Biological Disasters

What is a Biological Disaster?

Let’s begin with a simple question —
What happens when diseases spread uncontrollably, affecting not just humans, but also animals and plants?

That scenario is called a Biological Disaster.

👉 Definition:

A biological disaster is a situation where disease, disability, or death occurs on a large scale among humans, animals, or plants due to toxins or disease-causing organisms (pathogens) — like bacteria, viruses, or fungi — or due to their toxic by-products.

These disasters can occur in two major forms:

1. Natural, such as epidemics or pandemics (like COVID-19).
2. Man-made, such as Biological Warfare (BW) or Bioterrorism (BT), where disease-causing agents are used intentionally.

So in simple terms —

When nature spreads disease → it’s epidemic/pandemic.
When humans spread disease intentionally → it’s warfare or terrorism.

Types of Biological Disasters

(A) Natural Biological Disasters

These are caused by naturally occurring pathogens.

• When a disease spreads rapidly in one community, we call it an epidemic.
• When it spreads across continents or globally, it becomes a pandemic.
  Example: COVID-19 pandemic, Influenza pandemics, etc.

(B) Man-Made Biological Disasters

These occur when biological agents are deliberately used:

• Biological Warfare (BW): When a state uses pathogens as a weapon during war.
• Bioterrorism (BT): When individuals or groups use them to terrorize populations.

Example: Anthrax spores used as a terror weapon (2001, USA).

Causes of Epidemics

Now, why do such diseases spread widely?

1. Poor sanitation → contaminates food and water.
2. Improper disposal of human or animal carcasses after floods, earthquakes, etc.
3. Poor solid waste management → ideal breeding ground for rodents and fleas → causes plague-like diseases.

Remember: After floods or earthquakes, these conditions worsen — that’s why epidemics often follow natural disasters.

🧠 Case Study:
The 1994 Surat plague in India — poor hygiene and waste disposal led to panic, death, and migration. It showed how even localized negligence can turn into a national crisis.

Major Sources of Epidemics in India

Let’s categorize them clearly:

Type	Examples
Water-borne	Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E
Vector-borne (mosquito-borne)	Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Kala-azar
Person-to-person	HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
Air-borne	Influenza, Measles — also through fomites (like used clothes)

➡️ Also note: Emerging infectious diseases — new or reappearing diseases such as SARS (2003) or Avian flu, which may jump from animals to humans.

In recent times, Dengue outbreaks in metropolitan cities have become annual phenomena due to urban crowding and stagnant water.

Why Biological Disasters are Dangerous (Trends Favouring Them)

Think of it from a security angle — why do biological weapons or disasters scare governments so much?

Because:

• They are low-cost and easy to produce.
• Just a small quantity can affect a huge population.
• Biotechnology has made it easier to culture and modify pathogens.
• The agents are natural, so detection becomes difficult.
• There’s a long lag time between infection and symptoms — by the time you detect it, it has already spread!

Hence, these have mass destruction potential, sometimes even worse than nuclear or chemical weapons.

Consequences of Biological Disasters

Let’s see what happens when such a disaster hits:

1. High mortality → population declines, productivity drops.
2. Economic disruption → resources diverted to healthcare and containment.
3. Bio-weapons of mass destruction → can destabilize entire regions.

In short, it impacts not only health but also economy, security, and governance.

Prevention and Mitigation Measures

To deal with biological disasters, prevention is far better than cure.
Here’s what must be done:

1. Public awareness – educate people about hygiene and disease risks.
2. Food and water safety – only eat cooked food; drink boiled or chlorinated water.
3. Vector control – eliminate mosquitoes, rodents, and insects quickly.
4. Clinical isolation – separate infected individuals to prevent spread.
5. Laboratory network – ensure early and accurate diagnosis.
6. Surveillance and immunization – monitor disease trends and vaccinate susceptible populations.
7. Vaccine research – develop vaccines for emerging pathogens.

Basically, combine education + prevention + medical infrastructure for strong resilience.

Nodal Agencies in India

Role	Agency/Ministry
Epidemics management	Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW)
Primary responsibility	State Governments (since Health is a State Subject under Schedule VII)
Disease investigation	National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Biological warfare	Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Steps Required for Biological Disaster Management in India

Let’s break this down like a framework — Legal, Operational, Coordination, Human Resource, Infrastructure.

(A) Legal Framework

• The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 is outdated — made during British rule.
• It gives no power to the Centre during national emergencies.
• Needs replacement by a modern act covering:
  • Bioterrorism (BT)
  • Biological warfare
  • Cross-border health issues
  • International disease control

(B) Operational Framework

• India lacks a national policy on biological disasters.
• The contingency plan of MoH&FW is old and needs revision.
• Strengthen epidemiology, surveillance, research, and training systems.

(C) Command, Control, Coordination

• Lessons from Surat plague (1994) and Avian flu (2006) show that coordination among:
  • Health, Animal Husbandry, Home Affairs, Media, and Communication sectors
    is crucial for effective response.

(D) Human Resource Augmentation

• India faces shortage of:
  • Doctors and paramedics at district level
  • Public health specialists
  • Epidemiologists and virologists
• Need for specialized training institutions in public health.

(E) Basic Infrastructure

• Establish more Biosafety labs (BSL-3 and BSL-4) for testing.
• Strengthen PHCs, CHCs, and sub-centres with vaccines and medicines stockpiled.

COVID-19: India’s First Pan-India Biological Disaster

This is the most important contemporary example.

• COVID-19 was the first biological disaster managed under Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act).
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) directed all ministries and states to implement measures like social distancing, lockdowns, and containment zones.

Legal Basis:

Though the Constitution does not directly mention “disaster”, two Concurrent List entries empower the Centre:

• Entry 23: Social security and social insurance.
• Entry 29: Prevention of infectious diseases from spreading across states.

Thus, India legally managed COVID-19 under these provisions — a landmark event in Indian disaster governance.