Pandora Report 6.5.2026

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue highlights emerging biological and chemical threats, including a new report on toxin security risks, progress toward chemical weapons accountability in Syria, the potential return of New World screwworm to the United States, persistent challenges posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza and Ebola, and new efforts to strengthen governance of dual-use life science research.   

Promote the Antidote: Reducing the Risk from Toxins 

The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council has released a new report, Promote the Antidote: Reducing the Risk from Toxins, warning that biological toxins remain an underappreciated yet persistent national security threat. The report highlights the continued use of toxins by nation-states, terrorists, and lone actors, citing the February 2026 confirmation by European governments that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was assassinated using epibatidine, a lethal neurotoxin derived from a South American poison dart frog. The Commission argues that toxin threats receive far less attention than infectious disease threats despite longstanding concerns regarding accidental contamination, criminal misuse, and foreign biological weapons programs. It also calls for closing policy gaps across the agriculture, defense, law enforcement, and public health sectors, which often operating in siloes, to strengthen national preparedness and response capabilities.  

The report builds on discussions from the Commission’s February 2026 meeting, “Pick Your Poison: The Enduring Threat of Biological Toxins,” which featured testimony from George Mason University’s Biodefense Program Director Dr. Gregory Koblentz. As previously reported in the Pandora Report, Koblentz emphasized that toxins may be better suited as forms of political signaling or tools of coercion as opposed to weapons of mass destruction, while warning that advances in science and technology may increase both supply and demand for these agents.  

Chemical Weapon Verification Breakthrough in Syria and Progress To Ending Chemical Weapons Impunity 

On May 26, 2026, Syria and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that the Syrian government had uncovered a cache of undeclared chemical weapons materials that had been hidden by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from international inspectors for more than 12 years. According to the OPCW, “the findings include dozens of chemical munitions previously undeclared to the Organisation, including the same type of aerial bombs that were used in chemical attacks in Ltamenah in March 2017 and Khan Shaykhun in April 2017. Rockets were also found, of the same type as those that were used in the Ghouta chemical weapons attack in August 2013. ” Turkish media reported that 54 M4000 bombs, which the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) had identified as the type used in the attacks on Ltamenah and Khan Sheikhoun, and 25 “Volcano” rockets, which were used in the attack on Ghouta, were recovered. Syrian state media published a picture of the M4000 bombs while Syria’s ambassador to the OPCW published a picture of one of the recovered Volcano rockets. In addition, Syria reported that the cache included precursors for binary sarin, hexamine (which Syria used as a stabilizer in its binary sarin weapons), chemical mixing and storage equipment, and thousands of pages of documents related to the former chemical weapons program. These materials were found at three sites “located in northern coastal and central areas of the country, broadly within a geographic triangle encompassing Hama, Homs, and Latakia” and consolidated into a single secure storage facility guarded by the Syrian miliary until the material can be verified and destroyed under the supervision of the OPCW. This achievement is a reflection of both the dedication of the Syrian government to uncovering the legacy of Assad’s chemical weapons program and the assistance provided by a coalition of partners under the Breath of Freedom task force. 

This find also provides a boost to efforts to hold former members of the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons throughout the Syrian civil war. The Syrian government  reports that it has 18 former high-ranking members of the regime linked to chemical attacks in custody. On May 20, 2026, the Syrian Mission to the OPCW, in conjunction with Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, held a panel discussion titled Roles and Responsibilities in the Quest for Accountability After Chemical Weapons Use in Syria. The international meeting featured presentations by Dr. Yasmin Al-Nahlawi from the National Commission for Transitional Justice in Syria and Fadel Abdulghany, Executive Director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Mr. Abdulghnay’s talk was based on his recently published book, The Assad Regime’s Use of Chemical Weapons in a Non-International Armed Conflict, Russian Protection of It in the Security Council, and the International Community’s Failure to Prevent the Recurrence of Their Use. The first trial of a former Assad regime official for human rights abuses is already underway in Damascus.  

Did New World Screwworms Cross the Border? 

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor 

A suspected case of New World screwworm (NWS) has been identified in South Texas, just one day after the USDA confirmed a case 25 miles south of the border in Mexico. According to Texas Representative Don McLaughlin, samples were taken from two calves on a ranch in La Pryor, Texas, with one suspected infestation found in an umbilical cord wound. Although the preliminary test was positive, the samples now require confirmatory testing at a federal government laboratory before a definitive diagnosis can be made. The parasite, whose larvae burrow through the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, can potentially infest pets and people, though experts stress the risk to humans is low. Cattle, on the other hand, are not so lucky. Screwworm infestations can be fatal without treatment, and a confirmed U.S. outbreak could deal a significant blow to the cattle industry. Experts estimate a NWS outbreak in the U.S. could cause $1.8 billion in damages to Texas’ economy alone, and the reduction in cattle supply could cause beef prices to rise across the country. The parasite has been advancing northward through Mexico for over a year, despite millions of dollars spent by the U.S. government on sterile fly production facilities, expanded trapping efforts, and increased livestock surveillance. The U.S. has also kept its border closed to Mexican cattle imports since last summer as another precautionary measure. The USDA has already deployed personnel to the region and is working with local partners as testing continues. 

