Editing Biosecurity (section)

{{Short description|Preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission}}
{{Distinguish|Biosafety}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
[[File:Influenza virus research.jpg|thumb|A [[microbiologist]] working on the reconstructed virus of the 1918 [[Spanish flu|Spanish Flu]], using a [[fume hood]] for [[biocontainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=Reconstruction of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Virus |url=https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/flu/about/qa/1918flupandemic.htm |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=archive.cdc.gov |language=en-us}}</ref>]]
'''Biosecurity''' refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of harmful [[organism]]s (e.g. [[virus]]es, [[bacteria]], [[plant]]s, [[animal]]s etc.) intentionally or unintentionally outside their native range or within new environments. In [[agriculture]], these measures are aimed at protecting [[food crop]]s and [[livestock]] from [[pest (organism)|pests]], [[invasive species]], and other organisms not conducive to the welfare of the [[human population]]. The term includes [[Biological pest control|biological threats]] to people, including those from [[pandemic]] diseases and [[bioterrorism]]. The definition has sometimes been broadened to embrace other concepts, and it is used for different purposes in different contexts.

The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] is a recent example of a threat for which biosecurity measures have been needed in all countries of the world.