News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include a MERS-CoV cluster in Saudi Arabia, changes to federal oversight of DURC and P3CO research, and new A(H5N1) biosecurity funding for U.S. poultry, dairy farmers.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
Pandemic Treaty Talks Will Go On After Missed Deadline, Some Progress, WHO Says
Negotiators from the World Health Organization’s 194 member states were hoping to have a final draft agreement by the end of Friday 10 May, with a view towards adopting the legally-binding text at the World Health Assembly later this month. But they missed that deadline and will now continue negotiations over the coming weeks ahead of the assembly. There have been deep disagreements throughout the negotiating process, particularly around equity, and the timeline for reaching an agreement was always ambitious. Reuters, WHO
UK Reportedly Refuses to Sign Global Vaccine Treaty
Britain is refusing to sign the WHO’s pandemic accord because the country says it would have to give away a fifth of its vaccines, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday. According to a draft of the pandemic accord being negotiated at the WHO, richer countries should be asked to pull their weight in helping the world cope with pandemics, including reserving 20% of tests, treatments and vaccines for the WHO to distribute in poorer countries during emergencies. “We will only support the adoption of the accord and accept it on behalf of the UK, if it is firmly in the UK national interest and respects national sovereignty,” a spokesperson for Britain’s Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement. Reuters
New Policy on High-Risk Biology Studies Aims to Address Criticism That Previous Rules Were Too Vague
After more than four years of deliberations, US officials have released a policy that outlines how federal funding agencies and research institutions must review and oversee biological experiments that could potentially be misused or spark a pandemic. The policy, which will apply to all research funded by US agencies and take effect in May 2025, broadens oversight of these experiments. The policy singles out work involving high-risk pathogens for special oversight and streamlines existing policies and guidelines, adding clarity that researchers have been seeking for years. Nature
Welcome Elements of the New US Policy Update on Dual Use Research of Concern and Pandemic-Potential Pathogens
An important aspect of this new policy is that it creates a singular and unified guidance for the United States on research regarding pandemic potential pathogens and dual use research of concern. The May 2024 Policy and Implementation Guidance supersedes three prior policies, a major step forward in creating clear policy directives for researchers, research institutes, and federal funders to navigate. Of note, the previous policies and guidance ranged from 7–12 years old, highlighting the need for more frequent reviews. The Implementation Guidance will now be reviewed at least every two years, and OSTP may issue updates to its contents at those times. Council on Strategic Risks
Science and Technology Advisory Mechanism for the Biological Weapons Convention, a Proof-of-Concept Exercise
The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) this week released a report encapsulating the insights from the recent ‘Proof of Concept Meeting for a Scientific Advisory Body for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention’ (BWC). Their deliberations focused on the potential impact of AI on global biosecurity and international cooperation within the framework of the BWC. Participants stressed the need for a continuous review process to monitor AI trends, especially its implications for biology relevant to the BWC. IAP
Report Urges Sustained U.S. Biodefense Buildup
A new report from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense calls on all levels of government to strengthen U.S. biodefense measures and urges policymakers to codify parts of a national strategy to address an array of biological threats. Biodefense investments get caught in a cycle of “panic and neglect” — an intense focus for a short period, after which policymakers, funders and the public move on. With a full pandemic preparedness package still in congressional limbo, immediate prospects for more sweeping biodefense reforms face long odds. Axios
Evaluation of a Multisectoral Health Security Alliance Through Perceptions of Member States
Global health engagement activities can take the form of health security alliances and allow the US and its allies and partners to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to emerging biothreats and other harmful health events. One such example is the African Partnership Outbreak Response Alliance (APORA), which was designed to expand African Partner Nation militaries’ infectious disease outbreak response capabilities. Military Medicine
Strengthening Legal Capacity for Public Health Emergencies
Legal preparedness is critical for effectively responding to public health emergencies (PHE), yet it has been historically neglected. The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Legal Preparedness Action Package (LP AP) was launched to promote legal preparedness as a critical capacity for an effective public health emergency response and for strengthening global health security. Georgetown Law
