News
Homeland Security awards $10 million for community-led counter terrorism initiatives
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced 26 awards totaling $10 million for the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program, which seeks to address the issue of violent extremism in the United States through a series of community-led initiatives. DHS said the... Read More »
Global macroecologists call attention to lack of shared information on disease-causing organisms
A group of scientists from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, the University of Copenhagen, and North Carolina State University recently published a joint statement that called attention to the lack of information regarding worldwide distribution of disease-causing organisms.... Read More »
FCC issues proposal for new alert system intended to protect law enforcement officers, public
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a proposal to add an alert option to the nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) that aims to protect law enforcement officers by allowing them to notify the public of various threats to officers and provide information on wanted... Read More »
Sen. Tillis addresses border concerns regarding MS-13 gang, illegal immigration
In a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang and its role in proliferating illegal immigration along the country’s southern border, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) addressed the fact that lawmakers need to tune out both the far left and far right of the... Read More »
First Chikungunya-infected Aedes aegypti species mosquito identified in Brazil
According to a report published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Brazilian researchers recently identified for the first time an Aedes aegypti species mosquito that was naturally infected with the East-Central-South-African (ECSA) genotype of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Brazil. Aedes... Read More »Democratic senators send letter demanding analysis of Russian cyber capabilities on US energy infrastructure
A group of Democratic members of the U.S. Senate recently sent a public letter to President Trump, urging the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a thorough analysis of Russian cyber capabilities on the nation’s energy infrastructure. The letter specifically called for directing the... Read More »
Infectious Disease Society of America urges Congress to retain funding levels for NIH, Fogarty Center
In preparation for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins’ testimony before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) released a public statement urging... Read More »
NIAID awards grant to GeoVax Labs, Inc. to support novel Zika virus vaccine development program
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently announced a grant of $600,000 to GeoVax Labs, Inc. to support its novel Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine development program. The company is in the process of developing two novel Zika virus vaccine candidates, one that... Read More »
New study examines body’s immune response to Lassa virus
A new report from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently described for the first time a patient’s immune response at the cellular level in response to infection with the Lassa virus. The patient involved with the study is a male American nurse who was working in Togo, West... Read More »
California CBP agents seize more than 230 pounds of narcotics over series of incidents
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at various ports of entry along the California border with Mexico recently made a series of narcotics seizures that resulted in the interception of more than 230 pounds of illicit substances, valued at more than $1.4 million. In total,... Read More »
NIAID increase funding for Soligenix’s ricin toxin vaccine
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently exercised an operation for the evaluation of Soligenix, Inc.’s ricin toxin vaccine, called RiVax, to fund additional animal efficacy studies. RiVax is a recombinant heat-stable subunit vaccine that contains a... Read More »House Armed Services Committee subcommittee passes FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act mark
Members of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (ETC) recently passed their subcommittee mark for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes provisions for cybersecurity, counterterrorism initiatives, and defense... Read More »
OPCW Director-General addresses US defense officials during visit to United States
Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), recently gave a speech to key U.S. State Department officials in a commemorative event to mark the Chemical Weapons Convention’s (CWC) 20th anniversary during his visit to the United States. ... Read More »President will consider bill to protect nation’s food supply, agriculture sector from agroterrorism
Efforts to protect the nation’s agriculture sector and food supply against terrorist attacks and high-risk events would be ratched up under a bill that the House approved on Monday. The Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 1238, would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security... Read More »
Updated Pandemic Influenza Plan highlights need for seasonal flu preparedness
A Pandemic Influenza Plan released last week outlines areas of focus over the next decade and concludes that seasonal flu preparedness efforts must be stepped up in response to “the continually changing nature” of influenza viruses. The Pandemic Influenza Plan was first undertaken in 2005,... Read More »
Raytheon’s advanced SM-6 interceptor aces land-based test, moves to sea
Raytheon Company’s advanced Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Block IA, an offensive and defensive missile system, aced its final land-based test this week after engaging and destroying a subsonic target from a test site in southern New Mexico. With this success, the SM-6 Block IA will now move to... Read More »Rep. Donovan’s PREPARE Act passes House Homeland Security Committee
Legislation from U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) that supports the nation’s efforts to prepare for and respond to terror attacks and emergencies cleared the House Homeland Security Committee last week as part of the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act. Donovan, who serves as... Read More »
