Public perception and risk communication in regard to bioterrorism against animals and plants.

This paper examines the total international prohibition on the use of disease to attack humans, animals and plants, noting that in the past several countries had developed programmes for attacks on animals and plants as well as humans. Current activities undertaken by intergovernmental organisations - the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)--to counter the threat of attacks on humans, animals and plants are examined. Effective countermeasures to deliberate attacks need to be developed in harmony with existing measures to control natural or accidental outbreaks of disease. Finally the paper assesses the risk and the public perception of it, and considers what risk communication is needed and to whom. Clear mandates are needed for the FAO and OIE to be prepared to deal with outbreaks of disease, and with contamination of the food supply chain, whether accidental or intentional.

Preventing deliberate disease.

The danger from deliberate disease as a weapon of war--biological weapons--is examined and it is concluded that biological weapons currently pose the greatest danger of all weapons of mass destruction. The ongoing work of the Ad Hoc Group negotiating a Protocol to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention is analysed. The Protocol is nearing completion and contains provisions for declarations of the most relevant facilities, for declaration follow up procedures including infrequent randomly-selected visits to declared sites, for investigations of non-compliance concerns as well as measures to promote international co-operation for peaceful purposes in microbiology and biotechnology. It is concluded that an efficient and effective Protocol is achievable within the coming year.

The complementary role of environmental and security biological control regimes in the 21st century.

As we approach the 21st century, there is increased worldwide concern about disease, whether natural or deliberate, in humans, animals, and plants. There are 2 driving forces for multilateral biological control regimes: international/national security and environmental protection. With respect to deliberately caused disease, these seemingly disparate forces are mutually reinforcing as demonstrated by simultaneous moves to strengthen the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Future multilateral biological control regimes based on these developments will aid the security, prosperity, and health of the world community.

Conceptualizing "borderline syndrome of childhood" and "childhood schizophrenia" as a developmental disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This is the first attempt to define and validate criteria for an early onset, chronic syndrome of disturbances in affect modulation, social relatedness, and thinking. This study formulates and tests five hypotheses that follow from conceptualizing this syndrome as a developmental disorder. The advantages of viewing this syndrome as a developmental disorder are discussed and compared with alternative formulations such as childhood schizophrenia or borderline syndrome of childhood. METHOD: An inpatient cohort (26 boys, 4 girls) was ascertained using specific, defined criteria. Using standardized measures on retrospective chart reviews, these subjects were compared with two different inpatient samples: one diagnosed with dysthymic disorder, the other with conduct disorder. RESULTS: The criteria readily distinguished between developmentally disordered children and comparison groups. Findings also supported the hypotheses in the predicted directions; index subjects had earlier onset of symptoms, poorer social and overall adjustment, longer hospitalizations, and poorer outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the validity of this developmental concept for a multiple complex developmental disorder and give preliminary, "first-cut" validity to these specified criteria.