FROM EPIDEMICS TO TERRORISM: INFECTIVE AGENTS AS SPECIFIC SECURITY RISK IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

RISTANOVIĆ Elizabeta (Prof. dr Elizabeta Ristanović, načelnica Odeljenja za mikrobsku genetiku i imunologiju, Institut za mikro-biologiju Vojno-medicinske akademije i redovni profesor Univerziteta odbrane u Beogradu), elizabet@eunet.rs

Infectious diseases are recognized as one of the leading security risks in the changing security architecture of the contemporary world, because of the dimensions of the possible consequences that can provoke, as evidenced by the epidemics that changed the history of mankind in the past (plague, smallpox, Spanish influenza) and the consequences that have been left behind the epidemic of Ebola or AIDS as interplanetary plague of the new era. Migrations and climate changes present the risk of emergency of new or increasing the incidence of existing infectious diseases. Misuse of microorganisms and their products for terrorist purposes-bioterrorism, today also represents a major security risk and real danger, especially because of the possibility of misuse of genetic engineering and biotechnology for the improvement of biological weapons. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the resources at the national and international level for an adequate response to the possible epidemics, as well as prevention and response in the event of bioterrorist acts.

Keywords: microorganisms, infective agents, bioterrorism, biological weapons, epidemics