Recent News

By Region: North America

Engineered Pandemics? A Memo To Bird Flu Virologists

(Science 2.0) As synthetic biology advances ever further, engineering potentially dangerous pathogens will only become easier. The uproar over the two new bird flu viruses must serve as a call to action; we need a new mechanism to ensure the safety of future studies …

February 15, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biosafety, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Death-rate row blurs mutant flu debate

(Nature.com) When the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity called for redaction of two papers on mutant strains of H5N1 avian influenza virus, one reason it cited was the high fatality rate of the wild virus1. But some virologists claim that the mortality rate — 59% in officially confirmed cases — has been vastly Read More »

February 14, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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White House cuts NBAF funding

(Wall Street Journal) President Barack Obama is recommending no additional funding in the next federal budget for construction of a new biosecurity lab in Kansas. The budget released Monday raises questions about the future of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility …

February 14, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agriculture, and Policy & Initiatives
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Governor Expects Extended Fight Over Planned Kansas Biodefense Lab

(Global Security Newswire) Plans to establish a new biological defense facility in Kansas might continue to face challenges from U.S. lawmakers for another half-decade, Governor Sam Brownback said last week. U.S. Representative Timothy Bishop (D-N.Y. ), whose district encompasses the Plum Island Animal Disease Center near Long Island, N.Y., has pressed the Obama administration not Read More »

February 14, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agriculture, and Policy & Initiatives
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Veterans File for Class Certification in Chemical, Biological Weapon Case

(Salem-News.com) On behalf of two non-profits, Vietnam Veterans of America and Swords to Plowshares, and eight individual disabled veterans, Morrison & Foerster filed a petition for class certification in a more than two-year battle with the U.S. military over secret testing of chemical and biological weapons on its own soldiers. The plaintiffs, who are seeking Read More »