National Guard weapons of mass destruction (WMD) civil support teams respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents throughout the homeland and advise and assist local and civil authorities on response measures. A team's success can often be measured by how quickly it can analyze and identify the threat and provide the incident commander with an assessment for containing the situation.
Biological “detectives” are tracking biothreats, but they constantly face the challenge of avoiding false positives. Sounding the alarm over a bioattack, only to find it is a harmless relative in the same genus, reduces credibility and public trust. New work at Los Alamos National Laboratory is reducing confusion over Francisella bacteria, a few species of which include highly virulent pathogens.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to address public health needs related to Hurricane Harvey and to deploy resources and personnel as requested. The EOC monitors and coordinates CDC-related activities in response to public health threats, including drowning and floodwater safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, downed power lines, unsafe food and water, mold, and other health risks.
Hurricanes can cause dangerous and destructive high winds, flooding, heavy rain, and storm surges. Keep your family safe after a hurricane has made landfall. There may be a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, downed power lines, and mold, among others. Key recommendations and tips included.
As an additional measure in the fight against Zika virus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has made available a panel of human plasma samples to aid in the regulatory evaluation of serological tests to detect recent Zika virus infection.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to evaluate new identity verification technology that can reduce the time it takes for travelers to pass through security. In June, TSA began conducting a series of proof-of-concept tests for new biometric fingerprint technology.
Metronome Software, with funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), is developing a technology solution that will significantly enhance the security of mobile device-based sensor systems used by first responders. This solution will provide multilayer threat protection and immediate situational awareness to first responders.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unveiled CalEclipse.org with a call to Californians to Do Your Thing and reduce electricity use during The Great Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017. This will allow California to burn fewer fossil fuels and emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions when California’s solar energy production dips during the eclipse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded more than $200 million through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases cooperative agreement to help states, cities, counties, and territories prevent, detect, respond to, and control the growing threats posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
