By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 21, 2009 - Wyoming's committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has been busy for 18 months preparing businesses that will be hard-hit by the largest reserve deployment in state history. The state is readying nearly 1,000 troops -- more than half of its Army National Guard soldiers and more than a third of its total Guard force -- for deployment to Iraq and Kuwait in April. The impact has been felt throughout the nation's least-populous state, and nearly every community is affected, top leaders say.
"The effect is pretty much the same everywhere, but because we are a low-population state and we're talking such high numbers, ... the effect is amplified in our state," Janet Cowley, the state chair for the Wyoming ESGR committee, said in an interview Jan. 9.
Fortunately, for this deployment, the Cheyenne-based 115th Fires Brigade has known for about 18 months that it would deploy. The ESGR program has used the extra time to increase its information and education efforts with employers across the state, Cowley said.
In Wyoming, the ESGR program has a volunteer director and chair and one paid administrative person. More than 30 trained volunteers are scattered across the state. Two ombudsmen are trained to mediate issues between employers and troops.
The staff and volunteers meet regularly with employers, community leaders and civic organizations. One ESGR representative recently traveled across the state with the brigade leadership, briefing at community meetings and meeting with local business leaders.
Wherever there is a military presence in the state, there is a trained ESGR representative, Cowley said.
"We push the communication issue pretty far to make sure that they know that they can come to us whenever they need to," Cowley said.
The size of this deployment has left many employers, especially smaller ones, in a pinch -- caught between wanting to support the troops and suffering from losing them to extended training weekends, longer annual trainings and frequent deployments, Cowley said.
Cowley met this month with senior leaders of the state's highway patrol. Law enforcement agencies have been hit especially hard in the state, with one county losing nine of its deputies to the deployment.
Cowley said that nearly all employers she has met with say they want to support the troops. Many in Wyoming offer to pay deploying soldiers any difference in their salaries between their military and civilian pay. Also, many give troops additional paid time off for military training.
But, she said, many are finding it difficult to maintain staff schedules as the soldiers are pulled out for days and weeks for training in preparation for the deployment. It is especially hard on those agencies that operate 24 hours daily, such as law enforcement and health care, and on small businesses that have very little depth in their employee pool.
"We have to protect the rights of those military members. They cannot and should not be discriminated against," Cowley said. "But nobody's made a law that stands up for the rights of these employers that have to let these folks go. They have to keep their business going.
"How do you do it all and keep everybody happy?" she asked.
Cowley said the state's low unemployment rate doesn't help, either.
"We don't have a lot of extra people running around unemployed," she said. "The folks that they're taking oftentimes ... aren't people they can replace easily."
Cowley said her biggest challenge is getting the support promised from senior executives to filter down to midlevel supervisors, who work the schedules and who may not understand the law. While some employers may overlook the laws supporting reservists, she said, most infractions are the result of misunderstandings or ignorance.
And most times communication is the simple resolution, she said.
"There are answers to the issues. Most of the time communication answers the problem," Cowley said. "We need that military member to provide the communication to the employer, and we need the employer to understand what their requirements are under the ... law."
Servicemembers need to understand their obligations to the employers and "do the right thing," she said.
"If I could have one slide at a briefing, it would say communicate, communicate, communicate," Cowley said. "Talk to each other. Tell your employer what's going on in your military world, and as an employer, talk to your military member about what they need on their schedule.
"It's all about getting the information funneled to the people who need it," Cowley said.
Showing posts with label wyoming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wyoming. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, September 15, 2008
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- September 15, 2008
Designer DNA’ firms step up security over bioterrorism threat
“According to a report in New Scientist in 2005, some gene synthesis companies were not checking their orders for potentially dangerous DNA sequences. Since then, the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has called for better screening. Now, the Industry Association of Synthetic Biology (IASB) has said that its members will carry a seal of approval on their websites confirming that they do screen their orders. […] IASB members will cooperate to improve the software used to identify suspicious orders and will set up a secure database detailing which DNA sequences make pathogens highly virulent.” (Top News-Health; 15Sep08; Mohit Joshi)
http://www.topnews.in/health/designer-dna-firms-step-security-over-bioterrorism-threat-24414
State lawmakers’ agenda includes health care, energy and transportation funding [Pennsylvania]
“But the short calendar leaves Rep. Ken Smith, D-112, frustrated. Mr.
Smith hoped to see action this fall on his bill to give state officials specific authority to deal with everything from quarantines to supplies of antibiotics in the event of a bioterrorism attack or pandemic. The measure would revamp state public health laws to reflect the post-9/11 era. Now he frets there isn’t enough time to take this major bill. ‘If you are looking at only nine session days, how are we going to get that done?’ he asked.”
