October 11, 2016

Public Health & Healthcare Preparedness
STATEMENT
Statement by USAID Administrator Gayle Smith on Escalating Humanitarian Response to Hurricane Matthew.
 
The United States is committed to supporting our neighbors in the aftermath of this disaster, and we are working around the clock to save lives and meet urgent needs. (USAID, 10/8/16)
 
See also: 
REPORT
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
 
Often called "the voice of CDC," the MMWR  series is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. (CDC, 10/7/16)
PRESS RELEASE
CDC Funds 34 Innovative Projects to Combat Antibiotic Resistance.
 
CDC has awarded more than $14 million to fund new approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, including research on how microorganisms naturally present in the human body (referred to as a person's microbiome) can be used to predict and prevent infections caused by drug-resistant organisms. (CDC, 10/6/16)
 
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Partnerships for Development of Vaccines to Prevent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and/or Tuberculosis Disease.
 
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit research applications for milestone-driven projects focused on establishing proof-of-concept for and/or preclinical development of lead candidate vaccines targeting infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and/or tuberculosis disease. (Grants.gov, 10/5/16)
 
FACT SHEET
Increasing Access to Contraception in the Context of Zika Preparedness.
 
Helping women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy during the Zika virus outbreak is a primary strategy to reduce Zika-related adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, including microcephaly and severe fetal brain defects. (CDC, 10/5/16)
 
REPORT
National List of Reportable Animal Diseases and Emerging Diseases Framework.
 
We are seeking stakeholder feedback on the draft National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD) Framework. Please send your comments to the VS Science, Technology and Analysis Services (STAS) by December 5, 2016. (USDA, 10/5/16)
 
PRESS RELEASE
HHS Awards Funding to Help Protect Health Sector Against Cyber Threats.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded cooperative agreements totaling $350,000 to strengthen the ability of health care and public health sector partners to respond to cybersecurity threats. The agreements will foster the development of a more vibrant cyber information sharing ecosystem within the health care and public health sector. (Department of Health & Human Services, 10/4/16)
 
NEWS
Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Best Buy in Global Health.
 Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez (USAID) explains how neglected 
diseases can be controlled through community-wide administration of safe and effective medicines. (Huffington Post, 10/4/16)
 
MEETING
Public Health Grand Rounds: Changes in Clinical Diagnostics and Tracking Infectious Diseases.
 
This session of Public Health Grand Rounds discusses how culture-independent diagnostic tests are changing the landscape of diagnosing infectious disease. The session will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 1-2 PM EST. (CDC, 10/4/16)
 
BLOG
Protect Your Child this Flu Season: Get a Flu Shot!
 
Now is the time to make sure that you and your family are protected from flu by getting your flu vaccine by the end of October, if possible. (CDC, 10/3/16)
 
GUIDANCE
Tropical Disease Priority Review Vouchers: Guidance for Industry.
 
By enacting section
524, Congress intended to stimulate new drug development by offering additional incentives for
obtaining FDA approval of certain tropical disease drug products. 
(FDA, 10/16)
 
REPORT
Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action.
 
This report tracks administrative and congressional action on FY2016 supplemental funding to address the Zika virus. (Congressional Research Service, 9/30/16)
 
PRESS RELEASE
CMS Finalizes Improvements in Care, Safety, and Consumer Protections for Long-Term Care Facility Residents.
 
The policies in this final rule are targeted at reducing unnecessary hospital readmissions and infections, improving the quality of care, and strengthening safety measures for residents in these facilities. (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 9/28/16)
 
WEBINAR
Maximizing MCM Shelf Life and Mitigating Public Health Concerns.
 
This informational webinar will help participants better understand the importance of shelf life and the impact of this dynamic on medical countermeasure (MCM) preparedness planning capabilities. The webinar is sponsored by CDC, and will take place on October 13, 2016, 1:30-2:30 PM EST. (CDC, 10/16)
 

Homeland Security & Disaster Preparedness
MEMORANDUM
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the National Security Workforce.
 
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance to the national security workforce in order to strengthen the talent and diversity of their respective organizations. (The White House, 10/5/16)


REPORT
Emergency Communications: Improved Procurement of Land Mobile Radios Could Enhance Interoperability and Cut Costs.
 
LMR systems are intended to provide secure, reliable, mission-critical voice communications in a variety of environments, scenarios, and emergencies; however, LMR interoperability-the ability to communicate across agencies-has been a long-standing challenge at all levels of government. (GAO, 10/5/16)
 
PRESS RELEASE
NSF Awards $22.7 Million to Strengthen Nation's Infrastructure.
 
The delivery of essential services -- whether in food, water, health or emergency response -- relies increasingly upon a complex, interconnected system of critical infrastructure. Ensuring these interdependent systems continue to operate during disasters and other disruptive events is crucial to maintaining public health and safety. (NSF, 10/5/16)
 
PRESS RELEASE
USDA Prepares for Hurricane Matthew.
 
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses that could potentially be affected by Hurricane Matthew that USDA has several programs that provide assistance before, during and after disasters. (USDA, 10/5/16)
 
NEWS
CIA Can Anticipate Social Unrest "Three to Five Days" Out in Some Cases.
 
The agency has significantly improved its "anticipatory intelligence," using a mesh of sophisticated algorithms and analytics against complex systems to better predict the flow of everything from illicit cash to extremists around the globe. (NextGov, 10/4/16)
 
NEWS
How the US Military is Responding to Hurricane Matthew.
 
The Pentagon is ready to dispatch at least three Navy ships and a detachment of military helicopters to assist Caribbean countries hit by Hurricane Matthew, defense officials said Tuesday. (The Washington Post, 10/4/16)

See also:

Radiological & Nuclear Disaster Preparedness
PRESS RELEASE
HHS Enhances Nation's Health Preparedness for Radiological Threats.
 
As a part of its mission to help protect Americans' health following even the most unthinkable of disasters, the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response is purchasing two medical products to treat injuries to bone marrow in victims of radiological or nuclear incidents. (Department of Health & Human Services, 10/6/16)
 

Science & Technology Policy
NEWS
Defense Innovation Board Lays Out First Concepts.
 
The board came out with a series of rough recommendations for Secretary of Defense Ash Carter - or his successor - that they believe will lead to injecting a culture of innovation into the Pentagon. (DefenseNews, 10/5/16)
 
PRESS RELEASE
NIH Common Fund Announces 2016 High-Risk, High-Reward Research Awards.
 
The High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) program, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 's Common Fund, awarded 88 grants to highly creative and exceptional scientists with bold approaches to major challenges in biomedical research. (NIH, 10/4/16)
 
REPORT
Information Security: FDA Needs to Rectify Control Weaknesses That Place Industry and Public Health Data at Risk.
 
GAO assessed the extent to which FDA had effectively implemented information security controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information on seven information systems selected for review. (GAO, 9/29/16)
 
This Week's Hearings

 

There are no hearings scheduled for this week.

 


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