January 16, 2018

Public Health & Healthcare Preparedness
NOTICE
Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response.
 
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC announces the following meeting for the Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, (BSC, OPHPR). This meeting is open to the public.  (Federal Register, 1/16/18)
 
GUIDANCE
Recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of a Third Dose of Mumps Virus-Containing Vaccine in Persons at Increased Risk for Mumps During an Outbreak.
 The purpose of the recommendation is to improve protection of persons in outbreak settings against mumps disease and mumps-related complications. This recommendation supplements the existing ACIP recommendations for mumps vaccination.  (CDC, 1/12/18)
 
REPORT
West Nile Virus and Other Nationally Notifiable Arboviral Diseases - United States, 2016.
 
n 2016, WNV continued to be the most common cause of neuroinvasive arboviral disease in the United States, with a similar incidence to the median incidence during 2002-2015. An increase in reported cases of Powassan virus occurred in 2016, with two states reporting their first cases.  (CDC, 1/12/18)
 
TRANSCRIPT
CDC Update on Widespread Flu Activity.
 
CDC called this briefing to get you the latest FluView numbers and to provide advice on preventing the flu and information about what people can do to reduce the risk of flu or serious illness.  (CDC, 1/12/18)
 
WEBINAR
Public Health Response to Severe Influenza.
 
With the spike in flu cases around the country, this Grand Rounds will provide key and timely information for public health professionals on how to reduce the spread of seasonal flu in communities and adjust to spot shortages in antiviral drugs because of high influenza activity in some areas. This webinar will take place on January 16, 2018 at1 PM EST. Registration is required.  (CDC, 1/12/18)
 
COMMENTARY
Plague in Madagascar: A Tragic Opportunity for Improving Public Health.
 Dr. Paul S. Mead (CDC) describes how 
inevitable eruptions, like the current outbreak in Madagascar, pose a pernicious challenge to the world's medical and public health community. They also, however, provide important opportunities to improve medical care for infected persons and to enhance detection and response capabilities.  (New England Journal of Medicine, 1/11/18)
 
BLOG
Joint Efforts in Search of a Cure for Tropical Diseases.
 
The Joint Task Force-Bravo Medical Element, the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 and the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences partnered for an ongoing tropical disease study in Honduras, testing live samples and collecting potential carriers for diseases.  (Armed with Science, 1/10/18)
 
PRESS RELEASE
MERS Antibodies Produced in Cattle Safe, Treatment Well Tolerated in Phase I Trial.
 
An experimental treatment developed from cattle plasma for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection shows broad potential, according to a small clinical trial led by National Institutes of Health scientists and their colleagues. The treatment, SAB-301, was safe and well tolerated by healthy volunteers, with only minor reactions documented.  (NIH, 1/9/18)
 
NEWS
US Rep Says CDC is Endangering Lives; Wants Outbreak Details.
 
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, fired off a scathing letter Monday to Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DeLauro, who has routinely championed food safety initiatives, slammed the CDC's apparent lack of action and failure to provide pertinent information to the public. She said the CDC's performance so far is too little, too late and too dangerous.  (Food Safety News, 1/9/18)
 
WEBINAR
CDC Overview of the Operational Readiness Review DCIPHER System.
 
CDC will provide an overview of the ORR online data collection system, DCIPHER, on Jan. 17, from 1 PM to 2 PM.  (NACCHO, 1/18)
 

Homeland Security & Disaster Preparedness
NEWS
FCC Proposal Focuses on Improvements to Wireless Emergency Alerts System.
 
"When disaster strikes, it's critical that Americans receive the information they need to stay safe," FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said. "During the last few months, we've seen that wireless emergency alerts are an important tool for quickly delivering warnings in times of emergency. Whether you are in the path of a hurricane or a wildfire, you can receive life-saving alerts on your mobile device."  (Homeland Preparedness News, 1/10/18)
 
PRESS RELEASE
IARPA Launches Program to Develop New Biosecurity Tools.
 T
he Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, announces today a multi-year research effort to develop new biosecurity tools under the Functional Genomic and Computational Assessment of Threats-"Fun GCAT"-program that will prevent the accidental or intentional creation of biological threats such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins.  (Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 1/9/18)
 

Radiological & Nuclear Disaster Preparedness
REPORT
Nuclear Security: CBP Needs to Take Action to Ensure Imported Radiological Material Is Properly Licensed.
 
Tens of thousands of shipments containing radiological material -- which terrorists could use to make a dirty bomb -- enter the US each year through airports across the country. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and some states issue licenses for import and possession of the material, and US Customs and Border Protection is responsible for verifying shipments entering the country are authorized or licensed.  (GAO, 1/10/18)
 
This Week's Hearings

Facing 21st Century Public Health Threats: Our Nation's Preparedness and Response Capabilities, Part I. US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. 1/17/18, 10 AM. Dirksen 430. More

 

Unintended Consequences: Medicaid and the Opioid Epidemic. US Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. 1/17/18, 10 AM. Dirksen 342. More

 

More Than a Nuclear Threat: North Korea's Chemical, Biological, and Conventional Weapons. US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittees on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade & Asia and the Pacific. 1/17/18, 2 PM. Rayburn 2172. More

 

Modernizing the Superfund Cleanup Program. US House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment. 1/18/18, 10:15 AM. Rayburn 2322. More

 


Quick Links

About Preparedness Pulsepoints
Not a subscriber?  
Sign up now  

Questions or Comments?

Contact the Pulsepoints Editor 


 
Stay up-to-date
Subscribe to Health Security Headlines
Subscribe to
Clinicians' Biosecurity News
 
Connect with us
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  View our videos on YouTube
Visit Us on the Web
 Clincians' Biosecurity News