Countering Bioterrorism Countering Bioterrorism

What is Bioterrorism?What is Bioterrorism?

The threat or use of biological agents The threat or use of biological agents with the intent of causing infection in with the intent of causing infection in order to achieve certain goals.order to achieve certain goals.

Types of Bioterrorism:Types of Bioterrorism:• Eco-terrorismEco-terrorism• Agro-terrorismAgro-terrorism

What is Agroterrorism?What is Agroterrorism?

Agroterrorism Agroterrorism is is defined as any defined as any terrorist attack terrorist attack which uses a which uses a biological agent biological agent against crops, against crops, livestock or poultry. livestock or poultry.

This can affect our:This can affect our:• Food supplyFood supply• Water supplyWater supply• Natural resourcesNatural resources

History of AgroterrorismHistory of Agroterrorism

During the First World War, German agents infected Allied horses with the During the First World War, German agents infected Allied horses with the bacterium that causes glanders — a disease that can kill horses and can bacterium that causes glanders — a disease that can kill horses and can also infect humans. also infect humans.

Japan used animal and plant pathogens against Russia and Mongolia in Japan used animal and plant pathogens against Russia and Mongolia in the 1940’s.the 1940’s.

Iraq is known to have weaponized wheat pathogens and other anti-animal Iraq is known to have weaponized wheat pathogens and other anti-animal and plant agents.and plant agents.

Is it a Real Threat?Is it a Real Threat?

The World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) states:(WHO) states:

““The malicious contamination of food The malicious contamination of food for terrorist purposes is a real and for terrorist purposes is a real and

current threat”.current threat”.

Why Agroterrorism?Why Agroterrorism? America America isis the world’s leader in the world’s leader in

food productionfood production

Food and fiber account for 30% Food and fiber account for 30% of the GDP of the GDP (GDP is the total value of goods and (GDP is the total value of goods and services produced by a nation).services produced by a nation).

In 1998 alone, agriculture was a In 1998 alone, agriculture was a 1.2 TRILLION dollar industry1.2 TRILLION dollar industry

Foreign agents are readily Foreign agents are readily availableavailable

Attacking our crops and animals Attacking our crops and animals could cripple the economycould cripple the economy

Places at Risk for AgroterrorismPlaces at Risk for Agroterrorism Largely agricultural areasLargely agricultural areas Heavy reliance on a Heavy reliance on a

monoculture of cropsmonoculture of crops Free of specific serious Free of specific serious

animal and plant animal and plant pathogenspathogens

Major agricultural Major agricultural exporterexporter

Target of international Target of international terrorismterrorism

Possible Agroterrorism AgentsPossible Agroterrorism Agents

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Hog CholeraHog Cholera African Swine FeverAfrican Swine Fever Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaHighly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Rinderpest Rinderpest Wheat SmutWheat Smut

What are the possible Targets?What are the possible Targets?

Animals and plantsAnimals and plants Trucks and railroadsTrucks and railroads Farm workers, ranchers, producersFarm workers, ranchers, producers ShipsShips Food handlersFood handlers Grocery storesGrocery stores And moreAnd more

What is the Possible Impact?What is the Possible Impact? It could threaten public It could threaten public

health and cause farmers to health and cause farmers to lose animals and cropslose animals and crops

Businesses, and consumers Businesses, and consumers will pay the large price. will pay the large price.

Small towns could be wiped Small towns could be wiped out, and the food supply out, and the food supply could be in peril for a long could be in peril for a long time. time.

The government and export The government and export market could be market could be destabilized.destabilized.

Difficulties of Preventing Difficulties of Preventing AgroterrorismAgroterrorism

Agricultural production is difficult to protect.Agricultural production is difficult to protect. Livestock are concentrated in confined locations.Livestock are concentrated in confined locations. The number of lethal and contagious biological The number of lethal and contagious biological

agents are far greater for plants and animals than agents are far greater for plants and animals than humans.humans.

Presence or Rumor of DiseasePresence or Rumor of Disease

Even just the rumor of disease can Even just the rumor of disease can be bad for the economy.be bad for the economy.

In 2001, a fungal disease of wheat In 2001, a fungal disease of wheat was found in North Texas. In one was found in North Texas. In one day, over 25 countries banned wheat day, over 25 countries banned wheat from the four infected counties, from the four infected counties, resulting in a loss of $27 million resulting in a loss of $27 million dollars!dollars!

