Browse by region

World Map Middle East Africa South Asia Asia/Pacific Europe South America North America

Swine Flu Analysis Challenges Views on Disease Spread

(Global Biodefense) The most detailed analysis to date of the spread of the H1N1 2009 pandemic influenza virus, known informally as ‘swine flu’, has found that short-range travel was likely the primary driver for the 2009 pandemic in the United States, in contrast with popularly accepted views on the way diseases  Read More »

Campy Not As Harmless to Chickens as Previously Thought

(Global Biodefense) Foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, which results in millions of cases of human foodborne illness annually, had previously not been considered to cause disease in chickens. The bacteria were thought to be part of the normal microbe environment of the birds. New research from the University of Liverpool shows differently.

Biotech Breakthroughs May Put Chemical Arms in Easier Reach

(National Journal) An international team wants to closely watch how future technologies could make the world’s deadliest poisons easier to produce and harder to regulate. It is still impossible to know how an array of emerging technologies — such as custom-built proteins and microscopic containers — will affect capabilities to manufacture  Read More »

“Top Ten” list of food-borne parasites released

(FAO) A “Top Ten” list identifying the food-borne parasites of greatest global concern has been released today, and new guidelines are being developed to control them. The parasites affect the health of millions of people every year, infecting muscle tissues and organs, causing epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, amoebic dysentery and other problems.  Read More »

Somalia says any Saudi camel import ban would hurt economy

(Reuters) Somalia said on Thursday its economy would suffer if Saudi Arabia banned camel imports from the Horn of Africa nation over suspicions the animals could carry a potentially deadly virus and said it was ready to help find what caused the illness.