Recent News

By Region: North America

Shortfalls Seen in Western Pacific Biolab Controls

(Global Security Newswire) An audit of disease research facilities in Western Pacific nations turned up a slew of shortcomings in measures to prevent the spread of dangerous biological agents, specialists announced in London last week. Slightly less than one-third of barriers for biological agent handling tables failed to function as intended, according to an examination Read More »

May 25, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, Biosafety, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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Additional Forensic Investigation of 2001 Anthrax Attacks

(Clinicians’ Biosecurity News) The FBI’s conclusion that USAMRIID scientist Dr. Bruce Ivins perpetrated the anthrax attacks of 2001 is largely built on an extensive microbial forensics investigation. That investigation linked the spores found in recovered letters to material contained in a flask labeled “RMR-1029” that was under Dr. Ivins’ control.

May 25, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biological Weapons, Bioterrorism, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Curtailed Funds Continue to Hurt Local Public Health

(Food Safety News) Since 2008, local public health departments in the United States have lost nearly 40,000 employees, and the situation continues to deteriorate, according to the most recent survey, conducted in January and February, by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). One health official told NACCHO that “fiscal year 2013 Read More »

May 25, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Outgoing superintendent of the Center for Domestic Preparedness praised for ‘right decisions’

(Anniston Star) While delivering a speech to local leaders and CDP staff and trainees, Jones said the biggest expansion during his time at the center was adding live biological agents to CDP’s training and giving trainees first-hand experience of dealing with mass-casualty disaster and acts of biological terrorism. “We’re better for it, and what we Read More »

May 25, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Anthrax: vaccination considerations

(CattleNetwork.com) Nearly every summer, cases of anthrax in cattle are reported from pastures in South Dakota. Anthrax is a disease that can strike quickly, usually causing death losses without prior noticeable clinical signs in the animals. Anthrax is caused by bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, which has the ability to form very resistant spores in the soil. Read More »