International Activity of the Council on Cooperation in the Field of Public Health of NIS Countries for Emergencies and Acts of Terrorism Prevention and Relief

Abstract

The bioterrorist events took place in the United States, but they had a worldwide impact. In Europe, security agencies are calling for concerted global action to strengthen the public health response to the threat of international biological, chemical, and radio-nuclear terrorism. Cooperation within the European Union (EU) proved essential and inevitable. In a border-free space in which produce, products, services, and people can circulate, it is essential that appropriate mechanisms and arrangements are put in place to ensure prompt notification and exchange of information in case of threats and attacks; action at the source to stem the spread of disease and environmental contamination; mutual assistance for diagnosis and management of cases; and laboratory and epidemiological investigations.Aims and tasks include: (1) develop capacities;(2) educate and train laboratory technicians; (3) train lab techs to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR), chromatograms, etc.; (4) train lab techs in forensic microbiology; and (5) improve analytic techniques for toxins, etc.