Recent News

By Region: North America

Polio breaks out in Syria – WHO warns it could spread

(WorldHealthOrganization) The World Health Organization confirmed 10 cases of polio in Syria Tuesday, a sobering development that shows conflict can set back decades of work that had almost eradicated the crippling and deadly virus. It’s the first confirmed outbreak of polio in Syria in 14 years, and World Health Organization officials say it can spread. Read More »

October 29, 2013
| Filed under Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
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HHS Boosts Global Ability to Respond to Pandemics

(GlobalBiodefense) To build a sustainable capacity to manufacture influenza vaccine in developing countries and help reduce the global threat of influenza pandemics, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently announced grants totaling $15 million to two international organizations and two U.S. universities.

October 29, 2013
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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New case of anthrax reported in Armenia

(ARKANewsAgency) A patient diagnosed to have the cutaneous (skin) anthrax was admitted to Yerevan’s Nork hospital specializing in treatment of infectious diseases on Saturday, the health ministry said. It said the preliminary diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory tests.

October 28, 2013
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, and Public Health
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Cholera in Mexico – update

(WorldHealthOrganization) The Ministry of Health in Mexico has reported an additional five cases of infection with Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa toxigenic. The five cases occurred in the geographic zone of la Huasteca, an area where urbanization, availability of drinking water and basic sanitation services are limited.

October 28, 2013
| Filed under North America, South America, and International
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Six Deadly Bioterror Threats to Watch Out For

(Healthline) In the wake of concerns about controlling a new, highly lethal substance, Healthline asked the experts about the biggest bioterror threats we face. Bioterrorism is back in the news with word of a dangerous new strain of botulism, for which there is no antidote. The strain is so powerful, the researchers who discovered it Read More »