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By Category: Biological Weapons

‘Dr. Death’ hearing stirs up painful apartheid memories in South Africa

(Globe and Mail) Dr. Basson, the former commander of South Africa’s notorious 7th Medical Battalion and head of its secret biological and chemical weapons program, is now a successful cardiologist in an affluent suburb of Cape Town with 9000 heart patients.

April 2, 2012
| Filed under Africa and Biological Weapons
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A Decade in Biosecurity

(Biosecurity and Bioterrorism) Special feature of the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism now available. Open access to the articles in this feature is available until April 12, 2012. These peer-reviewed articles, authored by leaders in the field, describe the current state of affairs in biosecurity policy and practice, identify remaining challenges, and articulate priorities for the Read More »

March 30, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biological Weapons, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Ex-South African Bio-Chem Head Says Work Was Defensive

(Global Security Newswire) The former head of South Africa’s biological and chemical weapons initiatives on Monday defended those efforts as primarily aimed at protecting the people of his country, the South African Press Association reported. Cardiologist Wouter Basson, also known as “Dr. Death” told the Health Professions Council of South Africa that the then-head of Read More »

March 29, 2012
| Filed under Africa, Biological Weapons, and Bioterrorism
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Genetic weapons, you say?

(Foreign Policy) In the Russian government lately, there’s been some careless talk about biological weapons. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin published a series of essays about the country’s problems as part of his bid to return to the presidency. The essay on national security, published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Feb. 20, argued that Russia needs to Read More »

March 28, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, Biological Weapons, and International
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Mandela reappointed me: Basson

(Times LIVE) Cardiologist Dr Wouter Basson told a professional conduct committee on Tuesday that president Nelson Mandela had re-appointed him to the SA National Defence Force in 1995 because the United States and British governments regarded him as a threat. Basson was in the witness stand for a second day to fight charges of unethical Read More »