Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
Intercepted message by the CIA: Siberian forecast is cloudy with rain operation vital rain quickens bane malignancy removed forever gardens are green abundance of flowers purple and clever flashy symbols games day and night movie grand but no popcorn in sight praise vector on opening night movie India-1 is the grand show the night of. TRANSMISSION TERMINATED.

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
India-1 a bioterrorism attack involving small pox virus; Russians used this as a weapon Operation India-1 is the federal governments counter offensive against this form of bioterrorism. It aims to: Discern the veracity of the threat Mobilize resources to safeguard public health Investigate possible source(s) of the virus and/or threat Coordinate and work with state government agencies and other organizations that can help combat possible epidemic

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
Vector and Its Significance Vector deals with distance and direction.
A location where India-1 would be launched is identified and would serve as the starting point from where the disease would originate and spread. MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada USA With the anthrax scare post-9-11, it would be better to investigate the matter to know the truth, as well as to determine the possibility for such incident to happen.

Location of Attack Propaganda or Hoax? Arbitrary or synchronized?

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
Indicators of possible bioterrorism attack
Based on the reported incidents of Frank Preston, security chief of MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the following items* may indicate terrorist motives (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 2004, in RISS/ROCIC, n.d., p. 3)
Unusual behavior such as staring or quickly looking away from personnel or vehicles entering or leaving designated facilities or parking areas Prolonged static surveillance using operatives disguised as panhandlers, shoe shiners, food or flower vendors, news agents or street sweepers not previously seen in the area Attempts to penetrate or test physical security and response procedures at key facilities Attempts to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, flight manuals or other materials which could be used in a terrorist attack Presence of individuals who do not appear to belong in the workplace, business establishment or near a key facility Behavior which appears to denote planning for terrorist activity, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios, monitoring key facilities, and timing traffic flow or signals Stockpiling suspicious materials or abandoning potential containers for explosives (e.g.: vehicles or suitcases)
* Complete list can be accessed through http://publicintelligence.info/ROCICterroristindicators.pdf

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
Attackers profile:

Ahmad Atta Jdey

Worked as gardener at the hotel and had access to insect control chemicals Appeared to be monitoring the main casinowith a backpack insecticide sprayer... Unreceptive or quiet Had healthy issues: coughing, feverish, had blotchy appearance and purple lesions Had bedding in the basement garage room, indicating the he didnt leave the hotel. Repeatedly uttered praise INDIA-1, praise INDIA-1 (akin to a prayerful stance) Died while under the hotels custody

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Biological Incident Overview

Operation India-1
Though it may seem that Mr. Jdey acted on his own or as an individual, the CIA intercepted another message related to the suspect:
Two sticks a cake and an inverted el. AAJ : The dough is resting in the West oven, Mens double to - for - one stick and a cake with a curling tail: Take it out and make it rise! The ultimate crusade begins in a movie India-1. Praise Vector! AA LAS for a cake with a curling tail to one stick, YYZ one stick to for toSRJ TRANSMISSION TERMINATED.

Mr. Jdey appeared to be a Muslim fundamentalist. The bedding could be viewed as another means through which he could spread the Indian-1 virus, aside from tending to the gardens inside and outside the hotel. He took the risk of getting caught when he went to the balcony with an unused insect sprayer. He was also unresponsive when interrogated.

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 1

Preparedness

Operation India-1
Planning

1. Gather and analyze data regarding the incident

Examine the context of the messages given by the Security Chief of the MGM Grand Hotel, as well as the CIA-intercepted message Conduct thorough background investigation on the suspected disease carrier

2. Set goals and objectives 3. Identify the risks involved

4. Organizing taskforce and emergency team

Set-up a reporting, coordination, and monitoring support system Determine needs and resources (personnel, equipment, etc.), as well as the role of media (what kind of information could be shared with the public)

5. Collaborate with other agencies

Source(s): Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2010. Version 2.0 of Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/CPG_101_V2.pdf

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 2

Biological Incident Management

Operation India-1
Authority to Quarantine
Jason Sapsins Overview of Federal and State Quarantine Authority (2002) presents the seemingly absent quarantine authority of the FBI. To protect public health, people suspected of having a communicable disease such as India1s small pox, authorities resort to quarantine or confining people in a hospital or at home to prevent the spread of the disease.

Placing individuals in quarantine is an exercise of police power reserved reserved to the states under the 10th Amendment (U.S. Constitution) (p.2).
By virtue of the Federal Law, only the Office of the President through issuance of an Executive Order has the authority to implement quarantine measures. Two sources of this authority are the (1) general provisions found within Title 42 of the U.S. Code and (2) the Stafford Act (p. 2). The latter, however, indicates that the Department of Defense may or could do the same (i.e., decide and implement quarantine measures) to facilitate the process in case of emergencies. Suspected smallpox is among the communicable diseases that the US President (or the Department of Defense) can subject to quarantine.

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 2

Biological Incident Management

Operation India-1
Individuals suspected of having the smallpox virus will be quarantined, as well as the people they have interacted with. In this case, the Security Chief should be put into quarantine along with the co-employees of Mr. Jdey.
The hotel should be essentially quarantined as it is unknown how long had Mr. Jdey been using the insect control equipment to spread the virus even if during the time Mr. Preston apprehended him he had an unused full sprayer. His threemonth work at the hotel should be taken into account, not just that singular incident. Collaboration and coordination with other members of the team is in order to determine possible measures that could be implemented.

Special Agent & Director, Biosecurity Operations FBI

Part 2

Biological Incident Management

Operation India-1
The incident requires the following measures, among others: Provide safety, accountability and welfare Life safety Incident stabilization Conservation of property and equipment Medical surveillance Assessment of information Coordination with appropriate agencies Criminal investigation would involve other agencies, as well as other members of the team to help verify information and medical results. Employees of the hotel will be requested to undergo medical screening to ascertain their health condition. A random interview with documented guests of the hotel can also be conducted to ensure that none had been inflicted with India-1 smallpox after staying at the hotel. The internal and immediate external environment of the hotel should be examined and monitored for enough period of time to determine safe and healthy conditions at the hotel. Press releases about the situation also need to be monitored, if not censored, to avoid undue public anxiety.

References
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2010). Developing and maintaining emergency operations plans: Comprehensive preparedness guide (CPG) 101 version 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/CPG_101_V2.pdf Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS)/Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC). (n.d.) Indicators of terrorist activity. RISS/ROCIC Special Research Report. Retrieved from http://publicintelligence.info/ROCICterroristindicators.pdf Sapsin, J.W. (2002). Overview of federal and state quarantine authority. Public Health Legal Preparedness Briefing Memorandum. Retrieved from http://www.publichealthlaw.net/Resources/ResourcesPDFs/4quarantine.pdf