Diplomatic Circle 2/2025
Biological threats: hype or fact?
Biological threats: hype or fact?
Authors: Dr. David Gabriel, Prof. Dr. Kurt Zatloukal
You can find the original article here on page 86.
Biological threats can arise from natural events or be human-caused. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how a pathogen can severely disrupt global health, socioeconomic, and political systems. Even five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear. It is still unclear whether this was a natural transmission of a virus from animals to humans or a laboratory accident involving a virus of synthetic origin. This raises the question of how likely and tangible the current risk of biological threats is.
Global changes are creating an environment that continually increases the risk of future epidemics. A common denominator among these factors is the change in the habitats of humans and animals, which harbor pathogens that can spread to humans. This is caused by global warming, increasing population density, and increased mobility, including migration flows.
Highly infectious diseases such as those caused by the well-known Ebola or Marburg viruses are fortunately rare. However, there are numerous other life-threatening infectious diseases caused by pathogens in the highest risk group. These include, for example, the Crimean-Congo fever virus, which is already present in Europe. The volatile geopolitical situation also means that the intentional release of biological substances, whether in the form of highly pathogenic pathogens or biotoxins, cannot be ruled out.
Any suspicion of a possible infection always represents an interdisciplinary emergency and requires highly coordinated cooperation between rescue organizations, specialized clinics, and authorities. This circumstance underscores the importance of the ongoing development and improvement of emergency and pandemic plans, as well as biological safety precautions.
What makes biological threats so dangerous? It is primarily the "invisibility" of the biological threat that can delay necessary protective measures and fuel fears among the population. A novel virus, for example, that spreads via airborne transmission can lead to an exponential increase in the number of infected people until appropriate quarantine or lockdown measures are implemented and diagnostic tests, therapeutics, or effective vaccinations become available.
Effective protection against biological hazards is based on the pillars of knowledge, prevention, equipment, and training. A lack of general knowledge about biological threats can significantly increase the resulting damage. Therefore, professional exchange and international networking play a key role. Initiatives to increase the biological safety of facilities that work with dangerous pathogens, as well as equipping critical infrastructures and institutions for an early response to a biological threat, are important preventive measures.
Fortunately, both pandemics and bioterrorist attacks are rare. However, a lack of preparation and inadequate implementation of effective protective measures can lead to widespread health and severe economic damage.