IMEX   05356
INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA EXPERIMENTAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Biosafety and big events. Role of the researcher.
Autor/es:
GOLDSTEIN DE FINK SUSANA
Lugar:
Salvador, Bahia
Reunión:
Congreso; VIII Congresso Brasileiro de Biossegurança.; 2013
Institución organizadora:
Associacao Brasileira de Biossegurança
Resumen:
Big events
imply large amount of people travelling from one end of the world to the other,
people living in close contact during the event and alteration of the regular
way of living of the inhabitants in the area where the event takes place. These
conditions may favor distraction that could result in an unintended release of
pathogens or could be taken advantage of by malicious individuals. At the same
time, these conditions may favor the apparition or dispersion of existing or
emergent pathogens, at the site of the event, or translated by participants
when they go back to their countries.
Scientists
in the life sciences may have two kinds of role related to biological risks
related to big events. On one hand, given the dual use characteristic inherent
to biosciences, they should be more careful about the custody of the materials
they handle in the laboratory, keeping in mind the possible loss, diversion or
misuse of these biological agents or materials by unauthorized or badly
intended people. They should also have good control of the information they
produce, which may also be susceptible of misuse. In order to control this
aspect, trustable accountability measures including documentation should be
established and responsibilities should be well defined.
Nevertheless,
the first and very important step is to generate awareness in life scientists
that this can happen. Scientists are usually fully engaged in their work and frequently
do not pay great attention to biosafety and biosecurity aspects.
On the
other hand the possibility of import of a foreign agent, that may have not
caused in the country of origin a public health problem, is feasible. In these
big international events, people coming from areas with different climates and
temperatures get together. These environmental conditions may favor
proliferation and dispersion of pathogens.
If an
unknown agent is the cause, scientists should participate to help elucidate the
agent, its characteristics and make available their knowledge, technical skills
and even equipment to help find a rapid and efficient way of diagnosing. If
such an emergency occurs, the situation usually becomes chaotic, so it is very
important to have a contingency plan with responsibilities assigned before
hand, a chain of command established and the scientist responsibilities
defined, so that his/her participation can contribute to solve the problem.
In
conclusion, scientists should be informed and trained about biological risk
issues, as well as organized, in order to be prepared for their possible
contribution to the success of big events.