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By Category: Countermeasures

Handling of Capitol threat bashed

(Indianapolis Star) A day after a mysterious white powder spilled from an envelope opened on the Iowa House floor, public safety officials and lawmakers said it appears the potential threat was not handled properly. Gov. Terry Branstad and others said on Wednesday that even though it was later determined the powder posed no threat, the Read More »

April 6, 2012
| Filed under North America, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, and Public Health
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Animal Studies OK for Plague Indication, FDA Panel Says

(MedPage Today) An FDA advisory panel has voted unanimously that an indication for pneumonic plague can be given to two already-approved antibiotics — ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin — based on effectiveness testing done only in animals. Although human infection with plague is rare, the bacteria involved, Yersinia pestis, could be used in a bioterrorism attack, according Read More »

April 6, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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FDA to research prescription anthrax treatments

(UPI.com) Though emergency treatments have undergone pilot studies in recent years, the government is looking into creating a user-friendly consumer MedKit that the average American could buy, store at home and use properly in case of a bioterrorism attack. “Something could occur and people would not have access to their doctor or a pharmacist, so Read More »

April 5, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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We’re Letting Our Bioterrorism Defenses Down

(Forbes) Both Michael Chertoff, former secretary of Homeland Security, and Admiral Mike McConnell, former director of national intelligence, have said that bioterror – not a nuclear weapon – was their greatest fear when they were in office. “In terms of catastrophic attacks, bio was at the top of the list,” said Chertoff, who served from Read More »

April 5, 2012
| Filed under North America, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, and Public Health
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North American countries join forces to prepare for pandemics

(HHS News) A new North American Plan for Animal and Pandemic Influenza supports a faster and more coordinated response to influenza pandemics in North America. President Barack Obama, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper released the plan jointly this week during the North American Leaders Summit as a way to enhance Read More »