Rolling Text (9th Session) : Attachment

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Rolling Text (9th Session) : Attachment

The Attachment to the Rolling Text is provided below. This material is from the 9th Session of the Ad Hoc Group of States Parties to the Convention.

Please note: the page numbers given are those which appear in the original text, these appear at the top of the page. The detailed footnotes are provided at the end of the main text.

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BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 249

ATTACHMENT

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 250

AD HOC GROUP OF THE STATES PARTIES
TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION
OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND
STOCKPILING OF BACTERIOLOGICAL
(BIOLOGICAL) AND TOXIN WEAPONS
AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262
23 January 1998
Original: ENGLISH

Ninth session
Geneva, 5-23 January 1998

Working paper submitted by the Group of NAM and Other Countries

INVESTIGATIONS: EXCLUSION OF ALL
NATURAL OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE

Introduction

Communicable diseases are a health problem that most countries face from time to time. While new, emerging and re-emerging diseases can pose health problems to any country, frequent outbreaks of disease, often at endemic proportions, are a problem that most developing countries face, in spite of tremendous advances in health care and medicine.

It is widely recognized that the investigation, diagnosis, treatment and control of disease fall primarily within the domain of the public health care system of each country for which every country has its own disease surveillance and control machinery. Investigation and control of disease remains its sovereign responsibility, even if that country were to seek international assistance, including from international organizations such as the World Health Organization.

All natural outbreaks of disease fall in the domain of public health and do not pose a compliance concern to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), and therefore are of no concern to the Convention or to its proposed Protocol.

Natural and Unusual Outbreak of Disease

Unusual outbreak of disease could have natural causes despite their unusual characteristics. On the other hand, it is possible to visualize a situation when the outbreak of certain diseases with atypical characteristics may be viewed as the result of possible "use" of Biological and Toxin Weapons. It, therefore, becomes essential to develop guidelines to

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 251

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262
page 2

differentiate between the two. It is of the utmost importance to differentiate natural outbreaks of disease and an event of non-compliance with BTW Convention.

An unusual outbreak of disease may be defined as an outbreak which is unexpected within the prevailing context for the host agent and environment parameters. It may be unusual and also unexpected because of one or more of the following reasons:

(a) The disease is being reported for the first time in the region and was never endemic;

(b) The epidemic occurs outside its normal anticipated season;

(c) The reservoir host and/or insect vector of the disease do not occur in or were previously eradicated from the affected region;

(d) The disease appears to be transmitted by an uncommon or unusual route;

(e) The epidemiological features of the disease suggest increased virulence of the organism manifested in the form of increased case fatality rate;

(f) The causative agent has higher survival time even in the adverse environmental conditions and shows unusual resistance;

(g) Is capable of establishing new natural reservoirs to facilitate continuous transmission;

(h) Outbreaks of the disease in a population with a high level of immunity due to vaccination suggesting that the causative agent is modified;

(i) The disease is caused by an agent with an unusual population subset or in an unexpected age group;

(j) The epidemiology of the disease suggests an abnormal reduction in the incubation period of the disease;

(k) When the epidemiology of the outbreak strongly points to an etiology, but isolation and identification of the suspected agent is not possible by established means;

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 252

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262
page 3

(l) When the characteristics of the causative agent differ from the known characteristics of that agent prevalent in the territory of the State Party.

Investigation of Natural and Unusual Outbreak of Disease

The investigation for a natural and unusual outbreak of disease is largely based on established investigative epidemiological principles. However, owing to the influence of geoclimatic, environmental and other conditions, like extent and nature of microbial load in the environment, the carrier status of the population in a region, the diagnostic indices may vary. Investigative diagnostic approaches are required to take into account these local factors, including the demographic factor.

The activities undertaken in the above context are primarily the responsibility of the Government of the State Party. Only the affected State Party has the right to decide whether it would investigate the outbreak itself or with the help of an international agency. It may, however, be useful for a State Party to provide information on epidemiology of such diseases as a Confidence Building Measure.

