November 2003

Below is a listing of bioterrorism-related events this month, part of an ongoing bioterrorism chronology that begins with Sep 11, 2001. To see events from other months, go to the Bioterrorism Watch index page.

Nov 28

Massachusetts lags in preparedness activities
Among 47 states responding to a survey from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) on how states have spent their share of the $1.1 billion distributed by the federal government for preparedness activities, Massachusetts came in last, having no plans to spend almost half the $21.8 million they had already received at the time of the survey (they have since received another $28 million). Geoffrey Wilkinson, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, says, "My sense is that we're not less at risk now than we were before," according to a Boston Globe story. Most states have spent or committed ?at least two thirds of their money. Massachusetts took almonst 18 months after receiving their first installment to put anyone in charge of their preparedness effort. Suzanne Condon, a former assistant commissioner at the state's department of public health, took over the position in September and says the program is now moving along.

Nov 25

USC becomes Homeland Security Center of Excellence
The Department of Homeland Security announces that the University of Southern California has been named the first Homeland Security Center of Excellence, specifically the Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. The institution will be awarded $12 million over 3 years to do risk analysis related to the economic consequences of terrorist threats and attacks. USC has expertise in natural disasters, system safety, and nuclear threats, and its Integrated Media Systems Center and Information Sciences Institute will collaborate with work in computer modeling and cybersecurity. USC was chosen from a field of more than 70 applicants.

Permanaent UNMOVIC supported by Britain, France
The UN inspection force UNMOVIC, which did the pre-war inspections in Iraq, should become the permanent agency authorized to investigate biological weapons programs worldwide, believe Britain and France. The United States does not agree, feeling that the coalition inspections program now in progress carries the responsibility for completing inspections in Iraq and that discussions about UNMOVIC should wait until that occurs. The US stance puts them at odds with their main ally, Britain, and on the same side with Syria and Pakistan, says an Associated Press report.

Nov 24

New York distributes equipment through WMD trailers
A news reporter in New York is allowed access to the state's secret antiterrorism equipment center to see what $100 million of federal funding has purchased. The state has been purchasing emergency response equipment, bringing it to huge warehouse, and distributing it by means of fully stocked wepons of mass destruction trailers. Currently, 125 such trailers, all containing identical equipment, have been sent to New York communities. Critics say the bureaucracy inherent in this system has left them empty handed.

Bioagent sensor released
A hand-held detection unit that can identify anthrax onsite in 30 minutes or less is released by its manufacturer, Smiths Detection. Called Bio-Seeq, the speed of detection is the critical advantage of the device, since laboratory analysis can take between 12 and 48 hours to produce results. It weighs 6.5 pounds, is the size of a book, and uses PCR technology to identify the DNA of bioagents. Up to six samples can be tested simultaneously. Company spokespersons say use of the device could avoid costly building evacuations in cases of suspected contamination.

Nov 23

Hawaii National Guard to forge into protecting more of Pacific
Authorization has been given to the Hawaii National Guard to train teams for deployment to remote Pacific islands (eg, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) to respond to threats of weapons of mass destruction. The islands' location makes them an entry point to the United States from Asia and the Pacific. The response teams would be at the disposal of Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of US military forces in the Pacific. Hawaii's preparedness efforts have been praised as among the best in the United States.

Nov 21

NATO Response Force begins Turkish exercise
NATO rolls out its new strike force in exercises in Turkey. This test of the NATO Response Force, which is designed to preserve peace in the postCold War era, involves about 1,000 troops. The United States is contributing about 300 troops, a ship, and aircraft but is not participating in this exercise. The strike force brings together elite forces from 11 nations to guard against threats from terrorists, rogue states, and regional crises.

Nov 20

DHS announces new rules on advance information on shipments
New Department of Homeland Security rules are announced to better identify cargo shipped into and out of the country and to better protect airliners, according to an Associated press article. The latter rules outline numerous areas of planes that need to be inspected daily. As for cargo, electronic manifests to Customs and Border Protection officials identifying the contents of shipments by truck, rail, plane, and ship will be required before shipments arrive in the United States. Such advance information is voluntary at present for truck, rail and plane shipments and often is not complete. Only a very small portion of such cargo is now inspected. Advance information on cargo arriving by ship is already required, but it will now be submitted electronically.The new rules take effect Dec 5.

Nov 19

'Smart box' program aims to safeguard cargo
In an effort to keep terrorists from shipping weapons of mass destruction in "cans," as steel-box cargo containers are called, the Bush administration is expected to require shipping companies to install tamper sensors and use reinforced metal seals, according to a New York Times story. About 7 million of the containers come through US ports each year; close inspection is uncommon. In this "smart box" program, companies that choose not to install the extra safeguards will be subjected to time-consuming inspections at ports.

