►February 6, 2004 - 'The Challenge is to Stay Vigilant' - Can the nation deal with a bioterror attack?  A top health official says that 'substantial' progress has been made since 2001 -- but more work lies ahead. - Newsweek via MSNBC - "But one issue associated with the smallpox vaccine is the potential for toxicity. Because of that, we got involved rapidly in some contract arrangements to develop a second-generation smallpox vaccine. We already have it in phase one clinical trials and have pilot lots. Within a reasonable period of time, we’ll have a smallpox vaccine that is much less reactive, and therefore much more safe, than the current one."

►February 4, 2004 - Fighting terrorism on the food front - www.foodnavigator.com - "Safeguarding America’s food supply against possible terrorist threats will eat into a considerable chunk of the USDA’s budget next year. The country is also planning to stockpile animal vaccines, following concerns that diseases such as BSE and Avian Influenza could be used in acts of bioterrorism."

Comment:  "When", not "if"?  Is this merely careless speech or reporting?  Do they know something we don't, but should, know?   Or is this just more scare-mongering?

►January 23, 2004 - NHS to get 'dirty bomb' detectors - NHS hospitals and ambulance crews are to get radiation equipment to enable them to detect dirty bombs. - BBC

►January 23, 2004 - Biodefense Agency Urged for Safety of U.S. Troops - Lack of New Vaccines Points to Need, Report Says - The Washington Post - "The Pentagon has not developed a single new vaccine against biological agents since the 1991 Gulf War and should create a new biodefense agency to respond to the growing threat of biological attacks on U.S. forces, according to a congressionally mandated report released yesterday."

►January 22, 2004 - Blueprint on Way for Vaccine Factory to Combat Terror Strikes - The Scotsman -"Plans for a Government-owned factory to produce large amounts of vaccine in the event of a terrorist strike could be finalised within weeks, it emerged today...The rapid response facility would produce vaccine for people contaminated by a chemical or biological attack."

►January 15, 2004 - Mad cow as bioterrorism? - Scientists worry that US gov't classification of BSE prions as 'select agents' could hinder research - The Scientist  

►January 14, 2004 - Bioterrorism procedures invoked when chickenpox case first appears as possible smallpox - The Casper Star-Tribune

►January 9, 2004 - Monkeypox may complicate bioterror efforts - Similarity to smallpox could make detection of deadlier disease tricky - www.jsonline.com

►January 9, 2004 - New device can help defend against novel biological agents - Vanderbilt University via www.eurekalert.org