Biosurveillance: challenges and options for the National Biosurveillance Integration Center : report to congressional requesters.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Department of Homeland Security--Rules and practice--Evaluation.

United States.

National Biosurveillance Integration Center (U.S.).

United States. Department of Homeland Security.

Public health surveillance--United States--Evaluation.

Public health surveillance.

Biosecurity--United States--Evaluation.

Biosecurity.

Interagency coordination--United States--Evaluation.

Interagency coordination.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iv, 62 pages) : color illustrations

Other Title:

Challenges and options for the National Biosurveillance Integration Center

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, 2015.

Summary:

"A biological event, such as a naturally occurring pandemic or a terrorist attack with a weapon of mass destruction, could have catastrophic consequences for the nation. This potential threat underscores the importance of a national biosurveillance capability -- that is, the ability to detect biological events of national significance to provide early warning and information to guide public health and emergency response. The 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 addresses this capability, in part, by creating National Biosurveillance Integration Center within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); it was tasked with integrating information from human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental monitoring systems across the federal government, to improve the likelihood of identifying a biological event at an earlier stage. In recent years, NBIC's budget has ranged from $10 million to $13 million annually. GAO was asked to evaluate NBIC. This report discusses the (1) extent to which NBIC is implementing its roles as a biosurveillance integrator, and (2) options for improving such integration. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed NBIC products and activities; conducted interviews and surveyed 19 federal partners, 11 of which have key roles in biosurveillance; interviewed NBIC officials; and analyzed the 9/11 Commission Act, NBIC Strategic Plan, and National Strategy for Biosurveillance"--Preliminary page.

Contents:

Background

NBIC has activities that support integration, but faces challenges that limit its ability to enhance the national biosurveillance capability

There are a range of options for addressing biosurveillance integration challenges, and each has associated benefits and limitations.

Notes:

"September 2015."

"GAO-15-793."

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF cover (GAO, viewed on Sept. 19, 2022).

OCLC:

922033648