Anthrax. Federal Agencies Have Taken Some Steps to Validate Sampling Methods and to Develop a Next Generation Anthrax Vaccine

Abstract

The threat of bioterrorism has long been recognized in the United States and abroad. The Department of Defense (DOD) considers inhalation anthrax to be the greatest biological warfare threat to U.S. military forces. The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has been conducting basic and applied research on biological threats since 1969, in order to develop medical countermeasures prophylactics, vaccines, medical diagnostics to protect warfighters. The anthrax incidents in 2001 highlighted major gaps in civilian preparedness to detect and respond to anthrax attacks, leading the federal government to focus on developing new drugs, vaccines, and therapeutics to protect U.S. citizens. As a result, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) now has major responsibility to ensure that appropriate medical countermeasures are available for civilians. And the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assumes major responsibility for coordinating federal responses to national incidents of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear release.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 09, 2006
Accession Number
ADA447055

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biological Factors
  • Biological Products
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Homeland Security
  • Infection
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Medical Countermeasures
  • Medical Personnel
  • Public Health
  • Sampling
  • Side Effects
  • Test Methods
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Vaccines

Readers

  • Critical Infrastructure Protection in CBRN and WMD Threats.
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology