Recent News

By Category: Countermeasures

Reforms Seen Failing to Rescue U.S. Biodefense Drug Efforts

(GSN Daily News) Organizational problems and funding shortfalls continue to hinder U.S. efforts to develop and produce vaccines and other treatments for use following a potential act of bioterrorism, despite three attempts to overhaul the system since the 1990s, the New York Times reported on Wednesday (see GSN, Sept. 27).

October 27, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
Share

India Develops Anthrax Detection Tech

(Global Security Newswire) India’s Defense Food Research Laboratory has developed technology that can identify anthrax spores in sample material in as little as two hours, the New Indian Express reported on Saturday The “Anthra-check Sand-E kit” proved capable of detecting the bacteria in roughly two hours in laboratory materials and in about 12 hours in Read More »

October 26, 2011
| Filed under South Asia, Countermeasures, and Research
Share

Possible study of anthrax vaccine’s effectiveness in children stirs debate

(Washington Post) The Obama administration is wrestling with the thorny question of whether scientists should inject healthy children with the anthrax vaccine to see whether the shots would safely protect them against a bioterrorism attack. The other option is to wait …

October 25, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Public Health
Share

Bioagent Detection Program Testing Next-Generation Sensors

(Global Security Newswire) A separate diagnostic tool for pinpointing the presence of the toxin ricin is in the final evaluation stage, O'Toole said. The new procedure has exceptionally strong sensitivity and is anticipated to be fielded at CDC Laboratory Response Network …

October 21, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, and Countermeasures
Share

Anthrax countermeasures better than in 2001, but work remains

(CIDRAP News) – If someone tried to kill Americans with Bacillus anthracis spores today, the nation would have a better medical tool chest for treating the sick and those potentially exposed than it had 10 years ago, when the anthrax …