U.S. Government Documents on Agents and Diseases

This is our working compendium of biosecurity-related U.S. government documents in the public domain. To recommend a government document for inclusion, please email the Webmaster.

Department of Defense

• Medical Management of Biological Casualties (2005)
• Medical NBC Battlebook (2000)
• Defense Against Toxin Weapons (1997)
• Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Textbook of Military Medicine (1997, external link)

Department of Health and Human Services

• Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Implementation Plan (2007)
• Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Strategy (2007)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• List of Select Agents and Toxins (2006)
• Interim Recommendations for Firefighters and Other First Responders for the Selection and Use of Protective Clothing and Respirators Against Biological Agents (2001)  

Government Accountability Office (formerly General Accounting Office)

• Anthrax Detection: DHS Cannot Ensure that Sampling Activities Will Be Validated (2007)
• Anthrax: Federal Agencies Have Taken Some Steps to Validate Sampling Methods and to Develop a Next-Generation Anthrax Vaccine (2006)
• Chemical and Biological Defense: DoD Needs Consistent Policies and Clear Processes to Address the Survivability of Weapon Systems Against Chemical and Biological Threats (2006)  
• Anthrax Detection: Agencies Need to Validate Sampling Activities in Order to Increase Confidence in Negative Results (2005)
• Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts (2004)
• U.S. Postal Service: Better Guidance Is Needed to Ensure an Appropriate Response to Anthrax Contamination (2004)
• Bioterrorism: Public Health Response to Anthrax Incidents of 2001 (2003)
• Capitol Hill Anthrax Incident: EPA's Cleanup Was Successful; Opportunities Exist to Enhance Contract Oversight (2003)
• SARS Outbreak: Improvements to Public Health Capacity Are Needed for Responding to Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases (2003)
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Established Infectious Disease Control Measures Helped Contain Spread, But a Large-Scale Resurgence May Pose Challenges (2003)
• Smallpox Vaccination: Implementation of National Program Faces Challenges (2003)
• Smallpox Vaccination: Review of the Implementation of the Military Program (2003)
• U.S. Postal Service: Better Guidance Is Needed to Improve Communication Should Anthrax Contamination Occur in the Future (2003)
• U.S. Postal Service: Issues Associated with Anthrax Testing at the Wallingford Facility (2003)
• Homeland Security: CDC's Oversight of the Select Agent Program (2002)
• Anthrax Vaccine: Changes to the Manufacturing Process (2001)
• Anthrax Vaccine: GAO's Survey of Guard and Reserve Pilots and Aircrew (2000)
• Chemical and Biological Defense: Observations on Nonmedical Chemical and Biological R&D Programs (2000)
• State Department: Serious Problems in the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (2000)
• West Nile Virus Outbreak: Lessons for Public Health Preparedness (2000)

The White House

• Executive Order-- Optimizing the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the United States (2010) (External Link)