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By Region: North America

U.S. Counterterror Chief: “Dirty Bomb” as Much a Risk as Biological Weapon

A senior U.S. counterterrorism official said yesterday the risk of an attack against the nation using a “dirty bomb” might be as high as that of a potential terror strike involving a biological weapon. Police officers wearing hazard materials protection suits secure an area during a 2004 exercise simulating a radiological “dirty bomb” strike at Read More »

February 11, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biological Weapons, Bioterrorism, and Countermeasures
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Col. Randall Larsen: Words Matter

Proper pronunciation is not a likely topic for a blog on biosecurity, particularly when written by someone who has great difficulty pronouncing the word “nuclear”. (I blame that on spending too much time in Texas.) However, it never ceases to amaze me how many people mispronounce the name of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Not Read More »

February 7, 2011
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
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Antibodies contribute to Effective Vaccination against Respiratory Infection by Type A Francisella tularensis.

Antibodies contribute to Effective Vaccination against Respiratory Infection by Type A Francisella tularensis. Infect Immun. 2011 Jan 31; Authors: Mara-Koosham G, Hutt JA, Lyons CR, Wu TH Pneumonic tularemia is a life-threatening disease caused by inhalation of the highly infectious intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. The most serious form of the disease associated with the type Read More »

February 2, 2011
| Filed under North America and Research
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Chemistry Professor’s Work Could Lead to Anthrax Cure

A Wichita State University chemistry professor has been making headway in his research to save the lives of anthrax victims. Associate chemistry professor Jim Bann, working with students in his WSU lab, has developed a new amino acid that could prevent the deadly toxin from killing its victim during an anthrax attack. Bann received a Read More »

February 2, 2011
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, and Research
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Airborne Disease Tests Not a Threat, Says Army Biodefense Lab

Airborne Disease Tests Not a Threat, Says Army Biodefense Lab Global Security Newswire Representatives of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Md., last week sought to dispel fears over tests involving …