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By Category: Agents & Toxins

Puerto Rico Health Secretary declares dengue fever epidemic

(Examiner) The Secretary of Health in Puerto Rico, Lorenzo Gonzalez Feliciano, in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dengue director, Dr. Harold Margolis, declared a dengue fever epidemic on the Caribbean island, according to a Puerto Rico Department of Health press release Oct. 8 (translated). According to Sec. Feliciano, “In consultation with Read More »

October 11, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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Hospitals that cooperate on infection control fare better than hospitals acting alone

(EurekAlert) An individual hospital’s infection control efforts have a ripple effect on the prevalence of a deadly and highly infectious bacterium in hospitals throughout its surrounding region, a multi-center research group led by the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated in a computer simulation-based study. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infections are better prevented when hospitals cooperate Read More »

October 10, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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Chem-Bio Division ‘focused’ on saving lives

(DVIDS) What if warfighters had chemical-biological suits that were worn as an everyday uniform? What if it could take only weeks to decontaminate an area the size of an airfield from anthrax without causing additional damage to the environment? What if new drugs could be tested on human organ surrogates to determine effectiveness? These are Read More »

October 10, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biosafety, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Experts ponder H5N1 research moratorium issues

(CIDRAP) The moratorium on research leading to more-transmissible H5N1 avian influenza viruses, originally set for 60 days, has remained in place for 8 months without a clear end in sight, but a series of commentaries in mBio today from experts familiar with the issues offers some clues for possible next steps. In an introduction to Read More »

October 10, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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Anthrax confirmed in North Dakota cow

(Bovine Veterinarian) North Dakota’s top animal health official is warning livestock producers in areas with a history of anthrax to protect their animals from the disease. “A case of anthrax has just been confirmed in Stark County,” said Dr. Susan Keller, the state veterinarian. “Cattle producers should be sure their animals are current on vaccinations.” Read More »