Vaccines probably killed Army reservist
The death of a 22-year-old Army reservist in April was likely caused by an adverse reaction to multiple vaccines she received, including smallpox and anthrax, at the same time. Two civilian review panels, from the US Advisroty Committee on Immunization Practices and the Armed Forces Epidemiology Board, reached this conclusion. Administration of multiple vaccines on the same day is an accepted medical procedure. (See CIDRAP News story.)

Agroterrorism on terrorists' radar
Officials, lawmakers, and experts warn that a devastating attack on American agriculture by al-Qaida would be "relatively easy," according to a UPI report. Such an attack could start an epidemic that would cost the lives of millions of animals and bring the nation's economy to its knees, says the story. Hundreds of pages of US agricultural documents have been recovered in Afghanistan, and al-Qaida has shown a keen interest in agroterrorism, say witnesess. The fact that responsibility for countering and responding to agroterrorism is spread among more than 30 federal agencies is of particular concern.

Nov 18

Unconventional weapons materials still too easy to obtain, says report
A major international report concludes that work on the part of Western governments and Russia to keep terrorists from obtaining ingredients to produce deadly unconventional weapons is moving far too slowly, according to a Reuters report. The Group of Eight pledged last year to provide $20 billion to secure nuclear, chemical, and biological material stockpiles. So far, only a fraction of these funds have been spent or allocated to specific projects toward this goal, says the report.

Human testing of Ebola vaccine begins
A nurse at the National Institutes of Health becomes the first person to receive an experimental vaccine against Ebola. The vaccine, synthesized from modern, inactivated genes of the Ebola virus, is made by Vical, a San Diego biotech company. It is expected that 27 people will be given a three-dose series of either the vaccine or a placebo over a period of 2 months. Both vaccine safety and immune response of recipients will be evaluated over a 1-year monitoring period. Ebola virus causes a lethal hemorrhagic fever that occurs naturally in Africa and is an agent considered as a potential weapon for bioterrorists. (See CIDRAP News story.)

Strict security needed at labs with high-risk agents, says USDA
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) investigators say that strict security guidelines are needed and should be established by the Department of Homeland Security for all government-funded US laboratories that work with high-risk biological and/or chemical agents. The investigators found dozens of such laboratories that were vulnerable to theft because of lax security and poor record keeping, according to a Reuters report.

Nov 14

Terrorists determined to use chem/bioweapons, says report
The Associated Press obtains a confidential report by a UN panel saying that al-Qaida terrorists are determined to use chemical and biological agents as weapons and that they are thwarted so far only by the technical challenges of dispersing the agents effectively. Sanctions on supporters of al-Qaida and of former Taliban rulers that are too limited or that are not being enforced are to blame for the continued ability of the groups to obtain weapons and explosives, says the report.

Biotech advances may mean more dangerous weapons
Scientists warn the CIA that modern biotechnology advances could lead to biological weapons much more dangerous than those now existing. Among them could be new diseases that are immune to treatment or that remain inactive until some amount of time passes or another agent is introduced. The report, called "The Darker Bioweapons Future," is posted on the Web site of the Federation of American Scientists. It suggests that energy should be focused on strengthening the body's general defenses rather than curing specific diseases.

Nov 13

Coroners/medical examiners left out of preparedness efforts
Properly trained coroners and medical examiners could play an important part in containing disease caused by a bioterrorist attack, as pointed out in a Global Security Newswire article. These professionals claim they have been largely ignored in response planning and training, however, and that education and equipment are needed. If unprepared, coroners and medical examiners could inadvertently spread infection from improper handling and disposition of infected bodies.

Nov 12

Certification of labs/scientists way behind schedule
Security reviews required of hundreds of US laboratories and thousands of scientists working with dangerous pathogens have not been carried out, according to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D, Conn.). Background and security investigations were to have been finished by today, as specified in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. US officials issued "provisional" certification to labs that had done required paperwork even though they had not been approved under that law in order to keep them operational, according to a Washington Post article. So far, 513 labs and about 9,000 individuals have applied for approval; no labs have yet been certified as being fully compliant, and 5,400 limited security reviews of scientists have been carried out.

Nov 11

Canada receives warning about food/water supply
Canadian police and security officials have been warned that al-Qaeda may try to contaminate the food or water supply with toxins such as ricin or botulinum, according to a Canadian Press story. Canadian Press obtained a declassified version of a secret report distributed by the Privy Council Office, the prime minister's top advisory body, to certain federal authorities.

Germany earmarks 2 million smallpox units for international community
At a meeting in Berlin, Germany offers the World Health Organization 2 million units of smallpox vaccine for use in the event of a smallpox outbreak in the international community. The country plans to produce 200 million units by 2004. The announcement was made by German Health Minister Ulla Schmidt. Germany is a member of the Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI), established soon after Sept. 11, 2001, to increase international public health safety. Other members of the GHSI are Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. Canada and Britain have also offered vaccine.

