This week’s topics include restructuring of ASPR, anti-vaccine leadership at NIH, the UK’s new pathogen priority research targets list, and data on a post-exposure treatment for filoviruses.
FEATURED
Trump Administration Gutting and Restructuring HHS ASPR, BARDA
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response is caught in the crosshairs of the Trump Administration’s mass restructuring of HHS. Established to respond to national disasters from Hurricane Katrina to infectious disease outbreaks, ASPR has worked for two decades as an independent division within HHS, collaborating across the health, defense, and homeland security departments. It includes the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Trump’s HHS lead also announced gutting about a quarter of the total HHS workforce, pushing out approximately 20,000 workers across CDC, FDA, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. STAT, ARS Technica, AZPHA
Vaccine Skeptic Hired to Head Federal Study of Immunizations and Autism
David Geier, a long-discredited vaccine skeptic with no medical or advanced degree of any sort, will conduct an NIH government study on whether vaccines cause autism. “This is a worst-case scenario for public health. It’s a slap in the face to the decades of actual credible research we have.” Washington Post, New York Times
UK Experts Urge Prioritizing Research Into 24 Types of Deadly Pathogen Families
The first tool of its kind from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) lists 24 types of viruses and bacteria where a lack of vaccines, tests and treatment, changes due to the climate crisis or growing drug resistance pose a biosecurity risk. The Guardian
The Oral Drug Obeldesivir Protects Nonhuman Primates Against Lethal Ebola Virus Infection
For outbreak response, oral antivirals might present substantial advantages over now approved intravenous drugs. This study reports that once daily oral obeldesivir treatment of cynomolgus and rhesus macaques for 10 days confers 80 and 100% protection, respectively, against lethal Ebola virus infection when treatment is initiated 24 hours after exposure. These results support the potential of obeldesivir as an oral postexposure prophylaxis with broad spectrum activity across filoviruses. Science Advances
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
Oversight of Gain-of-Function Research with Pathogens: Issues for Congress
The outlook for the oversight system for life sciences research is uncertain under the Trump Administration. On January 20, 2025, the White House issued a presidential memorandum directing executive agencies to consider postponing the effective date of any rules that have been issued but have not taken effect, in order to review any questions of fact, law, and policy that the rules may raise. Until a decision has been made pursuant to the presidential memorandum on whether the 2024 policy will be instituted in May 2025, previous policies issued by the White House, such as the Recommended Policy Guidance for Departmental Development of Review Mechanisms for Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Framework for Guiding Funding Decisions About Proposed Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens (P3CO), would still apply to federally funded GOF research. Topics for congressional oversight could include how agencies might implement the 2024 policy, its impact on scientific research and risk management generally, and its impacts on U.S. government and industry scientific competitiveness. Congressional Research Service
Trump Administration Axes Critical Funding for State, Community Health Departments Awarded Under COVID Relief
The cancellation of $11.4 billion in grants targets primarily being used by states to support COVID testing and vaccination, as well as an initiative to put more trained community health workers in communities. Even though the grants were initially authorized by COVID relief legislation, they were allowed to be used for non-COVID priorities, including responding to the measles outbreak in Texas. “If allowed to stand, this funding cut will set back critical upgrades to our public health labs, technology used to track infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu and measles, vaccination efforts, and our ongoing work to better prepare for the next public health emergency.” CIDRAP, The Hill, New York Times
Policy Options to Prevent the Creation of Mirror Organisms
This paper describes U.S. and international policy mechanisms that could contribute to halting research and development programs to create mirror organisms. Domestic policy options could include executive branch statements and norm-building actions, a ban on federal funding of research toward the creation of mirror organisms, regulatory changes under the existing statutory authority in the federal select agent program and export controls, and legislation tailored to prohibiting and preventing the construction of mirror organisms. RAND
Johns Hopkins to Cut More Than 2,000 Workers Funded by Federal Aid