Any outbreak of disease which appears to be unusual within the prevailing context of host, agent and environment parameters, will have to be investigated by the affected State Party and concluded as soon as possible. The investigating team may comprise of appropriate professionals (such as epidemiologists, clinicians, entomologists, microbiologists etc.) and should aim to accomplish the following:

(a) Collect sufficient data regarding all the aspects of the disease;

(b) Identify the causative agent;

(c) Characterisation of the causative agent could be undertaken by using molecular techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing;

(d) Identify the unusual features of the disease;.

(e) Assess the extent and severity of the outbreak;.

(f) Plot epidemic curve and monitor the trends;

(g) Document the outbreak particularly emphasising on the atypical features;

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
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BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262
page 4

(h) The information on an unusual outbreak may be provided as soon as possible to the concerned international agency; in respect of human disease to WHO, animal disease to IOE and any appropriate international organization;

(i) The diseases which are endemic in the region and present the expected epidemiological features would not be considered as unusual outbreak.

Conclusion

Unusual outbreak of disease could have natural causes. It is essential to differentiate natural outbreaks of diseases and an event of non-compliance with the BTWC. All natural outbreaks of diseases are of no concern under the BTW Convention. Any State Party to the compliance regime of the BTWC may only request investigation when a suspicious outbreak of disease has occurred. This request shall be substantiated with evidence to differentiate it from natural outbreak of disease and demonstrate that it is not a natural outbreak of disease.

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 255

ANNEX II

INDICATIVE PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE TENTH SESSION

(9-13 March 1998)

9

10

11

12

13

AM

CM

CM

INF CONS

INF CONS

INV ANN

PM

INV ANN/
ART.X

INV ANN

ART.X

INV ANN

CM

EVENING

CM

CM - Measures to Promote Compliance (FOC) ART.X - Measures Related to Article X (FOC) INV ANN - Investigations Annex (FOC) INF CONS - Informal consultations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 257

ANNEX III

LIST OF DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED AT THE NINTH SESSION

Document symbol Title

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.233 Working paper submitted by Japan - Proposed language on Composition of the Executive Council

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.234 Working paper submitted by South Africa - The scientific and technical element of the technical secretariat

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.235 Working paper submitted by South Africa - Proposed new language to replace paragraphs 32 to 37 - General provisions of Annex D

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.236 Working paper submitted by South Africa - Proposed language changes

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.237 Working paper submitted by South Africa - Appendix: List of approved investigation/visit equipment

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.238 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Compliance Measures - Meetings on Compliance Measures - Indicative timetable

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.239 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Compliance Measures - Investigations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.240 Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Implementation Annex [III. Facility investigations] Medical examination

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 258

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.241 Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Proposed language on consultation procedures

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.242 Working paper submitted by South Africa - The use of containment in declarations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.243 Working paper submitted by Sweden - F. [Visits and Investigations]

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.244 Working paper submitted by Sweden - Annex B. [[Random] Visits]

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.245 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter II of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.246 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter III of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.247 Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Investigations: Managed access

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.248 Working paper submitted by South Africa - List of animal pathogens

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.249 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter IV of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 259

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.250 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter V of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.251 Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Use of a simulated declaration format in a practice visit

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.252 Working paper submitted by Japan - Proposed language for Annex on Confidentiality

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.253 Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.254 Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.255 Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.256 Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.257 Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Format for mandatory declarations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.258 Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Report of a visit to a pharmaceutical research facility

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.259/ Rev.1 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Measures Related to Article X - Revised Article VII

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 260

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.260 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Chapters II and III of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.261 Working paper submitted by Portugal - Definitions of terms and objective criteria

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262 Working paper submitted by the Group of NAM and Other Countries - Investigations: Exclusion of all natural outbreaks of disease

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.263 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Article IV - Confidentiality provisions

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.264 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Chapters IV and V of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.265 Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - E. Confidentiality provisions

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.2 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Legal Issues - Article V; Article XI; Article XVI

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.3 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Compliance Measures - Article III - D. Declarations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.4 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Compliance Measures - Article III - E. Consultation, Clarification and Cooperation

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 261

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.5 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Investigations Annex - Annex D. Investigations

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.6 Outcome of discussions by the Chair on Organization/ Implementational Arrangements - Article IX