(Daily Review; 15 Sep08; Robert Swift)
http://www.thedailyreview.com/articles/2008/09/15/news/tw_review.20080915.a.pg7.tw15swift_s1.1947043_loc.txt
Boy Scout OK after bout with bubonic plague [contracted in Wyoming]
“He arrived at MidState Medical Center’s emergency room with a swollen gland and high fever, and was placed on antibiotics for a suspected case of the mumps until tests later determined he had bubonic plague. […] ‘I didn’t believe it,’ said Dr. Jaber Aslanzadeh, director of microbiology at the lab. ‘I said, Oh my God, this can’t be. I have been in business for 20 years, and this is the first time I had seen it.’ The laboratory does bioterrorism testing for the state Department of Health and, following protocol, they notified the department of the rare find. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta confirmed the finding.” (Boston Herald; 14Sep08; Source: AP) http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/2008_09_14_Boy_Scout_OK_after_bout_with_bubonic_plague_1/srvc=home&position=recent
Anthrax probe prompts feds to review lab security
“Scientists accustomed to working alone with deadly pathogens could be forced to buddy up in the laboratory as military officials and civilian contractors review security measures in the wake of the FBI's conclusions about the 2001 anthrax mailings. Some scientists object to expanding the ‘two-person’ rule. They say besides the practical issues of having to work with someone else, placing a second person in the lab wouldn't prevent a scientist from sneaking out a smidgeon of material — under their fingernail, for example.[…] Jeffrey J. Adamovicz, a former head of USAMRIID's [U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases] bacteriology division, said microbiologists often must visit their labs at odd hours to check on or prepare for experiments. ‘Often times, you need to pull something out of a freezer and initiate a culture. A person would come in on a Sunday morning and do that so it would be ready for them on Sunday afternoon. Now you're saying you have to find somebody on a Sunday morning. That's ruining their weekend for a half-hour procedure — it's that kind of issue,’ Adamovicz said.” (Associated Press; 13Sep08; David
Dishneau)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jO3nR_FFa9T5ylSioLYjBEWVTOEwD935EQC01
Envelope with flour closes senator's office [Florida State Senator Evelyn Lynn-R]
“The white powdery substance inside a suspicious envelope sent to state Sen. Evelyn Lynn's beachside office Friday turned out to be flour. It took a cadre of firefighters, Police officers, hazardous materials experts and an FBI agent all baking under the sultry afternoon sun for four hours to come to that conclusion. Some of those emergency workers had been through the same drill just four days earlier, when an envelope containing white powder that was also eventually determined to be flour showed up at U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney's [FL-R] office in Port Orange.” (News-Journal; 13Sep08; Eileen Zaffiro) http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03091308.htm
Volunteers needed for medical emergency sites
“Hope for the best, and plan for the worst. That's the idea behind a federal program organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 72 metropolitan areas nationwide, including Palm Beach and Broward counties [Florida], in which local agencies or volunteers dispense medication and information in the event of a public health emergency. Plans vary city to city, but hundreds of volunteers and Palm Beach County Health Department employees are set up to operate 45 strategically placed points of distributing, or PODs, around the county. […] PODs were organized in the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks, the largest bio-terror attack in American history. Anthrax-laced letters were discovered in a Boca Raton office building, New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C.” (Sun Sentinel; 13Sep08; Khari Johnson) http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppods0913pnsep13,0,5675480.story
White powder sent to Star Banner not anthrax
“Ocala Police Department officials said Friday morning that preliminary tests on the white powder contained in an envelope delivered to the Star-Banner on Thursday were negative for radioactive, explosive or biological components. After the powder was discovered, it was transported by officials with the health department to a laboratory in Jacksonville for testing.” (Ocala; 13Sep08)
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080913/NEWS/809130342/1377/NEWS&title=Police_Beat_for_Sept__13__2008
Global health collaborations a focus for new [University of] Albany center
“The University at Albany School of Public Health has established the Center for Global Health to serve as a focal point for collaborations with universities and public health agencies in Costa Rica, the Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Vietnam, and Mexico. Research will include cancer, bioterrorism, HIV/AIDS, access to health care, genetic engineering, maternal mortality and protecting water supplies.” (Times Union; 12Sep08; Cathleen F. Crowley) http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=719924&category=REGION
Hiring frenzy at FDA [Food & Drug Administration]; Agency will grown by 1,300
“The Food and Drug Administration has recently hired more than 1,300 professional staffers in a move that officials hope will help it better protect the public health amid rapid technological and scientific change. […] Independent observers said the staffing increase is only a first step, albeit one that is much needed. […] Of the total 1,317 positions, 770 are new jobs and 547 are posts that were left vacant by people leaving the agency for other jobs or because of retirement. […] The campaign's apparent success shows that public service is still attractive for highly specialized professionals, said Arthur Levin, director of the Center for Medical Consumers in New York. But he cautioned that the FDA has a history of letting such gains slip away. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the agency hired food inspectors to guard against the threat of bioterrorism. But it gradually cut back on the program.” (Modesto Bee; 12Sep08; Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, AP) http://www.modbee.com/business/story/427141.html
NIH [National Institute of Health] funds SIGA [Technologies inc.] Dengue Antiviral Program
“The grant, totaling $963,000 over a two-year period, will help to fund lead optimization and animal efficacy trials for SIGA's Dengue antiviral program. Successful outcomes from these activities could lead to a Phase II award in the future.” (Trading Markets; 12Sep08; Todd Fromer) http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1878375/
Officials: [Galveston] Texas lab with dangerous pathogens secured
“The pathogens, which include the deadly Ebolavirus, were purposely destroyed before the staff left the facility in advance of the hurricane […] The laboratory followed protocols for shutting, said Gretchen Michael, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said that for security reasons, she would not detail the procedures or describe the agents. A Department of Homeland Security official concurred that all the samples had been destroyed, and the building was locked down, quarantined and ‘rendered safe.’” (CNN; 12Sep08; Deanne Mesevre) http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/12/ike.biological.agents/
Drug-resistant plague - A bioterrorism concern?