The layoffs, the most in the university’s history, will involve 247 domestic workers for the university, which is based in Baltimore, and an affiliated center. Another 1,975 positions will be cut in 44 countries. They affect the university’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, its medical school and an affiliated nonprofit, Jhpiego. Nearly half the school’s total revenue last year came from federally funded research, including $365 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development. In all, the university will lose $800 million in funding over several years from U.S.A.I.D. New York Times
Trump Administration to Terminate or Limit Grants Related to Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake
The Trump Administration’s new leadership at the National Institute of Health has decided to cancel or cut back dozens of grants for research on why some people are reluctant to be vaccinated and how to increase acceptance of vaccines. For some studies that are partly about vaccine hesitancy and uptake, officials can offer the option of defunding only those activities. “If we take away research on vaccine hesitancy, we’re also going to be taking away the ability to provide people with the best information about whether the vaccine is in their best interest.” Washington Post, STAT
NIH Support of mRNA Research May be at Risk
In addition to defunding all research related to promoting vaccination, in what some at the agency view as an ominous sign, the NIH’s acting director requested information last week about the funding that supports mRNA vaccine research. “NIH staff internally are very worried that the mRNA grants will follow the outcome of the vaccine hesitancy grants and be terminated. There are widespread concerns that this will limit the ability to combat pandemics and halt promising lifesaving cancer treatments.” NPR
Bird Flu Continues to Spread as Trump’s Pandemic Experts are MIA
As bird flu continues to rampage in dairy farms and poultry facilities around the country, the office tasked with coordinating the federal government’s response to pandemic threats, including bird flu, has been sidelined by President Trump and sits nearly empty. The White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR)—established by a congressional statute in 2022 in response to failures during the COVID-19 pandemic—used to include a staff of around 20 people. Now, only one staffer remains, and it’s unclear who they report to. Meanwhile, health secretary and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that poultry farmers should let the virus run rampant through flocks rather than safely cull them, which is currently required. ARS Technica, CNN
Her Research Grant Mentioned ‘Hesitancy.’ Now Her Funding is Gone.
A medical researcher studying shingles infection impact on eye health lost had federal funding pulled because her grant used the keywords ‘uptake’ and hesitancy’. Washington Post
AHRQ, Agency Responsible for Quality of Health Care Research, Threatened with Mass Layoffs
A small government agency responsible for putting medical products and services to practical use and making health care safe is feared to be the latest target for mass layoffs by the Trump administration. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, part of HHS has about 300 employees and a budget of $369 million. The U.S. DOGE Service reportedly aims to cut the AHRQ staff by 80% to 90%. STAT
Trump’s Science Policies Pose Long-Term Risk, Economists Warn
Since World War II, U.S. research funding has led to discoveries that fueled economic gains. Now cutbacks are seen as putting that legacy in jeopardy. Already, labs across the country have begun laying off workers and canceling projects — in some cases stopping clinical trials that were already underway — and top universities including Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania have announced hiring freezes. New York Times
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Role of Non-Human Primate Models in Accelerating Research and Developing Countermeasures Against Zika Virus Infection
Developing therapeutics and vaccines against Zika virus that could prevent or ameliorate fetal neurodevelopmental injury requires the establishment of in-vitro and animal models that mirror the physiology and placental anatomy of human pregnancies. Although murine models are versatile tools for studying infectious diseases and the host immune response, key differences between murine and placental architecture restrict the translation of findings to humans. This paper reviews the diverse NHP models currently used for Zika virus research to mitigate the public health effects of future Zika virus epidemics. The Lancet Microbe
Human Airway Organoids as a Versatile Model to Study BSL-4 Virus Replication and Pathogenesis
In contrast to conventional cell lines, airway organoids enable investigation of virus-host interactions within a human tissue context, providing insights that are more directly translatable to human disease. This study demonstrated that organoids derived from nasal swabs can effectively replicate BSL-4 viruses, establishing them as a standardized 3D model for broader research applications and advancing our understanding of these pathogens, especially in the absence of reliable animal models. BioRxiv (pre-print)
Although Safe, Tecovirimat Proves Ineffective for Treating Clade II Mpox
