Evaluation of a Site-Specific Risk Assessment for the Department of Homeland Security's Planned National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-8
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
DHS selected Manhattan, Kansas, as the site for the new NBAF after a site-selection process that involved an environmental impact statement to model the potential spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) , one of the most serious foreign animal disease threats, and a threat risk assessment (TRA)
|
From page 2... ...
The SSRA states that "given the combination of proven biocontainment design and robust operation procedures and response planning, the NBAF operations in Manhattan, Kansas overall brings extremely low risk relative to the greater risk of the intentional or accidental introduction of FMDv by an external source" (page 1, SSRA follow-up letter, July 28, 2010)
|
From page 3... ...
Assuming that the SSRA risk estimates are credible and reliable, if the risk probabilities across all escape pathways and scenarios had been taken into account, the SSRA would have indicated that an escape of a pathogen, such as FMDv, and an ensuing disease outbreak is more likely than not to occur within the 50-year life span of the NBAF. As previously mentioned, the SSRA's estimates indicate that a release of FMDv resulting in infection outside the laboratory has a nearly 70% chance of occurring with an economic impact of $9-50 billion.
|
From page 4... ...
These livestock and their transport across neighboring states will serve as major factors in the spread and amplification of an FMD outbreak throughout the United States. As shown in the SSRA, the high level of animal movement and the presence of sales barns near Manhattan, Kansas, significantly increase the degree of FMD spread and its economic impact.
|
From page 5... ...
With regard to animal health, the SSRA acknowledges that the Manhattan, Kansas, region is a hub of animal movement for the entire United States and that infected animals would be expected to move across the country and cause pockets of infection at great distances from the initial source of infection, but the mitigation strategies do not address outbreaks of such magnitude. Given that a pathogen release from the NBAF may occur despite all efforts to prevent that from occurring, it will be necessary to create realistic and credible mitigation strategies for the release of a pathogen.
|
From page 6... ...
The committee does not agree that the BSL-3 quantitative risk assessment adequately frames the risks associated with operating a BSL-4 large animal facility, because it is insufficient to use BSL-3 pathogens to predict risks associated with BSL-4 pathogens that are zoonotic and for which no treatment is available. Given that the qualitative risk assessment was inadequate and that the SSRA did not perform a quantitative risk assessment for BSL-4 agents, further evaluation of risks and mitigation strategies will need to be established for BSL-4 agents (for example, Nipah and Hendra viruses or other emerging BSL-4 zoonotic pathogens)
|
From page 7... ...
The SSRA and the committee identify some sources of risk that can be addressed as part of the design, preparation, and long-term operation of the NBAF to reduce risk wherever it is located. Though the SSRA and the committee offer several points for consideration to reduce the risk of a pathogen release and its consequences, further risk analysis is needed to determine the extent to which these measures would reduce risk.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.