Recent News

By Region: North America

New psychological first aid guide to strengthen humanitarian relief

16 August 2011 — Humanitarian emergencies – like earthquakes, extreme drought, or war – not only affect people’s physical health but also their psychological and social health and well-being. A new guide makes sure that best practices are consistently applied in humanitarian settings to improve the mental health of disaster affected populations.

August 17, 2011
| Filed under Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America, South Asia, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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States, Cities to Receive $613M in Health Preparedness Funds

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department on Monday said it would this year provide $613 million to help states and cities prepare for public health crises, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported (see GSN, April 15). The funding tranche — slated for distribution under the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement Read More »

August 17, 2011
| Filed under North America and Countermeasures
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New tool allows first responders to visualize post-event disaster environments

Sandia, DHS modeling/simulation software debuted at national-level disaster exercise Sandia’s Chuck John uses the SUMMIT iPad app to visualize calculated building damage during NLE 11 exercise conducted in Jonesboro, Arkansas. (Photo by Steffan Schulz) Click on the thumbnail for a high-resolution image. LIVERMORE, Calif. — Using iPad™ mobile devices, emergency preparedness officials and first responders participating Read More »

August 17, 2011
| Filed under North America and Countermeasures
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Suspicious Parcels Force Evacuations at Alaska Lawmakers’ Offices

Packages containing a white material that was later determined to be concrete powder caused scares on Monday at the Fairbanks and Anchorage offices of the Alaska congressional delegation, Reuters reported. Each office was closed for a short period of time (see GSN, Aug. 27, 2010). The Anchorage office of Representative Don Young (R) and the Read More »

August 17, 2011
| Filed under North America and Bioterrorism
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Op-Ed – More BTWC Education Needed for Life Scientists

(VBC Blog) State Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) have agreed since the Second Review Conference in 1986 that educating life scientists about the BTWC would strengthen the prohibition norm. Although, in 2005 when they met to discuss codes of conduct for scientists, it became clear from statements by governments and the Read More »