News
Border Security for America Act passed by committee, includes McSally provisions
Amendments to the Border Security for America Act that include provisions to conduct thorough threat assessments, equip front-line agents with the latest technology and ensure accountability from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were recently passed by the House Homeland Security... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions acquires Sanofi smallpox vaccine, facilities
Sanofi’s ACAM2000 and associated contracts are now in the possession of Emergent BioSolutions Inc, following payment of a $117.5 million acquisition. In all, Emergent has gained control of the only smallpox vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a cGMP live viral... Read More »
Joint private, academic and military project aims to reduce risks during disease outbreaks
A joint project between private, academic and military interests has the potential to make screening and treating populations for infectious diseases easier and safer. The $11.7 million multi-year project, to create a new universal surveillance platform for infectious disease outbreaks, will be... Read More »
Multiple research approaches needed for pandemic preparedness, NIAID officials warn
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is urging the importance of preparedness when it comes to biomedical research in the face of major disease outbreaks and pandemics. In an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association by Anthony Fauci,... Read More »
Smiths Detection introduces checkpoint scanner with Computed Tomography technology
Smiths Detection recently introduced the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX checkpoint scanner, the first product to feature the company’s proprietary CT (Computed Tomography) scanning technology, which is designed to enhance checkpoint security and efficiency. The new scanner, which is being launched at... Read More »
Zika vaccine candidate safely induces immune response in humans
A next-generation Zika virus vaccine candidate was the first to safely elicit an immune response in humans, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wistar Institute, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, and GeneOne Life... Read More »
TSA sets record for busiest summer ever with more than 239 million travelers screened
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced it had the busiest summer in its history, screening 239,511,319 passengers and crew at various TSA checkpoints throughout the country from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. “It is a testament to the hard work and... Read More »
Bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines introduced in Senate
In the wake of the recent shooting in Las Vegas, which left 59 dead and hundreds more injured, a group of 18 Democratic U.S. senators introduced a bill that effectively bans the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.... Read More »
Rep. Hurd introduces amendments that provide alternatives to border wall deployment
Building on the Border Security for America Act, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) has proposed two amendments that would seek alternatives to physical border walls in certain areas and give prior national park agreements precedence. “As I have been saying for years, a wall from sea to shining sea is... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances Border Security For America Act
The U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee advanced on Wednesday the Border Security for America Act, which would enhance security infrastructure on the U.S. northern and southern borders. The bill, introduced by Homeland Security Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX), would introduce... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to ban accessories that accelerate rate of fire following Las Vegas shooting
Democratic Senators introduced Wednesday a bill regarding the ban the sale of accessories that accelerate the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons, such as those used by the gunman during the shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday. This bill would prohibit the sale, transfer, importation,... Read More »
Texas CBP officers seize more than $4 million in narcotics in separate incidents
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) agents stationed at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Texas recently seized approximately $4,199,321 worth of alleged methamphetamine and marijuana in separate incidents. The first incident began on Sept.... Read More »
State Department needs to improve data collection, participant oversight of its Antiterrorism Assistance program, GAO report says
The U.S. State Department needs to improve data collection and participant oversight of its Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO was tasked by Congress to examine the State Department’s... Read More »
Senate committee advances DHS ethical hacker bill to help identify vulnerabilities within networks
A bipartisan bill that would establish a bug bounty program using “white hat” ethical hackers to search for and identify vulnerabilities within U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) networks was recently advanced by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.... Read More »
Lessons learned on when, how Zika infection occurs could help shape response plans, programs
After evaluating 36 women and fetuses exposed to Zika from January 2016 to May, researchers at Children’s National Health System found that 89 percent of those infected were exposed through a mosquito bite and 48 percent of were also exposed through an infected sexual partner. Roberta... Read More »
New public, private partnership could drive treatments for infectious diseases
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans this week to join Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in a partnership focused on the development of infectious disease treating products. Specifically, it will be the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)... Read More »
TSA phasing in new checkpoint procedure for carry-on electronics
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began implementing new screening procedures at airports across the country that require travelers to place all electronics larger than a mobile phone in bins for X-ray screening at checkpoints. Passengers at various U.S. airports,... Read More »
