Global Security Newswire

Medical practitioners in the Tampa, Fla., area have been asked to be "extra vigilant" as they forward information on disease incidents to public health officials ahead of this month's GOP convention, the Associated Press reported on Friday (see GSN, March 12).

Any signs of a biological weapons attack that could involve such highly infectious disease agents as plague or smallpox are of interest to health authorities in advance of, amid and following the event, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Officials also want to be informed quickly of unexpected fatalities of people with no known medical issues, a major contagious disease with no obvious explanation and other health danger indicators.

The Republican National Convention is to take place in Tampa from Aug. 27 through 30 and is to be attended by presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney and vice president pick Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), among a host of others (Associated Press/Sacramento Bee, Aug. 17).