title: Preventing the misuse of microorganisms: the role of the American Society for Microbiology in protecting against biological weapons.
abstract: The American Society for Microbiology's (ASM) involvement with issues surrounding biological weapons began during World War II and continues to the present time. The Public and Scientific Affairs Board (PSAB) of the ASM has played an important role in monitoring and responding to legislative and regulatory issues involving biological weapons. As this review makes apparent, there is no consensus of opinion among scientists on their role in biological defense research, or is it likely that there will ever be complete agreement. There is consensus that steps should be taken to prevent biological warfare and that openness of scientific research and global surveillance of disease outbreaks can significantly increase transparency for detecting development of biological weapons. The ASM recommends increased attention to and efforts directed toward global surveillance of disease outbreaks, not only to aid public health organizations in improving human health, but also to establish baseline data against which unusual disease outbreaks can be assessed. Issues of how best to increase global security and to achieve a scientifically based verification protocol of the Biological Weapons Convention are important and continue to be addressed by the ASM.
authors.affiliation: American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC 20005-4171, USA.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Berns
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Atlas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cassell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
mesh_terms: D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007391:International Cooperation; D008829:Microbiology / Q000266:history; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000266:history; D014481:United States