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U.S. launches National Animal Identification System; target date is 2009
Ambitious public safety measure gives livestock farmers three years to have each of their animals tagged for disease-related identification
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Crossing the gene barrier may offer solutions for persistent diseases -- and bioterror
Implanting human genes in receptive animals yields promising solutions to disease, and may hold potential for fighting bioterror
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Medarex, PhamAthene receive fast track designation to develop anthrax cure
Two companies allowed to move at an accelerated pace to develop Anthrax medication
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New York state ill-prepared for major pandemic breakout
New York state had better hope that no avian flu pandemic break, because the state is just not ready
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Johns Hopkins home to fifth Homeland Security Center of Excellence
Last month Johns Hopkins joined other academic centers to harness its considerable intellectual firepower on behalf of the nation’s security
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Danish company shows advanced multi-gas monitoring device
A company from Denmark is showing the latest version of an effective gas detector, useful in homeland security and industry
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Government, airlines tighten security to meet potential flu pandemic
Government and airlines are taking early measures to cope with avian flu pandemic; some critics say more needs to be done, but all agree that preparations are much better than was the case in Katrina
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Making it: zNose to star on
Way to go, zNose: A leading homeland security detection device stars in a TV show
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He should know
Leader of a Midwest research center predicts the government will invest more in protecting the nation’s food supply
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Illinois hospitals receive bioterror grants
DHS encourages hospitals to prepare themselves better for pandemics and bioterror attacks, and the department puts its money where its mouth is
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Of bears and men: Food supply attack may be costly, but not disastrous
Attacks on the U.S. food supply may cause much economic damage, but it is less clear how many people they will hurt because of the diversity of people’s diets
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Two new anthrax vaccines show promise
The bad news: Anthrax strains have begun to develop resistance to Bayer’s Cipro, the only anthrax vaccine in the market; the good news:Two new vaccines show promise
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Arkansas governor orders state to prepare for massive flu outbreak
State governor says he will not take any chances, ordering health authorities to offer detailed plans for flu outbreak
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More U.S. cities buy JMAR's BioSentry water-monitoring system
Safety of water supply does not rank high in cities’ security planning; this is a mistake, and more and more cities are sharing this conclusion
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Pentagon low-balled number of soldiers with anthrax vaccine side effects
Pentagon official told Congress that only about 100 soldiers suffered ill side effects from anthrax vaccine given to them between 1998 and 2000; the real number is 20,000
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The long view
What We’ve Learned from Survivors of the Atomic Bombs
Q&A with Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, New Vice Chair for the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
Combatting the Measles Threat Means Examining the Reasons for Declining Vaccination Rates
Measles was supposedly eradicated in Canada more than a quarter century ago. But today, measles is surging. The cause of this resurgence is declining vaccination rates.
Social Networks Are Not Effective at Mobilizing Vaccination Uptake
The persuasive power of social networks is immense, but not limitless. Vaccine preferences, based on the COVID experience in the United States, proved quite insensitive to persuasion, even through friendship networks.
Vaccine Integrity Project Says New FDA Rules on COVID-19 Vaccines Show Lack of Consensus, Clarity
Sidestepping both the FDA’s own Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), two Trump-appointed FDA leaders penned an opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine to announce new, more restrictive, COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Critics say that not seeking broad input into the new policy, which would help FDA to understand its implications, feasibility, and the potential for unintended consequences, amounts to policy by proclamation.
Are We Ready for a ‘DeepSeek for Bioweapons’?
Anthropic’s Claude 4 is a warning sign: AI that can help build bioweapons is coming, and could be widely available soon. Steven Adler writes that we need to be prepared for the consequences: “like a freely downloadable ‘DeepSeek for bioweapons,’ available across the internet, loadable to the computer of any amateur scientist who wishes to cause mass harm. With Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 having finally triggered this level of safety risk, the clock is now ticking.”
“Tulsi Gabbard as US Intelligence Chief Would Undermine Efforts Against the Spread of Chemical and Biological Weapons”: Expert
The Senate, along party lines, last week confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National intelligence. One expert on biological and chemical weapons says that Gabbard’s “longstanding history of parroting Russian propaganda talking points, unfounded claims about Syria’s use of chemical weapons, and conspiracy theories all in efforts to undermine the quality of the community she now leads” make her confirmation a “national security malpractice.”