Monday, November 30, 2015 Renewed Violence In The Central African Republic: The Roots Of A Political Crisis –United States Institute of Peace Time: 12:30-2pm Location: US Institute of Peace2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.(map)
Leaders and citizens of the Central African Republic, with the support of the international community, are currently focusing resources and energy on laying the groundwork for a peaceful constitutional referendum and elections in the coming months. But sustained peace in in the country will require longer-term efforts as well, because the recent crisis is rooted in decades of poor governance and persistent insecurity. After the elections, Central African Republic policymakers and the international community will be challenged to lay the groundwork for the new government by addressing the longstanding grievances that contribute to the cyclical nature of the violence in CAR. The panel will bring together some of the foremost experts on the Central African Republic’s recent history of rebellion and instability, including the two most recent coups, international intervention efforts, the country’s political economy, and the ongoing series of United Nations and regional peacekeeping efforts. The experts will draw on their contributions to Making Sense of the Central African Republic, published by Zed Books, to make policy recommendations for the crucial remaining steps in CAR’s political transition and beyond. Pose questions for the panel on Twitter with #CARUSIP.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015 3-D Printing The Bomb? The Challenge For Nuclear Nonproliferation –Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Time: 10:30am-12pm Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036(map)
3-D printing has opened the world to a revolution in manufacturing. But this new technology may enable the most sensitive pieces of a nuclear weapons program to be more easily produced and transferred undetected around the globe. The United States should lead an international effort to prevent a 3-D printing-enabled cascade of nuclear weapons proliferation before it is too late.
Tristan Volpe and Matthew Kroenig will launch their new article, “3-D Printing the Bomb? The Nuclear Nonproliferation Challenge,” and explore how the United States can adopt both top-down and bottom-up strategies to combat this threat to international security. Bruce Goodwin will moderate. Continue reading “Week in DC: Events 11.30-12.4.2015”→
We hope you’re having a lovely holiday week and recovering from a day of full of tryptophan overload! This week we’re starting off with a look at the Government Accountability Office’s review of the BioWatch program. We’re discussing another panel review of the WHO Ebola response efforts, the role of tacit knowledge in bioweapons development, and how the Beagle Brigade is fighting bioterrorism one belly-rub at a time. Fun history fact Friday: on November 26, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt declared the government would bar strikes “at plants under government contract to provide war materials for the US military and its allies” and on November 25, 1915, Albert Einstein published his equations on the Theory of General Relativity!
Government Accountability Office Finds BioWatch Unreliable
The BioWatch program was introduced in 2003 to perform active environmental surveillance for potential bioweapon use. The struggle has been to accurately discern between organisms that are naturally occurring and those that are being intentionally released. With several false alarms, the program has been under heavy scrutiny. Timothy M. Persons, chief scientist of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), states that authorities “need to have assurance that when the system indicates a possible attack, it’s not crying wolf. You can’t claim it works”. DHS official Jim H. Crumpacker, points out that the system is used as an early warning and there is an inherent level of uncertainty and limitation. The report (published in October but not publicly released until November 23, 2015), which you can read here, states that from 2003-2014, BioWatch made 149 mistaken detections that were “false positives”. The report says that “GAO recommends DHS not pursue upgrades or enhancements for Gen-2 until it reliably establishes the system’s current capabilities.”
Expert Review of Ebola Outbreak Response A 19 member review panel, convened by the Harvard Global Health Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, reviewed the Ebola outbreak response as a gateway to “public debates alongside reports on outbreak response and preparedness”. Led by Dr. Peter Piot, one of the scientists to discover Ebola in 1976, the group pointed to several issues needing attention on a global scale. Findings pushed for the WHO to reorganize their disease outbreak functions and streamline processes to “avoid political pressure, build country core capacities, and ensure adequate funding”. The ten suggested reforms heavily emphasize the importance of core capacities within countries to be able to detect and respond to outbreaks. Strengthening a country’s capacity to do surveillance, response, and prevention is crucial in reducing the risk of multi-national outbreaks that spread like wildfire. The report also suggests incentives for early outbreak reporting and more science-based justifications for economic impacts like travel restrictions, etc.
