Medical Countermeasures (MCM) assumes a proactive, preventive approach to protect service members and their families who may be stationed or deployed in areas at elevated risk to both naturally occurring and manufactured emerging infectious diseases. MCM develops clinical use guidelines for vaccines, diagnostics and antiviral policies that protect the military, civilian personnel and beneficiaries to preserve U.S. combat capabilities and readiness. They also contribute to U.S. government-wide efforts to save lives reduce human suffering and slow the spread of infection.
This includes managing and updating vaccine use policies to counter infectious disease threats such as smallpox and anthrax, and ensuring the safest and most effective preventive measures are in place to address adenovirus-associated illness and unique regional illnesses such as malaria, Japanese Encephalitis and leishmaniasis.
![Photo of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jon Rigenoldus, 509th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, examines samples at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., March 18, 2015.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/General%20Images/Health%20Readiness/DVIDS_1848880.ashx?h=182&w=225)
MCM interacts with DoD’s Chemical and Biological Defense Program, to assist in the following:
- Development of medical countermeasure requirements
- Acquisition processes
- New product evaluations
- Determination of appropriate stockpiling
MCM ensures that safe, effective medicines are in place and available when needed.
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Article
8/28/2015
![The Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) Operations section provided funding for DoD laboratories involved in the Ebola Outbreak Response in West Africa](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/AFHSC.ashx?mw=120)
The newest member of DHA, the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, works to counter health threats such as infectious diseases with surveillance information that can help maintain and enhance the health of service members and their families.
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Medical Research and Development, Pandemic Diseases, Ebola
Article
7/31/2015
![Members of the Omaha Fire and Rescue Department load a simulated patient into an ambulance during exercise Patriot 15, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/ambulance.ashx?mw=120)
Exercise Patriot 15, an interagency field training exercise used to practice domestic operations within the U.S., occurred July 23 at Offutt Air Force Base. The annual exercise included aeromedical evacuation of patients with highly infectious illnesses from Volk Field, Wisconsin, to Offutt AFB; however, this was not the first time a scenario like this has occurred.
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Pandemic Diseases, Chemical and Biological Exposures, Civil Support, Ebola, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health, Technology, Research and Innovation, Innovation
Article
5/27/2015
![microscopic view of the ebola virus](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/Ebola%20Virus%20Pic.ashx?mw=120)
Last week, galvanized by the Ebola epidemic, 194 Member States of the World Health Assembly quietly, but unanimously, agreed to provide support for West African, Central African and other at-risk states to achieve the capacity they need to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to infectious disease threats by 2019.
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Ebola, Pandemic Diseases
Article
2/12/2015
![U.S. Army Capt. Courtney Legendre, a physician assistant with the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, examines a child with the help of U.S. Air Force Maj. Andrew A. Herman, a medical planner in the CJTF-HOA Surgeon Cell in Kakute, Uganda, April 23, 2013. (Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tom Ouellette)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/Measles%20Outbreak%20Reinforces%20Need%20for%20Vaccines.ashx?mw=120)
The current measles outbreak is a reminder to all the need to vaccinate.
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Pandemic Diseases
Article
1/5/2015
![microscopic view of the ebola virus](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/Ebola%20Virus%20Pic.ashx?mw=120)
Experts from DoD and HHS sponsored an Ebola vaccine workshop
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Pandemic Diseases, Ebola
Article
12/30/2014
![Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky recognizes Army Spc. Rysper Sirma for her exemplary performance while supporting Operation United Assistance at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 26, 2014. As a food inspection specialist, Sirma ensures the food and water her fellow service members consume are safe. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. V. Michelle Woods](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161028064913im_/http://health.mil/~/media/MHS/Photos/Face%20of%20Defense%20Food%20Inspector%20Keeps%20Troops%20Safe%20in%20Liberia.ashx?mw=120)
Army Spc. Rysper Sirma is used to having to report to work on short notice. As a food inspection specialist, she’s on call around the clock in Liberia to keep her fellow Operation United Assistance service members safe, because food inspection requires strict time and safety parameters.
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Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance
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