Recent News

By Region: North America

Researchers uncover how poxviruses such as smallpox evolve rapidly — despite low mutation rates

(EurekAlert) Poxviruses, a group of DNA-containing viruses that includes smallpox, are responsible for a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. They are highly virulent and able to cross species barriers, yet how they do so has been largely a mystery because of their low mutation rates. While smallpox was considered officially eradicated by Read More »

August 16, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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Ebola Vaccine Might Never Reach Market, Scientists Say

(Global Security Newswire) Ebola specialists are doubtful that a vaccine to protect people against the virus will ever be available on the market, the BBC reported on Wednesday. The virus that causes the hemorrhagic fever is considered a potential bioterror agent. Ebola is lethal in as many as 90 percent of cases, according to the Read More »

August 16, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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Army Plans Addition to Biodefense Lab

(Global Security Newswire) The U.S. Army is planning to more than double the size of a biodefense facility at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, the Tooele Transcript Bulletin reported on Monday. The $22.6 million project — awarded last week to Big-D Construction of Salt Lake City — would expand the Lothar Salomon Life Sciences Read More »

August 16, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, and Research
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West Nile Virus Death Toll Reaches 16 in Texas

(Global Biodefense) Dallas County officials have declared a state of emergency after the West Nile Virus (WNV) infected at least 190 people, killing 10 in their county, as the nation’s worst outbreak hits Texas. Dallas County Health and Human Services yesterday confirmed the county’s tenth WNV related death in a patient that had been diagnosed Read More »

August 16, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Countermeasures, and Public Health
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The Heavy Toll of a Future Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic

(Top Secret Writers) Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an economically devastating and highly contagious disease which affects all cloven-hooved animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The disease isn’t just limited to typical farm animals either. Deer, water buffalo, bison and even hedgehogs can all help spread FMD in the wild. For the Read More »