The US Department of Defense (DoD) remains vigilant in case of biological threats by pursuing internal reforms as well as significant investment in early warning systems and detection technologies.

The department stands ready to develop medical countermeasures and implement protective protocols to mitigate potential risks. This proactive stance aligns with the department's commitment to safeguarding national security against emerging hazards.

The DoD started its Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) more than 30 years ago, in the wake of the Gulf War.

The program unifies the various chemical and biological defense programs from each branch of the armed services into a single program across the department.

Since then, technological advances have escalated the threat of chemical warfare and biological warfare, making them both wider-ranging and less detectable than they were 30 years ago.

As part of its Biodefense Posture Review (BPR) published last August, the DoD is taking steps to improve biosecurity, bio-surveillance and bio-incident response -- key components of stopping biological threats.

Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms, including the use of existing practices, safety equipment and specifically designed buildings to ensure all workers, the community and environment are protected.

Meanwhile, bio-surveillance involves the detection of health threats in human and animal populations, food, water, agriculture and the environment, followed by disease detection and monitoring, and diagnosis.

Bio-incident response is the response to any incident necessitating the establishment of an organizational structure specific to the management of the incident.

The BPR's reforms sought to position the department to fight and win in the face of any future biothreat and to incorporate lessons learned from prior pandemic responses.

It established broad reform initiatives, including a strategic approach to biodefense that sought to enhance early warning and understanding to counter biothreats, improve preparedness, speed up responses and bolster strategic coordination.

The BPR noted the creation of the Biodefense Council as the principal forum to advise the secretary of Defense and other DoD leadership on biodefense issues and challenges.

"The Biodefense Council will build on the intense collaboration of the DoD biodefense enterprise over the past several years and will synchronize and integrate authorities and responsibilities to provide a more empowered and collaborative approach to biodefense," the Pentagon said in a statement.

As the landscape of biological threats continues to evolve, the DoD's proactive approach underscores the importance of sustained investment and collaboration in safeguarding national security against biological hazards.