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By Category: Public Health

New research warns of Olympics flu pandemic risk

(The Independent) “There is little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 infection in the human population. Should the virus improve its transmissibility, the entire human population could be vulnerable to infection,” states the research – citing previous warnings from …

April 2, 2012
| Filed under Europe, Bioterrorism, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Outbreak of bird flu puts health officials on high alert

(Irish Independent) The United Nations warned on Thursday that a new mutant strain of the deadly H5N1 virus was circulating in south-east Asia where eight people have died of it already this year. However, the department here said preliminary tests this week had indicated …

April 2, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, Agriculture, and Public Health
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FDA Mulls Need for Anthrax Protection Kits

(MedPage Today) WASHINGTON – Should the average household have an emergency supply of antibiotics on hand to protect inhabitants from an anthrax attack? That question will be considered by a joint FDA advisory committee, which will meet Monday to discuss the feasibility of stocking a “personal antibiotic medkit” in homes to be used if terrorists Read More »

April 2, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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US biosecurity board revises stance on mutant-flu studies

(Nature.com) Today, after a two-day meeting, the board decided to revise its earlier decision. The NSABB unanimously recommended full publication of one of the two disputed papers, a manuscript submitted to Nature by Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his colleagues. “We at Nature are delighted,” said editor-in-chief Philip Campbell. “Subject to Read More »

April 2, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biosafety, International, Public Health, and Research
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A Decade in Biosecurity

(Biosecurity and Bioterrorism) Special feature of the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism now available. Open access to the articles in this feature is available until April 12, 2012. These peer-reviewed articles, authored by leaders in the field, describe the current state of affairs in biosecurity policy and practice, identify remaining challenges, and articulate priorities for the Read More »