“Yersinia pestis can normally be treated and cured with a course of antibiotics, if caught within a few days of the symptoms. But researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have located a gene that could mutate to make Y. pestis resistant to many common drugs. Scientists believe that antibiotic-resistant Y. pestis should potentially concern the public and scientific community, because the bacteria might be used as a potential bioterrorism agent.” (News-Medical; 11Sep08; Source: Cornell University)
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=41403
Newport [Indiana] site ready to close
“The Newport Chemical Depot in western Indiana employed enough people in its heyday to be considered Vermillion County’s largest town. But within two years the once mighty plant will be quiet. The last bit of VX was neutralized last month and the plant along Indiana Route 63 south of Newport is slated for closure. ‘Our mission is to close the depot,’ said Tom Kutz, civilian executive assistant. ‘It will take about a year and a half.’” (Commercial News; 13Sep08; Dennis Bartlow) http://www.commercial-news.com/local/local_story_257225254.html
Over 4 [metric tons] of chemical weapons destroyed in Russia's Kirov Region
“Over 4 t of chemicals have been destroyed so far at a chemical weapons disposal plant in the village of Maradykovo, Kirov Region, and another 20,000 pieces of ammunition are expected to arrive for disposal soon, Russian Zvezda TV reported on 10 September, adding that nearly 20 per cent of Russia's chemical weapons are kept in Kirov Region.” (Red Orbit; 14Sep08; Source: BBC) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1554615/over_4_t_of_chemical_weapons_destroyed_in_russias_kirov/
Nuclear bomb blueprint shared on internet - UN warns
“Libya received the blueprint for a nuclear bomb electronically, raising ‘serious concern’ about the spreading of such sensitive material via the internet, the head of the UN nuclear agency has reported. In a report, which effectively wraps up a four-year investigation into Libya's nuclear weapons programme and its links to the clandestine nuclear bazaar of the Pakistani scientist A Q Khan, Mohamed ElBaradei said that the discovery was ‘disturbing.’ It is possible that other clients of the world's biggest nuclear proliferation network also received the blueprint. […] Nuclear experts point out however that the infrastructure of a state is required for building a bomb, which the IAEA official said would be ‘very complicated for a terrorist organization.’” (New Zealand Herald; 13Sep08; Anne Penketh)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10531996
Beware the deadly castor bean
“I wonder if mothers and grandmothers would have been so liberal with the stuff if they had known that Mussolini used it to coerce dissidents and opponents of his regime into submission. They were forced to consume large quantities of castor oil that could result in severe diarrhea, dehydration and potential death. Civilians and soldiers who said they were too ill to work, were administered less intimidating doses. This was done under the pretext that castor oil was good for you when you were sick. This misconception stayed around for years! […] Believed to be native to northeastern Africa or the Middle East, the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) has been cultivated for centuries for the oil produced from its seeds. Evidence exists that the Egyptians used it to fuel their lamps in ancient times. […] The castor bean is not really a bean, although its seeds do look somewhat like those of the legume family. It's really a member of the spurge (Euphorbia) family and is one of the most poisonous plants known to man.” (Tri-City Herald; 13Sep08; Marianne C. Ophardt) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1203/story/315987.html
Mobile training teams take preparedness on the road
“The Center for Domestic Preparedness’ commitment to train emergency response providers goes beyond standard classroom instruction. Whether it’s tailored to law enforcement, firefighters, or healthcare professionals, the CDP staff offers a wide variety of courses to local jurisdictions. The CDP has averaged 58 mobile training events per week in 2008. […] The training program provides responders with knowledge to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from chemical, biological, explosive, radiological, or other hazardous materials incidents.”
