Recent News

By Region: North America

3 Severe E. coli Illnesses in MA Town

(FoodSafteyNews) Since May 20, three women have been admitted to Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass., suffering from severe E. coli infections in an apparent outbreak now under investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. A spokeswoman for the state health department confirmed the investigation to Food Safety News after our reporters received a forwarded Read More »

June 14, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Agriculture, and Public Health
Share

A Single Amino Acid Change Switches Avian Influenza H5N1 and H7N9 Viruses to Human Receptors

(WatchingTheWatchers) Two back-to-back papers were published last week that provide a detailed analysis of what it would take for avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9 viruses to switch to human receptors. Influenza virus initiates infection by attaching to the cell surface, a process mediated by binding of the viral hemagglutinin protein (HA) to sialic acid. This Read More »

June 14, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Agriculture, Public Health, and Research
Share

DARPA Develops Tiny Helpers To Spot Bioterror Attacks

(InformationWeek) The government might soon have at its disposal highly sensitive gas analyzers that can detect chemical or biological attacks, atomic clocks the size of chips, and micro-vacuum tubes. A group of researchers funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently developed a new class of powerful, tiny vacuum pumps that could be Read More »

June 14, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biological Weapons, Bioterrorism, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
Share

Update: Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

(CDC) CDC continues to work in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to better understand the public health risk posed by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), formerly known as novel coronavirus, which was first reported to cause human infection in September 2012 (1–4). The continued reporting of new cases Read More »

June 14, 2013
| Filed under Europe, Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
Share

Scientists Debate New Study on GMO-Fed Pigs

(FoodSafetyNews) Science commentators involved in the genetically modified food debate have weighed in on a new study that says pigs fed genetically modified grains suffered a higher rate of severe stomach inflammation and developed heavier uteri.