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Volume 29, Number 7—July 2023
Online Report

Epidemiology of Pathogens Listed as Potential Bioterrorism Agents, the Netherlands, 2009‒2019

Jorrit Broertjes, Eelco Franz, Ingrid H.M. Friesema, Hugo-Jan Jansen, Frans A.G. Reubsaet, Saskia A. Rutjes, Cornelis Stijnis, Bettie C.G. Voordouw, Maaike C. de Vries, Daan W. Notermans, and Martin P. GrobuschComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam the Netherlands (J. Broertjes, C. Stijnis, M.P. Grobusch); National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands (E. Franz, I.H.M. Friesema, F.A.G. Reubsaet, S.A. Rutjes, C.B.C.G. Voordouw, M.C. de Vries, D.W. Notermans); Ministry of Defence, Doorn, the Netherlands (H.-J. Jansen); Royal Netherlands Navy, Den Helder, the Netherlands (C. Stijnis)

Main Article

Table 1

Overview of lists related to biosafety and the deliberate release of pathogens*

Organization List Purpose Reference
Australia Group
 Handbook volume II
 Nonproliferation
 (7)
Biosecurity office, RIVM
 Combined list of biologic agents
 Comparison of lists relevant for the Netherlands
 (8)
CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Biosafety (9)
Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases Bioterrorism preparedness (10,11)
Classification of Diseases, Functioning, and Disability Natural environment protection (GMO regulations) (12)
Federal Select Agent Program
 State biosecurity legislation
 (13)
EMA Biologic and Chemical Threats Bioterrorism preparedness (14)
Guidance document on use of medicinal products for the treatment and prophylaxis of biologic agents that might be used as weapons of bioterrorism
 Civilian or military medical guidelines for biowarfare/bioterrorism
 (15)
European Union Biologic agents directive 2000/54/EC Biosafety (16)
Regulation 2017/2268 dual-use items
 Nonproliferation
 (17)
German Federal Ministry of the Interior
 War Weapons Control Act
 Nonproliferation
 (18,19)
NATO
 Handbook on the Medical Aspects of NBC Defensive Operations
 Civilian or military medical guidelines for biowarfare/bioterrorism
 (20)
USAMRIID Medical Management of Biologic Casualties Handbook Civilian or military medical guidelines for biowarfare/bioterrorism (21)

*EMA classification of biologic threats adapted from EMA. The encephalitis viruses are Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Other hemorrhagic fever viruses, for which no treatment existed: Marburg virus, Ebola virus, yellow fever virus, hantavirus, and tick-borne encephalitis virus. However, for Ebola virus disease, treatment options now exist. CDC, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; EMA, European Medical Agency; NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization; NBC, nuclear, biological, chemical; RIVM, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands; USAMRIID, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Main Article

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