Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, cyberattacks, genetic engineering and amateur biology experiments could all pose threats to a country, according to an updated report from the World Health Organization (WHO). laboratory biosafety advice.
These guidelines are intended to assist national regulatory agencies and other institutions in “establishing or strengthening frameworks for the management of high-consequence pathogens”.
It presents a comprehensive set of rules, good practices and recommendations for the management of laboratory biosafety risks and procedures at the laboratory, establishment and country levels.
According to the authors of the guide, these guidelines needed to be updated because “rapid technological developments and advances in methods of handling biological material over the last decade have redefined the biological threat landscape.”
WHO identified awareness of biosafety and biosecurity as one of the “weakest core capabilities” of Member States following a review in 2022.
This year’s World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on “Strengthening the management of biological risks in the laboratory“which calls on Member States to strengthen laboratory biosafety “by including essential elements of biological risk mitigation and management in their national laboratory biosafety and biosecurity strategies, policies, programmes and mechanisms”.
It also calls on WHO to provide guidance to member states, including on how to manage “high-consequence biological agents that, if released or exposed, could cause significant harm or potentially catastrophic consequences.”
New technologies, institutional surveillance and risk assessment methods
Biosecurity aims to prevent “intentional or accidental unauthorized access, as well as loss, theft, misuse, diversion or dissemination, or even weaponization” of biological material, but also equipment, information or technology, according to the guide.
Developed in consultation with the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (TAG-B) and other stakeholders, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines cover threats to laboratory biosafety and methods for managing these threats.
It describes emerging technologies that could pose a threat to laboratory security. In addition to the well-known disinformation, AI technologies or genetic engineering, it also highlights other potentially risky areas: biology experiments conducted by amateurs or the public availability of high-risk research.
The guide also provides an overview of risk control measures, including personnel monitoring and training, auditing and cybersecurity, as well as a step-by-step guide to developing risk assessment procedures.
It also proposes the creation of national and international institutions responsible for approving and supervising research involving biological risks.
Cyberattacks hit labs in South Africa and UK
There was one Data breaches increase by 72% between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the importance of resilient laboratory systems.
In the past month, for example, laboratory services in the UK and South Africa have been hit by cyberattacks affecting patient test results.
Britain’s National Health Service was hit by a hacker attack in early June, extending the waiting time for blood test results by up to six months. The Guardian reported.
In late June, South Africa’s National Health Laboratory (NHLS) was hacked, causing the public health system to come to a virtual standstill with no test results available.
“We recognise the magnitude of the situation and the concerns it may raise,” South Africa’s NHLS said in a statement. Maverick’s Daily Report.
“It has been found that parts of our system have been deleted, including our backup server, and this will require rebuilding the affected parts. Unfortunately, this will take time,” the organization’s representatives added.
Image credits: WHO.
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