NCJ Number
190368
Editor(s)
Maurice Eisenstein,
Brian K. Houghton
Date Published
October 2000
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This document contains condensed summaries of talks presented at a February 2000 Symposium on Bioterrorism and Homeland Defense.
Abstract
The symposium, which was organized by RAND and focused on the Los Angeles area, sought to identify the elements of an integrated homeland defense against bioterrorism, identifying critical gaps in current Federal, State, and local government policies, programs, and capabilities, and offering suggestions on how a relatively cost-effective homeland defense program might be achieved. Five separate panels discussed the various components of a homeland defense against bioterrorism: Threat Panel: The Threat Beyond 2000; Pre-Attack Panel: Prevention and Deterrence; Trans-Attack Panel: Emergency Response; Post-Attack Panel: Recovery and Investigation; and Tech Panel: Homeland Defense Beyond 2000. Symposium suggestions on elements and actions that need to be considered to create an effective defense against bioterrorism included: (1) focus on bioterrorism, which differs significantly from chemical terrorism; (2) inventory the capabilities of all levels of government to deal with different biological incidents; (3) use more efficiently resources already in place; (4) develop rapid response capability with early detection and identification of an event to contain the effects of a biological weapon attack; (5) adopt best practices already developed, perhaps establish a Center of Excellence to disseminate such information; (6) enhance local capabilities and resources through regional mutual support agreements; (7) include in government planning physicians, nurses, pharmacists, Red Cross volunteers, and others; (8) consider using relatively inexpensive web-based instruction to educate large sections of the population about biological terrorism; and (9) educate people through schools and volunteer organizations.