Is Corona Virus a Bio Weapon? The Internet was brimming with conspiracies about the coronavirus, and, perhaps, one of the most prominent ones was that the virus could be a bioweapon. According to an ET Prime report, a group of Chinese scientists in Canada were accused of spying and were stripped of their access to Canada’s National Microbiology Lab (NML) which is known to work on some of the most deadly pathogens.The alleged ‘policy breach’, highlighted the bioweapon program of other countries including China. Dr Francis Boyle, the creator of Bio Weapons Act, also claims that ‘the coronavirus is an offensive biological warfare weapon with DNA-genetic engineering’.Again, the claims about coronavirus being a biological weapon are unsubstantiated. Novel Coronavirus thought to have transferred to Human from the seafood market in Wuhan, China become a one of the most dangerous viruses in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae. According to the literature, the genome size of RNA of this viruses are greater than 20 kilobases. Genetic engineers has committed to change the genes of some organisms to create new features of them, and this can be applied for the Coronavirus as well.

1. Bio weapon and COVID 19
Ravi Kumudesh
MSc (SMgt) / BMLS / BSC (Mgt) /HND (MLT)
President, College of MedicalLaboratory Science, Sri Lanka (CMLS.SL)

2. Is Coronavirus A Bioweapon?
The Internet was brimming with conspiracies about the coronavirus, and,
perhaps, one of the most prominent ones was that the virus could be a
bioweapon.
According to an ET Prime report, a group of Chinese scientists in Canada were
accused of spying and were stripped of their access to Canada’s National
Microbiology Lab (NML) which is known to work on some of the most deadly
pathogens.
The alleged ‘policy breach’, highlighted the bioweapon program of other
countries including China. Dr Francis Boyle, the creator of Bio Weapons Act,
also claims that ‘the coronavirus is an offensive biological warfare weapon with
DNA-genetic engineering’.
Again, the claims about coronavirus being a biological weapon are
unsubstantiated.

3. Some important Questions related to
COVID 19 and Weapons

4. Ability of conversion of genes of Coronavirus
group to novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV, named
as COVID-19 by WHO) by genetic engineering?
Novel Coronavirus thought to have transferred to Human from
the seafood market in Wuhan, China become a one of the
most dangerous viruses in the
subfamily Orthocoronavirinae. Accordingto the literature, the
genome size of RNA of this viruses are greater than 20
kilobases.
Genetic engineers has committed tochange the genes of some
organisms to create new features of them, and this can be
applied for the Coronavirus as well.

5. What would be the best scenario, as well
as the worst, if the new COVID-19
coronavirus entered Haiti?
Novel Coronavirus thought to have transferred to Human from
the seafood market in Wuhan, China become a one of the most
dangerous viruses in the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae.
According to the literature, the genome size of RNA of this
viruses are greater than 20 kilobases.
Genetic engineers has committed tochange the genes of some
organisms to create new features of them, and this can be
applied for the Coronavirus as well.

6. What would be the best scenario, as well as the
worst, if the new COVID-19 coronavirus
entered Haiti?
Some scientists are wondering about the appearance of the new
coronavirus (COVID-19) and its link with the possible use of
biological weapons:
The great weakness of local authorities makes it difficult to monitor
compliance with standards, whatever the externalities or the level
of violation of the principle of intergenerational equity. Haiti has a
failing health system. The habits of the population are mainly
inspired by naivety and mysticism and it is not research around
cholera that will say the opposite.

7. Ability to provide assistance for Scientific Fact-
Finding of COVID-19 outbreak under the
Article X of Biological Weapon Convention
(BWC)?
Scientific Fact-Finding (SFF) is important for further assessmentof
novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
I would like to discuss about the ability to provide funding and
technical cooperation under the Article X or any section of BWC
for task.
Contribution of experts, policy makers and interesting personals
for the discussion is appreciated in advance.

8. Barriers against the Effective
Implementation of the Biological
Weapons Convention (BWC)
BWE was opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in
1975. Now, it is 45 years old.
However, in some fields, effective implementation of BWC is still
behind the Chemical weapon convention (CWC).
I would like to discuss this matter with National Authorities of
state parties to BWC, and analysts.

9. What is Bioterrorism ?
 Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or
dissemination of biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, or
toxins.
 These are used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or
plants.
 Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water,
or in food.
Bacteria Viruses Toxins

10. History
 Biological terrorism dates as far back as ancient Roman
civilization.
 This early version of biological terrorism was used to destroy
enemy forces.
 It continued on into the 14th century.
 The use of disease as a weapon in history exhibited a lack of
control aggressors had over their own biological weapons.

11.  Over time, biological warfare became more and more
sophisticated.
 Countries began to develop weapons which were much more
effective.
 One significant enhancement in biological weapon
development was the first use of anthrax.
 This became a weapon of choice because it is easily transferred.
 During world war 1 the use of poisonous mustard gas became
the biological weapon of choice.

12. How is bioterrorism such a threat?
 Terrorists may use biological agents because they can be
extremely
difficult to detect.
 They do not cause illness for several hours to several
days.
 Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be
spread from person to person and some like anthrax,
cannot.
 The world is largely unaware.
 They have long term consequences
 Rapid evolution
 Undetectable and easy transported from country to
country.

13. Types of bioterrorism agents
Category A agents
1.Smallpox virus
2.Anthrax
3.Plague
4.Botulism
5.Viral hemorrhagic fevers

14. CategoryA
This Can be easily transmitted from
person to person.
Might cause public panic and social
disruption

15. Category B agents
1. Glanders
2. Melioidosis
3. Psittacosis
4. Q fever
5. Ricin
6. Staphylococcal
7. Typhus

16. Category B
Are moderately easy to disseminate
Result in moderate morbidity rates
and low mortality rates

17. Category C agents
1. Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis (MTB)
2. Nipah Virus
3. Hantavirus

18. Category C
Category C agents are pathogens.
These might be engineered for mass
dissemination
They are easy to produce and have potential
for high morbidity
or mortality.

19. Recent incidents
2001Anthrax attack
2003 Ricin letter incidents

20. International response
The 1925 Geneva Protocol
Prohibits the use of asphyxiating, poisonous, or
other gase and all analogous liquids, materials or
devices in warfare
‘Customary international law’
Bans use not possession
No-first-use-treaty

21. 1972 Biological Weapons Convention
First treaty to ban an entire class of
weapons
Prohibits development, production,
stockpiling and acquisition of biological
weapons
Does not obstruct non-hostile use of
biological agents but still covers future
weaponisation of agents.

22. Protection against bioterrorism
Physical protection
Gas mask
Immunological protection
Mass Vaccination

23. College of MedicalLaboratory Science, Sri Lanka (CMLS.SL)
No. 25/2, Norris Avenue, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
www.cmlssl.org / kumudeshr@gmail.com / +94773077717