The bioethical issue that is present in The Cobra Event is biological weapons, specifically a genetically engineered virus called “Cobra”. This recombinant virus is made from smallpox, rhinovirus (the common cold), and nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), a modified version of the moth virus. This chimeric virus invades the nervous system and replicates in the brain. The virus first shows cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing and black blood blisters form in the mouth, nose, and eyelids. Then the brain begins to swell, closing off arteries, and as the blood pressure increases, the body tries to deliver blood to the brain and increase its bloody pressure to meet the rising blood pressure of the brain. Since no blood is being …show more content…
As of November 2016, 178 Parties have supported the BWC and have all worked together to ensure that no biological weapons are used. In 1969, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) was formed to research defensive countermeasures to biological weapons. This organization develops drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and information in order to protect military members in biowar. USAMRIID works besides the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP), and many other organizations to protect the American people and others internationally from biological weapons. WHO implements International Health Regulations that help prevent, control and provide a public health response to the spread of diseases. These laws have been established since June 15 2007. The US government set up an emergency response term called biodefense if a biowar or bioterrorism ever erupted. The objective of biodefense is to have national and homeland security, diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, medical, and public health communities all assist in identifying the bioweapon. Many laboratories are working on advanced detection systems to provide early warning, recognize contaminated areas and populations, and to enable swift treatment. Also, forensic technology is being manufactured to identify the biological weapon and its geographic origin. Biosurveillance was first introduced in 1999 by the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Biomedical Informatics which created the first automated bioterrorism detection system called RODS (Real-Time Outbreak Disease Surveillance). This system collects data from hospital computers, clinics, 911 call centers and more and uses the data to detect a possible