ZBS 7 is a crisis management unit for major biological incidents. The unit advises and supports health authorities as well as police and fire services in the event of diseases caused by highly pathogenic agents or in case of bioterrorist threats. This way, ZBS 7 contributes to the protection of public health.

Specialist area ZBS 7.1: Clinical Management and Infection Control

Head: Michaela Niebank

• Concept development and trainings on operational and process-related hygiene management of patients who are infected with highly pathogenic agents or biological toxins
• Conceptualisation of risk minimisation strategies and protective measures
• Recommendations and guidelines for disinfection and decontamination (with ZBS 1- 3 and unit 14)
• Needs assessment for vaccines and other drugs
• Office of the Permanent Working Group of Competence and Treatment Centres for high consequence infectious diseases (STAKOB) at the RKI
• Advice for medical facilities for managing patients suffering from diseases caused by highly pathogenic agents and biological toxins (in collaboration with STAKOB)
• Development of therapy concepts for diseases caused by highly pathogenic agents or biological toxins, in collaboration with expert panels and STAKOB
• Consultancy for the WHO on the clinical management in case of outbreaks involving highly pathogenic agents or biological toxins (in collaboration with STAKOB)
• Support of the COVRIIN+ expert group in creating guidance for treating severe cases of diseases caused by novel and highly pathogenic agents and for strategic patient transfers within Germany ("Kleeblatt" concept of the German government)

Specialist area ZBS 7.2: Incident Response, Operational Units

Head: Lukasz Bucki

• Systematic threat and risk assessment of highly pathogenic and bioterrorism-relevant agents
• Provision of operational units (advisory and task forces) for on-site support in detecting highly pathogenic agents and biological toxins via environmental sampling and for supporting operational crime scene investigations in contaminated environments
• Situational assessment in the event of major biological incidents and in case of infections of unclear cause (in cooperation with the RKI Department of Infection Epidemiology)
• Development of recommendations and guidelines for sampling and detecting highly pathogenic agents and biological toxins (in collaboration with ZBS 1 - 6)

Specialist area ZBS 7.3: Communications Management

Head: Dr. Annegret Schneider

• Provision of comprehensive, scientifically sound information for the expert public on the management of major biological incidents in form of emergency plans and manuals (in collaboration with ZBS 7.1 / ZBS 7.2 and expert panels)
• Assessment of information needs and communication requirement of actors involved in major biological incidents
• Development of target-group-specific communication material for highly pathogenic agents and biological toxins supporting the management of major biological incidents, for example flow charts, flyers, other graphic and audiovisual guides as well as online applications
• Process optimisation to facilitate rapid and targeted communication of key messages in the event major biological incidents

ZBS 7 Lead Group

Head: Thomas Potyka

• Operational planning for the ZBS 7 units to successfully manage major biological incidents
• Organisation of inter-agency emergency field exercises to prepare ZBS 7 operational units for deployment in major biological incidents
• Ensure 24/7 availability of the ZBS 7 units and maintenance of operational equipment (including vehicles and communication technology)

Contacts and cooperation

• Central contact point of the RKI for national and international police and security authorities
• Collaborations with federal instituts, including the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Intelligence Service, institutes of the Federal Armed Forces
• Non-police agency participating in the federal CBRN support network
• Contact point and active participant in the EU Bioterrorism Network (BICHAT)
• Contact with corresponding institutions in and outside the EU, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other UN agencies
• Participation in international networks such as the Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI)