Accession Number:

AD1098882

Title:

BIODEFENSE: Federal Efforts to Develop Biological Threat Awareness

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

United States Government Accountability Office Washington United States

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2017-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

60.0

Abstract:

Biological threats come from a variety of sources and can pose a catastrophic danger to public health, animal and plant health, and national security. Threat awareness, which consists of activities such as collecting and analyzing intelligence, developing risk assessments, and anticipating future threats, is vital to help federal agencies identify necessary biodefense capabilities and ensure investments are prioritized to make effective use of federal funds. GAO was asked to review how key federal agencies develop and share threat awareness information, and how that information informs further investments in biodefense. This report describes 1 the types of actions that key federal agencies have taken to develop biological threat awareness, and how that information is used to support investment decisions 2 the extent to which these agencies have developed shared threat awareness and 3 how DHSs NBACC determines what additional threat characterization knowledge to pursue.

Descriptors:

• department of homeland security
• emergency response
• public health
• risk analysis
• infectious diseases
• interagency coordination
• disease outbreaks
• quarantine
• national security
• dengue
• animal diseases
• environmental protection
• threats

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE