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Daily Brief

The PSEPC Daily Brief is a compilation of summaries of publicly available and PSEPC information concerning critical infrastructure protection and emergency management.

DOB05-234 - 7 December 2005

News

Avian influenza: Update
Further to PSEPC Daily Brief DOB05-229, on December 6, the Ministry of Health in Indonesia confirmed an additional human case of H5N1 avian influenza. A field investigation found that the victim, a 25-year-old woman who died after being hospitalized, had a history of exposure to sick poultry around her house. Close contacts of the woman are being monitored and testing of poultry and environmental samples has been undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture.
(Source: World Health Organization , 6 December 2005)
Source article

The WHO reports that since December 2003, there have been 134 cases of H5N1 avian influenza resulting in 69 deaths in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and China.
Source article

Native leaders discuss flu pandemic plan
Media reports that the aboriginal leaders will discuss preparations for a potential flu pandemic at the First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly  in Ottawa on December 6-8. Elizabeth Paul, the director of the new health centre at the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia, stated that overcrowding and poorer health could make aboriginal people among the most vulnerable Canadians if a pandemic hits.
(Source: cbc.ca , 6 December 2005 )
Source article

Pandemic influenza planning considerations in First Nations Communities is a part of the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan.

In brief

Airport security cards expand nationwide
High-tech security cards that were first tested at Charlottetown's airport are now the norm for airports’ workers across Canada. The cards were designed to combat smugglers and terrorists. They feature a worker's fingerprint and iris scan. The cards are impossible to duplicate and can be disabled in a few seconds. Staff at 29 Canadian airports will have their cards by` the start of 2006.
(Source: cbc.ca , 6 December 2005 )
Source article

Transport Canada provides additional details of aviation security initiatives within the Aviation Security Advisory Committee Recommendations.

Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has not detected any significant new threats or vulnerabilities. No significant incidents with the potential to affect critical infrastructure have been reported. Accordingly, based on the information available to CCIRC, the cyber risk facing Canadian critical infrastructure is assessed as low. Personnel responsible for information, systems and network security should continue to apply appropriate security precautions and monitor their systems.

See also...

• The Weather Office
• FAC - Travel Updates

Note to readers

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) collects information related to cyber and physical threats to, and incidents involving, Canadian critical infrastructure. This allows us to monitor and analyze threats and to issue alerts, advisories and other information products.

Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Operations Centre (NOC) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The NOC can be reached at (613) 993-4460. National security concerns should be reported to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) at (613) 993-9620.

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