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PUBLIC HEALTH ARCHIVES

Smallpox – Still a Viable Bioterrorist Threat

Article Out Loud The 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States and, shortly thereafter, the mailing of anthrax spores to several news agencies and the offices of two U.S. Senators became evidence of the need to improve U.S. homeland security in general and the nation’s biosecurity capabilities in particular. Congress

Biodefense – Protecting Public Health

As the threat of a biological attack against the United States increases, the nation’s public health sector faces many hurdles, including funding cuts and difficulties in integrating the plans and policies of various levels of government – and with the private sector. Since the 9/11 attacks, greater focus has been

Early Warning: The Front Line of Biodefense

During and after a known or suspected biological attack, most events initially play out in local hospitals where the first symptoms caused by a toxic agent are recognized. Raising awareness among medical staff and expanding current training programs will help healthcare providers respond to a possible biological event both more

Not All Components Are Equal, But All Are Essential

Implementation of the guidelines undergirding new national anti-terrorism policies will be a major challenge for state & local health departments. But the end result will be a better coordinated and much more effective national healthcare community.

Planning Needs for Staff Medication Dispensing

Three modes of operation, two of which might strain the trained EMS personnel resources immediately available but would not overwhelm them. Preparing for the third mode, a sudden mass-casualty scenario, must be done carefully and thoughtfully.

Critical Intersection of Diagnostics and Countermeasures

A biological agent is released, samples are collected, and then the diagnostic process begins. Laboratories within a national (and international) network screen for potential threats and determine the level of exposure and treatment required for each response. Such diagnostics provide the guidelines necessary for using and distributing medical countermeasures.

FINAL REPORT: Advancing Technology in Biological Surveillance and Detection

The terrorist use of anthrax against the United States in 2001 pointed out the nation’s vulnerability to biological attack and need for rapid and sure response. Since that time, strengths and limitations of the current biodetection system have been discovered. To achieve a better preparedness posture, now is the time

The Use of mHealth Technology for Pandemic Preparedness

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more than 600,000 people in the United States alone and an estimated 20 million or more victims worldwide. Today, infectious diseases continue to pose a significant health security threat to nations throughout the world. Because of the increasing mobility of the global population, it

Concurrent Distribution of Anthrax Vaccine & Antibiotics

Current plans for combatting the effects of an anthrax attack at the local level include the use of antibiotics. Although federal agencies recommend – and the Strategic National Stockpile provides – anthrax vaccine adsorbed as a medical countermeasure against such attacks, the vaccine currently is not included in the preparedness

State & Local Medical Countermeasures: The 12-Hour Push

Emergency managers are working hard, on a continuing basis, to improve and support the national capability to assist in providing assets to affected areas during an extreme biological incident or emergency requiring medical countermeasures.

Identifying & Isolating Bio-Threats Before They Present

An emerging infectious disease or a bioterrorism attack must be prevented from spreading globally even when the effectiveness of predictive measures and detection programs is in question. In addition to current medical countermeasures, defending against biological threats may require the enforcement of control measures that rely on non-medical public health

Addressing Key Policy Issues Before the Next Catastrophe

Economic redevelopment, waste and fatality management, and the prioritization of cleanup operations are just a few of the key policy issues that decision makers must consider and address before the next anthrax attack or other disaster strikes. Having a clear strategy, effective management plans, and solid relationships with partners who

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