News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include stockpiling key pharmaceutical ingredients, working towards a BWC treaty verification mechanism, and the expanding patterns of mammal infection in the current avian flu panzootic.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
The U.S. Has Lost a Critical Tool for Handling Chemical Emergencies — Let’s Get it Back
Seven months ago, the United States lost its cornerstone tool that has helped to prevent terrorists’ acquisition and use of dangerous chemicals during the past 15 years. Statutory authority for the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program expired on Jul. 28, after Congress failed to reauthorize it. Without the CFATS program, chemical facilities, first responders, and communities are at greater and unnecessary risk of chemical terrorism. The Hill
WTO Proposal for Covid Diagnostics and Therapeutics Waiver is Abandoned
The failure was not a surprise. Since the proposal was introduced, the pharmaceutical industry — and several key countries where large drugmakers are headquartered, including the U.K. and Switzerland — successfully fought the effort. By late last week, when a WTO ministerial conference could have voted on the proposal, the lack of consensus among WTO members was a foregone conclusion. STAT
Response is Failure in the Primary Mission of Preventing CBW
The Global Partnership (GP) Against the Spread of Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction has now been around for over two decades and has now grown to 31 members. “WMD disinformation very much came to the global fore and has become a real priority for the GP as a consequence of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Russia launched that war on several illegal premises. One of those was that Ukraine – with support from the US – was developing BW in its facilities. The allegations led to a Formal Consultative Meeting of the BTWC in 2022 that completely shredded Russia’s absurd allegations. Russia was left with only its most hardcore supporters defending it. Nonetheless, to this day, there are reports from the Kremlin that this work is ongoing, arguing that Russia must respond…Now, if we can build up the narrative base, we will have a better way to show what cooperative threat reduction is and does. We can better explain why we are working in these partner countries and why those who are the source of disinformation should not be trusted.” The Trench
Dozens of Top Scientists Sign Effort to Prevent A.I. Bioweapons
Over 90 biologists and other scientists who specialize in A.I. technologies used to design new proteins have signed an agreement that seeks to ensure that their A.I.-aided research will move forward without exposing the world to serious harm. “As scientists engaged in this work, we believe the benefits of current A.I. technologies for protein design far outweigh the potential for harm, and we would like to ensure our research remains beneficial for all going forward.” New York Times
Key Stakeholders Convene in Chad to Advance Accession to the Biological Weapons Convention
The visit brought together key national stakeholders and decision-makers involved in the accession process in order to raise awareness concerning the importance of BWC universalization and to encourage broad national cooperation to that end. While the BWC boasts almost universal membership, twelve States, including Chad, are not yet party to the Convention. UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
How the Biological Weapons Convention Could Verify Treaty Compliance
Before any new methods of treaty verification, whatever their merit, can be deployed, BWC members must overcome several hurdles to develop a verification system. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Examining the White House’s Role in Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Prepared statement of Dr. (Maj Gen, Ret.) Paul Friedrichs, Director, Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy Executive Office of the President before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic and Hearing Wrap Up highlighting questions and takeaways. Congress.gov
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
The National Security Rationale for Stockpiling Key Pharmaceutical Ingredients
The U.S. government has a long history of stockpiling materials deemed essential for national security. Key Starting Materials (KSM) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) stockpiles in the U.S. would provide strategic flexibility and agility and can be stored for many more years than finished pharmaceutical products. Council on Strategic Risks
Neuroprotective Efficacy of Anti-Seizure Medications Following Acute Organophosphate Intoxication
Acute intoxication with organophosphate (OP) cholinesterase inhibitors poses a significant public health risk. While currently approved medical countermeasures can improve survival rates, they often fail to prevent chronic neurological damage. In this mouse study, brain lesions were seen on T2 maps up to 1 month after acute organophosphate intoxication. Administering midazolam and/or allopregnanolone produced therapy-specific rescue. Combination therapy was most effective. Neuropharmacology
Histopathological studies of NHP Exposed to Supralethal Doses of Radiation
Despite remarkable scientific progress over the past six decades within the medical arts and in radiobiology in general, limited radiation medical countermeasures (MCMs) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Here the possible protective actions of gamma-tocotrienol (GT3) was assessed. Scientific Reports
Ferrostatin‑1 Alleviates Liver Injury Following Ricin Toxin Poisoning
Previous studies have shown that lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation are associated with ricin poisoning. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death caused by excessive accumulation of lipid peroxide. The results of this study showed that ferroptosis occurred in the liver of ricin-intoxicated rats, and Ferrostatin‑1 could ameliorate hepatic ferroptosis and thus liver injury. Toxicology
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
UK Needs ‘Flexible’ Vaccine Capacity to Lead Globally in Pandemic Preparedness
The chairman of the now disbanded UK’s Vaccine Taskforce (VTF) said the country needs to “act quickly” to prevent future pandemics with “a permanent ecosystem for rapidly developing, manufacturing and supplying vaccines”. He also said the original concept of the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) – a £200m government-funded base in Oxfordshire that was sold to a drug company in 2022 – needs to be re-established. The Independent
Investing in National Public Health Institutes for Future Pandemics: Lessons From Nigeria
