What is the BioWatch program?
Established in 2003, the DHS BioWatch Program provides early warning of a bioterrorist attack in more than 30 major metropolitan areas across the country. BioWatch is managed by the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
Who introduced the BioWatch program?
The current BioWatch air samplers were adapted from the Biological Aerosol Sentry and Information System (BASIS), which was developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and LLNL (DHS, 2008b).
What is the biowatch principle?
The Biowatch principle stems from a judgment (Biowatch Trust v Registrar, Genetic Resources) which provides that even when parties litigating against state parties lose a case, they are generally spared an adverse costs award, provided the case was of genuine constitutional import.
How is bioterrorism detected?
Real-time PCR and time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays are two techniques used by the LRN to detect several CDC Category A and B agents, that is, biological agents given highest priority on the basis of their potential public health impact40.
Who protects us from bioterrorism?
The Department of Homeland Security’s BioWatch Program provides early detection of a bioterrorism event and helps communities prepare a coordinated response.
Which federal agency should play the most significant role during a bioterrorism emergency and why?
HHS’ Office of Emergency Preparedness also has important responsibilities pertinent to bioterrorism response, notably the management of the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) which is part of the Federal government’s overall Domestic Preparedness Program.
Are viruses biological weapons?
Biological weapons are microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi, or other toxins that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants.
What is bioterrorism in food?
The term ‘food bioterrorism’ is generally defined as ‘an act or threat of deliberate contamination of food for human consumption with chemical, biological or radionuclear agents for the purpose of causing injury or death to civilian populations and/or disrupting social, economic or political stability’ (WHO, 2002).
Is Ebola a biological weapon?
on these characteristics this study concludes that the Ebola virus is capable of being a successful bio-agent, analogous to smallpox and anthrax. In certain factors such as infectiousness and prophylaxis, Ebola is, in fact, a more suitable bioterror agent than smallpox or anthrax.
Is a virus an agent?
A virus is an infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria.