Recent News

By Region: North America

Preliminary Consultation on H5N1 Research Issues

(World Health Organization) Recently, two unpublished research studies on the transmissibility of influenza A H5N1 viruses have raised urgent questions related to the two studies, as well as broader concerns related to the balance between scientific research and public concerns …

Anthrax Toxicity Depends on Human Genetics

(Scientific American) But just how toxic anthrax is to an individual might depend on their genetic makeup, according to a new study, published online Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that some people’s lymphocyte cells, when exposed to a laboratory mixture of the bacterium, were less likely to die than  Read More »

DA Henderson, Scientist Who Helped Eradicate Smallpox, Says US Is Unprepared …

(Huffington Post) Dr. DA Henderson, the epidemiologist who led the global effort to eradicate smallpox and is a leading voice on biodefense, told The Huffington Post that no one is in charge when it comes to dealing with the fallout from a bioterrorism attack. “I’ve kept quiet about this for a long time, but I’m  Read More »

Study of deadly flu sparks debate amidst fears of new pandemic

(Ars Technica) The 2009 flu pandemic, although not especially deadly, revealed just how quickly a new influenza virus could elude surveillance and spread internationally. It also left health experts eying the disease that many fear could cause the next pandemic: H5N1, the avian flu. According to World Health Organization standards, that virus is phenomenally deadly,  Read More »

Scientists call for curbs on own research on deadly bird flu virus

(The Guardian) Professor Osterholm said he considered the new virus a worse threat than the return of smallpox. “I wouldn’t like to see smallpox get out of the lab, but if it did it wouldn’t overly concern me,” Osterholm said. “We could contain it. The same thing is true with Sars. But influenza would scare  Read More »

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