A look at biological danger and biosafety in the international health context

Abstract

Introduction: the emergence and re-emergence of pathogens represent a constant threat to the security of humanity, with unpredictable health, social and economic consequences. Added to this is the biological risk present in facilities that use biological agents that are pathogenic to humans, animals and plants.

Objective: explore information about biological danger and biosafety in the international health panorama, its link with biological emergencies and risk communication for its prevention.

Method: a descriptive systematic review of 5,097 articles was carried out, based on a meta-analysis in the period 2000 to 2024 (post-covid period). The Sánchez Meca methodology was used, with the use of Harzing's Publish or Perish 8 software. The academic search engines used were Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar and Crossref.

Results: it was detected that. There are few studies that reflect the relationship between biological hazards and risks, biosafety, biological emergencies and the leading role that risk communication can play in the international health context.

Conclusions: the results suggest the need to know biological hazards to implement biosafety measures, preparation and implementation of biological emergency plans, as well as the creation of more effective and efficient risk communication strategies and plans for the protection of the population directly or indirectly exposed to biological risk, as well as socioeconomic goods and services and the environment in general.