biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents

also : measures taken to ensure this security

Examples of biosecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The biosecurity legislation loomed large over this year’s BIO conference, as my colleagues Jonathan Wosen and Meghana Keshavan reported last week. —Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 11 June 2024

Despite commitments from the poultry industry and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance biosecurity on farms and increase disease surveillance, bird flu has charged ahead to infect over 60 dairy cow herds and two dairy farmworkers in recent months. —Kenny Torrella, Vox, 4 June 2024

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners has also developed biosecurity guidelines for H5N1, focusing on key practices. —Todd Cornish, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2024

And, despite all the biosecurity measures in place, travelers are told to avoid sitting while on land, to avoid transmitting bird flu via errant bird droppings on parkas or pants—from the Antarctic mainland or further afield. —Sebastian Modak, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents (such as pathogenic microorganisms)

You would expect the organisation responsible for ensuring biosecurity in labs working with dangerous animal pathogens like foot and mouth disease to know about any accidents that have occurred in those labs.

—Linda Geddes, New Scientist

also : measures taken to ensure this security

In areas where poultry farms are on adjoining or nearby properties or in areas tied together by common waterways, roads, or flyways, the risk of disease spread from one farm to another is greatly increased no matter what type of biosecurity is practiced by individual farms.

—Carol J. Cardona, in Avian Influenza