February 3, 2012

Note: All links were accessed and active on day of newsletter publication.

Government Affairs

Biological Attack Threat Cited as Pentagon Bolsters Defenses (Bloomberg) The Pentagon is increasing spending to combat biological threats, such as highly toxic ricin, as U.S. spy agencies warn that a terrorist group might conduct a “limited” attack “in the next year.” Go to article

Pakistani Officials Send Mixed Signals on Identity of Anthrax Mailer (Global Security Newswire) Pakistani officials have issued conflicting statements on the identity of the individual who mailed anthrax spores to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in October. Go to article 

Science & Biosecurity

Biosafety Advisory: Efficiently Transmissible Engineered Influenza A H5N1 Viruses (Public Health Agency of Canada) This biosafety advisory is being provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in response to recent publications of efficiently transmissible engineered Influenza A H5N1 viruses. Go to article

India to Open High-Security Disease Research Lab (Global Security Newswire) India intends in a matter of months to begin operations at a high-security laboratory that would work with anthrax bacteria, the Ebola virus and other lethal disease agents that could be used in acts of biological terrorism, the Indian Express reported on Thursday. Go to article 

Global Health & Biosecurity

Japan to Develop Predictive Capacity for Dispersal of WMD Agents (Global Security Newswire) Japan intends to establish the capacity to forecast the dispersal patterns of dangerous materials released following a potential WMD attack or mishap, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday. Go to article

New Study Doubles Estimate of Global Malaria Deaths (Washington Post) The number of people who die annually of malaria is roughly double the current estimate, with a huge overlooked death toll in adults who, according to conventional teaching, rarely die of the tropical disease. Go to article

Progress in Global Measles Control, 2000–2010 (MMWR) In 1980, before widespread global use of measles vaccine, an estimated 2.6 million measles deaths occurred worldwide. Go to article

Other 21^st Century Threats

U.S. Officials Concerned by Israel Statements on Iran Threat, Possible Strike (Washington Post) Israeli leaders on Thursday delivered one of the bluntest warnings to date of possible airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites, adding to the anxiety in Western capitals that a surprise attack by Israel could spark a broader military conflict in the Middle East. Go to article

Disasters & Terrorism

DHS Secretary: 62 Tons of Bomb-making Chemicals Seized Since October 2010 (ABC News) More than 62 metric tons of materials used to make improvised explosive devices and 31 people have been arrested by the United States and other nations under a Department of Homeland Security program to track unusual shipments of the so-called “precursor chemicals,” DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today. Go to article