Loading...








PGA’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, sustainable and democratic world.

Biological Security - Weekly Update - December 2022

The Weekly Biological Security Update is prepared by PGA's International Peace and Security Program and provided strictly for informational purposes only. Any opinions expressed in articles contained in this Update are not necessarily shared by PGA or any individual/s associated with PGA, nor does PGA, or any individual/s associated with PGA, vouch for the accuracy of the contents of these articles.

Country Topic Source
  South Sudan President of Republic of South Sudan Assents to Biological Weapons Convention "...JUBA, 23rd DECEMBER 2022-President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday signed two more bills into law and accede one International Convention. The Bills and Treaty had been passed by the National Parliament and were forwarded to the President for endorsement into law as required by the Transitional Constitution.....

Speaking to the Press, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the President also acceded International Conventions on Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons on their Destruction..." 		Facebook
  South Sudan "South Sudan - S. Sudan launches parliamentary alliance on food, nutrition security/ World Health Organization (WHO)
  Africa The East African Community’s mobile laboratory network’s rapid response during the first 2 weeks of the Ebola Sudan virus disease (SVD) outbreak in Uganda and pandemic preparedness activities in South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya ReliefWeb
  Africa Where does Africa's New Public Health Order stand? devex.com
  Africa Key takeaways from conference on public health in Africa The Cable (Nigeria)
  Africa Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma's path to Africa CDC devex.com
  Africa SARS-CoV-2 Africa dashboard for real-time COVID-19 information Nature
  Africa Yearender-Feature: Chinese-aided Africa CDC headquarters project approaches completion Xinhua
  Africa African Union & European Union Reinforce Digital Health Cooperation Home – Africa CDC
  Africa African Leaders and Global Health Experts Convene in Rwanda for the 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa, CPHIA 2022 Home – Africa CDC
  Asia Asian public most fearful about the risk of pandemics and infectious diseases in global survey Human Resources Online
  Australia Mouse Plague Causes Flood of Snakes Looking for Sex Newsweek
  Australia Emerging technologies overshadowed in Senate biosecurity report Mirage News
  Bangladesh Bangladesh uses lessons from COVID-19 to build rapid response capacities for influenza or any other respiratory pathogen World Health Organization (WHO)
  Botswana Ginkgo Bioworks Plans Biosecurity Alliance With Botswana Genetics News
  Canada My Prediction: We’re due for another global health emergency Macleans.ca
  Canada Montreal’s Convention on Biodiversity Conference Could Determine our Response to Future Pathogens Home - Health Policy Watch
  China China plays active role in reaching positive results at Review Conference of BWC China Military
  Ghana/Canada Ghana: Covid-19 Exerbates Inequalities, Health, Socioeconomic Condtions All Africa
  Ghana Bacterial infections epidemiology and factors associated with multidrug resistance in the northern region of Ghana Nature
  Global ChAdOx1 NiV vaccination protects against lethal Nipah Bangladesh virus infection in African green monkeys Nature
  China/Japan Evidence of Japanese war crimes displayed at museum China Daily Website
  Global Enhancing biological security preparedness Security Magazine
  Global Has the mpox (monkeypox) epidemic disappeared? Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
  Global Mapped: See all of the world’s BSL-4 laboratories Maximum containment labs around the world Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
  Global How a deliberate pandemic could crush societies and what to do about it Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
  Nigeria Africa Positioned To Benefit From Genome Editing Technology —Minister Tribune Online
  Global Experts debate the risk of made-to-order DNA " Bloomberg
  Global How Autoimmune Disease Is Linked to Black Plague Defense Discover Magazine
