Strategies for Threat Reduction

NTI is working to address the complex, multifaceted biological threat in general and the bioweapons threat in particular. These threats can emerge from many sources and involve human, plant and animal diseases. An effective response requires:

• Strengthening biosecurity and encouraging standards for responsible research--engaging the scientific community to improve security and safe handling of dangerous pathogens and materials, developing normative standards for research and transparency, preventing the development and proliferation of biological agents as weapons and participating in the creation of plans and safeguards to forestall their use.
• Scientific cooperation and collaboration with the former Soviet Union--redirecting the scientific skills and knowledge of former Soviet bioweaponeers, enhancing trust and transparency and producing beneficial pro-social scientific work in important public health areas of mutual concern.
• Global disease surveillance, early detection and rapid response--enabling rapid detection, investigation and early response to potential threats by strengthening worldwide surveillance capability and improving the sensitivity and connectivity of these efforts.
• Building new partnerships--bringing the communities of public health, medicine, agriculture, science, intelligence and law enforcement together in closer working relationships and improving data gathering, analysis and preparedness for current and future threats.
• Bioterrorism preparedness and consequence management--addressing this urgent need with a multifaceted approach, engaging many disciplines, agencies and levels of government, and the private sector, nationally and internationally.

"With early warnings of such significant events as disease outbreaks, public health and other government authorities worldwide are better able to undertake the measures necessary to protect the health and safety of their populations...GPHIN has been an invaluable tool with immeasurable benefits for the global public health community and we look forward to utilizing the enhanced system."

Guenael Rodier, Director, Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response Program, WHO