Bill anticipates bioattack, outbreak

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WASHINGTON, N.Y., March 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan biodefense bill that should help strengthen U.S. response to a bioattack or disease outbreak, a senator from New York said.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization will equip federal agencies and hospitals with the necessary tools to prepare for and adequately respond to a wide range of public health emergencies, from natural pandemics to bioterror threats.

Gillibrand said the measure would help ensure America's emergency preparedness.

"Bioterrorism and a major outbreak of infectious disease is one of the most deadly, imminent threats we face," Gillibrand said in a statement. "We can't afford to wait for the next outbreak to occur to get serious with a real plan to protect our families. This must be a national security priority -- with investments in prevention and preparedness, research for lifesaving vaccines, and arming our country with a healthcare workforce ready to take action and save lives in the event of an outbreak."

The law includes Project BioShield, which includes the procurement and advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, including those for pandemic influenza.

The legislation aims to streamline disparate public health and medical preparedness strategies to ensure the nation is prepared for health threats or incidents with potentially negative health consequences, Gillibrand said.