Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue highlights evolving global counterterrorism threats, emerging zoonotic disease risks, and the growing intersection of AI, biosecurity, and public health preparedness.
Thinking about Getting a Master’s in Biodefense?
GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government has an upcoming recruitment event:
GMU Faculty and Students Highlight Counterterrorism 2026 Summit on Evolving Threats
In this week’s Frontline Watch report by Homeland Security Today, led by Counterterrorism Managing Editor Dr. Mahmut Cengiz of the Schar School of Policy and Government, students and researchers at George Mason University and Coastal Carolina University summarize key insights from the Counterterrorism 2026 Summit held on April 20-21. The report highlights the resilience of Iran’s proxy networks in projecting power while avoiding direct conflict, the expansion of Salafi-jihadist groups particularly in Africa’s Sahal and into coastal West Africa, and the growing sophistication of terrorist financing through cryptocurrencies and digital tools. At the same time, transnational criminal organizations, including Mexican cartels, continue to evolve to enforcement pressures, reinforcing their role as hybrid security threats.
The report also underscores the rising influence of technology in shaping modern terrorism. Digital platforms and AI are accelerating the rise of youth involvement in extremist movements and facilitating their recruitment. To this end, the U.S. domestic threat landscape is becoming more decentralized with lone actors and small-cell attacks replacing traditional hierarchical terrorist organizations. Additionally, critical infrastructure faces heightened risk from interconnected cyber and physical threats, while AI and cyber tools are lowering the barrier to entry for terrorist activity. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for integrated, adaptive, and cross-domain counterterrorism strategies that prioritize intelligence-sharing, coordination, and non-kinetic approaches to address increasingly complex threats.
Bird Flu Isn’t Flying Solo: WHO Reports Zoonotic Influenza Cases in 2026
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
In the first quarter of 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 13 zoonotic influenza cases in humans across multiple strains. Among them, four were H5N1, the strain at the center of the ongoing bird flu outbreak, with one previously undisclosed fatality in Bangladesh in January 2026. The fatal case was a child with no underlying health conditions, who had contact with household poultry (two ducks and a chicken) that died shortly before the child fell ill. Genetic analysis showed the virus matched clade 2.3.2.1a, which has been circulating in local poultry since around 2011. It is Bangladesh’s first H5N1 case of 2026, following four cases last year. The other three H5N1 cases were in Cambodia (clade 2.3.2.1e).
Unfortunately, bird flu is not the only zoonotic influenza flocking to the headlines. The remaining zoonotic flu cases reported by the WHO in their report, Influenza at the Human-Animal Interface, were swine-origin variant viruses: H1N1v and H1N2v in China and an H3N2v case in Brazil that dates to September 2025 but was only recently reported. All three swine variant cases involved children. The two cases in China had reported exposure to domestic pigs prior to illness onset. The child in Brazil did not have known direct contact with pigs but did attend an agricultural school where pigs are raised. The overall risk assessment for the general public remains low; however, Spain alerted the WHO to a suspected case of human-to-human transmission of an H1N1v swine flu variant in Catalonia in February, notable because the infected individual had no known contact with pigs. The patient has since recovered and no retransmission was detected among close contacts, but the case highlights ongoing concern about the pandemic potential of swine-origin variants should they recombine with circulating human flu strains.
Further Reading:
- “More California marine mammals confirmed to have H5N1 avian flu, as USDA tracks poultry outbreaks in Midwest,” Stephanie Soucheray, CIDRAP
- “Researchers develop promising new vaccine against bird flu,” Deann Gayman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- “Bird flu housing order to be lifted across island of Ireland,” Barry O’Connor, BBC
- “Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A retreats from decade-old egg pledge as bird flu hits supply,” Deirdre Bardolf, Fox News
IN OTHER NEWS
AI, Synthetic Biology, and Biosecurity Risk
- “No one’s sure if synthetic mirror life will kill us all,” MIT Technology Review
- “Tacit Knowledge: The Missing Factor in AI Bio Risk Assessments,” Abi Olvera, Second Thoughts
- “New security unit to tackle ‘catastrophic’ AI-enabled bioweapons,” Nicola Smith, Financial Review
- “A.I. Bots Told Scientists How to Make Biological Weapons,” Gabriel J.X. Dance, NY Times
- “BioTIER: Biological Targeted Information for Exclusion and Refusal,” Eleanor Marshall, Jasper Götting, Nelly Mak, Peter Peneder, Pedro Medeiros, Seth Donoughe, SecureBio
- “Agricultural Security Considerations for the U.S. Corn Belt,” Tyler Hoard, Adeline E. Williams, David Luckey, RAND
Chemical and Biological Weapons
- “Study: Trauma lingers for 26% of Tokyo sarin attack survivors,” Yusuke Morishita, The Asahi Shimbun
- “Short and long-term health consequences of the 2013 Sarin attack in Ghouta, Syria: a retrospective descriptive study of civilian survivors,” MHD Bahaa Aldin Alhaffar, Luluwa Zarzar, Anneli Eriksson, and Salim Namour, Scientific Reports
- “The Fall of the Syrian Regime: The End of Chemical Warfare in Syria,” Damian Alexander Honeyman, David James Heslop, C Raina Macintyre, Global Biosecurity
- “The Soviets Abandoned a Top-Secret Bioweapons Testing Ground. 34 Years Later, ‘Anthrax Island’ Is Waking Up.” Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics
- “Demand Increases for Consults on Chemical Warfare Defense,” DVIDS Hub