Tacit Knowledge and the Bioweapons Convention GMU Biodefense Professor, Dr. Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, takes on the August 2015 Biological Weapons Convention and the exciting inclusion of tacit knowledge in bioweapons development. Dr. Ben Ouagrham-Gormley has contributed heavily to the field of biodefense, specifically on the role that tacit knowledge plays as a key determinant of bioweapons development. In past nonproliferation efforts, tacit knowledge has been widely neglected. Tacit knowledge “consists of unarticulated skills, know-how, or practices that cannot be easily translated into words, but are essential in the success of scientific endeavors.” Simply put, it takes more than a manual or YouTube video to truly perform a scientific experiment, etc. Tacit knowledge is seen in scientists that have spent years not only learning, but experiencing the quirks and challenges of performing experiments. The lessons of failed endeavors, teachings of fellow scientists, and instincts built by years of experience, are all components in tacit knowledge. Dr. Ben Ouagrham-Gormley points to the role tacit knowledge has played in the history of failed bioweapons programs (state and non-state). While some analysts believe the advancing biotechnologies will “de-skill” the field and lower the bar for bioweapons development, Dr. Ben Ouagrham-Gormley highlights that tacit knowledge is a massive roadblock. Pointing towards the new focus on tacit knowledge, she notes that this will only help “advance key mandates of the bioweapons convention, naming the assessment of new technologies, the improvement of national implementation, and the strengthening of cooperation among member states.”
There are few times when I get to combine a love of rescue dogs and biodefense nerdom and fortunately, today is that day! The Beagle Brigade is a group of rescue beagles that have been specially trained “to sense for items used for bioterror which include contraband money, pests, and unlawful wildlife”. Even more, the Beagle Brigade is part of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). They work in baggage-claim areas at international airports, wearing green jackets, to help identify any meat, animal byproducts, fruit, or vegetables that could be carrying any diseases or pests that have the potential to cause a devastating outbreak in the US. They’ve been specially trained to pick up “restricted” (fruit, vegetable, etc.) versus non-restricted items and have a 90% success rate! I think we can safely say the Beagle Brigade wins the award for “most adorable biodefense strategy”.
Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Battle Malaria
Recently published work shows how researchers used “a controversial method called ‘gene drive’ to ensure that an engineered mosquito would pass on its new resistance genes to nearly all of its offspring – not just half, as would normally be the case.” These “mutant mosquitoes” are engineered to resist the parasite that causes malaria infections. This particular work solves the issue that many were facing when it came to passing down resistant genes through a species. While this may mark the end of a long battle against malaria, many are pointing to the ethical and dual-use concerns of such work. The growing concern surrounds the high speed of such technological innovation and the lagging of regulatory and policy guidelines, especially regarding work in wild populations. The potential to alter an entire ecosystem has many concerned over the ramifications of such work. The research team is currently working to prepare mosquitoes for field tests, however they are non-native mosquitoes.
Stories You May Have Missed:
Stories From A Biodefense PhD Student- GMU Biodefense PhD student, Craig Wiener, discusses his journey from master’s student to PhD candidate. Craig explains what sparked his interest in not only biodefense, but GMU’s program, and how that’s translated into real-world experiences. “Mason has provided me the depth and breadth of knowledge that I needed to converse with senior policymakers, technologists, and scientists,” he says. “It bridged the gap between science and policy so I could be respected in both worlds because I knew what I was talking about.”
East Bronx Legionnaires’ Outbreak Traced to Psychiatric Center– The New York City Health Department announced that the cooling tower at the Bronx Psychiatric Centre was the likely source of the break that hit East Bronx earlier this fall. Samples from four cases matched those taken from the water tower. Remediation and disinfection is being performed on the water tower.
Liberia Reports Death of Boy – A boy who was part of the family cluster of Ebola cases in Liberia, has died of the disease. The 15-year-old boy was one of the three confirmed cases reported on November 20th, which marked the end of the Ebola-free period for Liberia since September 3rd. There are currently 153 contacts and 25 healthcare workers being monitored.
It’s a slow week in events – Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 23, 2015 The “Pitiless” War: A Strategy After The Paris Attacks– German Marshall Fund Time: 10-11:15am Location: The German Marshall Fund of the United States1744 R st. NW Washington, DC 20009 United States(map)
In the aftermath of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris committed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State group (ISIS), French President François Hollande declared that “….we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless.” What is the proper military, intelligence, and diplomatic response to counter to these recent brutal attacks against Western targets? What role will the United States play going forward? What does Europe need to do differently to meet this threat? What should the transatlantic alliance do about Syria and Iraq? With Hollande scheduled to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on November 24, and with these questions in mind, The German Marshall Fund of the Unites States (GMF) is pleased to invite you to an on-the-record discussion with three distinguished experts who all recently served in senior U.S. government positions and shaped current policies to address the ISIS threat.
