The World Health Organization has called on the Ukrainian authorities to destroy pathogens “germs, microbes and viruses” found in public health laboratories to prevent the dangers they may cause if they are leaked.
Biosecurity experts say Russia’s attacks on Ukraine increase the risk of “pathogen” samples leaking if health facilities are bombed or destroyed.
Like many countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories that it uses to research ways to counter disease threats and find treatments for them, and these laboratories have received support from the United States, the European Union and the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization told Archyde.com that it has cooperated with public health laboratories in Ukraine for several years, strengthening ways and protocols to prevent the intrusion of pathogens.
It added that it recommends that the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and other responsible medical bodies should destroy any samples of highly dangerous pathogens to prevent their leakage.
The organization did not specify the details of samples of pathogens or types of toxins found in laboratories in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials did not respond to requests for comment from Archyde.com.
The capabilities of Ukraine’s laboratories are an important part of the growing information war since Russia launched its offensive two weeks ago.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated allegations that the United States possessed biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine, an accusation denied by Washington and Kiev.
Zakharova claims that documents have been discovered showing “emergency attempts to erase evidence showing the existence of military biological programmes”.
A Ukrainian presidential spokeswoman “vigorously denied any such claim,” and US spokesmen strongly denied Zakharova’s accusations, saying Russia might use her allegations as a pretext to deploy its chemical or biological weapons.
The World Health Organization did not refer to “biological warfare”, stressing that it encourages all parties to cooperate and safely dispose of any “pathogens”, and offered assistance by providing technical guidance or coordination in this regard.
Diplomats announced that the Security Council will meet Friday at Russia’s request to discuss Moscow’s allegations, which there is no evidence to support on the ground.
