News
Icahn study reveals how dengue fever delays the body’s immune response
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai recently used the dengue virus as a model to identify the signaling pathway used to initiate an immune response in the body and how the virus counteracts that mechanism to evade immune detection. "Previous studies have shown that human... Read More »Researchers develop new malaria treatment delivery system for patients in remote areas
Researchers from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently developed a capsule that may help prevent malaria infections and protect patients for up to two weeks. The capsule was recently tested in swine... Read More »Florida man sentenced to life in prison for attempting to possess weapon of mass destruction, provide support to ISIS
Harlem Suarez, a 23-year old man from Monroe County in Florida, was recently sentenced to life in prison for attempting to use an explosive device classified as a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to the extremist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee Democrats release report on potential costs of proposed border wall with Mexico
The Democratic members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) recently published a report detailing the potential costs for President Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, with a cost estimate reaching as high as $70 billion. The report’s estimate also... Read More »
MERS-like virus identified in bat from Uganda
A team of researchers from the United States and Uganda recently identified a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-like coronavirus, called PDF-2180, in a bat in Uganda which the researchers said gives evidence that similar coronaviruses originate in bats. In laboratory testing, the... Read More »
UMBC wins the 2017 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) was recently named champion of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC), defeating nine other universities in a simulated cyber attack scenario. Participants were tasked with securing a multi-site retail corporation with 160... Read More »
CBP agents arrest man wanted as material witness in homicide investigation
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) agents stationed at the International Falls Port of Entry in Minnesota recently apprehended an individual wanted as a material witness in a homicide case. The incident occurred on April 16 as 38-year old Abraham Roberts... Read More »
Textron Systems receives $14.8 million contract from US Navy for two common unmanned surface vehicles
Textron Systems Unmanned Systems recently received a $14.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide two additional common unmanned surface vehicles (CUSVs) for its Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program. Textron describes the CUSV as a “multi-mission, unmanned surface vehicle... Read More »
Study finds more than one percent of Latin American-born Los Angeles residents are infected with Chagas disease
According to a recent study of nearly 5,000 Latin American-born Los Angeles County residents, approximately 1.24 percent tested positive for Chagas disease, which can cause life-threatening conditions in the heart if not properly treated. The study was coordinated by the Center for Excellence... Read More »
DARPA’s soil-scrubbing technology successfully removes nearly 100 percent of simulated sarin, soman, mustard agents
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) new developmental field-deployable, chemical warfare agent-scrubbing system successfully demonstrated that it can safely neutralize more than 99.9999 percent of toxic chemicals simulating sarin, soman, and mustard agents from soil without... Read More »
Eagle Pass CBP officers stop attempted narcotics smuggling
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry recently arrested a 26-year old woman from Eagle Pass, Texas for narcotics smuggling. The incident occurred on April 12 as the woman attempted to enter the United States though the pedestrian lane of the... Read More »California CBP officers arrest 28 fugitives over seven-day period
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents working at various points of entry in California apprehended 28 individuals with outstanding felony warrants over the last week, two of which were wanted for homicide. The fugitives were wanted on a litany of charges, ranging from larceny and... Read More »
Harvard study reveals how anthrax spores trigger harmful immune response
A research team from Harvard Medical School recently revealed how the body’s immune system responds to the presence of anthrax spores. Anthrax bacterium, called Bacillus anthracis, was used as a weaponized chemical agent in 2001, when a series of letters coated in the chemical agent were sent... Read More »Infectious disease workforce to diminish, according to experts
A group of leading medical researchers recently wrote an article, cautioning that the number of newly-trained infectious disease physicians will not match future needs posed by emerging diseases or the expected increase in resistant microbes. The group includes Rochelle Walensky of Harvard... Read More »
CBP arrests two, seizes more than 1,300 pounds of cocaine off Puerto Rican coast
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) recently seized a vessel near the southern coast of Puerto Rico carrying approximately 1,320 pounds of cocaine. The incident began on April 12 as a CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft crew detected a suspicious go-fast... Read More »
OPCW Executive Council convenes to discuss chemical weapons use allegations in Syria
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Executive Council convened last week to discuss allegations that the Syrian regime, led by Bashar al-Assad, conducted a chemical weapons attack on its own people. On April 4, a chemical weapons attack occurred in the Khan... Read More »
New study addresses issues with epidemic response in developing countries
According to a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, combating the next infectious disease epidemic will rely on strengthening clinical research programs on investigational therapeutics and vaccines in developing countries prior to the next epidemic... Read More »