Webinar: Understanding ISIS: Paris, Beirut, And U.S. Policy– Institute for Policy Studies Time: 4-5pm
IPS Middle East expert Phyllis Bennis will discuss the new developments in Paris and Beirut, in the refugee crisis in Europe and the U.S., and discuss solutions that promote true diplomacy over military action. Terrorism survives wars, people don’t. Last week’s attacks in Paris left over 100 people dead. In Beirut, car bombs killed 43 people. Shortly before these attacks, President Obama defended his “war on terror” and said that ISIS was contained. As the civilian death toll rises and the refugee crisis grows, the U.S. global war on terror continues — and continues to fail, ultimately because you can’t bomb terrorism out of existence. In this 1-hour webinar, IPS Middle East expert Phyllis Bennis will discuss the new developments in Paris and Beirut, in the refugee crisis in Europe and the U.S., and discuss solutions that promote true diplomacy over military action.
Much has happened since we reported last week, and with so many tragedies that have occurred, we look towards future preparedness efforts to prevent such misfortunes. The French Prime Minister warned on Thursday, “we must not rule anything out, there is also the risk from chemical or biological weapons.” French emergency medical services are also being supplied with sarin gas antidotes. Check out the CBRN Policy Brief by Dr. Garza, GMU Biodefense Affiliate Research Scientist and former Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Garza provides an extensive look into US federal preparedness, which will be increasingly relevant given the Paris attacks and ISIS interest in chemical weapons. In looking towards the future, we’re celebrating World Antibiotic Awareness/Get Smart About Antibiotics Week to better appreciate the importance of microbial stewardship. Do you ever find yourself reading the Pandora Report and wondering, “all this biodefense stuff is so fascinating, I wonder how I could go more of it?” Good news, GMU has an entire Master’s program (and PhD if you really want to venture down the rabbit hole) in Biodefense! Fun History Fact Friday: On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2015
Whether you want to call it the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (via WHO) or Get Smart About Antibiotics Week (via CDC), the importance of antimicrobial stewardship can’t go unnoticed. The threat of antibiotic resistance is growing and we can all play a vital role in stopping it. Did you know in the US alone, 2 million people a year become infected with an antibiotic resistant organism? At least 23,000 people a year will die as a result of resistant organisms. There is a growing list of infections that are becoming harder to treat, like tuberculosis, pneumonia, gonorrhea, etc. The CRE outbreak earlier this year is just one example of a highly resistant and deadly multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO). While many think global health security issues are acts of bioterrorism and lab safety failures (which they are!), the threat of MDRO’s is also a looming danger. Imagine a world where we have no effective antibiotics. Pretty scary, isn’t it? The WHO provided recommendations for healthcare workers and policymakers, but here are a few things you can do:
always take the full prescription (don’t just stop when you feel better!)
Have left-over antibiotics? Don’t take them.
Don’t share antibiotics.
Prevent infections before they happen – wash your hands, use safe food practices, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and keep your vaccinations up to date!
GMU Master’s in Biodefense
Have a passion for biodefense and global health security? Hoping to take your education and experience to the next level? GMU’s MS in Biodefense can help bridge those gaps. Did I mention we also have an online biodefense MS? Our program connects the worlds of science and policy, furthering students’ understanding of the complexities within global health security through classes on homeland security, biodefense strategy, specific threat agents, etc. One of our graduates, Kathleen Danskin, is actually working with GAP Solutions Inc., supporting the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Kathleen’s experience is a perfect example of GMU’s multifaceted approach to biodefense and support for work experience. The MS in Biodefense requires the completion of 36 credits (18 credits of core classes like those listed above, 9-15 credits in a field of specialization, electives, and 3 credits in a Capstone Course). Perhaps one of the program’s greatest strengths is its faculty. They’re not only subject matter experts with an amazing range of experiences and knowledge, but also extremely supportive and encouraging of their students. If you happened to miss our Open House on Wednesday, check out our recorded webcast that specifically discusses the Biodefense MS program. If you plan to apply, make sure to get your Spring 2016 application in by December 1st!
Putting the Global in Global Health Security
Dr. Stephen Redd, Director of the CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, writes about a holistic approach to global health security. Dr. Redd discusses the challenges of improving both domestic and global health security “by preventing avoidable epidemics, detecting threats early, and responding rapidly and effectively to any public health event.” The 2014 Ebola outbreak brought the realities of emerging infectious diseases and global outbreaks to the frontline of US concerns. This particular outbreak emphasized the importance of surveillance and response on a global scale. A disease outbreak in one country can quickly stretch beyond the borders of another. Dr. Redd points out that epidemics know no boundaries and we must stop thinking of outbreaks in terms of individual country responsibilities. Mirroring these sentiments, I believe the concept of One Health plays a growing role in global health security and our future practices. Dr. Redd notes that the US must continuously adapt to prepare for these threats. As emerging infectious disease outbreak occur, the role of spillover between the human, animal, and environmental sources makes prevention, surveillance, and response that much more vital.