- “15 chemical spraying drones stolen in NJ as FBI investigates possible ‘nightmare scenario’: report,” Shane Galvin, New York Post
- “Woman Gets Jail After Unleashing Swarm of Bees During an Eviction,” Adeel Hassan, NY Times
Vaccines, Policy, and Public Health Systems
- “Can the U.S. handle another pandemic?” PBS
- “Practicing today for tomorrow’s emergencies – WHO convenes countries and partners to simulate response to major disease outbreak,” WHO
- “Exclusive: Here’s the Covid-19 vaccine paper the CDC censored.” Jeremy Faust, Inside Medicine
- “Ghana rejects proposed US health aid deal, citing data concerns, source says,” The Straits Times
- “RFK Jr. is holding up $600M in vaccines for poor countries,” Carmen Paun, Politico
- “Trump ousts National Science Board members,” Carolyn Y. Johnson, The Washington Post
- “Genome pioneer Craig Venter dies: here’s how he transformed science,” Ewen Callaway, Nature
- “Board Ouster Raises Further Concerns About NSF’s Future,” Ryan Quinn, Inside Higher Ed
Prohibited Chemical and Biological Weapons and the Law: Legal Responses to Lethal Innovation
Edited by Stacey Henderson, this book explores the current challenges, risks, and opportunities posed by new discoveries in the biological and chemical sciences. With a focus on non-human consequences of the use of these types of weapons, issues discussed include their environmental impact; use of herbicides in armed conflicts; the dangers posed by agent transport; the impact of technology on the development and manufacturing of chemical and biological agents; and the implementation effects at national levels across different countries and regions. This book explores whether the prohibitions on the use of chemical and biological weapons are being weakened, or whether international responses to their alleged use in recent conflicts are reinforcing prohibitions. This work will be most relevant to academics, researchers, and policymakers working in the fields of international humanitarian law, security studies and law, disarmament, nonproliferation and arms control, and international relations.
Medical Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response: Virtual Conference
From ASPR: “Are you currently responsible for the medical direction of a health care entity in the event of a disaster? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) are pleased to cohost the second Medical Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response Virtual Conference.
This half day virtual conference will bring together individuals who have a medical direction role during disasters to discuss the spectrum of medical leadership responsibilities and some of the specific challenges of the role. Topics will include: developing and implementing best practices during a disaster, navigating downtown, using data for action, new disaster medicine, and discovering health care surge tools.”
This virtual conference will take place on May 11 from 12:00 – 4:30 PM ET. Learn more and register here.
Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network: International Virtual Conference
From the BSL4ZNet: “The BSL4ZNet bi‑annual international conference is a cornerstone event for the BSL4ZNet community. It provides a global forum for scientists, program leaders, and high‑containment specialists to exchange new research, innovations, and lessons learned related to high‑containment laboratories and high‑consequence pathogens. The 2026 meeting will mark our fifth international conference.”
This conference will be held virtually from May 13 at 9:00 AM through June 10 at 9:30 AM ET. Learn more and register here.
International Conference CBRNe Research & Innovation
From CBRNE: “The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks. Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges. The CBRNE Research & Innovation Conference includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: Detection (identification), Protection (decontamination, medical countermeasures), and risk & crisis management.
This event will take place in Arcachon, France, from May 19 – 21, 2026. Learn more and RSVP here.
Biotechnology and Resilient Human Systems Workshop 2026
From the MIT Lincoln Laboratory: “The focus of the 2026 Biotechnology and Resilient Human Systems Workshop will be Preparing for Future Biological Effects. This two-day, in-person event will feature sessions highlighting the dual-use nature of biotechnology, building a resilient biosurveillance system, and developing broad medical countermeasures. The workshop will feature keynote presentations from leaders across the U.S. government highlighting critical national security challenges and opportunities created from advanced biotechnology and will also exhibit state-of-the-art research and innovations from the rapidly expanding biotechnology ecosystem.
Government and industry leaders, national security experts, UARCs, FFRDCS, national labs, entrepreneurs, and academic innovators will jointly discuss and showcase how to rapidly transition biotechnology-enabled technologies into operational capabilities that effectively address critical national security challenges.”
This in-person event will take place on June 2-3 in Lexington, MA. Learn more and register here.
From the Ground Up: Federated Biodefense
From the Atlantic Council: “The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council will host its latest meeting, surveying federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government roles, responsibilities and resources.
Non-federal governments serve on the frontlines of biodefense. As the biological threat continues to grow, those officials who tackle this topic on a daily basis require reinforcement. This meeting of the Commission will discuss the impacts of changes in federal support for state, local, tribal, and territorial biodefense activities, as well as the biodefense roles, responsibilities and investments of non-federal governments. The discussions will also touch upon the personnel, policies and programs needed to bolster preparedness for future biological threats.”