Investments in Rapid Outbreak Responses: Spend Now, Save Later
Global health faces a shifting financial development landscape. Delegates at the Group of Twenty session in September 2023 called for significant reform of financial institutions, and 2024 is the year that critical decisions on global health fundraising will be made. Amid those shifts is an opportunity both to improve the way money is disbursed and used on the ground and to fill critical needs in emergency funding. Flexible funding allocated in advance is critical to fulfill the urgent, operational support needs common in the early stages of any response: transportation to get boots on the ground, access to internet and cell phone credit, and personal protective equipment to keep workers safe. Think Global Health
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Designing a Smallpox B-Cell and T-Cell Multi-Epitope Subunit Vaccine Using a Comprehensive Immunoinformatics Approach
This study describes development of a vaccine with a cluster of multiple T-cell/B-cell epitopes, which should be effective in inducing systematic immune responses against variola virus infection. This work also provides a reference in vaccine design for preventing monkeypox virus infection. Microbiology Spectrum
Field Evaluation of Pan-Lassa Rapid Diagnostic Test for Lassa Fever
A point-of-care bedside test diagnosing Lassa fever, adhering to REASSURED criteria, is not currently available but is urgently needed in west African regions with high Lassa fever burden. This assessment of diagnostic performance at a hospital in Abakaliki, Nigeria found that the Pan-Lassa rapid diagnostic test investigated should not be recommended as a diagnostic or screening tool for suspected Lassa fever cases. Marked improvement in sensitivity and user friendliness is recommended before adoption in clinical use. The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Comprehensive Review of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology and Its Applications
While OOC technology continues to advance rapidly, challenges remain on the path toward achieving the “human-on-a-chip” concept. The need for a universal cell culture medium and the practicality of sample collection on such a platform are present obstacles, worsened by the increasing complexity of each additional organ integrated into the chip. Addressing these challenges will require innovative solutions and ongoing research efforts. One area of focus for improvement lies in the materials used for chip fabrication, with a need for alternatives to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that more accurately mimic in vivo tissue properties. Biosensors
Remember ‘Contagion?’ A New Treatment for Nipah Virus Could Be a Game Changer
In the study, two groups of six African green monkeys were infected with Nipah virus. Five days later, half of the monkeys received m102.4 and the other half received hu1F5. Only one monkey receiving m102.4 survived, whereas all six receiving hu1F5 survived. Forbes
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Rapid Rise in Avian Flu — As ID Workforce Faces Shortages
“To put it simply, in order to keep the American public people safe, America needs more infectious diseases experts. However, studies have shown that 80% of the counties in the United States do not have access to an infectious disease physician. And every year there are ID training programs across the country that don’t fill their training spots, which means that there’s just not enough infectious disease physicians to meet the growing demands of our society and healthcare system. And this is even more pronounced for pediatric infectious diseases.” IDSA
Disinformation About Biological Warfare in Africa Following Declaration of Mpox Epidemic in the Republic of Congo
Influential social media accounts with pro-Russian sentiments are asserting the mpox epidemic is a form of biological warfare orchestrated by the West against Africans (and thanking Russia for help with treatments and fighting western-backed rebels). Disinformation actors in Africa target online communities with a high anti-western sentiment and then attempt to infiltrate it by posting tailored influence content likely to resonate with its followers. Africa Infodemic Response Alliance
State of Illinois Releases COVID-19 After-Action Report & Playbook as Guide for Future Public Health Emergencies
The playbook details measures the state should take to prepare for future public health emergencies as well as recommendations for future administrations that may have to navigate public health crises. The key challenges that Illinois state agencies experienced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were limitations on health and operational data infrastructure and capabilities; lack of real-time data needed to measure and respond to health equity needs and broader health impacts; variations in the effectiveness of community engagement; and depletion of the public health workforce due to attrition and a slow hiring process. IDPH
Survey Assessment on Implementation of the USDA/APHIS Contingency Planning and Training of Personnel Rule
