Recent News

By Region: Europe

Test Results Show Unprecedented Achievement for Marburg Drug Candidate

(Benzinga) A new study testing a drug candidate to treat Marburg virus demonstrated significant survival rates up to four days after exposure to the disease. Referred to as AVI-7288, the drug is a post-exposure prophylactic targeting the Marburg virus which may cause hemorrhagic fever, a severe, life-threatening disease that exhibits fever and bleeding. The development Read More »

August 2, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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African swine fever virus outbreaks in Ukraine

(Interfax) African swine fever has been registered in Zaporizhia region, the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service of Ukraine has reported. The report says that losses of pigs from the virus were registered in Komyshuvatka, Zaporizhia region in a private household. The possible source of infection could be people from Russia coming to Ukraine on holidays with meat products.

August 1, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Public Health
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HSE warns of heroin which could be contaminated with anthrax

(thejournal.ie) The HSE has warned drugs services and health staff to be alert to the possibility of drug-takers using heroin which has been contaminated with anthrax. The warning follows the hospitalisation of a drug user in Scotland from anthrax poisoning. Scotland has historically had its heroin supplies closely connected to those of Ireland.

July 30, 2012
| Filed under Europe, Agents & Toxins, and Public Health
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Synthetic biology: ‘playing God’ is vital if we are to create a better future for all

(The Guardian) “Playing God since 1660” reads the motto on the Royal Society’s sign in a scene from The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, the latest film from the makers of Wallace and Gromit. And now I can no longer enter the doors of our national science academy without quoting the Pirate Captain’s rallying Read More »

July 30, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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UN urges for global moratorium on research using deadly livestock virus

(UN News Centre) The United Nations food agency is calling on countries to comply with a global moratorium on research using the live rinderpest virus to ensure that this deadly livestock disease remains eradicated. “While rinderpest has been successfully eradicated, there may be some virus material that would be useful for research or vaccine development,” Read More »