Converging and emerging threats to health security

C. Raina MacIntyre, Thomas Edward Engells, Matthew Scotch, David James Heslop, Abba B. Gumel, George Poste, Xin Chen (), Wesley Herche, Kathleen Steinhöfel, Samsung Lim and Alex Broom
Additional contact information
C. Raina MacIntyre: University of New South Wales
Thomas Edward Engells: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Matthew Scotch: Arizona State University
David James Heslop: University of New South Wales
Abba B. Gumel: Arizona State University
George Poste: Arizona State University
Xin Chen: University of New South Wales
Wesley Herche: Arizona State University
Kathleen Steinhöfel: King’s College London
Samsung Lim: University of New South Wales
Alex Broom: University of New South Wales

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2018, vol. 38, issue 2, 198-207

Abstract: Abstract Advances in biological sciences have outpaced regulatory and legal frameworks for biosecurity. Simultaneously, there has been a convergence of scientific disciplines such as synthetic biology, data science, advanced computing and many other technologies, which all have applications in health. For example, advances in cybercrime methods have created ransomware attacks on hospitals, which can cripple health systems and threaten human life. New kinds of biological weapons which fall outside of traditional Cold War era thinking can be created synthetically using genetic code. These convergent trajectories are dramatically expanding the repertoire of methods which can be used for benefit or harm. We describe a new risk landscape for which there are few precedents, and where regulation and mitigation are a challenge. Rapidly evolving patterns of technology convergence and proliferation of dual-use risks expose inadequate societal preparedness. We outline examples in the areas of biological weapons, antimicrobial resistance, laboratory security and cybersecurity in health care. New challenges in health security such as precision harm in medicine can no longer be addressed within the isolated vertical silo of health, but require cross-disciplinary solutions from other fields. Nor can they cannot be managed effectively by individual countries. We outline the case for new cross-disciplinary approaches in risk analysis to an altered risk landscape.

Keywords: Biosecurity; Cybersecurity; Terrorism; Disasters; Health intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10669-017-9667-0

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