Formally established April 1, 2007. "The Office of Health Affairs serves as the principal medical advisor for the Secretary and FEMA Administrator by providing timely incident-specific management guidance for the medical consequences of disasters. Additionally, the OHA leads the Department's biodefense activities in coordination with other Departments and agencies across the Federal government; leads and sustains a comprehensive, integrated and collaborative framework that protects the health security of the Nation..." (DHS, OHA FY09 Cong. Justification, 08, OHA-3) "OHA plays a crucial role in the Department's mission to secure the homeland. In leading the Department's biodefense activities, OHA is responsible for operating the biological monitoring and early detection systems that are deployed in the nation's major cities, and for managing the National Biosurveillance Integration System. Together, these programs play a vital role in ensuring that relevant human, plant, animal and environmental health information is consolidated, analyzed and shared with interagency partners and better coordinate the nation's biodefense activities". (DHS, Budget-in-Brief FY 2008, p. 84)