The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) the mechanism by which the international community can use to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease

Excerpt:
7/12/2011

The United States looks forward to expanding cooperation in the fight against biological weapons and epidemics
Washington - provides killed five Americans in 2001 because of anthrax, which was hidden inside the envelopes sent by mail, a strong proof of the threat posed by biological weapons attack. He died in other parts of the world more than 300 people with HIV (5) The 1 (H5N1) virus, also known as bird flu since the virus was identified on the epidemic in 2003. In both cases - the deliberate attack or a natural epidemic in other parts of the world - The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) the mechanism by which the international community can use to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease.

Will meet the representatives of 165 countries signed the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva from 5 December / December at the Seventh Conference for the Revision of the Treaty will be the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's first foreign minister of the United States to attend this meeting.

According to Thomas Kantryman, the assistant secretary of state for international security and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, will provide the Clinton ideas U.S. about how countries can increase their capacity and cooperation to the discovery of outbreaks of disease and response to build "a culture aware of the responsibility" between the scientific communities and industry across the world that will prevent abuse of biotechnology.

Said Kantryman told reporters in Washington, the first of December / December, that the United States also wanted to see the approval of the review conference on ways to strengthen the application of the provisions of the Biological Weapons Convention and to promote transparency and confidence-building measures, not only to ensure that Member States not to develop biological weapons, but also show "the absence of any points of non-state in its territory can develop these types of weapons."

Has become the nature of the threats of biological weapons since the signing of the Biological Weapons Convention in 1972. However it is still likely to try a country developing a biological weapon and use it against an enemy, he stressed Kantryman that "our concern is increasing the likelihood of the emergence of today's real threat by terrorists or entities not belonging to the state."

The Kantryman it at the same time became a rapid developments in knowledge of life sciences positive enormously to human health and prosperity, it has also created "greater opportunities for abuse of this technology," and increased the need to take steps to mitigate these risks.

The Kantryman, looking forward to the Conference of the review, he sees "a scene of a much broader consensus and cooperation during the meeting in Geneva, which I see for the emergence of conflicts."

Will be cooperation and exchange of information across international borders is crucial when an outbreak of highly contagious regardless of whether the disease is caused by nature or by accident, or been published deliberately.

The Kantryman to the origin of the disease "is not the first question we must answer. But the first thing that we have to do is to take immediate action to determine the nature of the disease that we deal with it and begin to combat it, and the direct provision of health services to those affected by it more directly . "

For this reason you will find the least developed countries that may not feel that they target a biological attack, it is still "post with enthusiasm" in the practical courses for the Biological Weapons Convention, as it allows them to benefit from the assistance and cooperation, which can others in the international community to offer.

Kantryman noted that in cases where the transmitted infectious organism from the environment to the natural environment of human beings, such as the Ebola virus, or swine flu, or avian influenza, "was the least developed countries are disproportionately affected by such diseases."

The United States has "a strong track record" in providing aid to assist other countries in building their capacity to detect and respond to outbreaks and B, and break down the barriers that stand in the way of implementation of a coordinated international campaign to address it.

The Kantryman that during the last year of the Office of International Security and Non-proliferation of nuclear, biological, headed "With more than 44 countries from around the world to build their capacity to address these threats."

He added, but "I think there's always more than you can do. We seriously consider that the United States must submit to lead by example, for itself and the rest of the world, in the application of the provisions of this Treaty and other arms control agreements and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, biological and toxic We always strive to do so. "

For example, in order to encourage openness and exchange of information about potential global biological threats, the United States took the step to make confidence-building measures (CBM) followed by a public concern in 2010 and would like to see others doing it.

Provide confidence-building measures data and information on research centers and laboratories operating in the country and its national biological research defense and development, along with information about outbreaks of infectious diseases and any similar incidents caused by toxic substances, legislation and current regulations on biological materials and to disclose any previous activities in the development or research programs on biological offensive or defensive, in addition to vaccine production facilities.

He went Kantiriman, highlighting the confidence-building measures, "We have taken the decision to become our actions public concern and subject to inspection and accountability on the part of other countries. We hope that others do the same thing. We hope that this becomes the norm rather than the exception among the signatories of the treaty.