More data from the STOMP (Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox) trial presented at CROI 2025, held in San Francisco, confirm that tecovirimat does not reduce the time to clinical resolution of clade II mpox lesions or improve pain among adults. Infectious Disease Special Edition
CEPI and Astrazeneca to Advance Discovery Into Novel Antibody
CEPI funding of up to US$43.5 million will support AstraZeneca to evaluate an innovative antibody, known as a VHH (Variable Heavy domain of a Heavy chain -only antibody), in a preclinical proof-of-concept study through Phase 1 clinical trials. CEPI
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Streamlining Preparedness: A Practical Pathway to Special Pathogens Management
The Special Pathogens Readiness Checklist highlights considerations for ongoing preparedness and may be utilized in anticipation of patients presenting to a facility with a suspected or confirmed special pathogen infection. It uses plain language, allows staff to check off completed tasks and add relevant notes to the master document, and consolidates considerations into one document. It should be adapted based on the healthcare facility’s risk assessment, local regulations, and capabilities of the health department. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Agroterrorism: A Persistent but Overlooked Threat
Due to the centralization of large food production plants and farming communities, the threat of agroterrorism has significantly increased over time. The FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) worked with the FBI to develop the Criminal Investigation Handbook for Agroterrorism, published in July 2008. The opening section of the handbook identifies response agencies in case of an emergency, highlighting the need for proactive planning and communication for these types of events. The guide also outlines potential barriers and responses that will be encountered in the investigation of these types of events. It is important to note, however, that the handbook has not been updated since its creation in 2008. Domestic Preparedness
Increasing Special Pathogen Preparedness at a Frontline Hospital: A Quality Improvement Project
The Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center for Region 10 is tasked with supporting and providing expertise, special pathogen preparedness, and training for facilities in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Only 37% of responding Region 10 facilities reported established training and 83% reported operational gaps. Gap analysis identified a need for a standardized intervention to assist frontline hospitals. Providence Digital Commons
Biosecurity and the Republic of Georgia: Maintaining Progress in an Uncertain Future
Over three decades since independence, Georgia built its domestic public health system, working bilaterally with nations such as Germany and Canada, and through long-term engagement with the US Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program to embed safety and security to reduce biological risks. Political dynamics in both Georgia and the region threaten to undermine this important progress. As of this writing, as protesters continue to fill the streets of Tbilisi to fight for Georgia’s democratic future, policymakers and biosecurity experts in the grow increasingly concerned about the durability of Georgia’s longstanding biosecurity efforts. Council on Strategic Risks
America is Sleeping on a Powerful Defense Against Airborne Disease
For decades, experts have pushed the idea that the government should pay more attention to the quality of indoor air. In his new book, Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, the journalist Carl Zimmer shows the long arc of this argument. He notes that Richard Riley, a giant in the field of aerobiology who helped show that tuberculosis can be airborne, believed that individuals shouldn’t have to ensure that the air they breathe is clean. Just as the government regulates the safety of the water that flows into indoor pipes, it should oversee the safety of air in indoor public spaces. The Atlantic
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
WHO Notes 4 New MERS Cases, 2 Fatal, in Saudi Arabia Since September
In its latest biannual update on Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia yesterday, the WHO reported four new cases since September 6, 2024, two of them fatal. Since the first report of MERS-CoV in KSA in 2012, a total 2618 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection, with 945 associated deaths (a fatality rate of 36%), have been reported to WHO from 27 countries, across all six WHO regions. The majority of cases (2209; 84%), have been reported from KSA, including these newly reported cases. Since 2019, no MERS-CoV infections have been reported from countries outside the Middle East. World Health Organization, CIDRAP
Modeling Natural Coinfection in a Bat Reservoir Shows Modulation of Marburg Virus Shedding and Spillover Potential
The Egyptian rousette bat (ERB) is a natural reservoir for Marburg virus (MARV), the putative reservoir for Sosuga virus (SOSV), and a vertebrate reservoir for Kasokero virus (KASV). This study demonstrates that, depending on the specific coinfecting virus, MARV shedding is differentially modulated, thereby affecting spillover potential. PLOS Pathogens
Nipah Virus Detection in Pteropus hypomelanus Bats
