The Yin and Yang of Countering Biological Threats: Public Health and Security Under the International Health Regulations, Biological Weapons Convention, and the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540

Abstract

The objective of this report is present the inter-governmental dynamics when considering a deliberate biological incident. In such an event, the epidemiological data may be incorporated into a larger investigation or intelligence analysis framework and may be showcased for legal or national security decision making. While in many countries, the civilian public health and security communities (broadly including in the latter the intelligence, law enforcement and the military) are not de facto partners in countering biological threats, there is a significant, upward global trend of pursuing inter-ministerial collaboration and a “whole of government”/“whole of society” national approach in that regard. Illustrative examples of blending these “yin and yang” areas of countering biological threats also exist at the international level under the WHO International Health Regulations (IHRs), Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540) as well as in several bilateral engagements between inter-governmental organizations. By identifying the synergy and convergence of public health and security under the BWC, IHRs, and UNSCR 1540, countries could maximize the use of limited national resources by establishing inter-ministerial, regional and international partnerships in order to strengthen the core capacities required by the WHO IHRs as well as the existing national measures consistent with their obligations under the BWC and UNSCR 1540 to deter, prevent, and respond to biological incidents or threats.