Officials: IS Is Determined to Develop Chemical Weapons
Iraqi and US intelligence officials are reporting that the Islamic State group is on the quest to develop chemical weapons. Sources state that they are setting up branches specifically for chemical weapon efforts and experimentation. This wouldn’t be a far reach considering IS was reported to use mustard gas in Syria against Kurdish fighters. Intelligence officials are also pointing to IS efforts of finding and employing chemical weapons experts from a range of international venues. “Still, U.S. intelligence officials say they don’t believe IS has the technological capability to produce nerve gas or biological agents, and that the militants were more likely to harm themselves trying to make them. A European official privy to intelligence on the extremist group’s programs agreed, saying so far even IS production of mustard gas was in small quantities and of low quality.”
Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) 2016 Stakeholders Workshop
PHEMCE helps coordinate Federal efforts to better prepare the US with medical countermeasures to combat CBRN and EID threats. Attend their January 6-7, 2016 workshop at the NIH Natcher Conference Center to address where we’re at and how we can work to be better prepared in the future.
Stories You May Have Missed:
Paris Attacks Point to Preparedness Needs– GMU Biodefense alum, Dr. Daniel M. Gerstein, discusses the preparedness fallout of the 11/13 Paris attacks. While many news outlets are reporting on the attacks, Dr. Gerstein addresses the collective roles for homeland security and how strategies like “DHS’s ‘see something, say something’ campaign provides recognition of the importance of individual vigilance and reporting of suspicious behavior.”
CDC Lowers Initial Chipotle E coli Case Count– Public health officials working on the outbreak associated with Chipotle restaurants in Washington and Oregon have dropped the case count from 50 to 37. Officials stated that “the CDC is now only reporting ill people that have been confirmed by PulseNet as being infected with the outbreak strain of E coli 026.” Of the 37 cases, 13 have been hospitalized.
Ebola Drug Protects Mice-FDA-approved Gamma interferon is showing promise in studies by University of Iowa researchers. When given 24 hours before or after exposure to the virus, it was able to fully protect mice from death from Ebola. While the team is still working to see how late the gamma interferon can be given after exposure, the success so far as a prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment is a huge breakthrough. With reports of a new case in Liberia, an effective ebola drug will be necessary to help stop the outbreak.
Cameroon is Experiencing a Measles and Cholera Outbreak– There have been 858 documented measles cases, with a surge in the past six weeks. The Mokolo health district has experienced the greatest number of cases (587). 36 cases of cholera have also been reported over the last four weeks. Public health officials are working to contain both outbreaks.
Hawaii Dengue Fever Update-The National Guard has been called in to assist with the Dengue fever outbreak as case numbers hit 79 infections.
Monday, November 16, 2015 Global Security Forum 2015: Russia’s Strategic Vision– Center for Strategic and International Studies Time: 9:30-10:45am Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies1616 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036(map) Featuring: Ambassador Thomas Pickering Former Ambassador to the United Nations, the Russian Federation, India, Israel, and Jordan. Michael Vickers Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Moderator: Olga Oliker Senior Adviser and Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS
Countering Terrorism In Tunisia: Prospects For Security Sector Reform –Project on Middle East Democracy Time: noon-1:30pm Location: Open Society Foundations1730 Pennsylvania Ave NW #700, Washington, DC 20006(map) This event is co-sponsored by the Project on Middle East Democracy and the Legatum Institute. A light lunch will be served at the beginning of the event.
Despite the immense progress Tunisia has made in its transition since the Jasmine Revolution, significant challenges—both internal and external—threaten the future of Tunisia’s democracy. As major terrorist attacks have negatively affected the country’s security and economic stability, Tunisia’s government has struggled to find an appropriate and effective response to counter the threat of terrorism. The Legatum Institute’s upcoming publication The Ministry Strikes Back: Could Counterterrorism Undermine the Revolution in Tunisia? analyzes successive Tunisian governments’ responses to terrorism and considers the relation between these responses and the future of the country’s democratic transition. How can governments effectively counter terrorism without threatening civil liberties? What reforms are needed to make Tunisia’s security sector effective, accountable, and in line with international human rights standards? And how can the United States and the international community play a productive role in encouraging and facilitating these reform efforts?
