Recent News

By Category: Policy & Initiatives

Bag BioWatch because of its bugs? Bad idea

(LA Times) BioWatch, the Homeland Security-led effort to provide early warning if biological pathogens are released against the American people, has fallen into disfavor in some corners. The Times produced a series of highly critical articles, and the editorial board has chimed in, suggesting that the program be “squashed.” But calls to bag BioWatch, while  Read More »

Countries to Examine Options for Strengthening Bioweapons Convention

(Global Security Newswire) Nations are set at a yearly gathering next week to consider means of bolstering compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention and building on its ability to impede the creation or employment of arms-usable disease agents and toxins, the United Nations said. The meeting of treaty signatories would examine advancements since the 2011  Read More »

US health security research not balanced enough to meet goals, study suggests

(Medical Xpress) Federal support for health security research is heavily weighted toward preparing for bioterrorism and other biological threats, providing significantly less funding for challenges such as monster storms or attacks with conventional bombs, according to a new RAND Corporation study. The findings, published in the December issue of the journal Health Affairs, come from  Read More »

Proposed H5N1 Research Reviews Raise Concerns

(Science Mag) Researchers are giving a mixed reception to a draft U.S. government plan to do more stringent funding reviews of certain kinds of H5N1 avian influenza research—and perhaps even require some studies to be kept secret. The proposal, presented last week at a meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, is the  Read More »

Kenya bans importation of all GMO foods

(Digital Journal) In a groundbreaking act, Public Health Minister Beth Mugo of the Kenyan government has advised that Kenya has completely banned the importation of all genetically modified (GMO) food into the country, until exhaustive tests on health effects are complete. Stressing that the decision was taken from genuine concern for Kenyans’ health, the move  Read More »