Post-9/11 anthrax attacks in US

Dr Rashid Hamdan Al Ghafiri, an Emirati expert on biosecurity, said anthrax letter attacks in the US in 2001 were a good example of the potential of biological weapons. Soon after the 9/11 attacks, letters laced with anthrax began appearing in US mail. Five Americans were killed and 17 fell sick in what became the worst biological attacks in US history, according to the FBI.

The ensuing investigation by the FBI and its partners — codenamed Amerithrax — has been one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement. In August 2008, the Department of Justice and FBI officials announced a breakthrough in the case and released documents and information showing that charges were about to be brought against Dr Bruce Ivins, who took his own life before those charges could be filed. On February 19, 2010, the Justice Department, the FBI, and the US Postal Inspection Service formally concluded the investigation into the anthrax attacks. was no legislation to punish such crimes, he said. Since then the US has been taking adequate measures to check such crimes. The US has allocated around $6 billion (Dh22.02 billion ) since 2002 for research in biosecurity, he said.

‘Media has major role’

Dr Fiona Thompson Carter, a biosecurity expert from New Zealand, explained the steps her country has taken to check this menace.

Nasser Mohammad Humaid Al Yammahi, Director of Media and Public Information at the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, said the media has a major role in maintaining biosecurity. The UAE’s biosecurity strategy has clearly defined the media’s role and guidelines in this regard, he said.