How can we Counterattack How can we Counterattack Agroterrorism?Agroterrorism?

1.1. At National Level-At National Level-Policies designed to Policies designed to minimize the social and economic costminimize the social and economic cost

2.2. At Agricultural Sector Level-At Agricultural Sector Level-Disease Disease detection and response proceduresdetection and response procedures

3.3. At Farm Level- At Farm Level- Management techniques Management techniques to prevent disease transmissionto prevent disease transmission

4.4. At Organism Level- At Organism Level- Plant and animal Plant and animal disease resistancedisease resistance

"The Bioterrorism Preparedness "The Bioterrorism Preparedness Act” of 2002Act” of 2002

Allocated $250 million to the Allocated $250 million to the Dept. of Agriculture Dept. of Agriculture

Expanded Food and Drug Expanded Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority Administration’s (FDA) authority over food manufacturing and over food manufacturing and importsimports

Upgraded security at USDA Upgraded security at USDA facilitiesfacilities

Made criminal penalties for Made criminal penalties for terrorism against enterprises terrorism against enterprises raising animalsraising animals

Security for Biological AgentsSecurity for Biological Agents

The government made a list of “select The government made a list of “select agents” that pose a severe threat to agents” that pose a severe threat to agriculture. These agents are now agriculture. These agents are now strictly regulated, causing strictly regulated, causing laboratories and research institutions laboratories and research institutions to upgrade security and assess any to upgrade security and assess any vulnerabilities.vulnerabilities.

Plum Island Animal Disease CenterPlum Island Animal Disease Center

In 2002 possession of the Disease In 2002 possession of the Disease Center, which is America’s first line Center, which is America’s first line of defense against foreign animal of defense against foreign animal disease, was switched from the disease, was switched from the

Agriculture to the Dept. of Homeland Agriculture to the Dept. of Homeland Security, insuring safety and Security, insuring safety and

security.security.

Agricultural Border InspectionsAgricultural Border Inspections

The Homeland Security Act increased the number The Homeland Security Act increased the number of inspectors to 3,000. These agricultural of inspectors to 3,000. These agricultural

specialists inspect all cargo from foreign countries specialists inspect all cargo from foreign countries that could harbor pest or disease organisms, that could harbor pest or disease organisms,

improving the first line of defense for agricultural improving the first line of defense for agricultural security.security.

Defense of U.S. Agriculture and Defense of U.S. Agriculture and FoodFood

In 2004, the president established a In 2004, the president established a national policy on protecting against national policy on protecting against terrorist attacks on agriculture and terrorist attacks on agriculture and food systems. food systems.

The directive aims to coordinate all The directive aims to coordinate all departments across all levels to departments across all levels to prepare for, protect against and prepare for, protect against and respond to an attack.respond to an attack.

National Veterinary StockpileNational Veterinary StockpileNVSNVS

A stockpile of A stockpile of vaccine, anti-viral, vaccine, anti-viral, and therapeutic and therapeutic products is products is currently being currently being developed for developed for deployment within deployment within 24 hours of an 24 hours of an attack.attack.

National Plant Disease Recovery System National Plant Disease Recovery System

NPDRSNPDRS

Researchers are to develop disease Researchers are to develop disease resistant varieties within one growing resistant varieties within one growing season of an attack to resume production season of an attack to resume production of certain crops.of certain crops.

Strategy for Countering Strategy for Countering BioterrorismBioterrorism

11stst: Deterrence and Prevention: Deterrence and Prevention

22ndnd: Detection and Response: Detection and Response

33rdrd: Recovery and Management: Recovery and Management

Deterrence and PreventionDeterrence and Prevention

The first defense is to The first defense is to keep the disease or keep the disease or pathogen out of the pathogen out of the country. country.

This is done through This is done through inspections, inspections, quarantine practices, quarantine practices, and post-import and post-import tracking of plants, tracking of plants, animals, and products.animals, and products.

Deterrence and PreventionDeterrence and Prevention

Many U.S. intelligence and law Many U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies collect enforcement agencies collect information on bioweapons. information on bioweapons.