  India BBMP establishes ‘One Health Cell’ to prevent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases The Indian Express
  Global Los países firmantes de la Convención de Armas Biológicas acuerdan endurecer el tratado Europa Press - Agencia de noticias
  Mozambique FAO Launches EMA-I to Improve Surveillance in Animal & Zoonotic Diseases krishijagran.com
  Nigeria Taming The Tide Of Zoonotic Diseases In Nigeria Daily Trust News
  Global OODA Network Member Brian Jenkins on Renewed Bioterror Concerns, but ‘No Mortal Blow’ OODA Loop - Intelligence | Analysis | Insight
  Philippines Devex CheckUp: The world is not prepared for the next health emergency devex.com
  Philippines House urged to scrutinize US-funded lab project in PH Philippines Top Stories: Politics, Environment, Education, Trending | Inquirer.net
  Philippines Anthrax cases confirmed in Cagayan; over 20 people isolated CNN
  Philippines Anthrax cases in Cagayan not related to terrorism–DOH Manilla Bulletin
  Singapore New Biosafety Level 3 lab joins nation’s fight against COVID-19 and future pandemics Nanyang Technological University - NTU Singapore
  Spain Safe and stylish! Scientists develop cranberry-infused lipstick that can ward off viruses like Covid, the flu and Ebola Home | Daily Mail Online
  Global Strengthen oversight of risky research on pathogens Mirage News
  Global Study probes how plague spreads through wild rodent populations Science Daily
  Tanzania EAC approves bio-economy strategy to improve food security Xinhua
  Uganda Exclusive: Vaccine Trial Against Sudan Ebolavirus – With No Recent Infections in Uganda, What’s Plan B? Home - Health Policy Watch
  Uganda Mubende locals make merry after two-month Ebola lockdown NTV Uganda
  United Kingdom Martin Rees explains how science might save us Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
  United Kingdom How prepared is the UK for the next pandemic? MPs launch new inquiry Parliament.uk
  United Kingdom We have been too lax on deal making that threatens national security – there has to be a reckoning The Telegraph
  United Kingdom Twin threats: climate change and zoonoses The Lancet
  United Kingdom National risk register: Preparing for national emergencies parliament.uk
  United Nations Chair Statement for Resolution 1540 China Customs Enforcement Workshop is published. United Nations
  United States The Ninth Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State
  United States Lessons From Chicago And Columbus: The Consequences Of Underfunding Public Health Health Affairs: Leading Publication Of Health Policy Research & Insight
  United States AVMA-championed One Health legislation passes Congress PR Newswire
  United States US intel agencies likely missed chances to investigate Covid pandemic’s origin, House Democrats’ report says CNN
  United States Omnibus bill defunds risky research involving 'pathogens of pandemic potential' in any 'country of concern' Fox News
  United States Pandemic response gets a permanent new home at the White House STAT - Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine
  United States Pandemic Action Network Hails Passage of the U.S. Global Health Security and International Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Act Pandemic Action Network
  United States Q&A: Outlook On Next Farm Bill Home | Senator Chuck Grassley
  United States Why does the U.S. government lock medicine away in secret warehouses? "....During my questioning at the committee hearing, I made clear that one of my top priorities is making sure the United States doesn’t fall further behind in agricultural research. We need to drive innovation with bigger and better investment to combat foreign animal diseases, prepare against agroterrorism, advance veterinary health, and foster solutions for producers to mitigate climate change. For example, Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is instrumental to protecting public health and responding to foreign animal diseases....." NPR
  United States Here’s what’s in the $1.7 trillion federal spending bill CNN
  United States US - Remarks by Dr. Bruce Gellin at a Public Meeting of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense Response, Recovery, and Mitigation at the American Geophysical Union.

