Biological threats — whether naturally occurring, deliberate, or accidental — can kill millions and pose
catastrophic risks to a country’s security, economics, and communities.
It only takes 36 hours for a pathogen to travel to any continent in the world
Terrorists have shown interest in conducting biological attacks and some states have had or are suspected of having biological weapons programs
By 2030, two-thirds of the world's population will live in urban areas
New technologies make it easier, cheaper, and faster to create and engineer pathogens
These factors create an urgent need to strengthen global health security.
Jihadist groups, disgruntled actors, and domestic right-wing groups present a "significant CB [chemical or biological] threat to the United States within the next decade."
— Report from Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)
“At some point, we will likely be attacked with a biological weapon, and will certainly be subjected to deadly naturally occurring infectious diseases and accidental exposures, for which our response will likely be insufficient.”
— Bipartisan Report of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense
The moment to prepare is now
Keep scrolling to explore scenarios
A catastrophic biological event
could happen here
Terrorist activity
Weak health system
Poor infrastructure
A large number of people are showing the same symptoms – detection is critical
Available vaccines and medicines don’t work, and patients begin to die
New cases appear in new places
Confusion spreads among public health officials
The source remains unknown
Case counts and fatalities continue to rise
Data is hard to collect and share
Outbreak spreads internationally
Signs indicate it was deliberately released
How could this at-risk country
be better prepared?
International lab finds pathogen was engineered to resist treatment
Terrorist group claims responsibility for releasing pathogen
A laboratory in another country with poor biosecurity suspected as source of pathogen
Investing in preparedness now will prevent outbreaks from
becoming global catastrophes
“On the day after a catastrophic biological event, what would we wish we had done to prevent it?”
— NTI Co-Chair Sam Nunn
Identify and track capability gaps
Support countries requiring assistance
Develop regional and international biosecurity partnerships
Only 10% of all countries have national action plans in progress
Only 20% of countries have completed national action plans
Only 5% of all countries are assessed as prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks
Only 24% of assessed countries can demonstrate or sustain timely and accurate disease reporting
Only 14% of assessed countries have a secure, integrated, electronic tool that allows for data analysis at all levels of the health system
Only 37% of assessed countries have established emergency response coordination mechanisms
Only 24% of assessed countries have national emergency operations centers that can be activated within two hours of an early warning
Only 44% of assessed countries demonstrate a link between public health and security authorities, and there is no clear international lead for response efforts for a deliberate biological event
“The next epidemic could originate on the computer screen of a terrorist intent on using genetic engineering...”
— Bill Gates
Global investments in pandemic preparedness — a critical component of biodefense — are a small fraction of overall global investments in defense and security.
It’s not a matter of whether the next pandemic will occur; it’s a matter of when.
Join us to strengthen global health security and take action to improve biosecurity
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