News

Homeland Security   Department of Defense (DoD) Has Running Start on Biosurveillance Strategy By Cheryl Pellerin - American Forces Press Service  “WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012 – The White House has issued the first U.S. National Strategy for Biosurveillance to quickly detect a range of global health and security hazards, and the Defense Department has a running start in implementing the new plan, a senior defense official said. Andrew C. Weber, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, told American Forces Press Service that many of the activities described in the strategy are ongoing at DOD.” Important reference to One Health comments in Press release text excerpted below: “What was important about both outbreaks is that they helped give birth to the ‘One Health’ concept,” he said. “Because H5N1 was a poultry disease that jumped species to humans, it got the veterinarian community, the animal health community and the human health community to work together.” One Health is an international effort by veterinarians, physicians and other health professionals to integrate health care for people, animals, agriculture and the environment. Please read complete release link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2012/08/sec-120822-afps01.htm  Permission to post on One Health Initiative website graciously granted by:   John E. Pike — Director, GlobalSecurity.org