Defense agency steps up Ebola efforts

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Deputy Director Air Force Maj. Gen. John P. Horner recently spoke about DTRA’s response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, where there have been over 17,000 cases of the virus and over 6,000 deaths. DTRA’s mission is to protect the United States and its allies from chemical, biological, nuclear, and other weapons of mass destruction threats, as well as reduce U.S. troops’ exposure to these threats.

DTRA is one of several U.S. government and international agencies involved in the Ebola response, with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) taking the U.S. lead. Other agencies include the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Other international organizations and private companies are also involved.

In his remarks, Horner discussed DTRA’s and their partners’ contributions to research, testing, development, and evaluation of the virus, as well as efforts to provide protective gear, laboratory services, funding, and capacity building. Horner also spoke of the DTRA’s crucial role in collaborating with lawmakers to ensure funding is allotted to needed programs in a timely manner.

Colleagues of Horner also discussed DTRA’s efforts, including DTRA’s role in researching and developing prototypes, and their role in diagnostic development.

For more information about the DTRA efforts, please follow the link below.
DoD Threat Reduction Agency Builds Anti-Ebola Capacity, DoD News

The Simons Center will publish a special edition InterAgency Journal on the topic of WMD in the spring of 2015.
More information about this edition and how to submit an article for consideration can be found here.


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