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Lessons Encountered: Learning From The Long War–Institute for National Strategic Studies Date: 3:30-5:30pm Location: National Defense University, Abraham Lincoln Hall
Room: Abraham Lincoln Hall Auditorium Lessons Encountered is an edited volume which began as an effort to answer two questions from General Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: What were the costs and benefits of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what were the strategic lessons of these campaigns?
Please join us on 17 November as editors Drs. Collins and Hooker and the book’s contributing authors unpack the major findings and takeaways from this extensive examination. The event will be followed by a reception in the Lincoln Hall South Atrium. R.S.V.P. by 15 November 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 George Mason University SGPIA Master’s Open House Time: 6:30pm Location: Arlington Campus, Founders Hall, Room 126 or attend virtually!
We invite you to attend an open house to learn more about the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs. We will be discussing the different master’s degrees within SPGIA, including our Biodefense master’s and online master’s program. The session will provide an overview of our master’s degree programs, an introduction to our world-class faculty and research, and highlights of the many ways we position our students for success in the classroom and beyond. Our admissions and student services staff will be on hand to answer your questions. Continue reading “Week in DC: Events 11.16-11.20.2015”→
Given the auspicious nature of Friday, the 13th, how about we start the Easy-Bake Oven version of bioreactors? (insert evil genius laugh). Our report this week is rich in biosafety, GMU Open Houses, and updates on global outbreaks. Fun History Fact Friday – this week in 1989, the Berlin Wall came down! Before we venture down the rabbit hole, don’t forget to get your flu shot before the 2015/2016 influenza season hits too hard!
DIY Bioengineering
If you’re in search of the perfect holiday gift for your favorite biodefense/bioengineer, you can thank the creators of Amino (personally, I think calling it the Easy-Bake Oven Bioreactor is just so much more fun). The kit starts at $700 and comes with all the essentials for your “recipe” (main bacterial culture, DNA, pipettes, incubators, agar plates and various sensors for monitoring microbial growth). Did I mention it comes in a nice color-coded, pleasing-to-the-eye plywood dashboard? MIT graduate, Julie Legault, is the master genius behind Amino, and uses the “apps” (step-by-step guides) to help make even the most science adverse individual capable of making DNA products. Liz Stinson points out that “they walk users through how to insert the DNA into untransformed bacteria cells, and how to incubate, grow, and maintain the altered microorganisms”. Just make sure your new gift comes with some information on dual-use research of concern and avoids any select agents…
Master’s Open House
Make sure to swing by our GMU Master’s Open House on Wednesday, November 18th at 6:30pm to learn about all our different programs! Good news – you can virtually attend via this link and even ask questions live! We’ll be talking biodefense and all the ways you can use our MS degree (online or in person!). Whether its fighting food safety issues, pandemic influenza, or zombies, we’re passionately trying to make the world of global health security stronger and more diverse!
Biological Research: Rethink Biosafety
“Biology must move forward on safety and security. Let’s not reinvent the wheel, but learn from those doing safety better.” Tim Trevan’s comments echo the sentiments of many within the biosecurity field. The anthrax mishaps at Dugway and the CDC BSL-3 lab in Atlanta compound a growing concern over the handling of select agents and the lab safety practices and processes that seem to be failing. Trevan poses the question, “what are the prospects for managing the more intractable risks globally if measures to ensure the safe handling of dangerous pathogens are failing at the best-equipped facilities in the country with the most advanced biotechnology in the world?” In his words, Trevan has hit the nail on the head and summarized the realities of lab safety culture. So what’s to be done? Trevan makes the unexpected recommendation of using nuclear security experts to advise on biosafety and biosecurity. This strategy utilizes a practice that is also common in healthcare – a culture of safety. By focussing on the prevention of failure, instead of maximizing output, safety becomes an engrained practice in all levels of an organization, transforming it into a “high-reliability organization” (HRO). By using examples within industries like offshore oil drilling, airlines, etc., Trevan points to the growing biotech capabilities that make biosecurity that much more imperative. In healthcare, I’ve seen organizations truly transform their practices by moving to a culture of safety (and utilizing “just culture” when it comes to patient safety) and while it’s not a wholly easy process, the foundations are already present in the existing teachings of patient care. Labs have the training and knowledge for safety, but as Trevan points out, it’s time to bring in those with the expertise to help move towards a culture of safety.
Courtesy of HDOH
Dengue Fever Outbreak in Hawaii
If you’re considering a winter retreat to Hawaii, make sure to grab some bug spray. Hawaii Island is currently experiencing a Dengue outbreak that has just reached 33 cases. Dengue is not endemic to Hawaii and while travelers have imported cases from time to time, this is marks the first big cluster of locally-acquired cases since 2011. The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) continues investigations and reports (as of 11/11) 25 Hawaii Island residents and 8 visitors have been laboratory confirmed with dengue fever. The HDOH has provided maps related to exposure areas to help people avoid high-risk locations or at least use preventative measures. If you’re traveling to Hawaii Island or an area where dengue is endemic, make sure to take steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and the potential for transmission!