Questionnaire for individuals who are directly involved in the planning and implementation of contingency plans for animals in the event of emergencies including, but not limited to, fires, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, other natural disasters, HVAC failure, animal escapes, and extended utility failures. Select findings from the data collected will be shared in a public workshop in June and with APHIS. National Academies
It Shouldn’t Be Easy to Buy Synthetic DNA Fragments to Recreate The 1918 Flu Virus
It should be hard — exceedingly hard — to obtain the synthetic DNA needed to recreate the virus that caused the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic without authorization. But my lab found that it’s surprisingly easy, even when ordering gene fragments from companies that check customers’ orders to detect hazardous sequences. Our experiment demonstrates that the immense potential benefits of biotechnology are profoundly vulnerable to misuse. STAT
The Impossible Goal of a Disease-Free World
Instead of investing in wiping out zoonotic diseases, we should focus on better ways to fortify ourselves against them. In the history of medicine, scientists have only been able to successfully eradicate smallpox and the cattle virus rinderpest. Both of these illnesses have a relatively narrow range of hosts — and crucially, they don’t infect additional vector or reservoir species, animals that can carry and transmit the disease without dying from it. Undark
Supporting Follow-Up Screening for Flagged Nucleic Acid Synthesis Orders
Most commercial synthesis providers screen the orders they receive to identify sequences of concern that could facilitate the construction of dangerous biological agents. Today, the follow-up screening process is ad-hoc. This paper recommends steps the government should take, including a third-party screening service, development of standards for assessing customer legitimacy, software tools to assist decision-making for flagging orders, and reporting standards for the supply network and to law enforcement. Council on Strategic Risks
A Bottom-Up Approach to Biosecurity
This paper shares lessons from successfully implementing a robust research oversight program at UTMB built on a bottom-up model that could serve as an example for others to adapt to meet current NSABB recommendations. Health Security
Artificial Intelligence Challenges in the Face of Biological Threats: Emerging Catastrophic Risks for Public Health
The criminal dissemination of genetically modified organisms and the development of pathogens that attack the basic structures of human genetic code as biological weapons can be classified as emerging, as there are significant capabilities in genetic engineering that could be misused, making this threat more imminent than hypothetical, but still dependent on further developments to reach the catastrophic levels described. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence
Cyberattack on Ascension Diverts Ambulances, Takes EHRs Offline
A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests, and blocked online access to patient records. MedPage Today, HHS
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
MERS-CoV Cases in Saudi Arabia
The World Health Organization was notified of three human cases, including one death, of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between 10 and 17 April 2024. All three cases were males from Riyadh aged between 56 and 60 years with underlying health conditions and were not health care workers. The three cases are epidemiologically linked to exposures in a health-care facility in Riyadh, although investigations are ongoing to verify this and understand the route of transmission. One of the three died, the other cases remain in ICU and have been intubated for several weeks. WHO, The Telegraph
Anticipating a MERS-Like Coronavirus as a Potential Pandemic Threat
As of March 21, 2024, there have been 2609 human cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome with 939 deaths reported to WHO since the virus was first recognized, most of which occurred in Saudi Arabia (36% case-fatality ratio). Although MERS-CoV has not progressed to a large epidemic like SARS-CoV-2, its continued circulation in camels in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and ongoing zoonotic transmission are a reminder of its persistent threat to global health security. The Lancet
Experimental Inoculation of Pigs with Monkeypox Virus Results in Productive Infection and Transmission to Sentinels
The susceptibility of domestic animals to MPXV remains unknown. The domestic pig (Sus scrofa) is a common livestock amplification host for many zoonotic viruses, such as influenza A viruses, Japanese encephalitis virus, and Nipah virus. Pigs are also susceptible to at least one member of the Poxviridae family: swinepox virus. This report provides the first evidence that pigs are susceptible to MPXV infection and can transmit the virus to contact animals. Emerging Microbes and Infections
A Bacteriophage-Based Validation of a PPE Doffing Procedure to be Used with High-Consequence Pathogens
A doffing protocol video for a high-containment PPE ensemble was evaluated to determine potential contamination pathways. These potential pathways were tested using fluorescence and genetically marked bacteriophages. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Borealpox (Alaskapox) Virus: Will There Be More Emerging Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses?