Nipah virus, a zoonotic virus with a high mortality rate, threatens people from Indonesia because of its proximity to affected regions and the presence of bat reservoirs. Molecular screening of 64 Pteropus hypomelanus bats in Central Java detected 2 positive bats. This study underscores the importance of molecular surveillance of Nipah virus in wildlife reservoirs and humans to identify high-risk areas and transmission pathways. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Neonatal Survival Following Spontaneous Maternal Recovery From Ebola Virus Disease in a Resource-Limited Setting
Study concludes that neonatal survival following spontaneous maternal recovery from EVD in the first trimester of gestation is rare but possible, even in the context of limited clinical resources for treatment. Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
Cleaning Up Soil Contaminated with Pathogens
Soil may become contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores, the bacterium causing anthrax disease, after their intentional release into the outdoor environment. Soil may also become contaminated with B. anthracis spores from animal carcasses that have died from the disease. Other pathogens may contaminate soil as well. Decontaminating the soil on-site would help minimize spread of the bio-contaminant. This on-demand presentation is an overview of current research findings and technology available for sterilizing soil on-site. Environmental Protection Agency
Rapid National Response to Smallpox Attack in the United States
Following the 2022 and 2023 global outbreak of mpox (monkeypox), a close relative of smallpox, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) criticized the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’s) ineffective communication, lack of central coordination, slow deployment of medical countermeasures, and inadequate funding and workforce capacity. These failures to respond to pandemics suggest that the US would be unable to effectively react to and mitigate a smallpox outbreak (h/t Pandora Report). Michigan Journal of Public Affairs
Tanzania Declares End to Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania on March 13 declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 Jan. The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. World Health Organization
Cases of High-Consequence Infectious Diseases Identified in the UK, 1962–2023
Excluding declared Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs), 26 patients have been treated in high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) treatment centres between 1962 and 2023: 10 patients with Lassa fever, 7 with mpox prior to the 2022 PHEIC, 4 with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), 4 with Ebola and 1 with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). In total, 15 additional HCID patients were identified where treatment in a specialist centre did not occur due to retrospective diagnosis (4 patients with Lassa fever), mild or moderate illness [5 patients with avian influenza A(H5N1), 1 with MERS and 1 with CCHF] or death prior to transfer (2 patients with Lassa fever, 1 with CCHF and 1 with pneumonic plague). This paper summarize the UK HCID experience, including details about their detection, patient management and outcomes. Journal of Medical Microbiology
Associations of Inflammatory Markers With Post-Acute Clinical Findings Among Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease
A high proportion of survivors of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have post-acute sequelae of EVD (PASE), but the relationship between inflammation and PASE pathogenesis is poorly understood. This study tests the hypothesis that inflammation is associated with PASE among survivors with and without viral RNA shedding in the semen. The Lancet Microbe
Detection and Decontamination of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions during Venison Processing
This study demonstrates that steel and plastic surfaces used in venison processing can be directly contaminated with CWD prions and that cross-contamination of CWD-negative venison can occur from equipment that had previously been used with CWD-positive venison. Study also shows that several decontaminant solutions (commercial bleach and potassium peroxymonosulfate) are efficacious for prion inactivation on those same surfaces. Emerging Infectious Diseases
MPOX
Mpox in Uganda is Now Responsible for 40% of Africa’s New Cases
Cases of mpox disease have increased in Uganda over the past six weeks, surpassing those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), says the World Health Organization (WHO). In the weeks spanning 20 January to 2 March Uganda recorded 1157 new mpox infections, said WHO’s 10 March report. The DRC—the hardest hit country in the global mpox epidemic—had 1080 fresh cases. The BMJ
Jynneos Mpox Vaccine Study: 84% Effective in People Without HIV, 35% for HIV-Positive
One dose of the Jynneos vaccine was 58% effective against mpox infection overall and 84% in people without HIV, but only 35% in those with HIV, according to study published this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. A related commentary noted that one or two mpox vaccine doses may not be enough to protect people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV. CIDRAP
