Threats
FEMA offers $8.1M to Illinois Emergency Management Agency to ease COVID-19 costs
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted more than $8.1 million to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) this week to help it cover costs accrued by the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic after a federal disaster declaration in March. In all, the funds... Read More »
CEPI to fund development of Clover’s S-Trimer COVID-19 vaccine through phase 2/3, licensure
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has extended a partnership with Sichuan Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Clover) to include funding for a global phase 2/3 efficacy clinical trial and licensure of its S-Trimer COVID-19 vaccine candidate. S-Trimer is a protein-based... Read More »
HHS taps McKesson to distribute COVID-19 supply kits for healthcare workers administering vaccines
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signed a contract with McKesson Corp. to produce and distribute ancillary to help healthcare workers administering COVID-19 vaccines once they are approved. The ancillary supply kits will be produced and distributed on behalf of the... Read More »
DOJ’s Office of Justice programs awards $458M to fight violent crime
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded more than $458 million in grant funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to fight violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made a total of 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support local... Read More »
Justice Department files Iranian forfeiture complaint
The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed a complaint regarding the forfeiture of a pair of Iranian missile shipments and petroleum seized from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Navy seized the missiles in transit to militant groups in Yemen while the 1.1 million barrels... Read More »
Army, Northrop Grumman deploy enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station capabilities
Army and Northrop Grumman personnel said the recent deployment of enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) capabilities in South Korea enables early warning of missile attacks and other events. “This is a tremendous milestone in our decades-long mission of delivering missile warning and... Read More »
Nipah virus more widespread than previously known, EcoHealth Alliance study shows
The results of a six-year study conducted by the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance were released this week, and the data revealed that Nipah virus is not as confined to what is traditionally known as the Nipah belt along the Bangladesh-India border as previously thought. Bats throughout Bangladesh... Read More »
NACCHO joins CDC Project Firstline to strengthen local public health capacity against infectious diseases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gained a major new partner last week for its effort to improve local healthcare’s capabilities against infectious diseases, in the form of the nearly 3,000 local health departments comprising the National Association of County and City Health... Read More »
Nearly 1 million pounds of drugs turned in on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and its partners brought in nearly 1 million pounds of unused, expired, and unwanted medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Oct. 24. The agency, along with law enforcement partners, said it has now collected nearly 13.7 million pounds of... Read More »
Federal agencies join forces to prevent hazardous products from entering United States through international mail facilities
Leadership from several federal government agencies signed an agreement to collaborate to prevent products that pose a threat to public health from entering the U.S. through International Mail Facilities. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) -- signed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,... Read More »
House E&C Committee introduces COVID-19 legislative package
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act, a package of over 50 bills from the House Energy and Commerce Committee that deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The act includes bills related to pandemic preparedness and response,... Read More »
Bill targets aviation health emergency preparedness
Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Don Beyer (D-VA) recently introduced a measure designed to develop a national aviation preparedness plan regarding future public health emergencies. The National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act of 2020 is supported by key aviation stakeholders, including the American... Read More »
DHS, CISA target cybersecurity technical institutes initiative
The Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute (CIRI) has secured $2 million in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) funding. The effort led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign... Read More »
Trump administration signs $12.7M contract for rapid COVID-19 tests from InBios International
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) awarded a $12.7 million contract to expand production capacity for two rapid COVID-19 point-of-care tests with InBios International Inc. last week. This will allow InBios to expand the number of tests it produces by 20... Read More »
Collaboration between HHS, DoD and Hologic grows with $119M contract for COVID-19 test production expansion
Hologic, Inc. will expand domestic production of COVID-19 tests as a result of a new, $119 million contract with the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD). The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has supported Hologic throughout its... Read More »
Indian Health System providers teach community members how to use Naloxone
Members of the Indian Health Service, the Federal Health Program for American Indians, and Alaska Natives are working with members of their communities to reduce overdose deaths by improving access to Naloxone. Commander Robert Boyle, a clinical pharmacist at the Salt River Integrated Health... Read More »
Coast Guard cutter Polar Star deploys to Arctic region
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star will head to the Arctic region this winter to help protect the nation’s maritime sovereignty and security in the region. The Coast Guard has served as the lead federal agency for homeland security, safety, and environmental stewardship in the Arctic... Read More »
