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Biosecurity BriefingDIA Establishes National Center for Medical Intelligence By Matthew Watson, July 11, 2008 On June 2, 2008, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) issued a press release announcing the dedication of its National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) at Fort Detrick, Maryland.1 The NCMI, formerly the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (AFMIC), is charged with monitoring and analyzing health events that could negatively impact the health of U.S. military and civilian populations. Such events would include the emergence of pandemic influenza, novel zoonotic diseases or incidents of bioterrorism.1 According to a July 3 article in the Baltimore Sun, the NCMI will now include a civilian focus that the AFMIC lacked. Recently, AFMIC has provided information to U.S. forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan concerning diseases endemic to those countries.2 The re-tasking of NCMI underscores the recognition of diseases as a potential threat to national security. DIA Director, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples praised NCMI’s expansion into the homeland security arena at a recent dedication ceremony, stating “the National Center for Medical Intelligence is the critical link between Department of Defense force protection and broader homeland health protection…It demonstrates the vital contribution that medical intelligence makes to public health security.”1 NCMI’s analyses will have implications for preparedness efforts against biological threats, including planning, situational awareness, development of medical countermeasures, and healthcare delivery. NCMI will remain a constituent of DIA, and its expanded mission will allow for increased interaction with federal partners outside the Department of Defense. References
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