(Forensic Magazine; 15Sep08)
http://www.forensicmag.com/News_Articles.asp?pid=364
US offers pirates $7m bribe for Iran ship entry
“The US has offered USD 7m to the pirates, who hijacked an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Aden, to receive entry permission and search the vessel. […] The US the naval fleet off the Somali coast alleges that The Iran Diyanat was carrying 'uranium and chemical weapons'. Iran's shipping company, however, has declared that the Iranian bulk carrier hired by a German company had no weapons or uranium on board and was carrying 42,500 tons of minerals and industrial products.” (Press TV; 12Sep08)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=69204§ionid=351020501
Hunt for WMDs hits Hauraki Gulf [New Zealand]
“Weapons of mass destruction are on the hit list for New Zealand Customs and the military today as ships from several nations patrol the Hauraki Gulf. The ships and air force aircraft will be part of an international exercise involving several countries which will test New Zealand's ability to find and stop a shipment of material used to make the weapons. Exercise Maru, which begins today and lasts until Friday, was being led by the New Zealand Customs Service and involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Defence Force, several other domestic agencies and the Ports of Auckland. The Australian navy patrol boat HMAS Maryborough and the French navy patrol boat FNS La Glorieuse, were also in Auckland for the exercise which would include ship-boarding and the searching of vessels and containers.” (Nelson Mail; 15Sep08; Source: New Zealand Press
Association)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/4693207a6417.html
Worries simmer over absent North Korean strongman
“‘If Kim Jong Il disappears, there is a significant chance that the entire regime will collapse,’ the conservative mass-circulation [South Korean] Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial Thursday. ‘If that happens, it is difficult to predict what North Korea's 1.17 million-strong military, armed with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, will do next.’ The nuclear standoff remains the biggest crisis. […] South Korea is advancing an existing contingency plan to prepare for ‘any kind of situation whether it be limited or full-scale warfare,’ he was quoted as saying, but to raise the alert level ‘could rather make the people uneasy and provoke North Korea.’” (Associated Press; 13Sep08; Kelly Olsen)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdklkakEe-4bHrnMRyPWp5wdTpyAD935GH601
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.
“According to a report in New Scientist in 2005, some gene synthesis companies were not checking their orders for potentially dangerous DNA sequences. Since then, the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has called for better screening. Now, the Industry Association of Synthetic Biology (IASB) has said that its members will carry a seal of approval on their websites confirming that they do screen their orders. […] IASB members will cooperate to improve the software used to identify suspicious orders and will set up a secure database detailing which DNA sequences make pathogens highly virulent.” (Top News-Health; 15Sep08; Mohit Joshi)
http://www.topnews.in/health/designer-dna-firms-step-security-over-bioterrorism-threat-24414
State lawmakers’ agenda includes health care, energy and transportation funding [Pennsylvania]
“But the short calendar leaves Rep. Ken Smith, D-112, frustrated. Mr.
Smith hoped to see action this fall on his bill to give state officials specific authority to deal with everything from quarantines to supplies of antibiotics in the event of a bioterrorism attack or pandemic. The measure would revamp state public health laws to reflect the post-9/11 era. Now he frets there isn’t enough time to take this major bill. ‘If you are looking at only nine session days, how are we going to get that done?’ he asked.”
(Daily Review; 15 Sep08; Robert Swift)
http://www.thedailyreview.com/articles/2008/09/15/news/tw_review.20080915.a.pg7.tw15swift_s1.1947043_loc.txt
Boy Scout OK after bout with bubonic plague [contracted in Wyoming]
“He arrived at MidState Medical Center’s emergency room with a swollen gland and high fever, and was placed on antibiotics for a suspected case of the mumps until tests later determined he had bubonic plague. […] ‘I didn’t believe it,’ said Dr. Jaber Aslanzadeh, director of microbiology at the lab. ‘I said, Oh my God, this can’t be. I have been in business for 20 years, and this is the first time I had seen it.’ The laboratory does bioterrorism testing for the state Department of Health and, following protocol, they notified the department of the rare find. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta confirmed the finding.” (Boston Herald; 14Sep08; Source: AP) http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/2008_09_14_Boy_Scout_OK_after_bout_with_bubonic_plague_1/srvc=home&position=recent
Anthrax probe prompts feds to review lab security
“Scientists accustomed to working alone with deadly pathogens could be forced to buddy up in the laboratory as military officials and civilian contractors review security measures in the wake of the FBI's conclusions about the 2001 anthrax mailings. Some scientists object to expanding the ‘two-person’ rule. They say besides the practical issues of having to work with someone else, placing a second person in the lab wouldn't prevent a scientist from sneaking out a smidgeon of material — under their fingernail, for example.[…] Jeffrey J. Adamovicz, a former head of USAMRIID's [U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases] bacteriology division, said microbiologists often must visit their labs at odd hours to check on or prepare for experiments. ‘Often times, you need to pull something out of a freezer and initiate a culture. A person would come in on a Sunday morning and do that so it would be ready for them on Sunday afternoon. Now you're saying you have to find somebody on a Sunday morning. That's ruining their weekend for a half-hour procedure — it's that kind of issue,’ Adamovicz said.” (Associated Press; 13Sep08; David