Borealpox viruses are not transmitted from human to human, and the disease caused is mild in immunocompetent people. As a stable double-stranded DNA virus, borealpox virus is unlikely to mutate quickly and does not pose a major threat. However, the same could have been said for mpox a few years ago. The Lancet Microbe
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Federal Officials Will Fund Farms’ Protective Measures to Contain H5N1 Bird Flu
WASHINGTON — The federal government will provide livestock farms as much as $28,000 apiece to bolster protective measures and testing for the avian flu virus spreading among dairy cows, officials said on 10 May. The Agriculture Department also allotted $98 million to aid states restricting the interstate movement of affected cattle, and health officials announced they would put an additional $101 million toward expanded surveillance, tests, treatments, and vaccines for the virus. STAT, USDA
Bird Flu Doesn’t Pose Imminent Pandemic Risk—But Lack of Transparency, Planning a Cause for Concern
Bill Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, doesn’t think that a bird flu pandemic is imminent —at least not yet. Read the Q&A discussion. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
WHO’s Top Scientist Learned a Hard Lesson About H5N1 Two Decades Ago: Stopping It Takes More Than Biology
“You can’t just take the virus and the biological surveillance and divorce it from the environment and the social construct that it’s happening in,” Jeremy Farrar said in an interview from WHO headquarters in Geneva. “That’s the reality.” STAT
FDA Says New Bird Flu Test Results Show Milk Supply is Safe
Early results last week from an ongoing effort to test 297 samples of retail dairy products from 38 states showed 1 in 5 samples had viral fragments of the H5N1 virus. The presence of genetic fragments of the virus in milk was not unexpected, since the pasteurization process generally does not remove genetic material. Last week’s findings prompted researchers to perform a more sensitive test to validate that pasteurization kills H5N1 in milk samples. In those tests, they extracted the viral fragments and tried to grow the virus in fertilized eggs — which is known as the gold-standard method for detecting active, infectious viruses. The virus did not grow, confirming that it was not active. Washington Post
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in a Dairy Farm Worker
Conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from the right eye for influenza testing. The results RT-PCR testing were presumptive for influenza A and A(H5) virus in both specimens. Home isolation was recommended, and oral oseltamivir (75 mg twice daily for 5 days) was provided for treatment of the worker and for postexposure prophylaxis for the worker’s household contacts. The virus identified in the worker’s specimen had a change (PB2 E627K) that has been associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts and detected previously in humans and other mammals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses and other avian influenza A virus subtypes, including A(H7N9) and A(H9N2). No genetic markers associated with reduced susceptibility to influenza antiviral drugs approved by the FDA were identified. New England Journal of Medicine
Study of Cow Tissues Provides Clues for Unusual Pattern of Bird Flu Infections in Dairy Cattle
A new study (still pending peer-review) looking at the distribution of receptors that flu viruses can attach to in different cow tissues may help to explain the pattern of illness being seen in the outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in U.S. dairy cattle — and also is sparking debate about the implications of the cow outbreak for human disease. The result provide a mechanistic rationale for the high levels of H5N1 virus reported in infected bovine milk and show cattle have the potential to act as a mixing vessel for novel IAV generation. STAT
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
Improving Safety of the Blood Supply from Transmission of HIV/AIDS and Other Emerging Blood Borne Viral and Biodefense Agents
There are still three challenges to keeping the blood supply safe: existing tests are performed only on plasma, while many agents are found mostly in blood cells; testing requires large volumes and labor intensive instrumentation; and existing tests cannot readily be modified to detect simultaneously the increasing number of infectious agents that pose new threats to the blood supply. FDA researchers are working to develop new, improved diagnostic tools and to provide FDA product reviewers with improved scientific understanding of novel technologies that might be applied by manufacturers, enhancing the review and evaluation of new diagnostic tests for blood-borne pathogens and bioterrorism agents. FDA
Canada Invests in Pathogen Tracking, Healthcare Supply Chain Research
A new cross-border research project is underway to monitor the movement of pathogens in Canada and the U.S. in the event of future pandemics. The Integrated Network for the Surveillance of Pathogens: Increasing Resilience and Capacity in Canada’s Pandemic Response (INSPIRE) brings together 43 researchers from seven universities and public and private agencies. The team consists of biochemists, microbiologists, engineers, computer scientists, and supply chain public policy experts. INSPIRE will partner with academics in Michigan, Ohio and New York — where many supply chains supporting Canadian industry originate. CBC
Development of a Nanofiber Bioreceptor for Detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus from Air
