Biological weapons control: prospects and implications for the future

Article Abstract:

Physicians can play an important role in detecting the use of biological weapons by helping to investigate unusual disease outbreaks. A total of 140 nations have signed the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention, which bans the development of biological weapons. However, the treaty lacks specific enforcement measures. Iraq successfully hid its biological weapons program from the UN for many years. It appears likely that the UN will not be able to investigate every facility that might be suspected of biological weapons development. But the worldwide disease surveillance system might play an important role.

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Biological weapons and US law

Article Abstract:

Since 1989, the US Congress has passed several laws regulating the domestic production and distribution of infectious organisms that could be used as biological weapons. In 1989, Congress passed the Biological Weapons Act, which implemented the provision of the 1972 Biological Weapons and Toxins Convention prohibiting domestic production of biological weapons. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 1996 gave the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the power to regulate infectious organisms that could be used as weapons. Violation of these regulations carries criminal penalties.

United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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The complementary role of environmental and security biological control regimes in the 21st century

Article Abstract:

Environmental regulations are enhancing the effect of regulations preventing the production and distribution of infectious organisms that could be used as biological weapons. The regulation of biological weapons began with the Geneva Protocol of 1925, continuing up to the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development also proposed conventions regulating the handling and distribution of organisms modified by genetic engineering in order to protect biological diversity.

Biotechnology

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