Dishneau)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jO3nR_FFa9T5ylSioLYjBEWVTOEwD935EQC01
Envelope with flour closes senator's office [Florida State Senator Evelyn Lynn-R]
“The white powdery substance inside a suspicious envelope sent to state Sen. Evelyn Lynn's beachside office Friday turned out to be flour. It took a cadre of firefighters, Police officers, hazardous materials experts and an FBI agent all baking under the sultry afternoon sun for four hours to come to that conclusion. Some of those emergency workers had been through the same drill just four days earlier, when an envelope containing white powder that was also eventually determined to be flour showed up at U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney's [FL-R] office in Port Orange.” (News-Journal; 13Sep08; Eileen Zaffiro) http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD03091308.htm
Volunteers needed for medical emergency sites
“Hope for the best, and plan for the worst. That's the idea behind a federal program organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 72 metropolitan areas nationwide, including Palm Beach and Broward counties [Florida], in which local agencies or volunteers dispense medication and information in the event of a public health emergency. Plans vary city to city, but hundreds of volunteers and Palm Beach County Health Department employees are set up to operate 45 strategically placed points of distributing, or PODs, around the county. […] PODs were organized in the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks, the largest bio-terror attack in American history. Anthrax-laced letters were discovered in a Boca Raton office building, New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C.” (Sun Sentinel; 13Sep08; Khari Johnson) http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppods0913pnsep13,0,5675480.story
White powder sent to Star Banner not anthrax
“Ocala Police Department officials said Friday morning that preliminary tests on the white powder contained in an envelope delivered to the Star-Banner on Thursday were negative for radioactive, explosive or biological components. After the powder was discovered, it was transported by officials with the health department to a laboratory in Jacksonville for testing.” (Ocala; 13Sep08)
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080913/NEWS/809130342/1377/NEWS&title=Police_Beat_for_Sept__13__2008
Global health collaborations a focus for new [University of] Albany center
“The University at Albany School of Public Health has established the Center for Global Health to serve as a focal point for collaborations with universities and public health agencies in Costa Rica, the Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Vietnam, and Mexico. Research will include cancer, bioterrorism, HIV/AIDS, access to health care, genetic engineering, maternal mortality and protecting water supplies.” (Times Union; 12Sep08; Cathleen F. Crowley) http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=719924&category=REGION
Hiring frenzy at FDA [Food & Drug Administration]; Agency will grown by 1,300
“The Food and Drug Administration has recently hired more than 1,300 professional staffers in a move that officials hope will help it better protect the public health amid rapid technological and scientific change. […] Independent observers said the staffing increase is only a first step, albeit one that is much needed. […] Of the total 1,317 positions, 770 are new jobs and 547 are posts that were left vacant by people leaving the agency for other jobs or because of retirement. […] The campaign's apparent success shows that public service is still attractive for highly specialized professionals, said Arthur Levin, director of the Center for Medical Consumers in New York. But he cautioned that the FDA has a history of letting such gains slip away. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the agency hired food inspectors to guard against the threat of bioterrorism. But it gradually cut back on the program.” (Modesto Bee; 12Sep08; Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, AP) http://www.modbee.com/business/story/427141.html
NIH [National Institute of Health] funds SIGA [Technologies inc.] Dengue Antiviral Program
“The grant, totaling $963,000 over a two-year period, will help to fund lead optimization and animal efficacy trials for SIGA's Dengue antiviral program. Successful outcomes from these activities could lead to a Phase II award in the future.” (Trading Markets; 12Sep08; Todd Fromer) http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1878375/
Officials: [Galveston] Texas lab with dangerous pathogens secured
“The pathogens, which include the deadly Ebolavirus, were purposely destroyed before the staff left the facility in advance of the hurricane […] The laboratory followed protocols for shutting, said Gretchen Michael, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said that for security reasons, she would not detail the procedures or describe the agents. A Department of Homeland Security official concurred that all the samples had been destroyed, and the building was locked down, quarantined and ‘rendered safe.’” (CNN; 12Sep08; Deanne Mesevre) http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/12/ike.biological.agents/
Drug-resistant plague - A bioterrorism concern?
