Coronavirus
COVID-19 Exposes Biodefense Vulnerabilities as Next Pandemic or Attack Looms
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense calls out lax implementation of longstanding federal recommendations. Keep Reading
Donna Shalala Returns to Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense
Shalala led the development of Holding the Line on Biodefense: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Reinforcements Needed, the report released by the Commission in October 2018, two years before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Keep Reading
OUTBREAK: Is America Prepared to Face Growing Biothreats?
A collection of HSToday content on what a pandemic would bring and how the country needs to prioritize biodefense. Keep Reading
CWMD Has ‘Spun Down Worse and Worse’ with ‘Flawed’ Biothreat Detection, Lawmakers Told
DHS office called out for BioDetection 21 issues and not accomplishing goals as biothreats increase. Keep Reading
Biodefense Strategy Implementation Too Fledgling to Predict Efficacy, GAO Finds
The biodefense enterprise is the whole combination of systems at every level of government and the private sector that contribute to protecting the nation. Keep Reading
Former White House Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco Joins Biodefense Panel
She replaces former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, recently elected to Congress, on the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense. Keep Reading
LexaGene Meets with DHS CWMD Office on Developing Bio-Threat Detection
The recent discussion centered around modifying LexaGene’s technology for bio-threat surveillance and other homeland security-related operations. Keep Reading
Tesla’s ‘Bioweapon Defense Mode’ Is Proving Invaluable to Owners Affected by Wildfires
When Elon Musk initially talked about the Model X’s “Bioweapon Defense Mode,” the company’s skeptics dismissed the feature as a simple gimmick. Keep Reading
Report: State, Local Governments Must Assume Greater Role in Biodefense
"Basic biological preparedness, response, and recovery infrastructure varies widely throughout the United States, placing the entire nation at risk," found the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense. Keep Reading
National Biodefense Strategy Gives HHS Oversight of Multi-Agency Coordinated Effort
Secretary Alex Azar says "biological threats of a manmade, accidental, or naturally occurring nature are very real and they're growing." Keep Reading
Top White House Official in Charge of Pandemic Response Exits Abruptly
Ziemer’s last day was Tuesday, the same day a new Ebola outbreak was declared in Congo. He is not being replaced. Keep Reading
U.S. ‘a Lot More Fragile Than We Realize’ on Biothreats, Experts Warn
"Lack of threat awareness and poor situational awareness" on synthetic agents and natural pathogens hampered by insufficient coordination, intelligence. Keep Reading
Black & Veatch, Synexis Effort to Fight Pathogen Spread Wins Edison Award
System uses ambient humidity and oxygen to produce dry hydrogen peroxide that combats airborne and surface viruses, bacteria and fungi. Keep Reading
Congressional Biodefense Caucus Vows Bipartisan Focus on Security
“This is an issue that too many of us take for granted,” said caucus co-chairwoman Rep. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.). “There is an assumption that we have stockpiles of vaccines readily available to combat the next anthrax attack." Keep Reading
Panel Finds Biodefense Budgeting Needs Major Overhaul Now
Public Health Emergency Fund should be "composed of no less than $2 billion in no-year money and replenished" annually. Keep Reading