Recent News

By Region: North America

H7N9 influenza strain resistant to antivirals, but tests fail to identify resistance

(EurekAlert)Some strains of the avian H7N9 influenza that emerged in China this year have developed resistance to the only antiviral drugs available to treat the infection, but testing for antiviral resistance can give misleading results, helping hasten the spread of resistant strains. The authors of a study published in mBio®, the online open-access journal of Read More »

July 16, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, Countermeasures, and Public Health
Share

Cambodia bird flu outbreak continues with 14th case

(GlobalPost) Cambodia’s outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza continues apace as the summer wears on, with a 3-year-old boy becoming the 14th victim this year and the 35th case confirmed in the Southeast Asian nation since records began to be kept. The Cambodian Ministry of Health has deployed a rapid response team to Prey Veng’s Kampong Read More »

July 16, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, International, and Public Health
Share

Next-Generation Bio-Surveillance Program’s Costs Questioned; Future Remains Murky

(NationalDefenseMagazine) A plan to field “laboratories in a box” in U.S. cities that can sniff the air for signs of a biological weapon attack have been put on hold, and a Department of Homeland Security official said he has no idea when it will get underway again.  DHS called a halt to the troubled BioWatch3 Read More »

July 16, 2013
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
Share

Scientist warns biosecurity at risk from new trade deals

(NewZealandHerald) A prominent agricultural scientist says New Zealand deserves only a half-mark for its biosecurity efforts – and warns that new free-trade agreements and increased tourism could pose a threat at the border. Former AgResearch manager John Lancashire has told a national forum the Government had much room for improvement in safeguarding our precious primary Read More »

July 12, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, and International
Share

UW-Madison study: New bird flu in China could cause global outbreak

(TheJournalTimes) A new kind of bird flu that has killed 43 people in China shows potential in the lab for sparking a global outbreak, according to a study by UW-Madison researcher Yoshihiro Kawaoka. “We don’t know how many more changes are needed for this virus to cause a pandemic,” said Kawaoka, a flu expert whose Read More »