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.
Plum Island biolab move sparks controversy; site selection weighed
June 16th, 2008
Delays in efforts by DHS to relocate its agricultural infectious disease facilities from Plum Island, off the northeastern tip of Long Island, NY, have raised concerns from civilians and government officials that the U.S. may be vulnerable to a dangerous epidemic affecting the nation’s food supply.
DHS plans test of bioterror attack detectors
April 21st, 2008
If Congress provides the necessary funds, the Department of Homeland Security plans to run a side-by-side test of various advanced types of automated pathogen detectors
in FY2009, which could shorten by 24 hours the time it takes to determine that a biological attack by terrorists is underway.
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Florida Marlins to help Border Patrol recruitment campaign
March 19th, 2008
First, it was the sponsorship of car #28 in the NASCAR racing series. Next, it was a multi-media recruitment campaign focused on the Dallas Cowboys football team and their beloved cheerleaders. Now, it’s another promotional effort to attract new Border Patrol agents focused on the sun-tanned Florida Marlins baseball team.
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DHS seeks better bioforensic tools
March 17th, 2008
The federal government’s forensic specialists, who would be called to the scene of a suspected bio-agent attack, want better tools to identify the agents they find and to compare those agents with other bio-agents they might collect at a suspected terrorist’s home laboratory.
Directory of bio-threat experts to be organized
March 14th, 2008
Moments after a terrorist attack using anthrax or another deadly bio-agent is not the time for government officials to be asking themselves, "Which expert should we call?"
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Cyber Storm II kicks off: Prepping for disaster, practice makes perfect
March 10th, 2008
Sometime this evening, in the still of the night, an incident will occur in Australia. It will cause government and private security officials on three continents to scramble. A potential terrorist cyber attack will be underway.
HHS recognizes first set of interoperability standards
February 12th, 2008
The Department of Health and Human Services has recognized the first set of interoperability standards developed by the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP). The HITSP "Interoperability Specifications" cover electronic health records, bio-surveillance (i.e., data records supporting rapid alert in case of a disease outbreak), and consumer empowerment. The standards are to be implemented in new and upgraded federal health systems and are expected to become part of the certification process for electronic health records and networks.
A dozen leading CBRNE suppliers you should know
January 10th, 2008
If this were a wine and beverage trade publication, the term "CBRNE" might be industry shorthand for "cabernet".
But this is a homeland security trade publication so the acronym "CBRNE" stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive detection. That’s quite a mouthful because the CBRNE field is remarkably broad, diverse and ever-changing.
Here’s a quick look at 12 leading companies in the detection field and some of the technologies and products they’re currently offering.
