CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- October 8, 2008

SARS biological warfare accusations cause stir between China and Taiwan
“On Monday, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Chao-Ming told a legislative committee that sources in China indicated that China may have used SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) as part of a biological warfare program, but the accusations could not be proved. […] ‘These are completely groundless and irresponsible comments,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a news conference. ‘Could you help me find the original source so we can find the scoundrel who spread them?’”(Finding Dulcinea; 07Oct08; Josh Katz) http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Asia-Pacific/September-October-08/SARS-Biological-Warfare-Accusations-Cause-Stir-Between-China-and-Taiwan.html#0

DoD launches web site on chemical-biological warfare exposures
“The Defense Department has launched a new Web site to educate the public about chemical and biological testing conducted from the early 1940s through the mid-1970s. ‘This is a new Web site that we have created to put together for all those who may have interest in everything that we have been able to uncover and understand about the chemical and biological testing of warfare agents done from probably the early 1940s up through 1975,’ said Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, strategic communications director for the military Health System.”(Infozine; 08Oct08; Jennifer Cragg) http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/31174/

Flu clinic, emergency exercise [North Dakota]
“First District Health Unit of Minot [ND] held a Point of Dispensing exercise and flu shot clinic Monday […] to practice how they would run a mass vaccination clinic in the event of a public health emergency. ‘If there was a mass need for drug dispensing or vaccines, we would have a way to process people quickly. For example, in an anthrax attack, we would have to have pills in everybody in the community within 48 hours,’ said Jose Estrada, emergency preparedness and response coordinator for First District Health.[…] ‘This is the process we would use in an emergency situation where we needed to vaccinate people quickly. People have made the comment that this is the best flu shot they've ever gotten, because it has gone so quickly,’ said Lisa Clute, CEO for First District Health.”
(The Minot Daily News; 06Oct08; Katina Tengesdal) http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/519729.html?showlayout=0

BIANA S.A. .[producer of NBC protective equipment] exhibiting at Defendory International [Athens, Greece]
“BIANA S.A. is exhibiting at Defendory International 2008, Oct. 7 - 11 in Athens, Greece, at the Hellenikon Exhibition Center. […] Since 1980, the company focused in the production of respiratory protection equipment (gas masks and filters, etc). In 1990 it developed a new model military NBC-gas mask and filter, the ‘COBRA’ mask and the ‘SUPERCOMBI NBC’ filter. In 1997, BIANA signed the first contract with the Hellenic Armed Forces for supplying them with gasmasks and filters. Ever since, it remains the sole supplier of the Greek Armed Forces in these items, with a total up to now of more than 150.000 masks and 300.000 filters. BIANA is ISO 9001 certified and has also a fully equipped training centre for NBC-Protection. Its products are exported in Europe and the Arabic countries.” (PR Newswire; 07Oct08) http://sev.prnewswire.com/aerospace-defense/20081007/NY3734207102008-1.html

Universal Detection Technology inks deal with the US Department of Commerce to market its anthrax detection equipment in Israel
“Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, announced today that through its deal with US Department of Commerce's Commercial Service, it is promoting [the] Company's handheld assays, used for detection of up to five bioterrorism agents […] Situated in a volatile region and under constant threat, Israel lives with a real possibility of a terrorist attack with biological weapons. UNDT's handheld assays can be used by first responders and emergency response personnel to rapidly detect the presence of up to five bio-weapon agents.” (CNN;
08Oct08)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0441185.html

Cenomed [biochemical pharmaceutical company] licenses TorreyPines'
compounds for chemical defense setting
“Cenomed BioSciences has acquired rights to three compounds from TorreyPines Therapeutics for chemical defense and counterterrorism defense: phenserine, Posiphen™, and bisnorcymcerine. TorreyPines will receive milestone and royalty payments. The company plans to prepare these compounds to prevent toxicity following exposure to chemical organophosphorus nerve agents including the chemical warfare agents sarin, soman, tabun, and VX. The candidates have the potential to restore inactivated muscle cells and neural cells throughout the body, according to the companies. Phenserine and Posiphen have reportedly been proven safe and well tolerated following oral administration in clinical trials, while bisnorcymcerine has completed preclinical evaluation.” (GEN; 08Oct08)
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem_print.aspx?name=43194633

Inficon [chemical defense and security company] nabs defense department order worth more than $1.5 million
“Inficon announced an order today for its chemical-identification system that extends an ongoing relationship with the Defense Department. The order is worth $1.65 million. Inficon's HAPSITE Chemical Identification System is a portable product that provides on-site detection and analysis of toxic chemicals in air, soil, and water. The Defense Department uses the system to detect chemical-warfare agents and other toxic materials in the field.” (Central New York Business Journal; 06Oct08; Kevin Tampone)
http://www.cnybj.com/index.php?id=408&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=8988&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&cHash=c39686a106

U.S. takes back HEU fuel from overseas reactors
“The United States has retrieved 52 kilograms of highly enriched uranium spent fuel from overseas nuclear reactors in the past 12 months, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) disclosed today. The announcement revealed the latest progress of a program designed to repatriate material the United States provided to friendly nations between the 1950s and 1970s when there was little perceived risk of terrorists stealing weapon-usable nuclear materials. During the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, NNSA officials coordinated the return of all ‘eligible’ highly enriched uranium spent fuel from four nations: Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Romania.” (Global Security Newswire; 07Oct08; Greg Webb)
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2008_10_7.html#06B0E925

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.