Recent News

By Region: North America

Congress still may be unprepared for a terrorist strike

(Washington Post) The next month, much of Congress ground to a halt after anthrax-laden envelopes were mailed to two senators' offices. Those incidents spurred an intense discussion on Capitol Hill: What if hundreds of lawmakers were killed or incapacitated? …

October 12, 2011
| Filed under North America, Bioterrorism, and Policy & Initiatives
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Bioterror ‘Report Card’ to Show More Work Ahead

(Wall Street Journal) The US has spent more than $60 billion since 2001 to defend against a hypothetical strike using biological weapons. But the two former senators, Democrat Bob Graham and Republican Jim Talent, long have been critical of US preparedness. …

October 12, 2011
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
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Scientists fault risk review for Fort Detrick lab

(Washington Examiner) AP Maryland's two US senators urged the Army on Friday to strengthen its safety planning for a biodefense animal laboratory at Fort Detrick in Frederick after a National Academy of Sciences panel found flaws in a risk assessment for the facility. …

October 11, 2011
| Filed under North America and Biosafety
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IOM spells out antibiotics strategy in an anthrax attack

(American Medical News) To prepare for a potential wide-scale anthrax attack, state and local health officials should determine how antibiotics should best be stored in their communities. One approach may be to dispense antibiotics to first responders, physicians and other …

October 11, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Scientists’ Analysis Disputes FBI Closing of Anthrax Case

(New York Times) The scientists make their case in a coming issue of the Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense. FBI documents reviewed by The New York Times show that bureau scientists focused on tin early in their eight-year investigation, calling it an “element of …