Recent News

By Region: North America

Biodiversity meeting calls for more science-based information

(SciDev) An international meeting on biodiversity has called for more science-based information, the closure of knowledge gaps, and increased precaution, in the emerging fields of synthetic biology and geoengineering (climate engineering). Two decisions related to these areas, among a set of 34 decisions adopted at the 11th Conference of Parties (COP 11) to the Convention Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda

(WHO) As of 21 October 2012, nine (9) probable and confirmed cases, including 5 deaths have been reported with Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district in South-western Uganda. Of these, 3 have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Preliminary investigations indicate that Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under Africa, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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HHS Rules Out Funding Approach for Developing Biodefense Medicines

(Global Security Newswire) A blueprint aimed at helping to finance the development of new medicines for use against biological-weapon agents has failed to pass muster within the Obama administration, Bloomberg reported on Sunday. The recommendation — put forward in 2011 by Maryland-based PharmAthene and other biological defense enterprises — calls for Washington to end use Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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To lurk in soil, anthrax spawn in amoeba

(Futurity) Until now, experts have widely believed that anthrax spores remain dormant in soil until eaten by cattle, then germinate and cause the deadly disease. But researchers have found that the spores can attack, and reproduce in, a common soil and water amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii. “These amoeba normally eat bacteria and kill them, but Bacillus Read More »

October 22, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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Study: Optimal treatment duration for MRSA-related pneumonia

(EurekAlert) The national practice guideline for treating MRSA-related pneumonia is seven to 21 days. A Henry Ford Hospital study found that effective treatment can be done in half the time. Researchers found that 40 percent of patients were treated for eight to 13 days on a therapy of the antibiotics vancomycin or linezolid, and had Read More »