Author Topic: DHS IG finds holes in U.S. bioterrorism detection system  (Read 126 times)

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DHS IG finds holes in U.S. bioterrorism detection system
« on: April 05, 2021, 11:08:44 am »
DHS IG finds holes in U.S. bioterrorism detection system
Jacob Knutson
 

The U.S. program responsible for detecting and responding to threats of bioterrorism lacks detection equipment in more than half the country and was unable to spot multiple biological agents known as possible threats, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general said in a report released Thursday.

Why it matters: If the country does not improve the program, called BioWatch, the "United States’ ability to prepare, detect, and respond to a potential bioterrorism attack is impeded, which could result in significant loss of human life," the IG said.

Context: The BioWatch Program was formed under the George W. Bush administration in 2003 after numerous anthrax attacks against news media offices and members of Congress killed five people and infected several others in 2001.

    BioWatch claims to operate a nationwide aerosol detection system, but the IG said it "does not operate a nationwide early warning system."

https://www.axios.com/homeland-security-ig-biological-threat-detection-1a8877ed-d4f4-4f6a-9aee-2b8d55c88aa3.html