"......Plus, the package would provide more money for National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The funds are intended to speed the development of new therapies, diagnostics and preventive measures, beef up public health activities and strengthen the nation’s biosecurity by accelerating development of medical countermeasures for pandemic threats and fortifying stockpiles and supply chains for drugs, masks and other supplies...." 		Rockefeller Foundation
  United States USDA Developing New Tools to Identify COVID Virus in Wild and Domestic Animals USDA
  United States Texas Biomed tapped for $100M to build out labs in S.A. New York Real Estate News - The Real Deal
  United States Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (November 2022) The White House
  United States Rhode Island DOH Upgrades Lab Facilities Lab Manager | Run Your Lab Like a Business | Lab Manager
  United States Man accused of threatening to kill Trump with anthrax sentenced to prison in New York Miami Herald
  WHO One Health in G20 countries World Health Organization (WHO)
  WHO One Health Joint Plan of Action launched and presented by WHO and the Quadripartite partners World Health Organization (WHO)
  WHO Donors making a difference in 2022 World Health Organization (WHO)
  WHO WHO Ranks The Deadliest Pathogens, Including The Mysterious 'Disease X' Science Alert
  WHO WHO hopeful COVID-19 emergency will end in 2023 The Japan Times

Country Topic Source
  Africa Digitalization – Towards Universal quality care and resilient Health Systems Home – Africa CDC
  Global A new One Health Joint Action Plan The Lancet
  Asia Pacific Why is the environment-health nexus important for Asia and the Pacific and how to strengthen it? Homepage | ESCAP
  BWC 9th RevCon Final Outcome Document PGA applauds the adoption of a Final Outcome Document at the 9th BWC Review Conference which concluded earlier today. PGA takes note, with particular approval, of Section F of Section II (Decisions and Recommendations), paragraphs 20-23 (Promotion of Universalization) of the Outcome Document. PGA looks forward to continuing to contribute substantively, supporting States Parties and the BWC ISU in achieving the goals of these particular Decisions and Recommendations. United Nations
  BWC 9th RevCon Final Outcome Document PGA
  BWC 9th RevCon Final Outcome Document PGA
  BWC 9th RevCon Final Outcome Document PGA
  BWC 9th RevCon UN Secretary-General Welcomes Outcome Document for Biological Weapons Convention’s Ninth Review Conference, Saying It ‘Offers a Glimmer of Hope’ UN Press
  BWC 9th RevCon Japan NKR.org
  BWC 9th RevCon Deutschland Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)
  BWC 9th RevCon Deutschland Aktuelle Nachrichten
  Canada Canadian Contributions to Medicine The Canadian Encyclopedia
  Canada COP15: Summit agrees on 'pact with nature' BBC - Homepage
  China Establishment of an indicator framework for global One Health Intrinsic Drivers index based on the grounded theory and fuzzy analytical hierarchy-entropy weight method Infectious Diseases of Poverty
  Global COVID spurs boom in genome sequencing for infectious diseases Nature
  Global Effectiveness of early warning systems in the detection of infectious diseases outbreaks: a systematic review BMC Public Health
  Ghana/WHO Tackling gender inequalities in health: a key to achieving universal health coverage in Ghana WHO
  India India Prepares To Face Future Pandemics With National Institute Of One Health In Nagpur Swarajya – Read India Right
  India Lessons to be learnt from how Kerala managed Nipah Siasat.com
  Kazakhstan The Defense Threat Reduction Agency partners with the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health to Conduct Biosafety and Biosecurity Stakeholder Engagements U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Kazakhstan
  Kenya Defense Threat Reduction Agency Celebrates Vaccine Lab Upgrades with Government of Kenya DVIDS - Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
  Namibia Zoonotic diseases present major challenge Home - Truth, for its own sake.
  Global Netflix’s Black Death Dramedy ‘The Decameron’ Sets Cast The Hollywood Reporter
  Nigeria Dakuku Tasks Experts on Dangers of Possible Bioterrorism THISDAYLIVE – Truth and Reason
  Global Preparing for Twenty-First-Century Bioweapons Issues in Science and Technology
  Russian Federation Russia insists will not use biological weapons Business Recorder
  Russian Federation Russia scientists' bid to revive prehistoric viruses is 'very, very risky', says expert WalesOnline: News, sport, weather and events from across Wales
  South Africa Defense Threat Reduction Agency Celebrates with South African Partners Opening of New Training Center for Disease Detection and Biosafety DVIDS - Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
  Global Study probes how plague spreads through wild rodent populations Unknown
  Global We Need One Health Prevention Approaches to Infectious Disease Home - Impakter
  Global The World Health Organization’s public health intelligence activities during the COVID-19 pandemic response, December 2019 to December 2021 Eurosurveillance
  Uganda Uganda: Disappearing Ebola Outbreak Challenges Vaccine Testing Home - allAfrica.com
  Uganda Uganda president lifts all Ebola-related movement restrictions Reuters
  United States Plans for a Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy U.S. Department of State
  United States Why Army scientists were called in to investigate the death of a Red Panda at the National Zoo Task & Purpose
  United States US public not warned that monkeys imported from Cambodia carried deadly pathogens The Guardian
  United States Two House committee reports assess pandemic work of U.S. intelligence agencies Science | AAAS
  United States New Senate report criticizes significant failures in initial federal COVID-19 response, pandemic preparedness Homeland Preparedness News - The Leading Source
  United States Vaccine misinformation one of the biggest public health threats, CDC director says NBC News
  United States Autonomous System in Development to Detect, Clean Chemical or Biological Warfare Agents on Vehicles Homeland Security Today
  United States Highlighting U.S. Efforts to Combat the Biodiversity Crisis U.S. Department of State
  United States Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act seeks increased scrutiny of foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land Homeland Preparedness News - The Leading Source
  United States Randomized trials of three Ebola vaccine strategies for adults, children dub regimens safe Homeland Preparedness News - The Leading Source

Country Topic Source
  South Sudan The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) has approved the Biological Weapons Convention

PGA salutes, in particular, PGA Member Hon. Dr. Alma Yak, MP for her assiduous and decisive advocacy, tenacious parliamentary diplomacy and regular ministerial outreach, since September 2018, culminating in the decision by the Government of South Sudan to accede to the BWC in June 2019 and subsequent approval of the BWC by the TNLA of South Sudan on 13th December, 2022 		Parliamentarians for Global Action
  PGA PGA participates in the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention Parliamentarians for Global Action
  Africa/US FACT SHEET: U.S-Africa Partnership in Health Cooperation The White House
  Africa African Biodiversity Loss Raises Risk to Human Security Africa Center for Strategic Studies
  Africa Africa needs more women leaders in public health CGTN
  Africa Outbreak Brief 21: Monkeypox in Africa Union Member States Home – Africa CDC
  Africa Dr Joe Phaahla opens Africa’s first Regional Diagnostic Demonstration Centre Devdiscourse.com
  Africa The African Risk Capacity launches its first parametric insurance product against highimpact epidemic risks ReliefWeb - Informing humanitarians worldwide
  Australia Raina MacIntyre | Dark Winter: An insider’s guide to pandemics and biosecurity The Saturday Paper
  Canada Biodiversity: Can we set aside a third of our planet for nature?
".....Scientists have warned that with forests and grasslands being lost at unprecedented rates and oceans under pressure from pollution and over-fishing, humans are pushing the Earth beyond safe limits. This includes increasing the risk of diseases, like SARs CoV-2, Ebola and HIV, spilling over from wild animals into human populations...." 		BBC - Homepage
  Canada Beware zoonotic diseases in your herd, says university veterinarian The Beef Magazine for Canadian Farmers - Canadian Cattlemen
  Canada Tick-borne bacteria increasingly widespread in Canada, study finds CTV News | Breaking News | News Today
  Global Close relatives of MERS-CoV in bats use ACE2 as their functional receptors Nature
  Global Confirmed: Smallpox vaccine also teaches T cells to fight mpox Science Blog
  Egypt New monkeypox case confirmed in Egypt: Health ministry Ahram Online
  France Aisne : la grippe aviaire est là, alerte à l'épizootie dans le département ! ACTU.fr
  France Influenza aviaire : niveau de risque « élevé » Les services de l'État dans les Hautes-Alpes
  Global G7 Leaders’ Statement "...We reiterate that Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable and that any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons would be met with severe consequences...." The White House
  Ghana Vaccination of birds against Avian Influenza remains valuable if done wisely MyJoyOnline.com
  India NTI | bio Partners with Carnegie India for the 2022 Global Tech Summit as India Assumes the G20 Presidency NTI
  Iraq/Syria Significant Progress Made Gathering Evidence on ISIL/Da’esh Crimes in Iraq, but Domestic Laws Needed, Investigating Head Tells Security Council
"....The Team’s investigations into the development and use of chemical and biological weapons by ISIL/Da’esh have also progressed...." 		ReliefWeb - Informing humanitarians worldwide
  Nigeria Biotechnology gaining acceptance at grassroots level- NABDA boss Homepage – Voice of Nigeria
  Russia Ukraine Symposium – Russia’s Allegations of U.S. Biological Warfare in Ukraine – Part II West Point
  Senegal Forum on immunisation and Polio eradication in Africa ITIJ
  Thailand New Report Reveals Biosecurity Risks of Donkey Skin Trade Nation Thailand
  Global The future home of the world’s most dangerous pathogens Coda Story
  Uganda Outbreak Brief 11: Sudan Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Uganda Home – Africa CDC
  Uganda Uganda receives 1,200 doses of Ebola vaccine candidates for trials Reuters
  Uganda Uganda’s disappearing Ebola outbreak challenges vaccine testing Science | AAAS
  Uganda Govt commissions another Ebola treatment centre Home | Monitor
