Control of Dual-Threat Agents

Dual-threat agents (DTAs) are those viruses bacteria fungi and toxins which are not only natural enemies of living organisms but which can be deliberately used for hostile purposes as biological or toxin weapon agents. The development production and use of vaccines are the primary measures needed to prevent DTA-related diseases and intoxinations. However the development and production of vaccines against DTAs are more or less restricted to military programs and this frequently raises suspicions about possible offensive intentions. To counter such reservations a proposal has been made to establish a Vaccines for Peace (VFP) program an international program for the development and use of vaccines against DTAs to be administered by the World Health Organization in close cooperation with the Program for Vaccine Development. This book provides a thorough and wide-ranging analysis of the VFP program. It contains contributions from a range of experts from fields as diverse as biotechnology international law and diplomacy.