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Detection of Antibodies Against Influenza A Viruses in Cattle
Retrospective serological screen provided evidence of human and swine H1 and H3 influenza A virus (IAV) infections in different cattle breeds in addition to dairy cows, although no H5N1 infection was detected. Results underline the necessity to monitor IAV epidemiology in cattle, as reassortment of IAVs from different species may occur in cattle, generating novel viruses that pose threats to public and animal health. Journal of Virology
Ferret Study Looks at Ocular Infectivity and Replication of H5N1
Ferrets with antibodies from previous infection with the seasonal influenza that were later infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had less severe illness and were less likely to spread the virus to other ferrets in the same enclosure compared to ferrets with no preexisting immunity to influenza virus. The study also found that when ferrets were exposed to an avian influenza via the surface of their eyes, they developed severe and transmissible disease just as they did after respiratory exposure, highlighting the importance of following recommendations for eye protection for people with exposure to potentially infected animals. The Lancet Microbe
H5N1 Dairy Cow Study Finds Sustained Milk Production Drop, Extensive Transmission Across Herd
Scientists who examined the impact of an H5N1 avian flu outbreak in an Ohio dairy herd that had about 3,900 cows found a milk production drop in clinically affected cows that lasted 60 days and extensive asymptomatic infections in other cows. CIDRAP
Antiviral Susceptibility of Two Clades of H5N1 from Humans
CDC scientists assessed the antiviral susceptibility of clade 2.3.2.1c A(H5N1) viruses and clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses collected from humans in Cambodia, United States, and Chile. The study found that except for two viruses isolated from humans in Cambodia, all viruses were susceptible to M2 ion channel-blockers in cell culture-based assays. All viruses were susceptible to the PA cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor class of antiviral drugs, baloxavir and tivoxavir, and to the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) inhibitor antiviral drug, pimodivir. All viruses also displayed susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitor class of antiviral drugs, which includes oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, laninamivir, and AV5080. Oseltamivir was approximately 10-fold less active at inhibiting the neuraminidase activity of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses and approximately 3-fold less active against clade 2.3.2.1c viruses, when compared to seasonal influenza A viruses. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Trump Administration to Import Eggs From Turkey, South Korea
The Trump administration is importing millions of eggs from Turkey and South Korea, with other countries likely to be contributing in the coming weeks, Agriculture Secretary Rollins said on March 21. The Hill
An Overview of Influenza H5 Vaccines
Production of and access to H5 vaccines could be a challenge during a pandemic. Even if a pandemic virus or situation restricts the egg supply, current or future approved cell culture-based vaccines (inactivated influenza virus or recombinant protein) or nucleic acid-based vaccines (mRNA) could be produced. However, egg-based production makes up more than 80% of the global pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Aging Raw Milk Cheese Doesn’t Eliminate Viable H5N1 Virus
To better understand whether aging raw milk cheese is effective at reducing or eliminating viable H5N1, the FDA funded specific research at Cornell University. Results being previewed in a pre-print suggest that aging raw milk cheese for 60 days or longer is not effective at eliminating viable H5N1 in the cheese. H5N1 survived (i.e., was viable) in non-heat-treated raw milk cheese through and beyond the 60-day aging process. However, heating raw milk at 54°C (130°F) for at least 15 minutes or 60°C (140°F) for at least 10 seconds inactivated H5N1 in this research. FDA
Assessment of Human Cases of Avian Influenza in California in 2024
This report describes investigations that led to identification of 38 persons who received positive test results for HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in California; 37 were dairy farm workers with occupational exposure to sick cows, and one was a child aged <18 years with an undetermined exposure. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics were similar to those in other U.S. human cases. In genetic sequencing of 30 of the 38 infected patients, all were identified as HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. A substitution associated with reduced baloxavir susceptibility was identified in one virus sequenced from a human case in California. No additional concerning substitutions were identified. CDC MMWR
Immune History Shapes Human Antibody Responses to H5N1 Influenza Viruses