  United Kingdom Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) sample testing from the imported fever service Welcome to GOV.UK
  United Kingdom Innovate UK: New competition aims to improve UK sustainable biomanufacturing Science|Business
  United Kingdom UK Government urges countries to agree a deal for nature as UN Convention of Biological Diversity gets underway Welcome to GOV.UK
  United Kingdom Britain should brace for a record-breaking flu season, experts warn The Telegraph - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph
  United Nations 8th Meeting, 9th Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention UN Web TV
  United Nations What can be done to mainstream gender perspectives and promote gender equality in the Biological Weapons Convention Twitter
  United States Texas boy, 7, dies from rabies after being bitten by a BAT — as US records decade-high number of fatalities Daily Mail
  United Stated How the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit will strengthen partnership between U.S. and Africa on health Today News Africa
  United States Cholera Returns to the U.S. Precision Vaccines
  United States/South Korea Biodefense and emergency use authorization: different originations, purposes, and evolutionary paths of institutions in the United States and South Korea Globalization and Health
  Global We Can Cure Disease by Editing a Person’s DNA. Why Aren’t We? The New York Times
  Global Why is the Biological Weapons Convention not getting attention? Unherd
  Zambia Zambia earns kudos on vaccination Zambia Daily Mail

Country Topic Source
  Africa Africa CDC convenes public health officials and experts to prepare the continent to respond to future outbreaks Home – Africa CDC
  Global Bioweapons Ban Faces Opportunities and Challenges YU.S. Embassy in Georgia
  Global CARPHA Facilitates Training For Safe Transportation Of Infectious Substances St. Lucia Times News Online
  Global Characterization of bat viromes reveals the co-infection, spillover, and emergence risk of several zoonotic viruses Medical News
  DRC Sustainable strategies for Ebola virus disease outbreak preparedness in Africa: a case study on lessons learnt in countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo Infectious Diseases of Poverty
  Nigeria Sanwo-Olu plans laws to protect state against pandemic The Guardian Nigeria News
  Global Pathogen spillover driven by rapid changes in bat ecology Nature
  United Nations UNSCR 1540 (2004) Associated Press News
  United Nations In the past 5 years, PGA Members have made decisive, catalytic contributions leading to submission of First National Reports to the UNSCR 1540 Committee by Guinea Bissau, Central African Republic, Solomon Islands and Mozambique. Most recently, PGA Membership in The Gambia have similarly engaged in effective parliamentary advocacy leading to a written commitment from the Government of The Gambia to prepare and submit its First National Report to the UNSCR 1540 Committee  Operative paragraph 25 acknowledges important role of Parliamentarians and civil society, consistent with more specific/expansive text in UNSCR 2325 (2016).
"....25. Requests the 1540 Committee to continue to organize and participate in outreach events on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) at the international, regional, subregional, and, as appropriate, national level, including, as appropriate, inviting parliamentarians, as well as representatives of civil society, including industry and academia and promote the refinement of these outreach efforts to focus on specific thematic and regional issues related to implementation;..." 		United Nationa
  United Nationa UNSCR – EXCERPTS Frontpage | UN Press
  Uganda Uganda discharges last known Ebola patient, raising hopes Reuters
  United States UKRAINE SYMPOSIUM – RUSSIA’S ALLEGATIONS OF U.S. BIOLOGICAL WARFARE IN UKRAINE – PART I West Point
  United States FACT SHEET: DHS Efforts to Enhance Biodefense in support of the Biden Administration’s New National Biodefense Strategy (October 2022) West Point