Ebola Update Guinea has reported no new cases in the last week. While they’re still on high alert after the cases surrounding a family, they are hopeful. Liberia and Sierra Leone have hit their 90-day enhanced surveillance period, meaning they have no new cases and are now working towards the WHO’s second objective (managing and responding to residual risks). Pauline Cafferkey has made a full recovery after her hospitalizations due to post-Ebola recovery complications. Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health used a new statistical model to map the outbreak. Results will be published in the Journal of Royal Society Interface, which shows the development of the outbreak and role early detection and response plays.
Stories You May Have Missed:
Joint Services Mask Leakage Tester (JSMLT) Contract – the DoD has announced that Air Techniques International, Inc. has been awarded a contract regarding the maintenance of the JSMLT. The JSMLT does quality control and ensures proper fitting (portably) on CBRN protective masks.
H7N9 Cases in China Rise– China has confirmed two more cases that occurred in October, bringing the total case count to four. Many in public health are noting that these cases bring about a fourth wave of infections (starting in October). The two new cases were a a 62-year-old woman from Shengzhou and a 51-year-old farmer from Hangzhou.
Boosting Biosecurity in Nigeria & Kenya– The Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland have announced two grants to help build biosecurity in Nigeria and Kenya. The first grant of $13 million will go to strengthen laboratory infrastructure in Kenya, and the second of $10 million will help those in Nigeria quickly detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases.
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Monday, November 9, 2015 The Strategic Lessons of the Campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq –Institute of World Politics Time: 4:30pm Location: Institute of World Politics1521 16th Street NW Washington, DC(map)
Dr. Joseph J. Collins, the Director of the Center for Complex Operations at National Defense University will speak on the new NDU book, Lessons Encountered: Learning from the Long War. The book began as two questions from then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey: what have been the costs and benefits of our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; and what are the strategic lessons that one can draw from these two campaigns in the Long War. The speaker will summarize the 500-page book with an emphasis on the strategic lessons that were identified, and hopefully one day, learned.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Responding to Looming Cyber Threats – The New Reality –Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Time: 8-11:15am Location: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation1101 K Street, N.W. Suite 610, Washington, D.C. 20005(map)
Please join Arent Fox LLP, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), and George Washington University’s Center for Cyber and Homeland Security (CCHS) on Tuesday, November 10, for an engaging policy forum where cyber security leaders from industry, government, and academia will discuss the ever-changing landscape of cyber security threats, the role that policymakers can play in reducing risk to the enterprise, and best practices for responding to cyber incidents in a global economy.
Companies today face an unprecedented level of cyber security threats as a result of increases in the number of attacks and the sophistication of the attackers. Each week brings new headlines about data breaches and computer system failures that hurt the customers, profits, and reputations of US businesses. In addition, many companies are confronted with rising compliance costs as government regulators take enforcement actions against those who fail to provide sufficient security safeguards for customer data. And the security threat will be even greater in the future as companies expand their digital footprints with new investments in technologies like cloud computing, mobile devices, and the Internet of Things. The current state of cyber security is not sustainable, but changing it will require thoughtful leadership from both the public and private sector.
Registration and networking will begin at 8:00 am with coffee and light breakfast. The speaking program will begin at 8:30 am.
Climate Change & Food Security: Challenges And Options At Global And National Scales –International Food Policy Research Institute Time: 12:15-1:45pm Location: International Food Policy Research Institute2033 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006(map)
Room: 4th Floor Conference Center
As we become increasingly aware of the impacts of heat, drought and other extreme weather events, climate challenges that once seemed a concern for the distant future are becoming more immediate. The impacts of climate change on agricultural commodities and trade need to be analyzed in the context of implications for agricultural production, food security, and resource use. In addition, climate change raises very real and important timescale and planning horizon issues not normally at the forefront of the more traditional economic development research agenda.