The U.S. is working hard to foster The U.S. is working hard to foster information sharing between the information sharing between the intelligence community (FBI, CIA), intelligence community (FBI, CIA), Homeland Security, and the Dept. of Homeland Security, and the Dept. of Agriculture.Agriculture.

Deterrence and PreventionDeterrence and Prevention Once a biological weapon is inside Once a biological weapon is inside

the U.S., the line of defense is the U.S., the line of defense is biosecurity. biosecurity.

Certain strategies protect animals Certain strategies protect animals and crops from infectious diseases and crops from infectious diseases and prevents rapid spread.and prevents rapid spread.

Detection and ResponseDetection and Response

The private sector recently formed a The private sector recently formed a Food and Agriculture Information Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) with over 40 trade associations with over 40 trade associations represented. represented.

In the event of an attack, the ISAC In the event of an attack, the ISAC will coordinate response efforts with will coordinate response efforts with the government.the government.

Most important step!Most important step! THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP of countering an THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP of countering an

attack is early detection. attack is early detection. Effective detection depends on a heightened state Effective detection depends on a heightened state

of awareness and on access to large scale testing. of awareness and on access to large scale testing. Researchers are currently developing more Researchers are currently developing more

efficient field tests to quickly detect pathogens.efficient field tests to quickly detect pathogens.

Field TestsField Tests

Those responsible for recognizing the Those responsible for recognizing the first symptoms of disease are:first symptoms of disease are:• FarmersFarmers• Producers Producers • VeterinariansVeterinarians• Plant pathologistsPlant pathologists• EntomologistsEntomologists

Detection and ResponseDetection and Response

Last line of defense: Last line of defense:

Isolation, control, and eradication of Isolation, control, and eradication of the epidemic. The more widespread the epidemic. The more widespread the outbreak, the costlier and more the outbreak, the costlier and more

drastic the measures become.drastic the measures become.

Laboratories and ResearchLaboratories and Research

Knowledge is essential to preventing Knowledge is essential to preventing bioterrorism attacks. bioterrorism attacks.

The U.S. has acted by giving grants The U.S. has acted by giving grants to research facilities. to research facilities. • For instance, Texas A&M University was For instance, Texas A&M University was

awarded $33 million dollars to study awarded $33 million dollars to study serious animal diseases.serious animal diseases.

New Research MeasuresNew Research Measures

Sequencing of GenomesSequencing of Genomes• This generates new leads for This generates new leads for

tackling pathogenstackling pathogens

Forensic StudiesForensic Studies• These can determine where the These can determine where the

pathogen was obtained frompathogen was obtained from

New VaccinesNew Vaccines• A new class of vaccines to A new class of vaccines to

distinguish vaccinated versus distinguish vaccinated versus infected animalsinfected animals

Recovery and ManagementRecovery and Management

Long term recovery Long term recovery includes:includes:• Returning plants and Returning plants and

animals to once infected animals to once infected areasareas

• Introducing new genetic Introducing new genetic traitstraits

• Rebuilding domestic Rebuilding domestic confidenceconfidence

• Regaining hold of the Regaining hold of the international market international market

Is All of this Enough?Is All of this Enough?

Many critics feel that despite all of Many critics feel that despite all of these efforts, the vulnerabilities these efforts, the vulnerabilities remain due to certain aspects of the remain due to certain aspects of the U.S. food system:U.S. food system:• Low level of biological diversityLow level of biological diversity• High degree of economic concentrationHigh degree of economic concentration• Dependence on foreign foodDependence on foreign food

Is All of this Enough?Is All of this Enough?

Alternate solutions that could Alternate solutions that could reduce these vulnerabilities reduce these vulnerabilities involve changes to the food involve changes to the food industry:industry:

Encouraging more diversityEncouraging more diversity Encouraging farms to be self-Encouraging farms to be self-

sufficient: less likelihood for spread sufficient: less likelihood for spread of diseaseof disease

Less dependence on foreign foodLess dependence on foreign food

In the FutureIn the Future

The United States will continue to try The United States will continue to try and improve anti-bioterrorism and improve anti-bioterrorism measures through identifying risks, measures through identifying risks, improving communication, and improving communication, and supplying weak points with the supplying weak points with the resources necessary to improve their resources necessary to improve their ability to respond to an attack.ability to respond to an attack.