Recent News

By Region: North America

Heroin users warned after second anthrax death

(The Guardian) A second person has died from an anthrax infection after injecting heroin, causing health experts to warn hospitals and walk-in clinics across the UK to expect more cases. The death comes three weeks after another heroin user died after contracting the disease from what is assumed to be a batch of contaminated heroin.  Read More »

Reconstructed 1918 influenza virus has yielded key insights, scientists say

(EurekAlert) The genetic sequencing and reconstruction of the 1918 influenza virus that killed 50 million people worldwide have advanced scientists’ understanding of influenza biology and yielded important information on how to prevent and control future pandemics, according to a new commentary by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of  Read More »

Syracuse FBI wades through tips that could lead to fake anthrax terrorist

(The Post-Standard) FBI agents in Syracuse have been following up on tips this week that could lead them to the person who’s been mailing fake anthrax threats for 15 years. The agency made a public plea Sunday, offering up to a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of whoever sent 21 letters  Read More »

SLU Professor Calls for Better Disease Tracking to Fight Bioterrorism

(Infection Control Today) Nearly 11 years have passed since the 2001 bioterrorism-related anthrax attacks that shook the nation, killing five people and injuring 17, but according to Alan Zelicoff, MD, director of The Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University, the country has still not learned its lesson. “The key requirement for mitigating the effects  Read More »

1379 Chinese Die from Infectious Diseases in August

(CRI English) More than 601,703 cases of infectious diseases were reported on the Chinese mainland in August, and they resulted in 1,379 deaths, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Monday. A total of 343,201 cases identified as Class B infectious diseases by the MOH were reported on the mainland in  Read More »