Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secy. Mike Leavitt announced that the agency is allocating nearly $1.1 billion for the FY2008 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) cooperative agreements.
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:10:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-06-06-hhs1billionphhospprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Four articles from journal Chest offer guidance for hospitals, health professionals, and public health officials on providing mass critical care during a disaster. The documents were drafted by the Task Force for Mass Critical Care.
Mon, 12 May 2008 15:41:36 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/hosp_prep/2008-05-09-guideancecritcaredisaste.html
Biosecurity Briefing: IOM released report, Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on Developing a Distribution and Dispensing Program. Toronto approved a plan to purchase antiviral medication to treat city employees in the event of flu pandemic.
Mon, 05 May 2008 15:45:31 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-05-02-iomantiviraldistribution.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Department of Homeland Security FEMA issued a press release announcing the availability of "preliminary observations from national exercise TOP OFFICIALS 4 (TOPOFF 4)."
Biosecurity Briefing: The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released draft planning guidance to help state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments address the needs of at-risk populations during a flu pandemic.
Biosecurity Briefing: A study in the American Journal of Public Health highlights effective communication with the public about emerging health threats. Also, FCC adopts rules allowing wireless carriers to transmit timely and accurate alerts, warnings.
Biosecurity Briefing: A new study published by Emerging Infectious Diseases describes the specific "ways in which different socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups might fare differently in an influenza pandemic..."
Biosecurity Briefing: Trust for America's Health released a new report that examines federal and state funding for public health as well as key health indicators and total per capita public health spending for each state.
Biosecurity Briefing: DHHS/ASPR has published the first in a planned series of playbooks addressing response to disasters and other large scale emergencies.
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:18:53 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-28-aspr1stplaybook.html
Biosecurity Briefing: In January 2007, the CDC began a series of exercises to determine the types of challenges that may arise in the early stages of an influenza pandemic. CIDRAP News reported the CDC recently held the fourth exercise in this series.
Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:41:10 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-03-21-cdchhspanfluexercises.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On February 28, 2008, the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) released an interim report to evaluate the level of pandemic preparedness of states.
Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:52:08 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-03-14-natlgovassocevalpanprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: A study of the CDC MedKit concept demonstrated that pre-positioning caches of antibiotics in individual households could be an effective strategy to ensure public has access to medical countermeasures after a release of anthrax.
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:14:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-14-medkitscntrdiststrategy.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Institute of Medicine convened the "Workshop on Medical Countermeasures Dispensing." The meeting focused largely on business sector involvement in and solutions for countermeasures distribution.
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:01:05 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-14-iomwrkshpmedcntrdispense.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) announced at a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill that "the current public health workforce is inadequate to meet the health needs of the U.S. and global population."
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:05:49 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-03-07-asphphwrkforceshortage.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Governor Schwarzenegger of California announced the creation of the first state cabinet-level office for volunteer management in the nation in an effort to "move civic engagement to the highest levels of state government."
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:14:10 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/community_engage/2008-03-07-ca1stcabinetvolunteermgt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: A series of articles published within the last week provide new insight on the challenges Uganda faced in trying to control a recent outbreak of Ebola.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:11:40 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/vhf/2008-02-29-ebolaugandalookschallenges.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The CDC released a report that evaluated, on a state-by-state basis (and the District of Columbia), the cumulative impact of the agency's Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreements.
Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:36:56 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-02-22-cdcreportstatesphp.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Dept of Homeland Security released the National Response Framework, which is intended to be "a guide to how the Nation conducts all-hazards response" to disaster management.
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:26:36 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/2008-01-25-dhsreleasenatlrespframe.html
Biosecurity Briefing: A study in the Journal of PH Mgmt and Practice finds that physicians may be "significantly" more likely to report notifiable diseases to PH agencies if they are given electronic disease reporting instructions and email reminders.
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:39:38 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-01-18-studyelecinfoimprovrpt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The ACLU identifies concerns about a perceived shift in pandemic planning strategy in the post-Sept 11 era which, according to the ACLU, has moved away from a public health focus and toward a law enforcement/nat'l security focus.
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:30:03 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-01-18-acluadvocateschanges.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Key finding in RAND Corp. study was that PH depts "that staff disease reporting hotlines with live operators at all times are more likely to meet federal guidelines designed to help stop the spread of infectious disease."
Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:37:15 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/2008-01-11-randdiseaserpting.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The NEJM published an article by Dr. Susan Okie which describes the conditions at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, including future "implications for patient care during disasters."
Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:41:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/hosp_prep/2008-01-11-prosecutionkatrina.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Trust for America's Health released its 2007 annual preparedness report, Ready or Not, which "contains state-by-state health preparedness scores based on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities."
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:40:56 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/content/2007-12-21-tfahreleasesedannualpreprprt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt officially announced the 13 voting members of the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB). It met for the first time from December 17-18 in Washington, DC.
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:16:48 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-12-21-natlbiodefensescienceboard.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On December 1, 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an online "tool-kit" titled, Take the Lead: Working Together to Prepare Now, on its pandemic planning website.