Health and Human Services Department sponsoring development of two radiation exposure tests
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced Tuesday that it would sponsor the development of radiation exposure tests. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of... Read More »
New task force aims to reduce cholera deaths by 90 percent by 2030
The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), an initiative of more than 50 United Nations’ agencies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations, recently announced the launch of a new strategy that aims to reduce deaths from cholera by 90 percent by 2030. The effort, called... Read More »
Subcommittee hearing examines DHS cybersecurity priorities
At a recent hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Subcommittee, members examined how the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) is carrying out the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) national cybersecurity mission.... Read More »Emergent BioSolutions receives $25 million contract for intramuscular nerve agent antidote
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. said on Wednesday it was awarded a contract valued at up to $25 million from the U.S. State Department to supply Trobigard, an intramuscular auto-injector treatment to be used in the event of chemical threats such as nerve agents, in countries outside of the United... Read More »
International chemical threat training exercise for medical professionals held in China
With the threat of chemical incidents growing worldwide, an international assortment of medical professionals gathered in Xi’an, China last month to train for the danger. The event lasted from Sept. 18-22 and saw experts trained in advanced hospital care for victims of toxic or weaponized... Read More »
Security Industry Association endorses Border Security for America Act
The Security Industry Association (SIA) announced Tuesday its endorsement of H.R. 3548, the Border Security for America Act of 2017 (BSAA), which would strengthen tactical infrastructure on the U.S. northern and southern borders. SIA sent a letter to the House Homeland Security Committee last... Read More »
Maryland Lt. Governor visits Smiths Detection to learn about opioid detection, identification technology
Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford visited Smiths Detections, Inc. (SDI) facility near Edgewood, Maryland this week where he was given a demonstration of technologies to detect and identify opioids to help protect first responders from exposure. Smiths Detection develops and manufactures... Read More »
Tucson area CBP hosts informational conference on dangers of fentanyl contact
Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Tucson Office of Field Operations recently hosted a two-day conference for law enforcement personnel on the dangers of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Held at the headquarters of the Tucson Police Department, the event featured... Read More »
Los Alamos National Laboratory reveals potential in tracking disease spread in real time
There is something to be said for adapting to modern technology, but the Los Alamos National Laboratory is taking that a step further – leveraging technology with a project that combines Brazilian social media and traditional clinical data to track the growth of infectious diseases. Nick... Read More »
CSIS develops commission to strengthen global health security
A collaborative effort aimed at bringing together a variety of health and security experts to chart the future of U.S. leadership in global health security was recently launched by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Officially slated to begin work in February 2018, the... Read More »
BARDA, Applied Research Associates team up to develop reusable respirator for public health emergencies
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Applied Research Associates, Inc. recently partnered to advance the development of respirators that can be reused up to 100 times for use in public health emergencies. Under the agreement, which spans 15 months for a total... Read More »
WHO increases response to plague in Madagascar
The World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up its presence in Madagascar to contain an outbreak of plague that has infected more than 100 people and led to the death of a foreign national in recent weeks. According to WHO, the plague has struck both port towns and the capital alike. Thus... Read More »Emergent BioSolutions acquires FDA-approved treatment for inhalational anthrax from GSK
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. said on Tuesday it completed the acquisition of raxibacumab, an antibody for treatment and prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax, from GSK. Emergent said raxibacumab is the only fully human monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for... Read More »
Excelsior Challenge ensures New York State’s first responders remain ready
The recent active shooter attack in Las Vegas serves as a reminder of the ever-present threats facing the United States and the importance of such events as New York’s Excelsior Challenge. Modeled after other real-world incidents that have recently occurred in Orlando, London, Paris, and... Read More »
Four Ebola vaccines, drugs receive Project BioShield Funding
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently announced it would provide funding through Project BioShield for manufacturing process validation, regulatory approval, and stockpile purchases for four Ebola vaccines and drugs. The vaccines and drugs are the first for... Read More »
FirstNet delivers official notice of State Plans to governors
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) recently delivered official notice of State Plans to governors regarding the nationwide broadband network for public safety personnel. Governors have until Dec. 28 to choose to either accept the FirstNet/AT&T plan to deploy the network or begin... Read More »Bipartisan bill to help secure electric grid introduced in House
A bipartisan bill that would require a report from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy and Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the security risks to the national electric grid was recently introduced to the House by U.S. Reps. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elise... Read More »