Bioterrorism: Applying the Lens of Covid-19

Bioterrorism: Applying the Lens of Covid-19

This report by the Counter Terrorism Preparedness network discusses the gaps in international security exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to test the strength of national security and governance and exposed significant preparedness gaps in case of a biological attack. City-level preparedness is a critical building block in national preparedness. Biological weapons are economical and difficult to detect, making them appealing to terrorists. Cities should undergo vulnerability assessments. Three important areas that often need improvement are shifting the public perception of risk, improving city infrastructure, and improving urban design and spatial planning. Preparedness for public health crises and bioterrorism events go hand in hand.