Sen. Rubio introduces bill putting restrictions on foreign software like TikTok
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced legislation to establish a set of data protection and censorship standards and restrictions for “high-risk foreign software,” like TikTok and WeChat, to legally operate in the United States. The Adversarial Platform Prevention (APP) Act defines... Read More »
CBP’s Simplified Arrival debuts at LAX
Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Simplified Arrival initiative recently debuted at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with officials touting the endeavor's varied benefits. In partnership with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the inaugural implementation is an enhanced international... Read More »
New Mexico Congressional delegate presses feds for stockpiled PPE transparency
New Mexico is one of many areas throughout the United States currently facing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, and in response, the New Mexico Congressional delegation called on federal agencies this week to provide a full accounting of the state’s share of stockpiled PPE. Federal Emergency... Read More »
University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University to study AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate
In a phase three clinical trial, University Hospitals (UH) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) will study AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate -- AZD1222 -- for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Approximately 80 clinical investigation sites across the country will enroll up to... Read More »
Data shows overdose deaths in Rhode Island up sharply
Data compiled by the Rhode Island Department of Health’s (RIDOH) Office of the State Medical Examiners show the state saw a sharp increase in the number of accidental drug overdose deaths in the first seven months of 2020. Between January and July 2020, the state tallied 233 accidental drug... Read More »
Washington, Oregon, and Nevada join California in effort to review COVID-19 vaccine safety
The states of Washington, Oregon, and Nevada have joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which will independently review the safety and efficacy of any vaccine approved by the FDA for distribution. “California has led with science and data through the COVID... Read More »
Sanofi, GSK sign agreement to make vaccine candidate available to COVAX
Sanofi and GSK have signed an agreement with Gavi, the legal administrator of the COVAX Facility, to make available 200 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine, if approved by regulators, to the COVAX Facility. “To address a global health crisis of this magnitude, it takes unique partnerships.... Read More »
HHS, DoD purchase 300,000 doses of COVID-19 therapeutic from Eli Lilly
Over the next two months, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) will provide $375 million to Eli Lilly and Company in exchange for 300,000 doses of its investigational COVID-19 therapeutic, LY-CoV555. These will be the first doses of the drug available. If... Read More »
BARDA requests abstract submissions for development of repurposed therapeutics
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) began this month soliciting support for repurposing therapeutics into medical countermeasures against chemical threats. The organization is now accepting abstract submissions for potential funding through its Division of... Read More »
GAO offers recommendations on DHS efforts to improve workforce
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) three recommendations regarding the department's efforts to improve workforce planning and monitoring. The GAO analysis stemmed from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within DHS increasing its... Read More »
Lawmakers seek information on DoD’s role in Operation Warp Speed
A group of lawmakers is requesting the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) to conduct a hearing regarding the Department of Defense's (DOD) role in Operation Warp Speed (OWS). Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), members of the SASC), forwarded correspondence to SASC... Read More »
Republican Congressmen introduce bill to reinforce border, transportation and cybersecurity
With the introduction of the Commitment to American Security Act (H.R. 13), U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) seek to bolster technology and manpower for security operations across various federal government aspects. “This bill will secure our southern border, strengthen... Read More »
COVID-19 vaccine efficacy should be based on standardized methods, Oxford scientists say
A collaborative paper from researchers at the University of Oxford, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal this week, argued that meaningful comparison between potential COVID-19 vaccines will need standardized methods and ongoing studies to determine efficacy. The authors of the... Read More »
Sens. Van Hollen, Young urge Trump to extend New START arms agreement with Russia
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) are urging the Trump Administration to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia. The senators said it's vital to preserve the New START agreement for national security and nuclear stability with Russia.... Read More »
Rep. Katko introduces bill to restore axed DHS program to assess impact of pandemics on critical infrastructure
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced legislation to restore a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program designed to assess a pandemic's potential implications on critical infrastructure. The bipartisan Analyzing Disaster Vulnerabilities and Applicable National Capabilities for... Read More »
Congressional lawmakers urge leadership top develop pandemic policy plans
A group of Congressional lawmakers recently urged House and Senate leadership to develop policy plans to prevent and mitigate the impact of future pandemics. In a letter signed by 134 senators and members of the House, the lawmakers pointed out that the United States leads the world with more... Read More »
Michigan system tracks opioid overdoses in real time, shows rise after COVID-19 arrival
A Michigan system that tracks suspected opioid deaths and naloxone use by first responders gives a better picture of how opioid overdoses rose after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The real-time tracking system developed by the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center (IPC), in... Read More »