Chemical & Biological Deliberate Events (CBDEs)

Preparedness for Public Health Professionals

LEVEL 3

©WHO/Olylo_J.Fraud

October 2022
MODULE 1

What is a Chemical &

Biological Deliberate
Event (CBDE)?
©WHO/Olylo_J.Fraud

October 2022 Chemical & Biological Deliberate Events (CBDEs)

 PART 1
Health Hazard, Risk and Threat

MODULE 1

What is a Chemical &

Biological Deliberate
Event (CBDE)?
©WHO/Olylo_J.Fraud

PART 2
Chemical & Biological Agents, Risk & Threat

PART 3
Deliberate Events

October 2022 Chemical & Biological Deliberate Events (CBDEs)

Definition

HAZARD

Process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause:

Loss of life, injury or Social & Economic Environmental
Property damage
other health impacts disruption degradation

- WHO 2009 -

Security Hazard Health Hazard

“Source of potential “Process, phenomenon or human
harm” activity that may cause loss of
(ISO 22300:2018) life, injury or other health
impacts”
(WHO 2009)

October 2022
What is a Health Hazard?
DISEASE-CAUSING
AGENT
which after
released into the
environment and
Vulnerability
Age,
Health status, immunity, stress
Genetics
Use of medications
Pregnancy, nursing mothers
Nutritional status, bodyweight HOST
Social and behavioural traits

upon exposure AGENT ENVIRONMENT

into any person
Hazard Exposure
will result in a Virulence (severity) Dose (concentration)
Physical environment (WASH:
consequence on health Transmissibility (spread)
Water Sanitation & Hygiene)
Host specificity
(disease, injury or death) Route of entry
Social environment
(living conditions)
Strain variability
Protection (Personal
Antimicrobial resistance Protective Equipment, isolation)

October 2022
Risk and Public Health Risk

RISK
The likelihood that a certain outcome
will occur during a specific period of time
and the effect of uncertainty on that outcome
PUBLIC HEALTH RISK
RISK ASSESSMENTS
(RAs)
Are used to model the likelihood
of the settings for health events
International Health Regulation (2005)

The likelihood of an event that may adversely

affect the health of human populations
International Health Regulation (2005)

October 2022
Risk assessment: an equation

Risks = Hazards x Likelihood of

consequences ± Uncertainty

October 2022
What is a “health threat”?

A health THREAT is a health RISK with

INTENTIONALITY

October 2022
Risk Equation in a Threat Event

In a THREAT there is INTENTIONALITY

RISK = HAZARD x Likelihood of

consequences ± Uncertainty

The risk equation is artificially modified with

MAN-MADE ACTIONS

LIKELIHOOD
HAZARD is selected OF CONSEQUENCES UNCERTAINTY
according to the PURPOSE is MAXIMISED is MINIMISED
up to 1 (one) if possible down to 0 (zero) if possible

October 2022