Study found that both younger and older humans produced H5-reactive antibodies to the A/Vietnam/1203/2004 vaccine strain and to a contemporary clade 2.3.4.4b strain, with higher seroconversion rates in young children who had lower levels of antibodies before vaccination. These studies suggest that younger individuals might benefit more from vaccination than older individuals in the event of an H5N1 pandemic. Nature Medicine
H5N1 Virus Stability in Irradiated Raw Milk and Wastewater and on Surfaces
Study measured stability of infectious influenza A(H5N1) virus in irradiated raw milk and wastewater and on surfaces. We found a relatively slow decay in milk, indicating that contaminated milk and fomites pose transmission risks. Although the risk is low, results call for caution in milk handling and disposal from infected cattle. Emerging Infectious Diseases
U.S. Reports 1st Outbreak of Deadly H7N9 Bird Flu Since 2017
The United States reported the first outbreak of the deadly H7N9 bird flu on a poultry farm since 2017, as the country continues to grapple with another bird flu strain that has infected humans and caused egg prices to hit record highs. The strain that has caused most damage to poultry in recent years and the death of one person in the U.S. is H5N1. But the H7N9 bird flu virus has proved to have a far higher death rate, killing nearly 40 per cent of the humans infected since it was first detected in 2013, the World Health Organization said. The latest outbreak of H7N9 was detected on a farm of 47,654 commercial broiler breeder chickens in Noxubee, Miss. CBC
Another Raw Pet Food Recall is Tied to Illness and Death in Cats
A California pet food maker has recalled its raw chicken products after they were linked to bird flu infections in two cats and suspected in a third in New York City. The recall is the latest in recent months tied to products potentially contaminated with the virus that has sickened and killed cats in several states, after racing through poultry and dairy cattle in the U.S. and causing illnesses in at least 70 people. AP
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
Building a Wildlife Corridor Between Plutonium and Chemical Weapon Superfund Sites
A wildlife corridor plans to connect two Superfund sites at the former Rocky Flats plutonium plant and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal that once produced chemical weapons. Locals fear residual contamination could spread. Concerns have already limited public access to the refuge. Since April 2018, the Denver School District, the largest in the area, has forbidden its nearly 100,000 students from visiting Rocky Flats on field trips. Other school districts, including Boulder’s, had previously issued similar orders to protect their students. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Trump Halted an Agent Orange Cleanup. That Puts Hundreds of Thousands at Risk for Poisoning.
Diplomats in Vietnam warned Washington that halting USAID’s efforts to clean up the massive deposit of postwar pesticides would be a catastrophe for public health and relations with a key strategic partner in Asia. Workers were in the middle of cleaning up the site of an enormous chemical spill, the Bien Hoa air base, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly halted all foreign aid funding. The shutdown left exposed open pits of soil contaminated with dioxin, the deadly byproduct of Agent Orange, which the American military sprayed across large swaths of the country during the Vietnam War. ProPublica
Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack Remembered 30 Years On
Thirty years on from the fatal sarin nerve gas attack in Tokyo’s subway network, survivors and families who lost loved ones are still seeking justice. Thirteen people were killed and thousands were sickened when apocalyptic cult members released sarin nerve gas in the capital’s subway trains on March 20, 1995. At 8 a.m. during the morning rush, five cult members got on separate train cars on three subway lines converging at Kasumigaseki, Japan’s government center, each dropping bags of sarin on the train floors. They punctured the bags with umbrellas, releasing the gas inside the train cars. Within minutes, commuters poured out of the trains onto the platforms, rubbing their eyes and gasping for air. AP, The Japan Times, ABC News
Commemoration of the 1988 Halabja Chemical Weapons Attack
On 16 March 1988, thousands of defenceless men, women and children were mercilessly killed in Halabja, Iraq, by the use of chemical weapons. Many more sustained horrific lifelong injuries and trauma. Nine years after the tragic chemical weapons attack, in 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention (the Convention) entered into force. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Infection Control Challenges in a Burn ICU
A Candida auris outbreak in a burn intensive care unit (BICU) in Illinois has highlighted the persistent challenges of infection control in high-risk health care settings. Despite rigorous containment efforts, this multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen continued to spread, underscoring the need for enhanced prevention strategies, environmental monitoring, and genomic surveillance. This topic is important for CBRNE mass casualty preparedness. Infection Control Today
Radiation Exposure Victims Fight for Compensation as Nuclear Weapons Funding Soars
