PREVENTION OF WMD REPORT CARD

"In December 2008, the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and
Terrorism released a unanimous threat assessment: Unless the world community acts decisively and with great
urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) will be used in a terrorist attack
somewhere in the world by the end of 2013. That weapon is more likely to be biological than nuclear." Prevent WMD ReportCard

In this Report Biological Risks received a failing grade of F.


"The lack of U.S. capability to rapidly recognize, respond, and recover from a biological attack is the most
significant failure indentified in this report card. Deterrence of bioterrorism rests upon the ability of the nation
to mitigate the effects of an attack. Unfortunately, there is no national plan to coordinate federal, state, and
local efforts following a bioterror attack, and the United States lacks the technical and operational capabilities
required for an adequate response. These technical and operational capabilities are each links in a chain,
critical to the strength of the attack response. Weakness in any capability leads to a diminished response, and
diminished effectiveness in deterring an attack."

"Rapid detection and diagnosis capabilities are the first links in the chain, followed by: providing actionable
information to federal, state, and local leaders and the general public; having adequate supplies of appropriate
medical countermeasures; quickly distributing those countermeasures; treating and isolating the sick in medical
facilities; protecting the well through vaccines and prophylactic medications; and in certain cases, such as
anthrax, environmental cleanup."

"The United States is seriously lacking in each of these vital capabilities."