Editing Biosecurity (section)

==Human health==
Direct threats to human health may come in the form of [[epidemic]]s or [[pandemic]]s, such as the 1918 [[Spanish flu]] pandemic and other [[influenza]] epidemics, [[MERS]], [[SARS]], or the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], or they may be deliberate attacks (bioterrorism). The country/federal and/or state [[health department]]s are usually responsible for managing the control of outbreaks and transmission and the supply of information to the public.<ref =>{{cite web | title=Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert | website=Australian Government Department of Health | date=6 February 2020 | url=https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=HSE news | website=Coronavirus: latest information and advice | date=21 May 2020 | url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/coronavirus.htm | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) | website=Department of Health | date=5 September 2014 | url=https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-ahmppi.htm | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

===Medical countermeasures===
Medical countermeasures (MCMs) are products such as [[biologics]] and [[pharmaceutical drug]]s that can protect from or treat the effects of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack or in the case of public health emergencies. MCMs can also be used for prevention and diagnosis of symptoms associated with CBRN attacks or threats.<ref name="fdamcm">{{cite web|title=What are Medical Countermeasures?|url=https://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/AboutMCMi/ucm431268.htm|website=FDA: Emergency Preparedness and Response|publisher=Food and Drug Administration|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

In the US, the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) runs a program called the "FDA Medical Countermeasures Initiative" (MCMi), with programs funded by the [[US government|federal government]]. It helps support "partner" agencies and organisations prepare for public health emergencies that could require MCMs.<ref name="fdamcm" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Alliance for Biosecurity applauds subcommittee efforts to sustain medical countermeasure funding|url=https://homelandprepnews.com/biological-threats/bioterrorism/18984-alliance-biosecurity-applauds-subcommittee-efforts-sustain-medical-countermeasure-funding/|access-date=15 June 2016|work=Homeland Preparedness News|date=8 June 2016|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>