Bio-Terrorism
The threats posed by bio-terrorists range from anthrax, smallpox and botulism to radiological attacks, chemical warfare, biological warfare and other weapons of mass destruction, known as WMD; all of which could lead to massive impacts on public health and disastrous contamination of the nation's environment.
Senate may add another $3.5 billion in security spending into stimulus package
February 2nd, 2009
The Senate version of the Obama Administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is beginning to resemble a glittering Christmas tree, as billions in new security expenditures are being added, like ornaments, to the legislation's branches.
President Bush issues executive order to beef up security at bio labs
January 15th, 2009
In one of his last homeland security-related actions before leaving the White House, President Bush issued an executive order designed to strengthen security at the nation's federal and non-governmental laboratories that work with – and transport – biological agents and toxins.
First responders need more training and equipment, says Intelagard exec
December 22nd, 2008
The nation’s firefighters and all first responders should have full spectrum radiological detectors, according to Lorraine Cope, an executive with Intelagard, Inc., a company that supplies chemical and biological personal protection gear and decontamination products.
GSA wants to check its mail security operations
December 22nd, 2008
The General Services Administration (GSA) is seeking a commercial contractor who can evaluate the effectiveness of the mail security plans in place at GSA's headquarters and about 10 regional offices, and suggest ways to improve those plans.
Letters with suspicious white powder turn up in governors’ offices
December 15th, 2008
Letters postmarked in Texas containing suspicious white powder arrived in the offices of approximately 20 different state governors last week, but the FBI has determined that the white powder substance inside the envelopes was not hazardous.
Senators Lieberman and Collins call for tighter control over bio labs
December 15th, 2008
The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said on Dec. 11 that they plan to introduce legislation that would “tighten oversight” on the high containment laboratories around the U.S. that can handle biological pathogens.
DHS may need a vendor to collect BioWatch air samples in DC area
December 12th, 2008
The DHS Office of Health Affairs wants to identify prospective vendors who could collect air samples on a daily basis from locations in the National Capital Region (NCR), Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA, as part of the department’s ongoing BioWatch monitoring program.
DHS chooses Manhattan, KS, as site for new animal disease research center
December 5th, 2008
A site in Manhattan, Kansas, has beaten out five alternative sites across the country and has been named as the “preferred site” for a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, which will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York as the nation’s premier institution for animal disease research.
