Critical Releases in Homeland Security: October 29, 2014

From the Summary: "In the wake of increasing fears about the spread of highly contagious diseases, federal, state, and local governments have become increasingly aware of the need for a comprehensive public health response to such events. An effective response could include the quarantine of persons exposed to infectious biological agents that are naturally occurring or released during a terrorist attack, the isolation of infected persons, and the quarantine of certain cities or neighborhoods. The public health authority of the states derives from the police powers granted by their constitutions and reserved to them by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The authority of the federal government to prescribe quarantine and other health measures is based on the Commerce Clause, which gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. Thus, state and local governments have the primary authority to control the spread of dangerous diseases within their jurisdictions, and the federal government has authority to quarantine and impose other health measures to prevent the spread of diseases from foreign countries and between states. In addition, the federal government may assist state efforts to prevent the spread of communicable diseases if requested by a state or if state efforts are inadequate to halt the spread of disease. This report provides an overview of federal and state public health laws as they relate to the quarantine and isolation of individuals and a discussion of constitutional issues that may be raised should individual liberties be restricted in a quarantine or isolation situation."

"On September 16, 2014, President Obama announced a major increase in the U.S. response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The Department of Defense (DOD) submitted requests to Congress to make excess Overseas Contingency Operations funds appropriated for FY2014 available to support this effort. The requested funds would be used to provide humanitarian assistance, including: (1) transportation of DOD and non-DOD personnel and supplies; (2) coordination of delivery of supplies from both DOD and non-DOD sources such as isolation units, personnel protective equipment, and medical supplies; (3) construction of 17 planned Ebola treatment units; and, (4) training and education in support of sanitation and mortuary affairs functions to limit the spread of the Ebola outbreak. DOD officials have stated that DOD personnel will not provide direct medical care to Ebola victims, but that non-governmental organizations are submitting proposals to the World Health Organization and other entities to provide health care workers."

This is a weekly digest produced by Intelink. Sources linked in the digest are from open, unclassified resources. The content of the article links has not been altered, and is not an evaluated intelligence product. The digest provides links to mapping resources, logistics resources, Ebola collaboration, published research and academic materials, education and prevention, health agencies working on Ebola contagion, non-profit organizations involved, and recommended guidelines for Ebola from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Ebola Digest begins with posts from September 8, 2014.