Defence against bio-terrorism

A bio-terrorist attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria or other germs with the intent to cause serious illness and death in people, animals or plants. Biological agents are extremely difficult to detect making them an effective, deadly weapon for terrorists.

The workshop brought together experts and officials from Allied and Partner countries, as well as from NATO and other international organizations, including the World Health Organization and the European Union.

Discussions focused on a wide range issues grouped around six main topics:

• regional training, equipment development and interdiction initiatives;
• risk assessment strategies and lessons learned in responding to outbreaks of highly infectious diseases;
• health community challenges;
• national perspectives on combating bio-terrorism;
• preparedness and responses to bio-terrorist events;
• and international and regional responses to the illicit trafficking of biological materials and bio-terrorism.

The workshop was jointly organized by the Romanian Regional Center of High Studies for the Prevention of Bio-terrorism and the Serbian Military Medical Academy, with the support of NATO's Defence Policy and Planning Division and the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.