Nigeria, in particular, has some of the largest burdens of public health challenges in the world. In between the 2014 Ebola crisis and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has responded to large, multiple, and sometimes concurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever, yellow fever, meningitis, monkeypox, measles, and cholera. The combination of the country’s tropical climate, population density, socioeconomic realities, and high cross-border movement provides a conducive environment for the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease outbreaks. Brookings Institution
Learnings from COVID-19 for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemic Preparedness
A scoping literature review of learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic was commissioned by WHO to inform operational priorities for future respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness. The learnings are grouped according to WHO’s subsystems for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience. Key takeaway messages include: 1) Preparedness works; 2) Health is everyone’s business; 3) No one is safe until everyone is safe; and 4) Response must be agile and adaptive. The review will support pandemic planners at all levels to develop and update preparedness and response plans. World Health Organization
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Animal Exposure Model for Mapping Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Emergence Risk
Because seroepidemiologic studies in animals, along with identification of CCHFV ecologic drivers, can provide insights into CCHFV transmission dynamics, resulting in better preventive strategies for the human population at risk, we designed a cross-sectional serosurvey of domestic small ruminants in a CCHFV-enzootic region of Spain, Andalusia, and statistically modeled exposure risk with environment-associated predictors to map infection risk hotspots. Emerging Infectious Diseases
NM Department of Health Reports Death of Man From Plague
The last human plague case in the state was a Torrance County resident in 2021. In 2020, there were four human plague cases: one in Santa Fe County, two in Torrance County and one fatal case in Rio Arriba County. NM Health
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Recent Changes in Patterns of Mammal Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Worldwide
Researchers reviewed information about mammals naturally infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 during 2 periods: the current panzootic (2020–2023) and previous waves of infection (2003–2019). In the current panzootic, 26 countries have reported >48 mammal species infected by H5N1 virus; in some cases, the virus has affected thousands of individual animals. The geographic area and the number of species affected by the current event are considerably larger than in previous waves of infection. Emerging Infectious Diseases
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
Situation at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant Remains Precarious
At the ZNPP this week, the IAEA experts stationed at the site have continued to hear explosions and other indications of military activity not far away from the facility. The plant remains without back-up external power after the only remaining 330 kilovolt (kV) line was disconnected more than two weeks ago, on 20 February. As a result, the ZNPP remains dependent on its only functioning 750 kV power line, out of four such lines available before the conflict. Maintenance on Reactor Unit 1’s safety systems and electrical equipment have been postponed until the 330 kV line is reconnected. IAEA
Passive Wireless Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Sensor System for Detecting Warfare Agents
Surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based sensors have attracted substantial interest as sensing platforms to detect physical, chemical, and biological substance, due to fast response, ambient-temperature operation, high sensitivity, low cost, easy reproducibility. In this work, a novel passive WSAW gas sensor was successfully developed and used to detect the organophosphorous compound DMMP. As a new type of chemical gas sensor technology, WSAW still presents certain limitations, such as the sensor noise increasing with the extension of distance between the transmitting and receiving antennas. Microsystems & Nanoengineering, Interesting Engineering
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
CRISPR-SIBA for Targeted Detection of Bacillus anthracis Sterne
In this study, researchers developed a nucleic acid pre-amplification based CRISPR diagnostic for detection and surveillance of Bacillus anthracis Sterne. Efficiency of the detection system was evaluated by detecting Bacillus anthracis Sterne in complex wastewater sample backgrounds. CRISPR-SIBA can be translated into developing cost-effective diagnostics for pathogens in resource constrained settings. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Vector-Borne Pathogen Surveillance in a Metagenomic World
Against the backdrop of abundant and expanding genomic data, it becomes increasingly challenging to develop assays for species-specific detection and to accurately assess primer specificity for targets in silico. A well-documented example of these difficulties exists for Rickettsia species within the Spotted Fever Group, where a single genomic target is not sufficient to reliably discriminate species, but rather multiple targets are required. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
ONE HEALTH
Molecular Epidemiology of Underreported Emerging Zoonotic Pathogen Streptococcus suis in Europe
Streptococcus suis, a zoonotic bacterial pathogen circulated through swine, can cause severe infections in humans. Because human S. suis infections are not notifiable in most countries, incidence is underestimated. Human S. suis infections have become endemic in Thailand and Vietnam, driven by consumption of traditional raw pork dishes, and S. suis has caused multiple outbreaks in humans with high levels of illness and death in China and Thailand. In Europe, S. suis infections are considered an occupational hazard, mainly occurring among persons with skin lesions working closely with pigs or pork products. Emergence of diverse zoonotic clades and notable severity of illness in humans support classifying S. suis infection as a notifiable condition. Emerging Infectious Diseases
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
With a Million Cases of Dengue So Far This Year, Brazil is in a State of Emergency
At least six Brazilian states in addition to the Federal District are facing dengue epidemics and 17 cities have declared a state of emergency as the country has already registered 1 million cases of dengue in the first two months of 2024, more than half the 1.6 million cases confirmed last year — which was already almost 18% higher than in 2022. The fatality count in those same two months was 214. As a result, Brazil’s public health-care system, known as SUS, has been grappling to keep up, resorting to field hospitals. NPR, Washington Post
Syphilis is Killing Babies. The U.S. Government is Failing to Stop the Disease from Spreading.
