Public Health and Biodefense Readings
The following news articles and reports from the last few weeks may be read online if the URL is provided. Others are provided in abstract form only. Links to items below may become inactive over time. Please contact Jeffrey Michaels for questions about the content of this page.
DHS aims for faster detection of airborne pathogens
by Robert Roos
CIDRAP News, July 22, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/bioprep/news/jul2208biowatch-jw.html
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to adopt new automated equipment that will be able to detect dangerous airborne pathogens in major US cities in as little as 4 hours, with a goal of starting deployment in the fall of 2010, DHS officials told Congress last week.
GAO reports progress, pitfalls in state medical surge planning
by Lisa Schnirring
CIDRAP News, July 14, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jul1408surge-br.html
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a status report yesterday on progress states have made toward preparing for a flood of people needing medical care in the wake of an event such as a terrorist attack or an influenza pandemic.
Political borders, health-care issues complicate pandemic planning
Purdue University news release, July 7, 2008
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/080707AveryPlanning.html
Panic, staffing issues and geographic boundaries are some of the challenges that public health experts need to address as they plan for a possible influenza pandemic, according to a new report from Purdue University published online this week at the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Feds to get better medical intelligence
by Jason Miller
FederalNewsRadio, July 7, 2008
http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=169&sid=1434326
The National Center for Medical Intelligence at Ft. Detrick, Md. is opening up its analysis of intelligence to estimate and predict medical threats and the health care capabilities that may be needed when disaster strikes in the United States.
Gallium nitride photodetector targets bioterrorism
by R. Colin Johnson
EE Times, July 1, 2008
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208801973
New sensors based on gallium nitride could improve the detection of bioterror agents like anthrax, say researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Savannah.
Health leaders: World far from ready for flu pandemic
CIDRAP News, June 23, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jun2308unprepared.html
The world is far from being well prepared for an influenza pandemic, leading national and international health officials warned at a meeting in Malaysia last week.
Death rate for flu, pneumonia fell sharply in 2006
by Lisa Schnirring
CIDRAP News, June 12, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/jun1208deaths-br.html
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday that the death rate in the United States dropped significantly from 2005 to 2006, led by a 12.8% decline in mortality related to seasonal influenza and pneumonia.
CDC Finds Some Bird Flu Strains have Acquired Properties that Might Enhance Potential to Infect Humans
CDC news release, June 10, 2008
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080610a.htm
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released results of a study suggesting that some North American avian influenza A H7 virus strains have properties that might enhance their potential to infect humans as well as their potential to spread from human to human.
Tracing air travelers at risk for disease still tough
by Maryn McKenna
CIDRAP News, June 10, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jun1008airline.html
Five years after the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic spread around the globe via air travel, significant barriers still stand in the way of tracking down and notifying airline passengers who may have been exposed to an infectious disease.
[Pa.] County conducts anthrax drill
by Rachel Canelli
Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times, June 8, 2008
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-06082008-1545927.html
With the cooperation of the commissioners and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bucks County Health Department and the Emergency Management team conducted an inhalation anthrax exposure scenario at Maple Point Middle School in Middletown to measure Bucks' crisis response.
Hawaii begins testing some arriving travelers for flu
by Robert Roos
CIDRAP News, June 6, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/biz-plan/news/jun0608screening.html
The first real test of a new program to screen some arriving passengers at the Honolulu airport for flu-like illness went smoothly this week, according to an official with the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH).
HHS announces preparedness grants for public health, hospitals
by Lisa Schnirring
CIDRAP News, June 3, 2008
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/jun0308funding-jw.html
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it is allocating states and major metropolitan areas $1.1 billion to strengthen public health preparedness and help healthcare facilities respond to emergency events such as an influenza pandemic or terrorist attack.
Major Issues and Challenges of Influenza Pandemic Preparedness in Developing Countries
by Hitoshi Oshitani, Taro Kamigaki, and Akira Suzuki
Emerging Infectious Diseases, June 2008
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/875.htm
Better preparedness for an influenza pandemic mitigates its impact. Many countries have started developing and implementing national influenza pandemic preparedness plans. However, the level of preparedness varies among countries.
Utah Pilots Open Source Infectious Disease Management System
Government Technology, May 19, 2008
http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/323349
The disease reporting and management system, which is being piloted in Utah, will be adaptable in all 50 states and available under an open source license later this year.
Congressional Leadership Announces Appointments to Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism
Earthtimes.com, May 16, 2008
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/congressional-leadership-announces-appointments-to,398030.shtml
On May 16, Congressional leaders announced the appointment of commissioners to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
Air Force counter-biological warfare reaches milestone
U.S. Air Force press release, May 12, 2008
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123098357
The Air Force counter-biological warfare concept of operations recently reached a critical milestone, achieving initial operational capability across the service.
U.S. Hospitals Have No Capacity For Terror Attack, House Survey
Medical News Today, May 8, 2008
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106694.php
A survey of US hospitals and emergency rooms suggests they would not be able to cope with the surge of casualties that might follow a terror attack.
Inquiry: Hospitals couldn't handle terror attack
by Mimi Hall
USA TODAY, May 6, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-05-citiesready_N.htm
Hospital trauma centers in seven major cities do not have the capacity to handle even a modest terrorist attack, according to findings released Monday from a House committee investigation.
"Hospital Emergency Surge Capacity"
U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearings, May 5, 7
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1929
The Committee held two days of hearings on the impact of the Administration’s Medicaid regulations on hospital emergency surge capacity and the ability of hospitals to respond to a mass casualty event, such as a terrorist attack using conventional explosives or natural disaster, on Monday May 5, 2008, and Wednesday May 7, 2008.
Pandemic Influenza Planning from a Health Disparities Perspective
by P. Blumenshine et al.
Emerging Infectious Diseases, May 2008
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/5/pdfs/07-1301.pdf
Public Health Workforce Shortages Imperil Nation’s Health Research
by Debra A. Draper, Robert E. Hurley, Johanna Lauer
Center for Studying Health System Change Brief No. 4, April 16, 2008
http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/979/
Local health departments face a mounting workforce crisis as they struggle to recruit, train and retain qualified workers to meet their communities’ needs.
Anthrax Spore Standards Will Be Reference For Anthrax Detection And Decontamination
ScienceDaily, April 15, 2008
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415164309.htm
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Army Dugway (Utah) Proving Ground have developed reliable methods based on DNA analysis to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage.
Father 'caught bird flu from son'
BBC News, April 8, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7335986.stm
Tests show a Chinese man probably contracted bird flu from his son - renewing fears about the risk to humans.