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2 Capacities of Developing Countries to Counter Biological Threats
Pages 47-58

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From page 47...
... an appropriate policy framework for addressing a variety of cross-cutting biology-related development and security issues; (3) an adequate physical infrastructure and supporting services for carrying out activities to prevent, detect, characterize, and respond to disease outbreaks; and (4)
From page 48...
... Of course, welldeveloped epidemiological and surveillance programs, together with proven laboratory diagnostic techniques, are broadly applicable in addressing many types of disease burdens and in identifying unusual outbreaks. An important aspect of the capacity of developing countries to address
From page 49...
... For example, research by local biotechnology firms or governments intended to address chronic food shortages by exploring genetically modified crops could inadvertently damage traditional crops on nearby fields, could create disease viruses with unknown properties, or could break down disease resistance in livestock or humans. As noted in Chapter 1, in Pakistan the government is greatly concerned about this aspect as agricultural research activities intensify. Also as discussed in Chapter 1, reducing and countering the threats of naturally occurring diseases to human health and agriculture have long been an objective of many organizations, including foreign assistance agencies.
From page 50...
... These problems include the government's preoccupation with other issues, such as hunger and education, conflicts between the government and international donors over funding priorities and acceptable time lines for discernible impacts of projects on development problems, rudimentary survey and surveillance capabilities, inadequate laboratory equipment, need for trained and motivated personnel, and weak supporting services. At the same time, the government is increasingly aware of steps that should be taken to combat diseases. Countrywide risk assessments or prioritization of vulnerabilities in specific country settings are not presented in this report.
From page 51...
... Physical infrastructure, including facilities, support services, and data systems HUMAN RESOURCES The deficiencies in the availability of skilled human resources in all developing countries have for many decades been a major international development concern of the United States and other industrialized countries, as well as the developing countries themselves. From research scientists and medical doctors to security guards and maintenance personnel, the types of technical personnel who are needed for an effective biosecurity regime are in short supply.
From page 52...
... Also, sustained university-to-university relationships can be of special importance. Such contact enables local scientists to use the products of international science and to have a sense of belonging to the broader international community.
From page 53...
... But BTRP can provide financial incentives such as fellowships to encourage students who have studied abroad or trained locally to seek engineering careers and then to work to strengthen the physical infrastructures that provide the underpinnings for biosecurity improvements. Recommendation 2-2: BTRP should give special attention to strengthening the human resource base to address biosecurity challenges.
From page 54...
... They include, for example, intellectual property rights that may affect support of research activities, export control limitations that relate to international exchanges of pathogen strains, and trade policies that affect the tax aspects of needed equipment for facilities. It is unlikely that biosecurity will command a special policy framework involving a range of legislative actions, national regulations, and ministry directives, as biosecurity cuts across many traditional development fields.
From page 55...
... . In addition to the security aspects of facilities, there are issues regarding the capabilities of these facilities to contribute effectively to the national effort in controlling diseases and in conducting research.
From page 56...
... Simply raising awareness about these steps to counter the threat of bioterrorism is important. COMMITMENT TO BIOSECURITY BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES The commitment of a developing-country government to adopting and maintaining biosecurity standards is reflected in actions or lack of actions in all of the above areas: the involvement of skilled personnel in disease-related
From page 57...
... Raising awareness of local government officials, specialists, and the public regarding the seriousness of biological threats in the future is important if cooperative threat reduction programs are to succeed. An effective mechanism for raising awareness is the launching without delay of cooperative projects that highlight existing vulnerabilities and demonstrate by example practical approaches to correcting deficiencies both in security and in productivity of facilities.


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