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.7 Outcome of discussions by the Chair on Organization/ Implementational Arrangements - Annex H. The [Technical] Secretariat [Technical Body]

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.8 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Article II

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.9 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Article III - C. [Thresholds]

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.10 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Annex A. Declarations - II. Lists and Criteria (Agents and Toxins)

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.11 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Annex A. Declarations - III. List of Equipment

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.12 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on National Implementation and Assistance - Article VI

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.13 Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on National Implementation and Assistance - Article X

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39
Annex 1
page 262

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.14 Draft procedural report of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39 Procedural report of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/INF.13 Add.1 and Corr.1 List of Participants

BWC/AD HOC GROUP/Misc.3 Provisional List of Participants

__________

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	9	10	11	12	13
AM	CM	CM	INF CONS	INF CONS	INV ANN
PM	INV ANN/ ART.X	INV ANN	ART.X	INV ANN	CM
EVENING			CM

`Document symbol`	`Title`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.233`	`Working paper submitted by Japan - Proposed language on Composition of the Executive Council`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.234`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - The scientific and technical element of the technical secretariat`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.235`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - Proposed new language to replace paragraphs 32 to 37 - General provisions of Annex D`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.236`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - Proposed language changes`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.237`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - Appendix: List of approved investigation/visit equipment`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.238`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Compliance Measures - Meetings on Compliance Measures - Indicative timetable`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.239`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Compliance Measures - Investigations`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.240`	`Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Implementation Annex [III. Facility investigations] Medical examination`

`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.241`	`Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Proposed language on consultation procedures`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.242`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - The use of containment in declarations`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.243`	`Working paper submitted by Sweden - F. [Visits and Investigations]`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.244`	`Working paper submitted by Sweden - Annex B. [[Random] Visits]`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.245`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter II of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.246`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter III of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.247`	`Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Investigations: Managed access`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.248`	`Working paper submitted by South Africa - List of animal pathogens`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.249`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter IV of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`

`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.250`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Draft text for Chapter V of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.251`	`Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Use of a simulated declaration format in a practice visit`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.252`	`Working paper submitted by Japan - Proposed language for Annex on Confidentiality`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.253`	`Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.254`	`Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.255`	`Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.256`	`Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Proposed language on implementational arrangements`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.257`	`Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation - Format for mandatory declarations`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.258`	`Working paper submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Report of a visit to a pharmaceutical research facility`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.259/ Rev.1`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair for Measures Related to Article X - Revised Article VII`

`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.260`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Chapters II and III of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.261`	`Working paper submitted by Portugal - Definitions of terms and objective criteria`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.262`	`Working paper submitted by the Group of NAM and Other Countries - Investigations: Exclusion of all natural outbreaks of disease`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.263`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Article IV - Confidentiality provisions`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.264`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - Chapters IV and V of the Confidentiality Annex to the Rolling Text of a Protocol to the BTWC`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/WP.265`	`Working paper submitted by the Friend of the Chair on Confidentiality - E. Confidentiality provisions`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.2`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Legal Issues - Article V; Article XI; Article XVI`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.3`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Compliance Measures - Article III - D. Declarations`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.4`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Compliance Measures - Article III - E. Consultation, Clarification and Cooperation`

`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.5`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Investigations Annex - Annex D. Investigations`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.6`	`Outcome of discussions by the Chair on Organization/ Implementational Arrangements - Article IX`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.7`	`Outcome of discussions by the Chair on Organization/ Implementational Arrangements - Annex H. The [Technical] Secretariat [Technical Body]`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.8`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Article II`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.9`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Article III - C. [Thresholds]`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.10`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Annex A. Declarations - II. Lists and Criteria (Agents and Toxins)`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.11`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on Definitions - Annex A. Declarations - III. List of Equipment`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.12`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on National Implementation and Assistance - Article VI`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.13`	`Outcome of discussions by the Friend of the Chair on National Implementation and Assistance - Article X`

`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/L.14`	`Draft procedural report of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/39`	`Procedural report of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/INF.13 Add.1 and Corr.1`	`List of Participants`
`BWC/AD HOC GROUP/Misc.3`	`Provisional List of Participants`