This event will take place on Thursday, June 4 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET. Further information and registration details to follow.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.
Biosecurity Simulation Exercise (BSX 2026): Laboratory Incidents & Deliberate Biothreats
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “This table-top simulation exercise aims to enhance inter-sectoral and inter-disciplinary preparedness for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity (LBB) and deliberate biothreat events (DBE). Through lectures, discussions, and structured, scenario-driven exercises, participants will explore decision-making to detect, risk-assess, and manage high-consequence biological incidents under conditions of incomplete information and unfolding events. Participants will collaborate in teams, building on expert perspectives to address issues in surveillance, diagnostics, public health response, security assessment, and risk communication.”
This in-person event will be held from August 27-28. Learn more and register here.
Strengthening Biosecurity & Pandemic Preparedness Through Intergenerational Dialogue – Applications Open
From the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI): “As breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology outpace global governance, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and The Elders are launching a new intergenerational initiative to generate the ideas and leadership needed for a safer future against biological threats.
NTI and The Elders are pleased to invite applications for a high-level Intergenerational Dialogue that will focus on emerging technologies, pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response (PPR), and global biosecurity governance. This dialogue will bring together early career professionals with senior global leaders to explore how technological innovation can strengthen health security while reducing catastrophic biological risks.
Building on NTI’s Next Generation for Biosecurity project and The Elders’ leadership on pandemic prevention and global cooperation, this initiative will foster candid exchange across generations, elevate diverse perspectives, and generate forward-looking ideas to inform global advocacy and policy priorities.”
The application deadline is Sunday, May 3 at 11:59 PM ET. Learn more and apply here.
Developing a Maximum Containment Laboratory: BSL-4 Biosafety and Biosecurity Considerations – A Webinar
From the Asia Centre for Health Security: “Maximum containment laboratories, or BSL-4 labs, provide unique capacity for work on high consequence infectious disease (HCID) pathogens. To enhance national outbreak readiness, Singapore has been strengthening laboratory capability to include a maximum containment laboratory. During this webinar, Adj A/Prof Gladys Tan will share insights from the journey to develop such a lab and discuss biosafety and biosecurity risks that need to be recognized and mitigated.”
This virtual event will be held on May 7 from 5:30-6:30 PM Singapore Time (GMT +08:00). Learn more and register here.
Private Sector – EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative – Call for Expression of Interest
From the UNICRI: “UNICRI, within the framework of the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) Initiative invites private sector organizations to express their interest in engaging with the Initiative and its partner countries to strengthen global capacities for the prevention, detection and response to CBRN risks.
The EU CBRN CoE Initiative, funded by the European Union, supports more than 60 partner countries across multiple regions through capacity-building, training, policy development and technical cooperation. The Initiative seeks to enhance dialogue and collaboration with relevant private sector stakeholders. This call aims to identify and engage companies and organizations interested in contributing their expertise through technical exchanges, consultations, awareness-raising activities and potential cooperation initiatives with the EU CBRN CoE Initiative and its partner countries.”
The deadline for submissions is May 8. Learn more and register here.
The Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats – Call for Abstracts
From INTERPOL: “The 6th Plenary Meeting of the Global Congress on Chemical Security & Emerging Threats will be in Panama City from 21-24 Sept 2026. The event brings together governments, industry, academia, & international orgs to strengthen chem security through collaboration & action. By providing a platform for multi-sector global cooperation and partnership, the Global Congress enables members to build relationships, exchange expertise, share important information on emerging threats and innovative best practices, and enhance capabilities.”
The call for abstracts is now open, and the applications are due by May 15. Learn more about the conference here and apply here.
INTERPOL Global Biosecurity Conference 2026 – Call for Abstracts
From INTERPOL: “The 2nd INTERPOL Global Biosecurity Conference brings together law enforcement and partner agencies, biosecurity experts, and academia from different regions and backgrounds to discuss the latest developments in global biosecurity. We invite biosecurity experts, researchers and scholars to submit an abstract, subject to a selection process, to present your work during the conference. The abstract should cover one of the following topics: global biological threat landscape, indicators and early-warning for biological threats, health and law enforcement coordination, forensics, biosecurity at borders, science and technology innovation, and legal, policy and information-sharing.”
The call for abstracts is now open, and the applications are due by May 22. Learn more and apply here.
Bio-attribution Challenge
From DARPA: “Translate your bio-attribution research into national security impact. In an era of unprecedented biological data generation, the ability to rapidly determine the origin of a biological event — whether natural, accidental, or intentional — is a critical component of national security and public health. To meet the challenge of finding the “needle in a haystack” within this data deluge, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched the Bio-Attribution Challenge.
This virtual competition calls on innovators to develop a new generation of tools capable of analyzing petabyte-scale datasets in near real-time, far exceeding the capacity of current systems. The goal is to revolutionize how we identify and trace the source of biological sequences, ensuring a faster, more effective response to potential threats. Register for virtual competition to win a share of $180,000 in Prizes.”
The deadline to register is June 15. Learn more and register here.
The Pandora Report 