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By Category: Policy & Initiatives

Pitt scholar: Destroy stockpiled strains of smallpox

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW — Three decades after leading the worldwide effort to eradicate smallpox, Dr. D.A.Henderson at the University of Pittsburgh said on Monday the final stockpiled strains of the virus should be destroyed. No known cases of the disease have been reported since 1978, but the United States and Russia keep hundreds of strains for Read More »

May 17, 2011
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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Verdict on Smallpox Cache Near

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL — Global health officials are expected to decide this week whether to grant a stay of execution to the last known stocks of smallpox, a move the U.S. argues is critical for the development of medicines to counter a potential bioterrorist attack. The decision, to be made at an annual meeting Read More »

May 16, 2011
| Filed under North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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BARDA supports first Project BioShield contract for smallpox drug Contract funds late-stage development, future acquisition of antiviral drug to treat smallpox

HHS NEWS — The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) today announced a five-year, $433 million contract for late-stage development of an antiviral drug to treat individuals infected with smallpox. The contract with SIGA Technologies Inc., of New York City also includes procurement of 1.7 million treatment courses of the drug, ST-246, within five Read More »

May 16, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
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NRC seeks changes in US vaccine program for biodefense workers

CIDRAP NEWS -– A report from the National Research Council (NRC) calls for some changes in a US Army immunization program for lab researchers who work with dangerous pathogens, saying the vaccines need to be made more accessible to civilian scientists. The report also says the structure of the program should be modified to give Read More »

May 16, 2011
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Decades After Eradicating Smallpox, Countries Mull Whether To Destroy Last Remaining Viruses

WASHINGTON POST — (London) – Smallpox, one of the world’s deadliest diseases, eradicated three decades ago, is kept alive under tight security today in just two places — the United States and Russia. Many other countries say the world would be safer if those stockpiles of the virus were destroyed. Now for the fifth time, Read More »