Universal Detection Technology Comments on Anthrax Scare in Los Angeles
Suspicious White Powder Found in Downtown LA Metro Station Forces Evacuation on Friday; UNDT Comments on Bioterrorism Threat and Response
LOS ANGELES, Aug 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Universal Detection Technology (www.udetection.com)(OTCBB:UNDT), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, responded today to an anthrax scare at a downtown Los Angeles Metro station on Friday, July 30th, that forced an evacuation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A suspicious, white powdery substance was found at the 7th Street Metro Station and was reported around 5 a.m. PDT, forcing an evacuation of the station. Officials later reopened the station around 7 a.m. PDT. While an arrest has been made, the identification of the white powder is still unknown.
"The incident that happened in Los Angeles on Friday can occur anywhere, at anytime, underscoring the very real threat bioterrorism poses," said Jacques Tizabi, Universal Detection Technology's CEO. "For a bioterrorist, the goal is to disperse or leave behind harmful bioagents such as anthrax in a public place to increase the risk of exposure; however, the opportunities for harm are even greater at a mass transportation hub that could aid in spreading infectious biohazards to other geo locations. The same could also be true for other routine distribution avenues, including mailing or commercial shipping and infrastructure, such as water delivery."
"Even if a suspicious substance is not truly a biohazard, or if it is a hoax, first responders are only aware of this after following proper procedure verifying the presence of a biohazard. Along with public vigilance and personnel protocol, rapid and on-site detection is critical to reducing the health risks and response times," continued Tizabi.
Tizabi noted that the company's flagship bioweapons detection kits, certified last year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an "Approved Product for Homeland Security" under the SAFETY Act, are ideally suited for first response and law enforcement teams. In under three minutes, the kits can detect and identify up to five separate threats using one sample in a single, easy-to-use device. The kits equip first responders with an effective tool for the rapid onsite detection of up to five biological warfare agents: anthrax, ricin, botulinum toxin, Y. pestis (plague) and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB).
For more information, please visit www.udetection.com or email info@udetection.com.
About Universal Detection Technology
Universal Detection Technology is a developer of monitoring technologies, including bioterrorism detection devices. The Company on its own and with development partners is positioned to capitalize on opportunities related to Homeland Security. For example, the Company, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a bacterial spore detector that detects certain biohazard substances. The Company is also a reseller of handheld assays used for detection of five bioterrorism agents, radiation detection systems, and antimicrobial products. For more information, please visit www.udetection.com. |
