Key facts
- Intentional events are malicious acts intended to cause harm to others, and their scope includes conventional chemical, biological and radionuclear agents and emerging threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
- Intentional events may be made public or may be committed secretly, and there is no certainty about the reason for their commission, or their cause may be ambiguous or intentional.
- The magnitude of the consequences of intentional events can vary greatly - from events targeting individuals or small groups of people that cause minor or major harm to other events that cause mass casualties and cascading consequences that potentially constitute public health emergencies of international concern.
- Addressing intentional events includes both health and safety dimensions. When an intentional event is suspected, response efforts must balance medical, public health, epidemiological, humanitarian, criminal and forensic response efforts conducted by national and/or international authorities across multiple agencies, and require coordination of efforts across a range of actors. resources and capabilities.
Overview
Intentional incidents are malicious acts intended to cause harm to the targeted party. These events traditionally involve the release or use of hazardous substances such as chemical or biological agents, toxins or radioactive nuclear material, while emerging threats include the spread of misinformation, misuse of digital and cyber means (such as launching cyberattacks that disrupt critical health infrastructure), and other New technologies. Intentional events can be committed on a small scale, such as the poisoning of an individual, or on a large scale, such as the release of chemical or biological agents, toxins, or radioactive nuclear materials to kill, sicken, or injure large populations, or spread epidemics on a large scale, or Causing serious damage to the environment. A campaign to spread misinformation may be accompanied by deliberate incidents to spread fear, panic, distrust, discrimination and psychological trauma among people.
Risks and impacts
Intentional events have both health and security dimensions. During conflicts or wars, it is possible to intentionally damage, contaminate or destroy key health infrastructure or facilities with chemical, biological, toxins or radioactive nuclear materials, with wide-ranging consequences. Geopolitical transformations and conflicts create new conditions conducive to the commission of intentional events. In addition to these traditional factors, emerging threats include the spread of misinformation and the misuse of cyber and technological means with direct or indirect consequences for human health (fear, lack of trust, significant psychological impacts, delays in access to care, etc.). Scientific developments and the availability of technological and digital tools have increased the potential risk of committing intentional incidents with serious consequences. Atomic science is known to be a typical example of what is called a double-edged sword; It brings great benefits and has serious consequences, or it can bring both those benefits and those consequences. For example, nuclear energy can be used to produce sustainable energy on a large scale or to manufacture nuclear weapons of mass destruction. This is also true for health and life sciences research, which is sometimes known as dual-use research of concern. For example, although understanding the main characteristics of microorganisms helps prevent and control infectious diseases, the application of gene editing and reassortment science can lead to the spread of new and catastrophic pathogens. Because of the public health, economic, and national security consequences of intentional events, governments have been forced to seek to prevent the use of these capabilities to prevent intentional events and to have the means to detect, prepare for, and respond to such events. These efforts should be made as an integral part of existing national emergency and public health plans.
Uncertainty about exposure to intentionally released chemical agents is likely to cause increased feelings of fear, anxiety and panic among the general public. It is necessary to consider aspects of preparedness, training, education, risk communication and debriefing aimed at mitigating psychological consequences to ensure that the mental health of frontline workers and affected populations is maintained.