Is Israel prepared for a “White Powder” scare?

Is Israel prepared for a “White Powder” scare?

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The Israeli Ministry of the Environment will have to improve its ability to provide faster identification of ‘White Powders’, suspicious materials, which can affect or scare people located in a dense area. Experts say that this problem is an International one and that special equipment should be made available in order to handle it.

Hazardous materials (Hazmat) teams across the United States respond to hundreds of white powder calls each year in large cities where quick decision-making is critical. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now makes it easier to buy the right technology for bio-threat incidents.

First responders know that white powder scenarios or suspected biological threats require quick and decisive action. Having the right field-deployable equipment available to determine what the suspicious substance is can be complicated, challenging and expensive.

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Recently, DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate issued a report that summarizes an extensive list of commercially available, hand-portable bio-detection technologies. The report , entitle, Bio-detection Technologies for First Responders, helps end-users such as firefighters, police officers, and HazMat workers make informed decisions about procuring the right technology for their particular need and circumstance.

Israeli experts say that since the Anthrax scare in the U.S. a few years ago the number of calls about ‘White Powders’ to emergency services has been on the rise.