This work presents the development of a polyacrylonitrile nanofiber bioreceptor functionalized with antibodies against bacterial antigens for the specific interception of bacterial cells directly from the air. The specific structure of electrospun nanofibers enables the use of the membranes for air filtration. Biosensors
ONE HEALTH
How Climate Change is Raising the Risks of Another Pandemic
A large-scale meta-analysis on global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease suggests that as the planet continues to warm and humans continue to disrupt nature, increases in disease spread “will be consistent and widespread”. Washington Post, The Guardian
Cross-Agency One Health Task Force Framework for Action
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a joint framework for action to strengthen cooperation to support the implementation of the One Health agenda in the European Union (EU). ECDC
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Chikungunya Seroprevalence, Force of Infection, and Prevalence of Chronic Disability
Based on this review an estimated 51% of people with laboratory-confirmed symptomatic chikungunya had chronic disability after infection and 4% were admitted to hospital following infection. The highest estimated median seroprevalence at age 10 years was in south Asia (8.0%), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (7.8%). The long-term average annual force of infection (FOI) was significantly higher in epidemic settings than endemic settings. The Lancet Infectious Diseases
WHO Warns of the ‘Unacceptable’ Death Toll in Global Cholera Outbreaks
“We are looking at outbreaks with unacceptably high case fatality ratios (CFR),” said Philippe Barboza, WHO’s cholera lead and head of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) secretariat. “Without any type of treatment or case management, the CFR of cholera can be up to 50%. However, with adequate treatment, the CFR should be below 1%. The 1% is not the target, the 1% is the maximum acceptable CFR,” Barbosa told a WHO meeting on cholera this week. But in recent outbreaks in Malawi, Zambia, Uganda and Sudan, around 3% of those infected have died, according to WHO statistics. Health Policy Watch
Vaccine Expert ‘Very Worried’ by Whooping Cough Deaths
Half of cases seen so far this year have been in the under-15s, with the highest rates in babies under three months, who are most at risk. The five babies who died this year – the first deaths since 2019 – were all under three months old. BBC, Gov.UK
Clinical and Diagnostic Features of West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in New York City
(Retrospective study with a small sample size). The most common presenting symptoms were fever (86.1%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (38.9%) in addition to altered mental status (72.2%), lethargy (63.9%), gait disturbances (46.2%), and headache (44.4%). Nearly half (48.3%) of patients displayed acute MRI findings. A substantial number of patients were not diagnosed with WNV infection by the time of discharge, particularly those with only CSF testing at New York State’s public health laboratory. Antibody testing remains essential for WNND diagnosis, as WNV infection typically causes only a low-level viremia that is undetectable by PCR. Serum testing for anti-WNV IgM, however, was performed more rapidly and the results were available prior to discharge in most cases, including nearly 93% of encephalitis cases, warranting the consideration of this as an initial diagnostic test while awaiting confirmatory CSF testing. Pathogens
The CDC Issues New Rules For Bringing Dogs Into the U.S., Aimed at Keeping Out Rabies
Under the new regulations, all dogs entering the U.S. must appear healthy, must be at least six months old, must have received a microchip, and the owner must verify the animal either has a valid rabies vaccine or has not been in a country where rabies is endemic in the last six months. Dogs coming from a country that is considered at high risk for rabies and who received a rabies vaccine from another country must meet additional criteria. NPR
California City Declares a Public Health Emergency After Tuberculosis Sickens 14
Public health officials in Long Beach declared the emergency on 2 May, after its health department detected 14 tuberculosis cases at a single-room occupancy hotel. The City Council vote on 7 May served as the final approval for the declaration. Screening and treating such a large number of people requires many resources. Declaring a public health emergency streamlines the Department’s ability to quickly secure resources and take additional action to contain the outbreak. NBC
FDA Considers Updating Blood Donation Guidelines to Keep Supply Safe from Malaria
In March, the FDA approved the first test intended to screen donor blood for the evidence of malaria. Now it is assessing the benefits and hurdles to implementing testing into the donation infrastructure. Approaches under consideration include selective testing based on patient travel history. The CDC noted that although the risk of locally acquired malaria in the US continues to be “extremely low,” just last summer, it warned doctors to watch for locally acquired cases. There were a handful of non-travel-related cases in Texas, Florida, Maryland and Arkansas last year, the first locally acquired malaria cases in the US since 2003. CNN
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Proactive Vaccination Using Multiviral Quartet Nanocages to Elicit Broad Anti-Coronavirus Responses
