The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and more than 35 development partners, released the 2014 National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI), which measures and advances the nation's readiness to protect people during a health emergency or disaster.
Astrophysics Inc. recently announced that the company has been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agency. The contract allows purchasing of small, medium and large X-ray systems, their associated peripherals, training and warranties in support of CBP's Non-Intrusive Inspection program.
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell recently announced a declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act to facilitate the development and availability of experimental Ebola vaccines. This declaration is intended to assist in the global community's effort to combat the current epidemic in West Africa and help prevent future outbreaks.
Early data suggests that the current 2014-2015 flu season could be severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges immediate vaccination for anyone still unvaccinated this season and recommends prompt treatment with antiviral drugs for people at high risk of complications who develop the flu.
Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization and Rhombus Power Inc., a Silicon Valley startup located in the NASA Research Park, recently announced they have teamed to offer solutions to the Department of Defense for the Man-Portable Radiation Detection System (MRDS) program.
With collaboration from more than 35 federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently issued the Federal Health IT (Information Technology) Strategic Plan 2015-2020 - a coordinated and focused effort to appropriately collect, share, and use interoperable health information.
The 19th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention took place 1-5 December 2014 in The Hague, Netherlands. This update includes a statement made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with regard to chemical weapon use.
The fastest-growing metropolitan area in New Mexico will soon be upgraded to an advanced emergency medical services (EMS) and fire records system by ImageTrend, the national leader in electronic records for EMS. Advanced reporting will enhance information about public safety regarding the services provided by the city's fire department.
SureScan Corporation recently announced that its x1000 Computed Tomography Explosives Detection System has achieved U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) certification. Setting a new industry standard, the x1000 is the first TSA-certified multienergy, stationary gantry explosives detection system.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health officials have identified and designated 35 hospitals as Ebola treatment centers. These centers are staffed, equipped, and have been assessed to have current capabilities, training and resources to provide the complex treatment necessary to care for a person with Ebola, while minimizing risk to healthcare workers.
