Recent News

By Category: Policy & Initiatives

Bioterrorism Bill Gridlocked In Congress

(Huffington Post) WASHINGTON – Nearly four years after a congressionally mandated commission warned that bioterrorism poses the greatest threat to the nation, the former Democratic senator who chaired the panel said legislation that would implement its recommendations is “almost assured of failure” because of power-hungry Capitol Hill lawmakers. “As somebody once said, there is nothing Read More »

May 14, 2012
| Filed under North America, Bioterrorism, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

House bill calls for White House biodefense advisor

(CIDRAP News) A bill headed for the floor of the US House calls for appointing a special White House advisor to lead and coordinate biodefense activities, including developing a national biodefense plan and a biosurveillance strategy. Among other things, the bill (HR 2356) calls for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess the risks Read More »

May 11, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biological Weapons, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

South Korea Announces Biodefense Exercise

(Global Security Newswire) South Korea said on Friday it would collaborate with the United States in an exercise next week aimed at assessing their capacity to respond to intentional or natural disease outbreaks, Kyodo News reported. Roughly 190 individuals representing 50 U.S. and South Korean government organizations are due to participate in the four-day “Able Read More »

May 11, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, Biological Weapons, Countermeasures, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
Share

The WHO must reform for its own health

(Nature Medicine) The World Health Organization (WHO) is facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens its position as the premier international health agency. To ensure its leading role, it must rethink its internal governance and revamp its financing mechanisms. The World Health Organization was born in the bifurcated Cold War world in 1948, and every aspect Read More »

May 11, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
Share

Obama should practice what he preaches on food security, say experts

(Examiner.com) U.S. President Barack Obama has invited a number of African leaders to join the upcoming G8 summit for a discussion on food security on their continent, the White House announced on Monday. But experts say Obama has failed to address food security at home. They will join leaders at the G8 summit at Camp Read More »