Recent News

By Category: Biosafety

Scientists fault risk review for Fort Detrick lab

(Washington Examiner) AP Maryland's two US senators urged the Army on Friday to strengthen its safety planning for a biodefense animal laboratory at Fort Detrick in Frederick after a National Academy of Sciences panel found flaws in a risk assessment for the facility. …

October 11, 2011
| Filed under North America and Biosafety
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Possible Select Agent Reshuffle Adheres to Biosecurity Panel Findings

(Global Security Newswire) The order was delivered in part to address mounting concerns about US biosecurity policy and procedures. An influx of funding for biodefense activities over the last decade produced worries about the ever-increasing number of sites and personnel …

October 7, 2011
| Filed under Agents & Toxins, Biosafety, and Public Health
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HHS Proposes Rule Regarding Possession, Use And Transfer Of Toxins

(Insurance News Net) EO 13546 also established the Federal Experts Security Advisory Panel (FESAP) to advise the HHS and USDA Secretaries on the designation of Tier 1 agents and toxins, reduction in the number of agents on the Select Agent List, establishment of …

October 6, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, and Policy & Initiatives
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Nearly 400 Accidents with Dangerous Pathogens and Biotoxins Reported in US

(Scientific American) Select agent” is government-speak for a biological agent or toxin that is considered to pose “a severe threat” to human, animal or plant health—or livestock and agricultural products. Special approval from the government is required to handle these …

October 4, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, and Public Health
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Report: 395 mishaps at US labs risked releasing select agents

(CIDRAP) In response to a CIDRAP News query today, CDC spokesman Von Roebuck said he couldn't give more details but said that the agency plans to publish a report next spring on potential select-agent releases. He said the CDC for security reasons does not …