IAEA, Hungary conduct exercise to gauge global response to a nuclear emergency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Hungary conducted a 36-hour, international exercise this week to test the global emergency response to a nuclear power plant accident, such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. The exercise involved 82 IAEA Member States and 11 international... Read More »
AT&T, FirstNet release state plans for dedicated emergency responder network buildout
The first nationwide high-speed network for first responders edged closer to launching this week with the release of individual state plans by AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to help expedite the network’s buildout. Officials will have up to 45 days to review plans... Read More »
El Paso CBP agents seize more than 36 pounds of methamphetamine in single incident
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations agents stationed at the El Paso Port of Entry in Texas recently made a seizure of 36.7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine during a single traffic stop. The incident began as agents encountered a 1998 Ford pickup truck at the... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic receives request for proposal notification for procurement of lyophilized smallpox vaccine
Bavarian Nordic recently announced that a request for proposal from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will be issued for the procurement of lyophilized Imvamune, a freeze dried version of the company’s smallpox vaccine. The vaccine is currently stockpiled for... Read More »
Sen. Murray inquires about effects of proposed budget cuts to FEMA emergency preparedness grant programs
In response to President Trump’s proposed FY2018 budget, which calls for approximately $847 million in cuts to grant programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) wrote a public letter that strongly urged against any cuts to the programs.... Read More »
New Ebola vaccine shows promising results after Phase 1 trial
A newly-developed Ebola virus disease (EVD) vaccine was found to be well-tolerated with no safety concerns, according to a Phase 1 randomized clinical trial conducted by a team of researchers led by the Canadian Immunization Research Network. The vaccine used in the trial, the vesicular... Read More »
OPCW Director-General visits china, discusses chemical weapons destruction
Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), recently met with senior Chinese government officials during an official OPCW visit to China to deliver a lecture of chemical weapons destruction and the threat of chemical weapons use by non-state... Read More »
Sens. McCaskill, Johnson inquire about increased ICE personnel injuries in the field
In response to recent reports of an increase in assaults against law enforcement officials across the country, U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) recently called for an investigation into ways to increase safety for agents within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ... Read More »
Indiana University-Bloomington researchers discover mechanism that blocks mosquito-borne diseases
A bacterium called Wolbachia may prevent mosquitoes from transmitting deadly flaviviruses such as dengue fever and Zika virus, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from the Indiana University-Bloomington (IU). According to the study, which was published in a recent issue of the... Read More »
Transportation Security Administration to demonstrate new CT scanners in Phoenix, Boston
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will soon be demonstrating new computed tomography (CT) scanners at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Logan International Airport in Boston over the course of the month. The technology will strengthen threat detection... Read More »
Proposed cost-saving plan to close DHS national laboratory could yield catastrophic results, expert says
As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) locks in its budget priorities, on the potential chopping block is the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)—a potentially devastating public health concern, one expert says. That center, which aided governmental response... Read More »
Payne, Jr. authors three amendments included in Homeland Security reauthorization bill
Three amendments, authored by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), were included in the recently-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Authorization Act of 2017 by the U.S. House of Representatives, each of which addresses a specific challenge in disaster response, oversight and... Read More »Temecula Border Patrol seizes more than 100 pounds of cocaine in single incident
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to a checkpoint inspection site along Interstate 15 in Temecula, California recently seized more than 100 pounds of alleged cocaine in a single incident. The situation began as officers encountered a 2000 Infinity QX4 SUV driven by an unnamed 46-year old man.... Read More »
ASTHO urges public health officials to remain focused on preventing the spread of Zika virus, related birth defects
In the wake of a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that Zika infection during any trimester of a pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) called on public health leaders to... Read More »
Sen. Nelson seeks assurances that newly-developed Zika virus vaccine remains affordable for US patients
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (R-FL) recently sent a letter to U.S. Army Acting Secretary Robert Spencer seeking assurances that the vaccine will be affordable for U.S. patients as they need it. The request was made prior to the U.S. Army granting commercial exclusivity of a taxpayer-funded Zika virus... Read More »
University of Nebraska reorganizes public health efforts to face future disease threats under central umbrella
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is transforming and centralizing infectious disease response and biodefense research with the creation of the Global Center for Health Security. Such efforts are part of the brave new world of public health which, for years, has been plagued with... Read More »
Norway organizes NATO discussions on strengthening scientific cooperation among member states
During a meeting of the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Program, various scientists and experts from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partner countries recently examined opportunities for cooperation to address emerging security-related challenges. Organized in conjunction with... Read More »