Nov 10

Geneva meeting addresses biological weapons treaty
A significant number of the 151 international states that have signed the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention treaty have not implemented the necessary efforts to contain the growing threat of bioterrorism, experts say at the yearly meeting of the treaty parties in Geneva. The treaty bans the development, acquisition, production, and possession of biological? agents for nonpeaceful purposes. However, it has no provisions for enforcing the ban. An attempt two years ago to agree on a system of mandatory declaration, on-site inspections, and "challenge" inspections was vetoed by the US. New proposals for giving the treaty "teeth" will be discussed at this year's meeting.

Nov 8

POs reopen after anthrax scare
The 11 Washington-area postal facilities closed for possible anthrax contamination (see Nov 6 item below) are reopened after test results came up negative. One of eight air samplers had indicated small amounts of biological pathogens. (See CIDRAP News story.)

Nov 7

Warning issued that cargo planes need strict security too
Law-enforcement officials are advised by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI that security on cargo planes needs to be taken as seriously as security on passenger planes. The warning says al-Qaeda may be plotting to use cargo planes as weapons, flying them into crucial US targets such as nuclear plants, bridges, or dams. The alert is based on information from one person, whose credibility has not been fully determined.

Nov 6

States' preparedness to be graded
States' preparedness will soon be "graded" by the government through a scoring system that is now being developed. It is hoped that the scoring system will be ready for testing in January and that the evaluations will start by next summer, reports a Newsday story. Developing the scoring system is a challenge, because preparedness differs widely by area. For example, for New York City to be adequately prepared would demand different efforts than for a less densely populated area in another part of the country. Evaluation will be done of preparedness for a wide range of emergencies, such as naturally occurring diseases like SARS, rather than just for bioterrorist attacks.

Anthrax scare closes Washington POs
Eleven postal facilities in the Washington area are closed by the US Postal Service because an air monitor picked up traces of possible anthrax at the Anacostia Naval Station. That facility handles mail sent to the Washington Navy Yard and the Navy annex but does not handle mail for the Pentagon or other government offices. Five workers at the Anacostia station were offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure. (See CIDRAP News story.)

Nov 5

Prototype battlefield hospital unveiled
A full, two-table operating room hospital that can be set up in minutes is demonstrated in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, reports the New York Times. A product of the $10 million US Army project called the Future Medical Shelter System, the portable hospital weighs 15,000 pounds, is contained in a standard shipping container, takes one or two people to set up, and can be readied for patients in 30 minutes. The shelter can provide biological and chemical protection for 72 hours.

WHO reportedly lacks funding for global terrorism preparedness
A senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) says the organization is unprepared to deal with a global bioterrorist attack with an agent such as smallpox, owing to a severe lack of funding. More than 100 nations have no surveillance capabilities, according to the report in the Washington Post, and conflicting national policies could undermine an efficient response were an outbreak to occur in a remote part of the world that spreads internationally.. In addition, no smallpox vaccination program has been made available to WHO first-responders.

Nov 4

Auburn receives grant for botulism antitoxin work
A $12.3 million, 3-year CDC contract is awared to Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama, to produce an antitoxin for botulism. Work will involve injecting horses with small doses of tobulism toxin, which will cause production of antitoxin, and then collecting plasma from the horses' blood. The plasma will be sent to a pharmaceutical company, which will purify the antitoxin, making it suitable for treating humans. The goal stated by CDC is 250,000 doses within 18 months.

Nov 3

$2.2 billion for preparedness announced by DHS
A total of $2.2 billion in grants for emergency preparedness is announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. The total includes $1.7 billion from the 2004 federal budget that will be made available to states and then localities for equipment purchase, training and exercises, and statewide planning. Another $500 million will be new law enforcement prevention grans, which can be used to improve information sharing or to purchase equipment. In addtion, $40 million is for the President's Citizen Corps program.

Nov 2

Connecticut to house high-security lab
A Level 3 lab now under construction at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will be capable of testing brucella, tularemia, Q-fever, and smallpox viruses, all on the federal list of potential bioterrorist weapons, according to the Connecticut Post. The lab is awaiting approval from the CDC but is expected to be in operation by February 2004.

Nov 1

UK holds emergency drill
In the largest preparedness exercise so far in the United Kingdom, the British army participates in a simulated attack on a chemical tanker truck. About 800 military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and participated. A center to manage large-scale evacuation was set up, the area was sealed off, and decontamination of 400 participants posing as civilians was carried out.

Survey shows local, state governments short of terrorism funds
A recent national-wide congressional survey, sponsored by the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, finds 87% of responding state and local officials feel they are not receiving the money they need to fight terrorist or respond to an attack. One official said that localities "describe it as a shell game putting funds in one hand and taking it out of the other." Local officials blame state governments; many at the state level say funds are tangled up in the federal grant application process. Areas found to be lacking the most are firefighter staffing, hazardous-material gear, and communications devices.

For other months' installments, go to the Bioterrorism Watch index page