Biological Threat Agent Detection System Gaps Leave U.S. at Risk of Bioterrorism Attack

The U.S Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General has released a report identifying shortcomings in the BioWatch program, which is intended to help prevent a bioterrorism attack through a nationwide aerosol detection system. But BioWatch is not currently operating a nationwide early warning system, according to the report. Its detection equipment is located in just 22 of 50 states, leaving 28 states without coverage. The report also notes 906 instances in which air samples were not collected due to loss of power that included unplugged portable sampling units (PSUs). There were also 13 instances within five jurisdictions where PSU air samples were not collected due to security breaches involving vandalism, tampering, or theft. Further, BioWatch monitors and detects just 6 of 14 (approximately 43 percent) biological agents known to be threats because it has not updated its biological agent detection capabilities with the 2017 threat assessment results. Due to these shortcomings, the Inspector General found the U.S is at risk of a bioterrorism attack. It submitted four recommendations, one of which is to utilize the most recent threat assessment to enhance biological agent detection capabilities to respond to the most up-to-date threats. The agency within DHS that operates BioWatch agreed with all four recommendations and also noted it would have the Los Alamos National Laboratory conduct a new assessment to assist in optimizing defenses against bioterrorism. Read more at Homeland Security Today.