Nine months have passed since the law that compensates US victims of radiation exposure expired in June, and yet another opportunity to reinstate it fell to the wayside last week. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), enacted in 1990, provided pay-outs to people unwittingly exposed to radioactive substances from the Manhattan Project and Cold War efforts. For decades, people living downwind from the Nevada Test Site, nuclear weapons site workers and uranium miners relied on the money they received from RECA to pay their medical bills for rare cancers and diseases contracted from their radiation exposure. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
A Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Monkeypox and Skin Lesion Pathogens
Under-detection and misdiagnosis of mpox drove explosive dissemination, underscoring the urgency for rapid differential point-of-care diagnostic solutions for sensitive routine specimen testing. A pilot study performed at North West London Pathology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, analyzed 164 clinical samples, including 51 mpox clade II positive cases, to assess this LAMP-based assay’s performance compared to gold standard methods like qPCR. International Journal of Infectious Diseases
FluMut: A Tool for Mutation Surveillance in Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Genomes
FluMut, an open-source, cross-platform tool designed to identify molecular markers with potential impacts on H5N1 virus phenotypes. FluMut rapidly analyze thousands of nucleotide sequences, identifying mutations associated with host adaptation, increased virulence, and antiviral resistance. Virus Evolution
Pentagon Investing Millions in Battlefield Rapid Disease Detection
Rapidly diagnosing and categorizing Pathogen X is one of the use cases officials at the Pentagon’s Chemical and Biological Defense Program reportedly see for GeneCapture. To date, the military has invested nearly $12 million to support the development of GeneCapture as a deployable diagnostic tool, with the bulk of that funding coming from the Chemical Biological Defense Program, or CBDP, and the Defense Health Agency. Military Times, National Interest
A Dynamic Duo for Detecting Bacteria of Biodefense and Public Health Importance
A multiplex primer panel (called Germplex) with high sensitivity and specificity was developed to identify select potential biological weapons and other clinically relevant pathogens. The panel targets 34 bacterial species of public health and bioterrorism significance. SSRN
Clinical and Public Health Implications of Tularemia Diagnoses by Microbial Cell-Free DNA Testing
Tularemia is a nationally notifiable disease and Category A potential bioterrorist threat caused by Francisella tularensis. Microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing is a pathogen-agnostic diagnostic method using human plasma. mcfDNA detections of F. tularensis are not currently included in public health surveillance criteria for a tularemia case and are not automatically reported to public health jurisdictions. This paper reviews recent F. tularensis mcfDNA detections to better understand their clinical and public health implications. Open Forum Infectious Diseases
AI + CYBERBIOSECURITY
An Extensive Review on Infectious Disease Diagnosis Using Machine Learning Techniques
Findings reveal that ML algorithms, such as deep neural networks (DNNs), support vector machines (SVM), and K-nearest neighbours (KNN), achieve high accuracy rates, often exceeding 95 %, in diagnosing infectious diseases. Deep learning methods excel in genomic and metagenomic data analysis, while traditional algorithms like Gaussian mixture models (GMM) also demonstrate robust classification capabilities. Challenges include reliance on single data types and difficulty distinguishing closely related pathogens. Computers in Biology and Medicine
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
U.S. Records Most Measles Cases in Single Year Since Record 2019 Wave
Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024. As of March 27, 2025, a total of 483 confirmed measles cases, the vast majority in children, were reported by 20 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. CDC
Remedy Supported by Kennedy Leaves Some Measles Patients More Sick
At high doses, vitamin A can cause liver damage; dry, peeling skin; hair loss; and, in rare instances, seizures and coma. So far, doctors at the West Texas hospital have said they’ve seen patients with yellowed skin and high levels of liver enzymes in their bloodwork, both signs of a damaged liver. Health officials said the recent popularity of vitamin A use for measles could be traced back to a Fox News interview with Mr. Kennedy, in which he said he had heard of “almost miraculous and instantaneous recovery” with treatments like cod liver oil. New York Times
Detection of Batborne Hantaviruses, Laos
A report the detection of batborne hantaviruses in 2 bat species in Laos, expanding the known geographic distribution of hantaviruses in Southeast Asia. Given the frequent human–wildlife contact in the region, researchers should continue to characterize the viruses and investigate their zoonotic potential. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Ongoing Risk of Dengue Virus Infections and Updated Testing Recommendations in the United States
