THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT UMDNJ

UMDNJ - SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

>>>NJCPHP News PHlash <<<

JANUARY 1  -  JANUARY 14 2005

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PREPAREDNESS NEWS:

[1] Are bioterrorism dollars making us safer? - Center for American Progress (1/13/2005)
The Century Foundation Working Group on Bioterrorism Preparedness, comprised of nationally recognized health policy experts and practitioners, assessed the $3 billion in federal funding used to improve the capacity of the U.S. public health system since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The final report, "Breathing Easier? The Report of The Century Foundation Working Group on Bioterrorism Preparedness" describes the significant progress in the public health system as a result of increased funding, yet highlights the many remaining deficiencies, and provides recommendations for further improvements.
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=291524

[2] Codey focuses on terrorism, federal money, research. - The Morning Call (1/12/04)
In his first State of the State address as Acting Governor of New Jersey, Gov. Richard J. Codey focused on terrorism preparedness within the state, specifically protecting schools and the state's nuclear and chemical facilities, and refineries. New Jersey is slated to lose $19 million in federal homeland security funding in FY2005. http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b9_3nj_statejan12,0,2826219.story

[3] American College of Forensic Examiners and VCampus expedite development of new online homeland security certification programs - Business Wire (1/11/05)
The American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFEI) created a training program, "Certification in Homeland Security," in response to rapidly increasing demand for highly trained individuals; originally a six-month program, it was accelerated into a three-month online course.  THE ACFEI has joined forces with VCampus, an e-learning service, to develop the certification program, in attempt to efficiently train individuals to be prepared to respond to a public health emergency.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050111/115412_1.html

[4] Researchers develop new tool to detect agents of bioterrorism - American Chemical Society News Service (1/5/04)
Researchers at California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a "biological smoke detector" known as the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System (APDS), which continually monitors air for viruses, toxins and bacteria.  The instrument, capable of detecting causal pathogens of diseases such as anthrax and plague would provide an early warning of exposure, effective for use in high traffic, susceptible areas  e.g. airports, arenas, official buildings.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050106105909.htm

[5] Are our children terrorist targets? - San Francisco Chronicle (1/2/05)
In a letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, Dr. Irwin Redlener, Associate Dean at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, discusses the horrifying reality of school children as targets of terrorism in the U.S. Redlener also states the need for state and national preparedness planning focusing on school security, and training emergency responders and public health professionals to be able to respond to the particular needs of children in a terrorist attack. http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2005/01/02/EDGT0AJ7JN1.DTL

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The New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness at UMDNJ, UMDNJ-School of Public Health does not claim responsibility for accuracy of facts and information presented.  All opinions expressed are those of the original authors and do not represent the views of NJCPHP staff or affiliates.  NJCPHP News PHlash, a bi-weekly news bulletin, is distributed free of charge electronically, with the intention of sharing information of interest and value to our subscribers.