariq Khan, PhD, is a Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Pakistan. Faouzia Tanveer, MPhil, is a PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Javed Muhammad, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Faouzia Tanveer
- Tariq Khan, PhD, is a Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Pakistan. Faouzia Tanveer, MPhil, is a PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Javed Muhammad, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Javed Muhammad
- Tariq Khan, PhD, is a Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Pakistan. Faouzia Tanveer, MPhil, is a PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Javed Muhammad, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
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Asadulghani M, Angra P, Giasuddin M, Bari ML, Islam MS, Roy CK, Islam MR, Islam Z, Hasan KN, Islam MA, Nabi AN, Farzana T, Chowdhury JP, Sultana M, Mannan T, Rahman MH, Sikder AJ, Salimullah M. Strengthening Biosafety and Biosecurity Status in Bangladesh: A Sustainable Approach. APPLIED BIOSAFETY 2020; 25:240-252. [DOI: 10.1177/1535676020930430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Md Asadulghani
- Biosafety and BSL3 Laboratory, Biosafety Office, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Pawan Angra
- Global Epidemiology, Laboratory and Surveillance Branch, Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Md Giasuddin
- Animal Health Research Division and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Latiful Bari
- Food Analysis and Research Laboratory, Center for Advanced Research in Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shahidul Islam
- Department of Biotechnology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | - Chandan Kumar Roy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rakibul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Zhahirul Islam
- Laboratory of Gut-Brain Signaling, Laboratory Sciences and Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kazi Nadim Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Health and Life Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Aminul Islam
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - A.H.M. Nurun Nabi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tasnim Farzana
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Munawar Sultana
- Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tania Mannan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Md Salimullah
- National Institute of Biotechnology, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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