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2 An Overview of BioWatch Strategic Priorities
Pages 7-12

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From page 7...
... Walter said he knows of no program that is doing both surveillance and working at the state and local levels on preparedness and response. The strategic plan describes the program's mission as one of operating a nation-wide aerosol detection system providing early warning across all levels of government to support public health and emergency management communities to prepare for and respond to a biological incident.
From page 8...
... Walter explained that as his office went through the process of developing the strategic plan, four strategic priorities were identified: 1. Collaborate with stakeholders on communicating the program's value and core capabilities in as transparent a manner as possible.
From page 9...
... Local and state agencies may decide to conduct enhanced surveillance including follow-up of reported diseases and syndromic surveillance after notifying hospitals and veterinarians. If the BAR is determined to have been caused by an intentional release that poses a public health threat, additional sampling is conducted along with a transition to a response framework that includes an emergency declaration and a request for federal assistance.
From page 10...
... Elaborating on Walter's last point, Jonathan Greene, deputy assistant secretary and director, Health Threats Resilience Division, OHA, DHS, said that developing a credible defense against a potential bioterrorism attack takes time and investment that cannot be built based on the latest intelligence report, though there is new and evolving information about this threat. The challenge in working with the intelligence community, he said, is to take either raw or developed intelligence community products, drill down, and get to a message to share with state and local officials.
From page 11...
... through its Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement and the Hospital Preparedness Program administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
From page 12...
... Kathryn Brinsfield added that DHS OHA has been working on the communication and coordination pieces both within DHS and with the fusion centers,1 state and local law enforcement groups, and public health. Romanosky acknowledged that the exchange of information is much greater today than when BioWatch began.


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