The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) update to provide additional information to healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public about the ongoing risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections and updates to testing recommendations in the United States. CDC Health Alert Network
Not Just the Lone Star Tick: Alpha-Gal Syndrome After Bites from Other Tick Types
In the United States, alpha-gal syndrome is primarily associated with lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) bites. This paper describe alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) onset after an Ixodes scapularis tick bite and present AGS surveillance in Maine, 2014–2023. Another paper describes a case of AGS in a resident of Washington State after local Ixodes pacificus tick bites. US health and public health professionals should be aware of AGS outside the established lone star tick range. Emerging Infectious Diseases
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE CRISIS
How Private Sector Influence Undermines Independent Research and Public Health in Pakistan
An estimated 88% of adults and 95% of children receive unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. One reason for this overuse of drugs is that doctors in Pakistan, often incentivized by pharmaceutical companies, frequently prescribe antibiotics for common flu. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies, which profit from antibiotic sales, worsen the problem. London School of Economics and Political Science
SPECIAL INTEREST
Who Are Veterinary Infection Preventionists?
Veterinary IPC is a relatively new field, but it is gaining traction due to the growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance and the One Health approach—recognizing the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. While hospitals and clinics in human medicine have well-established IPC protocols, veterinary practices must often adapt research and guidelines from human health care to fit their unique settings. Infection Control Today
RESILIENCE
How Do I Navigate the Fear and Anger of This Political Moment?
“I think it’s worth trying to learn from the many clever, sensitive people who’ve lived through dark things. The internet and social media are not typically good places for deep insight, but there’s no shortage of books that can take their place. You can be selective with your time and attention: when you engage with despair-inducing material, you can insist it gives you insight in return, not just bad feelings and fast-moving content.” The Guardian
Litigation Trackers: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed during President Donald Trump’s second administration. The suits challenge his executive orders as well as actions taken by his administration, including Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. The courts have agreed to block the president in a number of cases, and the administration is seeking appeals as well. Just Security, AP, Lawfare
White House Pulls Nomination of Dave Weldon as CDC Director Hours Before Hearing
The Trump administration withdrew the nomination of Dave Weldon as its pick to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hours before he was scheduled to appear for a crucial hearing, fearing his long track record of criticizing vaccines would jeopardize his chances of winning confirmation. “I was deeply disturbed to hear Dr. Weldon repeat debunked claims about vaccines,” noted Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). “It’s dangerous to put someone in charge at CDC who believes the lie that our rigorously tested childhood vaccine schedule is somehow exposing kids to toxic levels of mercury or causing autism.” AP, STAT
Navigating Your US Bioscience Career into the 2030s
In the coming years, scientists may face a one-two punch: Declining governmental support for biomedicine and possibly a commensurate rise in pseudoscience. The reality is that all is not lost and there remain multiple and interesting options for a meaningful and fulfilling career in bioscience. But navigating this landscape will require thoughtfulness and planning. PLOS Biology
ALSO READING
NETEC Annual Report 2024: Advancing America’s National Health Security. National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center
With the US leaving the WHO, Europe must urgently increase its global leadership in health preparedness – not weaken it. Centre for European Policy Studies
Research prioritization in preparedness for and response to outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens: a scoping review. BMC Medicine
Science amid chaos: What worked during the pandemic? What failed? New York Times
Establishing methods to monitor influenza (A)H5N1 virus in dairy cattle milk, Massachusetts, USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases
What research is important to prepare and respond to H5N1 influenza outbreaks? World Health Organization
Temporal expression classes and functions of vaccinia virus and mpox (monkeypox) virus genes. mBio
Early influenza virus exposure shapes the B cell response to influenza vaccination in individuals 50 years later. Immunity