Recent News

By Region: Asia/Pacific

Row at WHO meeting over smallpox – News24

Geneva – The World Health Organisation on Monday held a stormy discussion over the future of smallpox virus samples, which Russia and the US are seeking to preserve while others want them destroyed. The question surrounding the destruction of the last …

Fate of last smallpox virus samples to be determined today

The World Health Organization officially declared in 1979 that smallpox has been eradicated; in the three decades since the WHO declaration, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Russian government laboratory near Novosibirsk have been the last two places to keep samples of the smallpox virus; during this time,  Read More »

South Australia to be tested in ‘Exercise Golden Fleece’ – Stock Journal

The national emergency animal disease Rapid Response Team will be taking part in Exercise Golden Fleece, responding to a hypothetical 'outbreak' of foot and mouth disease. The exercise will be held at a number of centres across the region, …

Science goes global to combat animal diseases

YORKSHIRE POST — The Government claims that the UK will be better protected against animal diseases like foot-and-mouth, thanks to a global network dedicated to scientific research. The increasingly globalised movement of animals, people and food have greatly raised the risk of animal diseases spreading to the UK – a danger which poses serious economic,  Read More »

World Health Assembly opens 64th session in Geneva

CIDRAP — Delegates from 193 countries met today in Geneva at the start of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which will address several infectious disease topics, including a report from an independent pandemic review committee, a virus-sharing agreement, and the fate of the world’s remaining smallpox virus stocks. The WHA is the decision-making body of  Read More »