The only drug that treats syphilis during pregnancy is in short supply. Untreated, the disease can pass to newborns, killing them or leaving them with disabilities. Across the country, physicians, clinic staff and public health experts say that the shortage is preventing them from reining in a surge of syphilis and that the federal government is downplaying the crisis. This emergency was predictable: There have been shortages of this drug in eight of the last 20 years. In 2022, the most recent year for which the CDC has data available, more than 3,700 babies were infected with syphilis, including nearly 300 who were stillborn or died as infants. More than 50% of these cases occurred because, even though the pregnant parent was diagnosed with syphilis, they were never properly treated. ProPublica
Measles Outbreak Raises Concerns About Drop in Vaccinations
There were 58 reported cases of measles in the U.S. during all of 2023. But there’s already been 41 cases across 16 states so far this year. “I think, in some sectors, the word vaccine has become a dirty word. And, as a consequence, what we’re seeing is the children are now suffering a disease they don’t need to suffer, because it’s invariably the most vulnerable among us who suffer rare events.” PBS News Hour
SPECIAL INTEREST
What are the Biggest Misconceptions About Biosecurity and Pandemic Risk?
“We have never in human history created a virus from scratch to exploit a new vulnerability in a biological system. I can’t imagine that taking place in less than a couple of years. Over the course of those years the individuals will be throwing off lots of signals that would be detectable. And so the idea that those weaponeers would race to the finish in six months and have a little tube that they could throw around — I just don’t buy it. I see no evidence of what humans have done so far that would get us anywhere near any of that. And telling ourselves stories about how hard that is or how easy that is, I think is really harmful.” 8,000 Hours
Paul Offit on Vaccine Science, COVID’s Future, and the Anti-Vax Movement
“It’s a tough time, and you’re seeing a real pushback against the kind of weapons that are needed in public health, whether it’s isolation or quarantine or vaccines or masking. In some ways, I think we may be less prepared for the next pandemic than we were for this one.” Medpage Today
Dr. Arjun Srinivasan on Being Pathogen Agnostic, Following His Passion, and Knowing When to Lead and When to Follow
“When I was in training, I ended up in healthcare epidemiology because I couldn’t pick a pathogen. In ID, especially at large academic centers like Hopkins, the research is very pathogen focused. I stumbled upon healthcare epidemiology as a space where you didn’t have to pick pathogens because we deal with everything out there. There was also a connected opportunity in antibiotic stewardship.” Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology
Apply for the 2024 Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship
Organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva in partnership with key international actors empowering youth in science diplomacy and global biosecurity, the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship provides a unique learning and networking experience into multilateral discussions taking place in the framework of the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva. Applications due 5 April 2024. UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
ALSO READING
Development of NP-Based Universal Vaccine for Influenza A Viruses. Vaccines
The Last of Us and the Question of a Fungal Pandemic in Real Life. Emerging Infectious Diseases
The Pandemic Treaty: shameful and unjust. The Lancet
Plague Still Exists. Here’s Where and How It Spreads in the U.S. Scientific American
Underdetected dispersal and extensive local transmission drove the 2022 mpox epidemic. Cell
Frequency, kinetics and determinants of viable SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols from ambulatory COVID-19 patients infected with the Beta, Delta or Omicron variants. Nature Communications
Cascading risks, interdependent rights, and the progression of vulnerability in the context of pandemic containment measures. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction