Global epidemics, pandemics, terrorism: risk assessment and European responses.

This paper analyses from a European point of view global risk dimensions, risk reservoirs, risk assessment, risk communication, risk responses and risk recommendations in the context of future epidemics and pandemics resulting from biohazards. It focuses on infectious diseases associated with insects, rodents, birds, pigs, camels, bats, wildlife trade, food, humans (HIV/TB/Ebola), migrants, refugees, travelers, terrorists, bioterrorists, “dual use” of highly pathogenic agents, DIYbio-processing, DNA-programed assembly of cells, “gene drive”-technology, “internet”, and the “new and unknown”, the “unknown-unknown”, the “unpredictable”. The pandemic of Ebola virus disease in Western African countries is used as a topical example and forms the subject of a specific assessment. Terrorists themselves have much in common with pathogens. They can attack via air, soil, food or water or as living vectors, using all options available for killing other people, e.g. with aircraft, bombs, rifles, knives or biological or chemical weapons. They can act everywhere at all times and are mostly invisible, unmonitored and unknown. At the end, several recommendations are made for preventing, assessing and responding to epidemics, pandemics and terrorism more effectively and efficiently in real time in order to save human lives.