“Yersinia pestis can normally be treated and cured with a course of antibiotics, if caught within a few days of the symptoms. But researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have located a gene that could mutate to make Y. pestis resistant to many common drugs. Scientists believe that antibiotic-resistant Y. pestis should potentially concern the public and scientific community, because the bacteria might be used as a potential bioterrorism agent.” (News-Medical; 11Sep08; Source: Cornell University)
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=41403
Newport [Indiana] site ready to close
“The Newport Chemical Depot in western Indiana employed enough people in its heyday to be considered Vermillion County’s largest town. But within two years the once mighty plant will be quiet. The last bit of VX was neutralized last month and the plant along Indiana Route 63 south of Newport is slated for closure. ‘Our mission is to close the depot,’ said Tom Kutz, civilian executive assistant. ‘It will take about a year and a half.’” (Commercial News; 13Sep08; Dennis Bartlow) http://www.commercial-news.com/local/local_story_257225254.html
Over 4 [metric tons] of chemical weapons destroyed in Russia's Kirov Region
“Over 4 t of chemicals have been destroyed so far at a chemical weapons disposal plant in the village of Maradykovo, Kirov Region, and another 20,000 pieces of ammunition are expected to arrive for disposal soon, Russian Zvezda TV reported on 10 September, adding that nearly 20 per cent of Russia's chemical weapons are kept in Kirov Region.” (Red Orbit; 14Sep08; Source: BBC) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1554615/over_4_t_of_chemical_weapons_destroyed_in_russias_kirov/
Nuclear bomb blueprint shared on internet - UN warns
“Libya received the blueprint for a nuclear bomb electronically, raising ‘serious concern’ about the spreading of such sensitive material via the internet, the head of the UN nuclear agency has reported. In a report, which effectively wraps up a four-year investigation into Libya's nuclear weapons programme and its links to the clandestine nuclear bazaar of the Pakistani scientist A Q Khan, Mohamed ElBaradei said that the discovery was ‘disturbing.’ It is possible that other clients of the world's biggest nuclear proliferation network also received the blueprint. […] Nuclear experts point out however that the infrastructure of a state is required for building a bomb, which the IAEA official said would be ‘very complicated for a terrorist organization.’” (New Zealand Herald; 13Sep08; Anne Penketh)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10531996
Beware the deadly castor bean
“I wonder if mothers and grandmothers would have been so liberal with the stuff if they had known that Mussolini used it to coerce dissidents and opponents of his regime into submission. They were forced to consume large quantities of castor oil that could result in severe diarrhea, dehydration and potential death. Civilians and soldiers who said they were too ill to work, were administered less intimidating doses. This was done under the pretext that castor oil was good for you when you were sick. This misconception stayed around for years! […] Believed to be native to northeastern Africa or the Middle East, the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) has been cultivated for centuries for the oil produced from its seeds. Evidence exists that the Egyptians used it to fuel their lamps in ancient times. […] The castor bean is not really a bean, although its seeds do look somewhat like those of the legume family. It's really a member of the spurge (Euphorbia) family and is one of the most poisonous plants known to man.” (Tri-City Herald; 13Sep08; Marianne C. Ophardt) http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1203/story/315987.html
Mobile training teams take preparedness on the road
“The Center for Domestic Preparedness’ commitment to train emergency response providers goes beyond standard classroom instruction. Whether it’s tailored to law enforcement, firefighters, or healthcare professionals, the CDP staff offers a wide variety of courses to local jurisdictions. The CDP has averaged 58 mobile training events per week in 2008. […] The training program provides responders with knowledge to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from chemical, biological, explosive, radiological, or other hazardous materials incidents.”
(Forensic Magazine; 15Sep08)
http://www.forensicmag.com/News_Articles.asp?pid=364
US offers pirates $7m bribe for Iran ship entry
“The US has offered USD 7m to the pirates, who hijacked an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Aden, to receive entry permission and search the vessel. […] The US the naval fleet off the Somali coast alleges that The Iran Diyanat was carrying 'uranium and chemical weapons'. Iran's shipping company, however, has declared that the Iranian bulk carrier hired by a German company had no weapons or uranium on board and was carrying 42,500 tons of minerals and industrial products.” (Press TV; 12Sep08)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=69204§ionid=351020501
Hunt for WMDs hits Hauraki Gulf [New Zealand]
“Weapons of mass destruction are on the hit list for New Zealand Customs and the military today as ships from several nations patrol the Hauraki Gulf. The ships and air force aircraft will be part of an international exercise involving several countries which will test New Zealand's ability to find and stop a shipment of material used to make the weapons. Exercise Maru, which begins today and lasts until Friday, was being led by the New Zealand Customs Service and involved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Defence Force, several other domestic agencies and the Ports of Auckland. The Australian navy patrol boat HMAS Maryborough and the French navy patrol boat FNS La Glorieuse, were also in Auckland for the exercise which would include ship-boarding and the searching of vessels and containers.” (Nelson Mail; 15Sep08; Source: New Zealand Press
Association)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/4693207a6417.html
Worries simmer over absent North Korean strongman
“‘If Kim Jong Il disappears, there is a significant chance that the entire regime will collapse,’ the conservative mass-circulation [South Korean] Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial Thursday. ‘If that happens, it is difficult to predict what North Korea's 1.17 million-strong military, armed with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, will do next.’ The nuclear standoff remains the biggest crisis. […] South Korea is advancing an existing contingency plan to prepare for ‘any kind of situation whether it be limited or full-scale warfare,’ he was quoted as saying, but to raise the alert level ‘could rather make the people uneasy and provoke North Korea.’” (Associated Press; 13Sep08; Kelly Olsen)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdklkakEe-4bHrnMRyPWp5wdTpyAD935GH601
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.
