Recent News

By Region: North America

U.S. Strategy To Combat Bioterrorism Takes Global View

NDIA — The Defense Department has embarked on a multi-hundred-million dollar effort to protect troops from bioterrorism. Its strategy focuses on containing potential outbreaks in areas of the world where pathogens are known to exist. “What we’re trying to do is build lines of defense between the terrorists who have made it very clear that Read More »

May 18, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biological Weapons, and Bioterrorism
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Science, technology, and the bioweapons treaty by Malcolm Dando

BULLETIN OF ATOMIC SCIENTISTS — If one listened closely to the discussions around the recent meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the upcoming review of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), one might have heard a distant rumble of concern. These worries stem from the widespread recognition that advances in the life sciences are progressing at Read More »

May 17, 2011
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biological Weapons, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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US Says Eventual Destruction Of Last Smallpox Viruses At Least 5 Years Away

THE CANADIAN PRESS — (Geneva) – The last known stockpiles of the smallpox virus won’t be destroyed anytime soon, the U.S. health secretary said Tuesday, in part out of fear that one of the world’s deadliest diseases could be used as a bioweapon. U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sibelius told reporters that the stockpiles held in Read More »

May 17, 2011
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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World Health Assembly opens 64th session in Geneva

CIDRAP — Delegates from 193 countries met today in Geneva at the start of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which will address several infectious disease topics, including a report from an independent pandemic review committee, a virus-sharing agreement, and the fate of the world’s remaining smallpox virus stocks. The WHA is the decision-making body of Read More »

May 17, 2011
| Filed under Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America, South Asia, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Experimental vaccine halts transmission of Hendra virus

ADELAIDE NOW — A VACCINE for Hendra, the virus that spreads from horses to people, has been developed. The findings of a CSIRO study will be announced in Adelaide today, and are expected to lead to a halt to the Hendra virus which has killed four people and more than 30 horses since it emerged Read More »