Monitoring USG action on readiness and response
Preparedness Pulsepoints | Monitoring USG action on readiness and response
Published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Editors: Diane Meyer, RN, MPH; Divya Hosangadi, MSPH & Amanda Kobokovich, MPH
February 19, 2019
Public Health & Healthcare Preparedness
NOTICE
Blood Products Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces a forthcoming public advisory committee meeting of the Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC). The general function of the committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Agency on regulatory issues related to blood and products derived from blood.    (Federal Register, 2/15/19)
 
STATEMENT
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on New Programs to Promote the Adoption of Innovations in Drug Manufacturing That Can Improve Quality and Lower Drug Costs. Ensuring the safety of our nation's drug supply is a cornerstone of our consumer protection mission. One of the fundamental elements of overseeing the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals is having a clear understanding of the specific processes and technologies used to manufacture drugs throughout their lifecycle.  (FDA, 2/15/19)
REPORT
Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report. Influenza activity continues to increase in the United States. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses continue to co-circulate. Below is a summary of the key influenza indicators for the week ending February 9, 2019   (CDC, 2/15/19)
PRESS RELEASE
E&C BIPARTISAN LEADERS ANNOUNCE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON MEASLES OUTBREAK AND RESPONSE EFFORTS ON FEBRUARY 27.  Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Brett Guthrie (R-KY) announced today that the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the current measles outbreak and response efforts on Wednesday, February 27.  (House Committee on Energy & Commerce, 2/14/19)
NEWS
FDA Confirms Salmonella in Tahini Product; Company Hasn't Initiated Recall. A public health alert posted today by the FDA warns consumers about Salmonella found in another tahini product. The implicated company, Soom Foods, had not initiated a recall at the time of the FDA alert, according to the agency.  (Food Safety News, 2/13/9) 
NEWS
National Health Security Strategy Includes All-Of-Government Approach to Combat Threats. Extreme weather events, a CBRN incident, cyberthreats and infectious diseases having pandemic potential all put Americans on notice for 21st century health security hazards, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says in its newly developed National Health Security Strategy 2019-2022.  (Homeland Preparedness News, 2/13/19)
STATEMENT
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. and Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas on Findings from the Agency's Investigation of the November 2018 Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in California-linked Romaine Lettuce. The US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acted quickly to protect consumers from an emerging outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce by issuing a public warning this past November and recommending that industry and retailers voluntarily remove the product from the market.  (FDA, 2/13/19) 
NEWS
Senators Push CDC to Use Vaccines Amidst Washington Measles Outbreak. With 79 measles cases already confirmed this year, the top Democrat and Republican on the U.S. Senate health committee have dispatched a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), urging them to promote vaccine use.  (Homeland Preparedness News, 2/12/19)
REPORT
Ready or Not: Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism, 2019. One lesson from recent events is that emergencies happen. And happen often. From disease outbreaks to natural disasters to man-made crises, the stakes are high: Americans face serious health risks and even death with increasing regularity. Therefore, as a nation, it's critical to ask, "Are we prepared?"  (Trust for America's Health, February 2019)
Homeland Security & Disaster Preparedness
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.  CSEPP is funded under the chemical demilitarization program, a major defense acquisition program executed by the Department of Defense. CSEPP augments the Army's Chemical Materials Activity (CMA), whose mission is to safely store the stockpile by ensuring maximum protection to its workers, the public, and the environment.   (Grants.gov, 2/15/19)
NEWS
EPA Blasted for Failing to Set Drinking Water Limits for 'Forever Chemicals'. After intense pressure from politicians and environmental and public health groups, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published a plan to tackle industrial chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are showing up in drinking water supplies across the nation. But critics say the plan is vague and lacks regulatory teeth, and it will do little to reduce health risks.  (Science, 2/14/19)
REPORT
CHINA'S BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF US AND OTHER FOREIGN ENGAGEMENT.  The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission released a report entitled China's Biotechnology Development: The Role of US and Other Foreign Engagement, prepared for the Commission by Gryphon Scientific and Rhodium Group. The report examines the development of China's biotechnology industry and the role foreign trade, investment, and other linkages-particularly with the United States-have played in its evolution (USCC, 2/14/19)
 
BLOG
National Disaster Medical System: Bringing More Than Teams of Professional Medical Providers. The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) has a heroic, yet complex, mission to save lives and protect Americans. When disaster strikes, it's potentially the worst day in the lives of hundreds - if not thousands - of people. Therefore, our mobilization, implementation, and execution need to be streamlined and seamless.  (ASPR, 2/13/19)
BLOG
Protecting the Nation from Emerging and Pandemic Infectious Diseases and CBRN Threats. As we scan the threat landscape as a new year begins, we find that we face a range of evolving threats to national health security. Among these risk are emerging infectious diseases that could lead to pandemic and the potential for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. (ASPR, 2/13/19) 
Radiological & Nuclear Disaster Preparedness
NEWS
NNSA Project to Advance Stockpile Stewardship Reaches key Milestone. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has approved the conceptual design and cost range for the Advanced Sources and Detectors (ASD) project.   (NISA, 2/14/19)
 
REPORT
NUCLEAR WASTE: DOE Should Take Actions to Improve Oversight of Cleanup Milestones. The Department of Energy is tasked with cleaning up waste from Cold War nuclear weapons production, much of which is hazardous or radioactive. DOE spends about $6 billion a year on this cleanup, and faces about $500 billion in future liabilities.  (GAO, 2/14/19)
NEWS
Why Withdrawing from the INF Treaty Might Be Unconstitutional. No one really knows who gets to cancel treaties, but courts may defer to a Congress that prefers not to.  (Defense One, 2/14/19) 
Science & Technology Policy
NEWS
Senate Homeland Security Committee Advances Cybersecurity Bill. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced three bills this week designed to bolster federal efforts to prevent cyberattacks and increase federal government transparency online.  (Homeland Preparedness News, 2/15/19)
NEWS
US Science Agencies Set for Budget Boost in Deal to Avert Government Shutdown. NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency are among the agencies whose funding would increase. (Nature, 2/14/19)
PRESS RELEASE
Barrasso: Invasive Species Threaten Wildlife, Public Health, and Infrastructure.  Today, US Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a hearing titled "The Invasive Species Threat: Protecting Wildlife, Public Health, and Infrastructure."  (US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 2/13/19)
 
PRESS RELEASE
Chairwoman Johnson Opening Statement for State of Climate Science Hearing.  Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding its first full Committee hearing titled, "The State of Climate Science and Why It Matters."  (House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, 2/13/19)
NEWS
NIST Marks Fifth Anniversary of Popular Cybersecurity Framework. Five years after the release of the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, organizations across all sectors of the economy are creatively deploying this voluntary approach to better management of cybersecurity-related risks. (NIST, 2/12/19) 
This Week's Hearings
There are no hearings this week. 
 

 

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