Introduction to Volume VIII

Abstract

We are pleased to publish Volume VIII of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety and Biodefense Law. This volume continues the Journal’s tradition of shining light on emerging and important issues within the fields of biosecurity, biosafety, and biodefense law, both from a practical as well as theoretical perspective. The lead article of Volume VIII is an article entitled Psychological Evaluations for the U.S. Army Biological Personnel Reliability Program by Captain Scott Salvatore of the U.S. Public Health Service. In it, Capt. Salvatore examines the Department of Defense and Federal Agencies’ charge of determining the most suitable and reliable personnel for work within biodefense laboratories. Further, the article highlights military Personnel Reliability Programs that are aimed to enhance personnel’s safety, security, and health and includes a framework for relevant procedural and legal issues. The remaining articles selected for Volume VIII are divided into two subject matter areas. The first addresses new challenges facing biosecurity law. The second focuses on national biosecurity law. Finally, Volume VIII also contains a transcript on a panel lecture entitled Zika Threat: Legal Issues and Public Health. Facilitated by Dr. Annette Sobel, Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the five-member panel discussed issues facing public policy makers and how those policies should be approached concerning the Zika virus and public health threats. The first section explores social media. Author Megan Saltzman’s article Social Media Mining: Can We Prevent the Apocalypse? discusses security concerns and public health weighted against rights to personal privacy. Patrick Mehaffy examines Zika virus as a novel threat to both the public and the existing infrastructure of the government and what we can learn from the virus in Zika: A Test Case. Last, Michael Bostic features the phenomenon of antibiotic cycling and the legal implications that scientists and medicine may not have considered in The Legal Implications of Antibiotic Cycling to Reduce Resistance. The second section begins with author Ilse Kirchgraber illustrating issues stemming from international travel and infectious disease. In International Travel and Contagious Diseases – Should We Have Health Regulations for Entry into the United States? Mrs. Kirchgraber analyzes such issues as due process, the