| Description |
1 online resource (16 pages) |
| Summary |
In this report, FAS will look at the potential use of microbial forensic science as a tool for cooperation and analysis of biological and threats in the Middle-East/North Africa (MENA) region. Focusing on the MENA region is prudent, as the region has been forced to deal with multiple instances of both naturally-occurring and man-made biological threats over the last 10 years, including H5N1 (Avian Bird Flu), MERS-Corona virus, and allegations of Ricin production and use. The naturally-occurring spread of disease has been a much more frequent and salient event. These biological incidents (and/or suspected events) have all caused significant social disruption and economic weakness. Understanding the source of a biological incident is significant because the key pre-condition that determines how a country will respond to a biological event, or take action in order to interrupt a potential emerging threat, ultimately centers around the ability to properly attribute the culpable sources (pathogens); in other words, governments need to determine the return address of the culpable microbe(s), be they from countries, individuals, or nature itself. Without such attribution, there would be no basis for marshaling a response. Unfortunately, microbial forensic evidence can be easily misinterpreted or put in an incorrect circumstantial framework, causing policy leaders to respond to threats that may not actually exist, or miss those that do -- either condition leading to an increased likelihood of an undesirable policy outcome. Working through the decision process in this area is simultaneously a technical, as well as a political, challenge. This project has endeavored to address these challenges in the MENA region by drawing attention to them and making recommendations on how best to address them |
| Notes |
"March 2016"--Cover |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (page 16) |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from PDF cover page (FAS, viewed January 30, 2017) |
| Subject |
Biological weapons -- Middle East -- Analysis
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Biological weapons -- Africa, North -- Analysis
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Biological weapons -- Middle East -- Identification
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Biological weapons -- Africa, North -- Identification
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Forensic genetics.
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Microbial genetics.
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Biological weapons.
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Forensic genetics.
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Microbial genetics.
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North Africa.
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Middle East.
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| Genre/Form |
Field guides.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
Murch, Randall, author
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