Recent News

By Region: North America

House Votes Again to Extend Biodefense Measures

(Global Security Newswire) The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to reauthorize several programs designed to bolster U.S. medical capabilities for responding to disease agents and other potential WMD threats. The latest version of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, endorsed in a 395-29 decision, is “virtually identical” to a version of the text Read More »

January 24, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biosafety, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
Share

Bird flu research resumes after worldwide ban due to terrorism fears

(New York Daily News) Scientists around the world declared an end on Wednesday to a moratorium on researching mutant forms of the deadly H5N1 bird flu that had raised international biosecurity concerns. Announcing their decision to resume what they say are risky but essential studies of the avian flu strain, the scientists said the work Read More »

January 24, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, and Research
Share

Select-agent safety reports find little public health risk

(CIDRAP) The risks in working with potentially dangerous pathogens in US labs are low to the scientists involved as well as to the general public, according to two recent reports on safety incidents. One of the reports details theft, loss, and release (TLR) of select agents and toxins that occurred at US labs from 2004 Read More »

January 23, 2013
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, Public Health, and Research
Share

Science and Society: Lessons for us from the polio battle

(Herald Extra) I’m not sure if I ever saw patients in operating iron lungs. I have an incredibly vivid memory of such, but I long ago learned that old “memories” can be tricky. If one witnesses a movie documentary of dramatic things and reflects on them enough through life, they seemingly become first-hand experiences. So Read More »

January 23, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, and Public Health
Share

How Do Pathogens Get Into Produce?

(Food Safety News) Leafy greens, lettuce, cantaloupes, mangoes and strawberries. These are just some of the foods that have sickened or even killed people when they were contaminated with foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella. Amidst the confusing swirl of information about these and other produce outbreaks, the question arises: Were some Read More »