9th BWC RevCon Special

Documents and Statements
Country Topic Source
  Global Documents and Statements Home | United Nations
  United Nations Statement by Canada UNODA
  United Kingdom Statement by UK Welcome to GOV.UK
  United Nations Secretary-General's video message to participants of the Ninth Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference United Nations
  United Nations Joint NGO Statement UNODA
  United Nations ‘Critical opportunity’ to protect against biological warfare, countries hear UN News | Global perspective Human stories
  European Union Upholding and strengthening the international non-proliferation and disarmament architecture European Union External Action
  United States US Says It Fears Russia May Use Biological Weapons in Ukraine Bloomberg
  United States Under Secretary Jenkins Travels to The Netherlands and Switzerland U.S. Department of State - United States Department of State
General
Country Topic Source
  Canada Canada Releases New Version of “A Guide to Canada’s Export Control List” Sanction News
  Global Pandemic Preparedness Is As Vital as Military Readiness | Opinion Newsweek
  Global Best practices and challenges in One Health approach to fight zoonotic diseases Medical News
  India Boy, 5, dies after eating the seeds of a plant called rosary peas that contain a poison THIRTY times more toxic than ricin Daily Mail Online
  Global An mRNA vaccine protects mice against deadly plague bacteria New Scientist
  Global Stopping bioterrorism: Here’s how new genetic sequencing can detect altered viruses and bacteria Genetic Literacy Project | Science Not Ideology
  Global STUDY SCOPES POTENTIAL OF GLOBAL WILDLIFE TRADE TO HARBOUR ZOONOTIC DISEASE Home - UNEP-WCMC
  WHO International bodies like WHO, FAO join hands at CITES COP19 to curb zoonotic diseases Down To Earth
  Nigeria Taming The Tide Of Zoonotic Diseases In Nigeria Daily Trust News
  Nigeria Biotechnology stakeholders to collaborate in addressing food crisis in Nigeria Vanguard Nigeria
  Global Pandemic terrorism risk is being overlooked, warns leading geneticist New Scientist
  Uganda Mubende Ebola unit now empty as last four patients are discharged Monitor
  Uganda Uganda extends quarantine in Ebola epicentre for 21 days Al Jazeera
  United Kingdom Possible Ebola case investigated in UK The Telegraph
  United Kingdom What's Happened to the UK's Zoonotic Research Site? Science Laboratory Equipment News From Labmate Online
  United Kingdom Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) sample testing from the imported fever service Welcome to GOV.UK
  United Kingdom Porton Down weapons-test volunteers deserve medals, veterans say BBC - Homepage
  United States Atomic Veterans Finally Get Their Earned Medals The Clermont Sun
  United States Joint Statement Following the Meeting Between President Biden and President Macron The White House
  United States FACT SHEET:  Biden-?Harris Administration Announces Expansion of Global Health Security Partnerships and Releases Annual Progress Report The White House