Marines train in CBRN scenarios at Volunteer Training Site in Georgia
Marines assigned to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Platoon, Marine Forces Reserve recently completed a seven-day assessment and consequence training exercise at the Volunteer Training Site in Catoosa, Georgia. Participants took part in exercises, including... Read More »Health and Human Services, Siemens Healthineers reach agreement for new Zika diagnostic test
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), recently entered into an $8.9 million agreement with Tarrytown, New York-based Siemens Healthineers to develop a new diagnostic test for Zika virus. Rick... Read More »
Reps. Chaffetz, DeSantis request information on 2013 chemical weapons agreement with Syria
U.S. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, requesting communications related to a 2013 chemical weapons agreement by the Obama Administration, the Russian Federation, and the Syrian government. The letter comes in... Read More »
Energy Department, National Nuclear Security Administration need to address nuclear security reporting issues, according to report
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released analysis of nuclear security reporting by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which stated the department could improve its reporting practices regarding its highly-enriched uranium housing facilities. Highly-enriched uranium is... Read More »
OPCW’s Üzümcü provides update to Organization of American States’ Committee Against Terrorism
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently addressed the 17th Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), to discuss OPCW’s goals for the full... Read More »
CBP releases data on total electronic device searches for international travelers
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released this week its electronic device search statistics for FY2017, which details the number of electronic devices the agency searched from international travelers as they passed through its various checkpoints. In total, the agency searched 14,993... Read More »
First live, attenuated vaccine completely protects mice subjects against Zika virus infection
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston and the Instituto Evandro Chagas at the Ministry of Health in Brazil, the first live, attenuated Zika virus vaccine protected mice subjects against infection after just a single dose. "We chose to... Read More »
Flight Safety Foundation urges caution over new personal electronic device restrictions on certain international commercial flights
In the wake of a recent decision to ban personal electronic devices (PEDs) larger than a cell phone in passenger cabins of select international commercial flights, the Flight Safety Foundation urged caution to United States legal authorities regarding the risks associated with lithium ion batteries... Read More »
Justice Department begins process to dismantle international Kelihos botnet
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently began the extensive process to dismantle the international Kelihos botnet, which has facilitated thousands of malicious attacks and cybercrimes throughout the world. DOJ officials said the botnet played a part in harvesting thousands of login... Read More »
El Centro CBP agents arrest drug smugglers, convicted sex offender
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents assigned to the El Centro Sector in California recently apprehended two individuals suspected of drug smuggling and a previously-deported sex offender later that same day. The first incident began as agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint... Read More »
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons delegates visit chemical weapons destruction facility in Kentucky
A delegation from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently visited the Blue Grass Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (CWDF) in Kentucky after receiving an invitation from U.S. officials. The visit comes in the wake of a deadly chemical weapons attack in the... Read More »New radiation detection system begins operations at Port of Los Angeles
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that a new radiation detection system recently began operations at the Trans Pacific Container Service Corporation (TraPac) terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. While all incoming cargo into the port is scanned by radiation... Read More »
DHS opens new testing, evaluation lab for explosives detection systems
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently opened a new building at the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) to provide independent testing, evaluation, and certification of explosives detection equipment for use in checkpoint areas. The... Read More »Democratic senators urge Homeland Security secretary to reconsider proposed cuts to security programs
A group of 21 Democratic U.S. Senate members recently sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, requesting he reconsider the proposed budget cuts to mass transit security programs in order to fund President Trump’s border wall with Mexico. On Jan. 25, President Trump signed... Read More »
Bill introduced to restrict the use, export of dangerous cluster munitions
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a bill called the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, which aims to restrict the use and export of dangerous cluster munitions to protect civilians during and after wartime. Cluster munitions are defined as... Read More »New Ebola trial in West Africa to evaluate three different vaccine strategies
A coalition of international health institutes and organizations will soon be launching a large clinical trial of Ebola vaccine candidates to identify proper regimens that could prevent a future outbreak of the deadly disease. The French National Institute of Health and Medicine Research... Read More »
Public health group calls for increased resources to combat the spread of Zika virus
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) recently called for continued resources to support a long-term public health response against Zika virus. The group’s request includes increased laboratory, epidemiological, and surveillance capacity, along with enhanced vector... Read More »