As scientists, advocates, researchers, and political leaders prepare to head to Paris for Conference of Parties (COP21) a panel of experts lays out some of the most urgent aspects of climate change and agriculture. Join IFPRI as new results on the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security from the International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) are presented, along with a modeling framework and results designed to assist national decision- and policy-makers address climate change and mitigation goals in a politically and economically sustainable way. Following presentations by senior IFPRI researchers Alex de Pinto and Keith Wiebe, a panel of experts will share their views and recommendations. Continue reading “Week in DC: Events 11.9-11.13”→
Happy Friday! The world of biodefense and global health security has been busy this week – between a growing outbreak of E. coli associated with Chipotle restaurants, to a review of Select Agent lab practices, and a recap of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, there’s more than enough to keep you busy! Fun history fact Friday (it’s our version of “flashback Friday”), did you know that on November 6, 1971, the US Atomic Energy Commission tested the largest US underground hydrogen bomb (code name Cannikin) on Amchitka Island?
CDC/Select Agent List- 90 Day Internal Review We’ve seen a lot of news lately regarding lab safety and biodefense reform/recommendations. With so much scrutiny regarding biosafety practices, it’s not surprising the CDC would do a deep dive into “how the agency inspects select agent labs” with a 90 day review. The review notes that while it didn’t duplicate the recommendations from Presidential Order 13546, it did find several areas for improvement, leading to nine observations and ten actionable recommendations. The categories for recommendations are inspections, incident reporting, and transparency. The findings point to several areas for improvement, ranging from the standardization of risk assessments to identify high risk activities, to the sharing of inspection data to better encourage public understanding of the work practices performed with these agents. The report highlights several areas for improvement that will hopefully lead to more stable biosecurity and public understanding of how we handle select agents. You can also check out the Federal Select Agent Program for a list of the agents and regulations involved.
2016 Presidential Candidates on Nonproliferation
GMU’s Greg Mercer is at it again with round three of his review on 2016 presidential candidates and their comments on nonproliferation. As of now, he’s reviewed the Republican candidates, but now he’s delving into the Democratic candidates. Greg reviews Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley, noting that ” in contrast to Republicans, most Democrats support the Iran deal, and generally tend to favor international arms control regimes.” With the race only heating up, stay tuned for more of Greg’s candidate-by-candidate reviews on nonproliferation in the 2016 election.
GMU Master’s Open House and Application Deadlines!
Considering a master’s degree? Come check out the GMU School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs (SGPIA) Open House on Wednesday, November 18th, 6:30pm at our Arlington Campus in Founders Hall (Room 126). There’s even a pre-session for veterans and active duty military at 5:45pm! The Open House is a great way to learn about our different Master’s programs (Biodefense, International Security, Political Science, etc.) and ask real-time questions with faculty. Our Biodefense Program Director, Dr. Koblentz, will be there to discuss global health security and tell you about the pretty amazing things we get to do at GMU! If you’ve already attended or are planning to apply, just a friendly reminder that PhD program applications are due December 1st, and Biodefense Master’s Spring applications are due December 1st as well.
Zika Virus Outbreak in Colombia
Nine new cases have been identified in Sincelejo, Colombia, with an additional three being investigated in Barranquilla. Zika virus is a vectorborne disease that is transmitted through Aedes mosquitos. The CDC notes that vertical transmission (from mother to child) can occur if the mother is infected near her delivery and Zika can be spread through blood transfusion (although no cases have occurred this way) and sexual contact (one case of sexually transmitted Zika virus has occurred to date). Common signs and symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes that last several days to a week. In the past, transmission has occurred in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, however, there have been cases in 2015 in Brazil and Colombia. We’ll keep you updated if transmission continues in South America!
There have also been cases of Chikungunya springing up throughout the Caribbean and Americas. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) initially reported just over 2,400 cases a few weeks ago, however a new report is showing 13,476 new cases. Initially starting in December 2013, this epidemic began with a single locally acquired case on St. Martin island, and is now totaling 1, 760,798 cases.
Chipotle E.coli Outbreak
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Chipotle (we reported that Minnesota Chipotle customers experienced a Salmonella outbreak in August), an E. coli outbreak is making headlines in Washington and Oregon. Public health officials updated the case total to 41 people as of 11/4, with 6 patients requiring hospitalization. The source of the outbreak hasn’t been identified yet but as a precautionary measure, they’ve closed 14 restaurants. So far, the identified cases have been tied to five restaurants across six counties.
Stories you May Have Missed
CRISPR-Cas9 Utility Broadens – researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have improved on the utility of CRISPR-Cas9 through application via bacterial sources. The team “reports evolving a variant of SaCas9 – the Cas9 enzyme from Streptococcus aureusbacteria – that recognizes a broader range of nucleotide sequences, allowing targeting of the genomic sites previously inaccessible to CRISPR-Cas9 technology.” The new application allows a more precise targeting within the genomic sequence, which may translate to therapeutic applications. CRISPR-Cas9 has been a hot topic within the science and biodefense community in relation to its potential labeling as dual use research of concern (DURC) and certain ethical debates.
