Analysis & Opinions

Crisis Reader: Biosecurity and the Global COVID-19 Outbreak

Feb. 27, 2020

What’s Happening?

On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization of a cluster of pneumonia cases in the city of Wuhan. One week later, China announced that it had isolated a new type of coronavirus responsible for the outbreak. Even as flights to and from China are cancelled and quarantines are being implemented, cases of COVID-19 continue to arise worldwide, with new hot spots identified in Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Meanwhile, financial markets are reeling and health officials fear that a pandemic is near.

Want to Dig Deeper?

The editors of International Security have selected the following articles as excellent starting points to help achieve a greater understanding of the crisis at hand. While some of the articles below explore man-made biothreats (e.g., bioterrorism), the editors believe that the dynamics discussed are equally illuminating for how security professionals deal with naturally occurring biological threats, such as infectious disease.

 

For a comprehensive introduction to biological threats (naturally occurring & man-made):

“Biosecurity Reconsidered: Calibrating Biological Threats and Responses”
Gregory D. Koblentz (Spring 2010)

 

For historical lessons on how pandemics can affect ongoing conflict processes:

“HIV/AIDS and the Changing Landscape of War in Africa”
Stefan Elbe (Fall 2002)

 

For an assessment of how globalization has impacted vaccine development and biodefense: 

“A Double-Edged Sword: Globalization and Biosecurity”
Kendall Hoyt and Stephen G. Brooks (Winter 2003/04)

 

For how the intelligence community approaches nontraditional biosecurity threats:

“Expert Knowledge in Intelligence Assessments: Bird Flu and Bioterrorism”
Kathleen M. Vogel (Winter 2013/14)

 

 

Download the Reader as a PDF:

For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: “Crisis Reader: Biosecurity and the Global COVID-19 Outbreak.” , February 27, 2020.
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