The White House released a new Homeland Security Presidential Directive concerning public health and medical preparedness. The document addresses protecting our nation against a catastrophic health event such as a "terrorist attack with a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), a naturally-occurring pandemic, or a calamitous meteorological or geological event."
Directive/HSPD-21 builds upon the four pillars identified in the April 2004
Biodefense for the 21st Century:
- Threat Awareness,
- Prevention and Protection,
- Surveillance and Detection, and
- Response and Recovery.