Unvaccinated Babies Refused By Some Physicians– Vaccination status is something I’ve grappled with working in pediatrics and is one of the rare things that can turn a calm physician (or infection preventionist for that matter) red-faced and needing a breather. The Boston Globe reported on a recent survey from the American Academy of Pediatrics that touched on pediatricians dismissing families that refused vaccines. The study found that all pediatricians surveyed had encountered at least one parent refusing vaccination for their child and 20% of pediatricians “often” or “always” dismissed families who refuse one or more vaccine. Interestingly, researchers found that “doctors in private practice, those located in the South, and those in states without philosophical exemption laws were the most likely to dismiss families refusing to vaccinate their infant”.
Guinea Ebola Tranmission – Guinea continues to experience new cases. As we mentioned last week, the cluster of four patients from the Kondeyah village is being monitored by public health officials. An infected newborn, whose mother died from Ebola recently, is also under observation and care. The infant’s mother was a confirmed case prior to her delivery and died after giving birth. The WHO is currently monitoring 382 contacts in Guinea during this time.
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The Candidates on Nonproliferation – Part 3 By Greg Mercer
I initially set out to write this as a candidate-by-candidate look at what the 2016 crop had to say about an issue near and dear to Biodefense students’ hearts: nonproliferation. As it turns out, though, not many candidates have well-developed stances on highly specific policy issues (or any issues, depending on how serious a candidate we’re talking about) more than a year from the general election. Lucky for us though, there’s been a major nonproliferation news event to drive the foreign policy debate: the Iran nuclear deal. So this is a rundown of what’s been said and is being said about nonproliferation and WMD policy in the 2016 election.
I’m spending even more time on campaign sites to see what the 2016 election looks like for nonproliferation.
This time, I’ll take a look at top Democrat contenders. In contrast to the Republicans, most Democrats support the Iran deal, and generally tend to favor international arms control regimes.
Hillary Clinton:
In the Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton named loose nukes among the paramount threats to the US. This issue is commonly understood to hinge on loose radiological material from the former Soviet Union (which is notoriously poorly controlled) and other states maintaining poor control of their nuclear weapons. The Associated Press recently released an investigation into the Moldovan nuclear black market and Islamic extremists. She has also strongly endorsed the Iran deal, and has a unique role in the debate, having helped to implement sanctions and launch negotiations with Iran as former Secretary of State. The Politico story linked notes that she was more hawkish than Obama on Iran in the past. (Her support of the Iraq War in Congress has been a recurring talking point for opponents). Now, though, their views seem to be pretty closely aligned. Hillary’s national security issues page also leans heavily on her experience at the State Department (in addition to being pretty relentlessly on-brand). Among the usual issues- ISIS, Russia, Israel, the Iran deal- is a very interesting one: “Highly contagious diseases are a constant threat. Warmer and drier conditions caused by global climate change, along with our increasingly interconnected world, enable germs to spread more quickly across the globe. America must remain vigilant and do more to prevent and contain outbreaks.” This is an uncommonly specific stance, and is placed alongside cyberattacks and climate change to make up an emerging threats triumvirate. So far, though, there hasn’t been much elaboration on actual policy options to combat this threat, or what makes it a defense issue versus, say, an international development one.
Bernie Sanders:
In 2009, Bernie Sanders echoed President Obama’s call for “a world without nuclear weapons.” While this obviously hasn’t happened, Sanders released a statement calling for an end to the production of weapons-grade uranium and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. In March of 2015, Sanders cosponsored a bill to reduce American spending on nuclear weapons by $100 billion over 10 years (in grand Congressional naming convention, the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act, aka SANE). A House and Senate version have been introduced, but are part of a much larger budget fight. Sanders’ issues page supports the Iran deal, though it interestingly says the “agreement is not perfect,” but ultimately concludes that it is a far superior option to military action. As usual, Sanders officially gives his support to Obama and Secretary of State Kerry’s negotiations. This page also does the thing where a first-person snippet introduces a long set of third-person position statements, but the personal statement highlights Sanders’ votes against the first and second Gulf Wars. This casts him pretty clearly as anti-military intervention to prevent proliferation, but with the caveat that it remains an option. There is also a separate, editorial-style section on just the Iran Deal, which offers more detail about uranium and centrifuge reductions. Once again, it calls war “the last option.” Much of Sanders’ campaign so far has hinged on economic and social issues, however, and he even said in the most recent debate that climate change is the most pressing national security threat. When looking for threats to security, Sanders mostly looks beyond weapons of mass destruction.
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