Production of quartets of linked receptor-binding domains (RBDs) from a panel of SARS-like betacoronaviruses, coupled to a computationally designed nanocage through SpyTag/SpyCatcher links. These quartet nanocages are a nanomedicine approach with potential to confer heterotypic protection against emergent zoonotic pathogens and facilitate proactive pandemic protection. Nature Nanotechnology
Association of Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir with Post-Acute Sequelae and Mortality in Patients Admitted to Hospital with COVID-19
This study and related commentary describe extended benefits of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir for reducing the risk of post-acute inpatient death as well as cardiovascular and respiratory complications among patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The benefit of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir was more pronounced in patients aged 65 years and older and in those who had completed the three-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schedule. The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Predicting the Presence of Infectious Virus from PCR Data
Although viral culture is the gold-standard method to detect replicating and infectious virus, decisions in virology research, clinical diagnostics, and public health often must rely on faster, cheaper PCR assays that detect viral genetic material. Substantial scientific effort has focused on assessing whether PCR assays (and what kind of PCR assays) can accurately predict culture outcomes, often finding conflicting results. This study demonstrates that two common PCR protocols can predict viral culture results with similarly high accuracy, as long as interpretations account for other factors such as exposure conditions, demographics, and assay protocols. PLOS Pathogens
AstraZeneca is Withdrawing Its Covid Vaccine Worldwide, Citing Low Demand
Since the vaccine was approved in Britain in December 2020, over three billion doses have been supplied globally. But in the past few years, demand has plummeted as other manufacturers have released shots tailored to newer variants and countries have opted to use those. AstraZeneca’s shot, which was developed with Oxford University, is no longer being manufactured or supplied. “This vaccine saved very large numbers of lives in many countries around the world particularly in 2021 and 2022, both because it was developed and tested so rapidly and because AZ made it available at very low cost so that it could be used in many of the poorer countries in the world,” noted Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics, University of Bristol. New York Times, The Guardian
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
Leprosy Passed Between Medieval Squirrels and Humans, Study Suggests
Previous research revealed that people in medieval England, Denmark and Sweden had a similar strain of leprosy to that found today in red squirrels in the south of England, with one theory being that the trading of squirrel furs, imported from Viking Scandinavia, could have been a factor in spreading the disease. Now experts say the theory has been given a boost, with genetic analysis revealing that red squirrels in medieval England experienced a very similar strain of the disease to humans living at the time. The Guardian
SPECIAL INTEREST
Call for Papers: Biosafety and Biosecurity for Potential Pandemic Pathogens and Dual Use Research of Concern
Submissions will undergo a double-blinded, peer-review process. The deadline for the special issue is 31 October 2024. Accepted articles may be published online ahead of the print release. Applied Biosafety
Apply to the Biosecurity Game Changers Fellowship
The Biosecurity Game Changers Fellowship will be implemented by the Brown University Pandemic Center, in partnership with collaborating institutions focused on solutions at the intersection of biosecurity and global health, including CEPI, IBBIS, the Pandemic Action Network, the BWC Implementation Support Unit, and Gavi, and in consultation with international and normative entities (e.g., the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO Global Health Emergency Corps). Deadline to apply is 29 May. Brown School of Public Health
ALSO READING
Human coronavirus OC43 nanobody neutralizes virus and protects mice from infection. Journal of Virology
Remarks by Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall Assistant to the President for Homeland Security on countering bioterrorism in an era of technology convergence. White House
Tom Inglesby: Take-aways from strong new OSTP policy on DURC and Pathogens with Pandemic Potential. LinkedIn
Structural basis for raccoon dog receptor recognition by SARS-CoV-2. PLOS Pathogens
Temporal shifts in 24 notifiable infectious diseases in China before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Communications
With H5N1 avian flu silently spreading in US cattle, wastewater testing could be key. CIDRAP
A malaria vector reappears in Italy after 50 years. BugBitten
Experiences of stigma, discrimination and violence and their impact on the mental health of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Reports
Watch: BWC confidence building and transparency. UNIDR
Bread crumbs: New report reveals less than 9% of assistance funding reaches the global south. Devex
The synergistic impact of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health Security on health service delivery during the Coronavirus Disease-19 pandemic. PLOS Global Public Health
Advancing molecular modeling and reverse vaccinology in broad-spectrum yellow fever virus vaccine development. Scientific Reports
Seasonal antigenic prediction of influenza A H3N2 using machine learning. Nature Communications