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:26:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-12-07-hhsreleasespanflupreptoolkit.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Commentaries raise questions about results published in a JAMA study that "now serves as the core support for the recent CDC recommendations for the use of community mitigation strategies...during a[n influenza] pandemic."
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:40:09 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-11-30-studysupportcdcfluluguidancequestioned.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced the release of a report that outlines four planning products that can help community health call centers participate in emergency response.
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:52:41 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-11-02-ahrqrprtengagngcomcallcntrsphresponse.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS released a progress report "highlighting some of the major activities that the Department has undertaken" since the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) was signed in to law in December 2006.
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:39:09 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-11-02-hhspanall-hazprepactprogressrprt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On October 23, 2007, the U.S. government released "Draft Guidance on Allocating and Targeting Pandemic Influenza Vaccine" to provide states and communities with guidance on who should be vaccinated.
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:31:14 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-10-26-fedgovdraftguidpanvacpubcomments.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The White House released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 establishing a "National Strategy for Public Health and Medical Preparedness." It builds upon "key principles" from previous White House releases.
Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:27:42 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/content/2007-10-19-whreleaseshspd21natlstrategyphprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On September 10, 2007, the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) announced the publication of an emergency preparedness report and tools designed to offer guidance about sheltering in place during a public health crisis.
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:24:15 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/content/2007-09-28-nyacadmedtoolsshelter.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The GAO released a review of federal pandemic influenza preparedness activities entitled Influenza Pandemic: Further Efforts are Needed to Ensure Clearer Federal Leadership Roles and an Effective National Strategy.
Biosecurity Briefing: The House Committee on Homeland Security expressed disappointment regarding the pace with which the agency has moved toward the development and procurement of a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Leavitt announced that his department is making available an additional $75 million for "states, territories and four metropolitan areas to help strengthen their capacity to respond to a pandemic influenza outbreak."
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:02:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-31-hhsannouncesextra75milpanprep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On August 23, 2007 the World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2007 World Health Report on global public health threats in the 21st century. The report focuses on the increasing threat from infectious diseases.
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:28:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-31-whofindsinfectiousdisphsecuritythreat.html
Biosecurity Briefing: In July 2007, the Journal of Urban Health published a study that finds that most pandemic preparedness plans fail to consider the specific challenges of distributing influenza drugs and vaccines to hard-to-reach populations.
Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:46:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/community_engage/content/2007-08-24-studyexamsraisefluvachardreachpop.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Indonesian health officials have announced they will begin using an H5N1 flu vac in Sept in spite of the fact the World Health Organization recommends that Indonesia save the vaccine for use only when a pandemic occurs.
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:12:13 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-17-despitewhorecommendindonesiabeginvac.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Vaccine published the findings of a work group charged with developing recommendations for rationing limited supplies of vaccine during a worst-case (1918-like) flu pandemic.
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:43:37 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-17-panfluworkgroupvacrationmn.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is concerned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is still unprepared to handle large-scale disasters such as 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:38:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-08-03-congressgaoconcerndisasterresponse.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The AMA announced release of consensus report that provides 53 "strategic recommendations" intended to "promote a coordinated national agenda for strengthening health system preparedness for terrorism and other disasters."
Biosecurity Briefing: Health Affairs article reviewed the infectious disease surveillance systems around the globe and concludes that gaps remain that may hinder early warning and response efforts in the event of a pandemic.
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, announced the award of $896.7 million in FY2007 grants to states, territories, and four metropolitan areas "to improve and sustain their ability to respond to public health emergencies."
Biosecurity Briefing: On July 6, 2007, CIDRAP News reported that four Stanford University students have proposed a model for a local pandemic influenza information hotline that would be staffed by home-based volunteers.
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 28, 2007, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, announced the award of $430 million in grants to states, territories, and four major metropolitan areas to better prepare healthcare networks.
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 22, 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of its new Global Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Response Plan.
Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:26:47 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-06-22-who_responseplandrugresistanttb.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Two articles in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) analyze the medical and public health impacts of the SARS outbreak in Toronto and call into question the effectiveness of quarantine and restrictions on elective procedures.
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:46:55 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/pub_health_prep/content/2007-06-22-analysistorontosarsquarantine.html
Biosecurity Briefing: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the agency has established a public health advisory board to provide guidance on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. He also announced contracts for flu vaccine.
Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:36:01 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/govt_response/content/2007-06-22-hhscbrnadvisorybrdvaxcontracts.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 1, 2007, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a summary of a September 2006 workshop entitled Ethical and Legal Considerations in Mitigating Pandemic Disease.
Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:47:22 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-06-15-iomrprtethicallegalmitigatepandemic.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Study published in the journal Disaster Management and Response, most first responders surveyed would not fulfill their duties in an infectious disease outbreak such as smallpox or pandemic influenza, for fear of exposure to illness.
Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:56:28 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/hosp_prep/content/2007-06-01-studyfirstresponderswillrpt.html