Egg Producers Question the Limits of Biosecurity 

For egg producers on both sides of the Atlantic, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has become a persistent and devastating reality. At the World Egg Organization’s annual business conference, held in Warsaw in late April 2026, egg producers from around the globe came to the same conclusion: biosecurity alone is not enough. Despite significant investments in biosecurity infrastructure, including shower-in facilities, vehicle disinfection systems, and laser deterrents for wild birds, major producers in both the U.S. and Europe have continued to experience devastating outbreaks. One Scottish producer noted the virus appeared deep inside barns near ventilation shafts, in locations that could not be explained by conventional contamination routes. Industry leaders in the U.S. continue to advocate for vaccination to protect domestic flocks. With over 330 million wild birds passing over U.S. egg farms during peak migration season, they argue physical biosecurity measures alone cannot reliably keep the virus out.  

Further Reading:  

IN OTHER NEWS 

Biodefense Policy, Strategy, and Governance 

Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Emerging Infectious Diseases 

AI, Biotechnology, and Future Risks 

Global Health Governance 

Chemical Weapons Threats 

Podcasts

Risk Management for Dual-Use Potential in Life Science Research  

The Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is pleased to announce the publication of the Risk Management for Dual-Use Potential in Life Science Research guideline, on March 31, 2026. 

The Dual-Use Guideline provides comprehensive guidance on how to identify, assess, and mitigate the risks associated with the dual-use potential of research involving pathogens, toxins, or other biological material. 

The Dual-Use Guideline was developed in response to a growing international concern regarding dual-use potential in life science research and highlights a need to balance the advancements of scientific research with protecting the community and the environment from harm. It also touches on the biosafety and biosecurity risks associated with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, as well as international initiatives that aim to mitigate risks associated with dual-use potential. 

NEW: Wildlife Preparedness, Response, and Recovery – A Webinar Series  

From the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM): “Recent wildfire events have highlighted persistent gaps in how health systems and public health agencies prepare for, respond to, and recover from these incidents. The Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies is hosting a webinar series to explore the health impacts of wildfires across the disaster cycle; and foster cross-sector dialogue to raise awareness, share lessons learned, and identify opportunities to strengthen health-focused preparedness, response, and recovery.” 

Upcoming sessions include: 

  • Webinar 2 – Response: Health System Response During Wildfires on June 8 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT. 
  • Webinar 3 – Recovery: Wildfire Recovery, Adaptation, and Long-Term Health Impacts on June 15 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT.  

Learn more and register here. 

NEW: Disaster Medicine Lecture Series  

From the University of Massachusetts: “The University of Massachusetts’ Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management Fellowship Program, in partnership with The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), and American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), will host the next installment of the Disaster Medicine Lecture Series. Featured presentations include: “Disaster Exercise Design and Facilitation: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Strategies for Success” presented by Dr. Ryan Hata, Director of Operational and Disaster Medicine, Atrium Health and “Mass Gathering Medicine” presented by Dr. Mick Molloy, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Health Service Executive, Wexford General Hospital. 

This event will take place on June 16 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT. Learn more and register here. 

NEW: Ninth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention  

From the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA): “We will convene the Ninth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Chaired by Ambassador Frederico S. Duque Estrada Meyer of Brazil, the meeting will bring together State Parties, international organizations, academic institutions, and civil society representatives to continue discussions on strengthening the Convetnion and advancing efforts to address biological threats. Public sessions will be webcast through UN Web TV, and side events are expected throughout the week.  

This event will take place from August 17-21 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Learn more and register by July 31st here.  

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.

Public Health Agency of Canada Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Biology and Bioart Summit 2026 

From PHAC: “The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) DIY Biology and Bioart Summit 2026 is the first gathering of Canadian DIY biologists and bioartists organized by PHAC since 2020. This summit will bring together these Canadian bio-innovators with PHAC biosafety and biosecurity experts to provide an opportunity to engage and discuss biosafety and biosecurity challenges and opportunities. The summit will also include a keynote presentation by an international DIY biology expert.” 

This virtual event will be held from June 10 from 10:00 AM – 2:35 PM ET. Learn more 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. 

Training Course on ‘Biotechnology Innovation and Biosecurity’ 

From the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit: “This training focuses on strengthening capacities in biosecurity, biosafety, and biological risk management in the context of rapid advances in biotechnology with an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to manage biothreats at the intersection of humans, animals, plants and the environment. It addresses the governance, technical, and operational dimensions of preventing, detecting, and responding to biological threats, while promoting responsible and peaceful scientific research and innovation in accordance with article X of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).” 

This in-person event will be held from October 12 – 16 in New Delhi, India. Learn more and apply here. 

NEW: Senior Manager, Defense Partnerships – Job Opening 

From CEPI: “The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is seeking a Senior Manager, Defense Partnerships to deepen CEPI’s partnership with security and defense partners in support of CEPI’s Biosecurity Strategy, CEPI 3.0 and the 100 Days Mission. Reporting to the Director of Biosecurity, the Senior Manager will lead CEPI’s engagement with key defense stakeholders in the Americas and Asia and drive new partnerships with NATO. The role will focus on strengthening strategic alignment across defense and health to accelerate 100 Days Mission/rapid vaccine development capabilities. The Senior Manager will work closely with CEPI’s External and Investor Relations Division, in particular the Country Leads within the Resource Mobilisation and Investor Relations Department.” 

Learn more and submit your application by June 7 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. 

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