Monday, April 28, 2008
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- April 28, 2008
Review ordered for anthrax vaccine refusers
“A federal judge’s decision could lead to clearing the records of military personnel who refused to take mandatory anthrax shots between 1999 and 2004. Judge James Robertson of the district court for the District of Columbia admonished the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records, which had rejected a petition by two former Connecticut Air National Guard officers for compensatory relief for back pay and lost promotions after they claim they were forced to resign for refusing the vaccine. The plaintiffs, Thomas Rempfer and the estate of the late Russell Dingle, based their appeal on a separate anthrax vaccine lawsuit.” (Army Times; 28Apr08; William H. McMichael) http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_anthraxvaccines_042608w/
Article by Universal Detection Technology Featured in the Counter Terrorist Magazine
“Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and a provider of counter terrorism training and solutions, announced today that a recent article titled ‘Combating the Evolving Threat of Biological Terrorism’ drafted by UDTT's Director of Research and Development, Mr. Amir Ettehadieh has been published in the Counter Terrorist Magazine. The Article describes the bio-terrorist threat facing the nation from both homegrown and foreign terrorist elements and the necessary steps that need to be taken by the government to combat this lethal WMD threat.” (CNN Money; 25Apr08) http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0390689.htm
Medicine dispensing plan offers escape pod in emergencies
“A large-scale emergency could lead droves of people to line up for medicine at health departments, clinics and other public outreach locations. With those images in mind, public health planners are reaching out to businesses to assist in mass dispensing of medicine from the Strategic National Stockpile in the event of a bioterrorism attack or natural disaster. The process uses points of dispensing (PODs), which are designated dispensing locations for people who are healthy but may have been exposed to specific diseases such as anthrax or tularemia and need medication to avoid becoming ill. A local public health agency operates open PODs, which are available to everyone who lives or works in that community.” (Kansas City Business Journal; 25Apr08; Ellen Jensen) http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/04/28/focus4.html?ana=from_rss
Franek Technologies Safeguards State of Wyoming Public Health Laboratory's $1M Investment in Critical Instrumentation
“Based on Comprehensive Analysis, Franek Technologies Develops Customized Solution to Protect the State of Wyoming Public Health Laboratory's $1M Investment in Critical Instrumentation With 25 Additional Certified Power Protection Units […] The state-of-the-art Public Health Laboratory relies on extremely sophisticated instrumentation to conduct high-throughput research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, pandemic, and immunologic diseases, as well as bioterrorism threats. Such long-term testing and processes often rely on highly leveraged robotic automation that is extremely sensitive to uncontrolled electrical and environmental conditions, such as power fluctuations, harmonics, or interruptions.” (Yahoo Finance; 28Apr08; Franek Technologies Press Release) http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080428/0390822.html
Anthrax Spore Standards Will Be Reference For Anthrax Detection And
Decontamination
“Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) and the U.S. Army Dugway (Utah) Proving Ground have developed reliable methods based on DNA analysis to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage. The techniques and data are essential steps in developing a reliable reference standard for anthrax detection and decontamination.” (Science Daily; 28Apr08) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415164309.htm
Helping the watchdog
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the temporary assignment of a regional senior health scientist to assist the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG). The grassroots coalition’s main goal is to serve as a watchdog to ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of chemical weapons being stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond [Kentucky].” (Richmond Register; 28Apr08; Ronica Shannon) http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_119090904.html
UN steps up campaign against nuclear, chemical terrorism
“The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday urging stepped-up efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists and black marketeers. It calls on all states to fully implement a council resolution approved in April 2004 requiring all 192 U.N. member states to adopt laws to prevent ‘non-state actors’ from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. It notes that some countries - which were not identified - haven't filed a report on their efforts that was due in October 2004.” (The Charlotte Observer; 25Apr08; Edith M. Lederer) http://www.charlotte.com/nation/story/596220.html
L.I. [New York] Disaster Drill Simulates 'Dirty Bomb'
“More than 600 emergency workers rehearsed a response to a simulated radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ attack in what authorities called the largest such simulation in Long Island's history. Police, firefighter, medical workers and other personnel from 60 agencies converged Friday on the Suffolk County fire academy in Yaphank. The drill, which also involved 10 hospitals, was running through Saturday afternoon. The scenario involved a deadly dirty bomb explosion at a federal courthouse. A dirty bomb would use conventional explosives to scatter radioactive debris.” (WNBC; 26Apr08) http://www.wnbc.com/news/16008835/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news
Al Qaeda wouldn't hesitate to blow away a city: That's why we need 42-day detention, says ex MI6 boss
“The former head of MI6 is backing controversial Government plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge, saying it might prevent a dirty bomb attack on Britain. MI6 prides itself on avoiding political debates but former chief Sir Richard Dearlove warns that the UK would ‘regret’ not bringing in longer detention for terror suspects. Sir Richard, 63, who retired from MI6 in 2004, says that in some serious cases the current 28-day limit is not enough to build a case or to gather intelligence on the scale of the threat faced by Britain.” (Daily Mail; 26Apr08; Jason Lewis) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=562276&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490
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.
