See what we’re reading this week at Global Biodefense on topics including bioterrorism in the modern age, hospital mass casualty preparedness, and communications during an epidemic.
BIODEFENSE POLICY & PRACTICES
- The revolving door of biosafety (Pandora Report)
- Bioterrorism in a technologically advanced world (DomPrep)
- Strengthening a culture of laboratory safety (CDC)
- Lab screw-ups with smallpox and anthrax show we must rethink biosecurity (ARS Technica)
- As mass casualties continue, hospitals keep honing their preparedness (WashingtonPost)
- 3 stories to watch in global health in 2016 (STAT)
- As terrorist incidents rise, medical staffs prepare and practice (Chicago Tribune)
- U.S. competitiveness in synthetic biology (UPMC)
- Protecting Americans from infectious diseases (TFAH)
- New checklist for mass casualty emergency preparedness (DomPrep)
- U.S. oversight of risky pathogen research could be better (Science/AAAS)
- Why Cruz’s plan to overhaul the FDA would jeopardize public health (STAT)
- How the U.S. could control risky virus research (Futurity)
- What are the barriers to bioweapons? A book review (Tracking Zebra)
- Reimagining epidemic communications (DomPrep)
CHEMICAL WEAPONS
- Situation in Helmand worsens, as rumours spread of chemical weapons (Jane’s)
- U.S. probes reports of chemical weapons use by Assad regime in Syria (CBS)
- Syrian forces accused of using chemical weapons, again (IBT)
SELECT AGENTS
- Ebola studies reveal new findings on survivors, vaccine (CIDRAP)
- Hospital preparations for viral hemorrhagic fever patients (EID Journal)
- NAU scientists track anthrax-tainted heroin in Europe (KNAU)
- Ebola mystery: Did a mom who tested negative infect her family? (NPR)
- Zimbabwe anthrax outbreak reaches 56, Awareness campaign launched (ONT)
- Pregnancy may explain Ebola return (The Scientist)
INFECTIOUS DISEASE COUNTERMEASURES
- Prophylactic and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for alphaviruses (FLC Newslink)
- Rich, white and refusing vaccinations (NY Times)
- Mucor, negative-pressure rooms, and the immunosuppressed (Tracking Zebra)
- Could a new berry-flavored pill help stop childhood TB? (NPR)
OUTBREAK NEWS & THREAT SURVEILLANCE
- Minnesota reports first outbreak linked to new Asian norovirus strain (CIDRAP)
- Bacteria that resist ‘last antibiotic’ found in UK (BBC)
- Zika virus cases prompt travel advisories (OH&S)
- How animals can give you tuberculosis (CNN)
INDUSTRY NEWS
- Local biodefense contractor contributes 15K to CREST (Frederick News Post)
- Positive Phase 2 trial sparks Soligenix Inc. (Microcap Daily)
- Martin Health System unveils Xenex Germ-Zapping Robot (BusinessWire)
- Short interest in PharmAthene, Inc. decreases by 0.8% (WKRB)
- Emergent’s new spin-off company Aptevo Therapeutics announces board (Emergent)
- Court fight threatens Delaware biotechs (Delaware Online)
DETECTION & PROTECTION
- Nanopore sequencing as a rapidly deployable Ebola outbreak tool (EID Journal)
- Army fields robots for chem/bio/nuke detection (Defense Systems)
- Biomarker breath test detects tuberculosis in pilot study (MDT)
