The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship. 

The application period for the ELBI Fellowship is now open. The ELBI Fellowship inspires and connects the next generation of leaders and innovators in the biosecurity community. This highly-competitive, part-time program is an opportunity for talented career professionals to deepen their expertise, expand their network, and build their leadership skills through a series of sponsored events coordinated by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. This fellowship boasts more than 100 alumni who represent government, defense, private industry, science, law, public health, medicine, global health, journalism, the social sciences, and academia.  Apply Now.

November 6, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

US Government Participates in Fifth Annual Global Health Security Agenda Ministerial Meeting. On November 4-6, 2018, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan will attend the Fifth Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia, which will officially launch the next five-year phase of GHSA, known as GHSA 2024.  (HHS, 11/2/18)

RESEARCH

Hepatitis A Virus Outbreaks Associated with Drug Use and Homelessness - California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Utah, 2017. During 2017, California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Utah reported 1,521 hepatitis A infections, mostly among persons who reported drug use or homelessness, signaling a shift in hepatitis A epidemiology from point-source outbreaks associated with contaminated food to large community outbreaks with person-to-person transmission.  (MMWR, 11/2/18)

RESEARCH

Update: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization

Practices for Use of Hepatitis A Vaccine for Postexposure Prophylaxis and for Preexposure Prophylaxis for International Travel. Postexposure prophylaxis with hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin effectively prevents infection with hepatitis A virus when administered within 2 weeks of exposure.  (MMWR, 11/2/18)

BLOG

FDA Approval of Anti-Seizure Drug Provides a New Tool for Protecting Americans During a Chemical Attack. Over the last 25 years, there has been increased use of chemical weapons. Delivering effective medical countermeasures against nerve agents is essential to saving civilians' lives in the United States, and is necessary to ensure that the Joint Force maintains mission effectiveness to protect the nation.  (ASPR, 10/31/18)

RESEARCH
Prevalence, Change Over Time, and Comparison With US Estimates of Selected Infectious Diseases in Los Angeles County: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2006 and 2007-2014. This report compares prevalence of and change over time for five infectious disease outcomes for the Los Angeles County (LAC) and the US populations. (CDC, 10/30/18) 

WORKSHOP
Strategic National Stockpile Preparedness Course. The Strategic National Stockpile Preparedness Course is a five-day course designed to give federal, state, and local officials information on how to best plan and prepare for a public health emergency and how to use and manage the Strategic National Stockpile in response to a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or technological accident. (NACCHO, 10/18)

STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT
APHIS Proposes Updates to Avian Influenza Virus Elimination Flat Rate for Table Egg Laying Bird Barns and Table Egg Storage and Processing Facilities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing updates to its virus elimination flat rate payments for table egg laying bird barns and table egg storage and processing facilities affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or H5 and H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza (H5/H7 LPAI).  (APHIS, 11/2/18)

NEWS

Conference Addresses Chemical Terrorism. INTERPOL's General Secretariat headquarters served as the backdrop for the recent Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats conference, which was designed to address chemical terrorism and related factors. (Homeland Preparedness News, 11/2/18)

REPORT

Defense Health Care: DOD Should Demonstrate How Its Plan to Transfer the Administration of Military Treatment Facilities will Improve Efficiency. The Department of Defense's June 2018 plan addressed the four statutory elements for the transfer of the administration of the military treatment facilities from the military departments to the Defense Health Agency (GAO, 10/30/18)

NEWS

Raising Awareness and Taking Action to Address Cybersecurity Preparedness at Local Health Departments. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and is an effort to raise awareness on the continued threats posed by cyberattacks and the activities that are being pursued to protect against future cyberattacks.  (NACCHO, 10/18)

REPORT
Nuclear Weapons Sustainment: Fiscal Year 2018 Nuclear Forces Budget Estimates. DOD and DOE are undertaking an extensive, multifaceted effort to sustain and modernize US nuclear weapons capabilities, including the nuclear weapons stockpile; the research and production infrastructure; delivery systems; and the NC3 system. The strategic missiles, submarines, and aircraft--and the nuclear weapons carried by these delivery systems--are aging and being deployed beyond their intended service lives.  (GAO, 11/2/18)

REPORT

WEBINAR

NRC To Conduct Virtual Public Meeting/Webinar on Special Inspection at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host a virtual public meeting/webinar to discuss a
Special Inspection it conducted at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to evaluate an Aug. 3 fuel-loading incident.  (NRC, 10/29/19)

REPORT

REPORT
Plant and Animal Biotechnology Innovation Action Plan. This plan provides an overview of the key priorities the FDA will pursue to support innovation in plant and animal biotechnology and to advance the agency's public health mission.  (FDA, 10/18)

PRESS RELEASE
Carper Leads Democrats In Demanding EPA To Abandon Trump's Dirty Power Plan Proposal. Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), led a group of Senators in a request to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler requesting that the Trump Administration's so-called "Affordable Clean Energy" proposal be withdrawn and the Clean Power Plan be reinstated, noting stark contrasts between the two plans.  (US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 10/31/18)

This Week's Hearings

There are no hearings scheduled for this week.