“A federal judge’s decision could lead to clearing the records of military personnel who refused to take mandatory anthrax shots between 1999 and 2004. Judge James Robertson of the district court for the District of Columbia admonished the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records, which had rejected a petition by two former Connecticut Air National Guard officers for compensatory relief for back pay and lost promotions after they claim they were forced to resign for refusing the vaccine. The plaintiffs, Thomas Rempfer and the estate of the late Russell Dingle, based their appeal on a separate anthrax vaccine lawsuit.” (Army Times; 28Apr08; William H. McMichael) http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_anthraxvaccines_042608w/
Article by Universal Detection Technology Featured in the Counter Terrorist Magazine
“Universal Detection Technology, a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and a provider of counter terrorism training and solutions, announced today that a recent article titled ‘Combating the Evolving Threat of Biological Terrorism’ drafted by UDTT's Director of Research and Development, Mr. Amir Ettehadieh has been published in the Counter Terrorist Magazine. The Article describes the bio-terrorist threat facing the nation from both homegrown and foreign terrorist elements and the necessary steps that need to be taken by the government to combat this lethal WMD threat.” (CNN Money; 25Apr08) http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0390689.htm
Medicine dispensing plan offers escape pod in emergencies
“A large-scale emergency could lead droves of people to line up for medicine at health departments, clinics and other public outreach locations. With those images in mind, public health planners are reaching out to businesses to assist in mass dispensing of medicine from the Strategic National Stockpile in the event of a bioterrorism attack or natural disaster. The process uses points of dispensing (PODs), which are designated dispensing locations for people who are healthy but may have been exposed to specific diseases such as anthrax or tularemia and need medication to avoid becoming ill. A local public health agency operates open PODs, which are available to everyone who lives or works in that community.” (Kansas City Business Journal; 25Apr08; Ellen Jensen) http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/04/28/focus4.html?ana=from_rss
Franek Technologies Safeguards State of Wyoming Public Health Laboratory's $1M Investment in Critical Instrumentation
“Based on Comprehensive Analysis, Franek Technologies Develops Customized Solution to Protect the State of Wyoming Public Health Laboratory's $1M Investment in Critical Instrumentation With 25 Additional Certified Power Protection Units […] The state-of-the-art Public Health Laboratory relies on extremely sophisticated instrumentation to conduct high-throughput research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, pandemic, and immunologic diseases, as well as bioterrorism threats. Such long-term testing and processes often rely on highly leveraged robotic automation that is extremely sensitive to uncontrolled electrical and environmental conditions, such as power fluctuations, harmonics, or interruptions.” (Yahoo Finance; 28Apr08; Franek Technologies Press Release) http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080428/0390822.html
Anthrax Spore Standards Will Be Reference For Anthrax Detection And
Decontamination
“Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) and the U.S. Army Dugway (Utah) Proving Ground have developed reliable methods based on DNA analysis to assess the concentration and viability of anthrax spores after prolonged storage. The techniques and data are essential steps in developing a reliable reference standard for anthrax detection and decontamination.” (Science Daily; 28Apr08) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080415164309.htm
Helping the watchdog
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the temporary assignment of a regional senior health scientist to assist the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG). The grassroots coalition’s main goal is to serve as a watchdog to ensure the safe and environmentally sound disposal of chemical weapons being stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond [Kentucky].” (Richmond Register; 28Apr08; Ronica Shannon) http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_119090904.html
UN steps up campaign against nuclear, chemical terrorism
“The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday urging stepped-up efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists and black marketeers. It calls on all states to fully implement a council resolution approved in April 2004 requiring all 192 U.N. member states to adopt laws to prevent ‘non-state actors’ from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. It notes that some countries - which were not identified - haven't filed a report on their efforts that was due in October 2004.” (The Charlotte Observer; 25Apr08; Edith M. Lederer) http://www.charlotte.com/nation/story/596220.html
L.I. [New York] Disaster Drill Simulates 'Dirty Bomb'
“More than 600 emergency workers rehearsed a response to a simulated radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ attack in what authorities called the largest such simulation in Long Island's history. Police, firefighter, medical workers and other personnel from 60 agencies converged Friday on the Suffolk County fire academy in Yaphank. The drill, which also involved 10 hospitals, was running through Saturday afternoon. The scenario involved a deadly dirty bomb explosion at a federal courthouse. A dirty bomb would use conventional explosives to scatter radioactive debris.” (WNBC; 26Apr08) http://www.wnbc.com/news/16008835/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news
Al Qaeda wouldn't hesitate to blow away a city: That's why we need 42-day detention, says ex MI6 boss
“The former head of MI6 is backing controversial Government plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge, saying it might prevent a dirty bomb attack on Britain. MI6 prides itself on avoiding political debates but former chief Sir Richard Dearlove warns that the UK would ‘regret’ not bringing in longer detention for terror suspects. Sir Richard, 63, who retired from MI6 in 2004, says that in some serious cases the current 28-day limit is not enough to build a case or to gather intelligence on the scale of the threat faced by Britain.” (Daily Mail; 26Apr08; Jason Lewis) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=562276&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490
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.
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