This week’s topics include a global call from top virologists to prepare now for a potentially catastrophic bird flu pandemic, and stark warnings that weakening America’s biodefense—through Trump-era cuts and disengagement—gives Russia a strategic edge. Also in the spotlight: red states slash vaccine mandates despite rising measles cases, the CDC goes curiously quiet amid mounting health threats, Trump proposes axing critical hospital preparedness funding, and the U.S. sanctions Sudan for violating chemical weapons treaties with attacks in 2024.
FEATURED
Prepare For a Bird Flu Pandemic Now, Virologists Urge
Top virologists from over 40 countries have delivered an urgent warning over the growing risk of an H5N1 avian flu pandemic, calling on global leaders to shore up defences against a virus that can kill one in every two people it infects. Gavi
Ceding American Biodefense Is a Gift to Russia
As the Biological Weapons Convention marks 50 years, its foundational deterrents—global norms, NATO support, and U.S. biosecurity leadership—are under threat, largely due to actions by the Trump administration. Cuts to key programs like the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) initiative, which helps partner nations detect and respond to biological threats, along with the firing of critical personnel and termination of international health partnerships, have weakened America’s biodefense posture. These moves not only reduce the U.S.’s capacity to monitor emerging threats but also embolden adversaries like Russia, which continues a covert biological weapons program and spreads disinformation about U.S. labs. Lawfare
States Loosen Vaccine Rules — Even As Measles Outbreak Rages
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law last month an unprecedented ban on vaccine mandates for schools and businesses in the state, which already boasts the highest vaccine exemption rate for kindergarteners nationally. On his first day in office, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order permitting religious exemptions from school and day care immunization requirements — a major shift in one of the few states that had only allowed medical exemptions previously. And lawmakers in red states like Florida, Louisiana and Texas are weighing measures that would make it more difficult for health providers to deny care — from organ transplants to pediatric well visits — to people who aren’t vaccinated. Politico
Diseases are Spreading. The CDC Isn’t Warning the Public Like It Was a Few Months Ago
Many of the CDC’s newsletters have stopped being distributed, workers at the CDC say. Health alerts about disease outbreaks, previously sent to health professionals subscribed to the CDC’s Health Alert Network, haven’t been dispatched since March. The agency’s main social media channels have come under new ownership of the Department of Health and Human Services, emails reviewed by NPR show, and most have gone more than a month without posting their own new content. NPR
Trump Aims to Cut Hospital Preparedness Program
President Donald Trump has asked Congress to eliminate funding for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Hospital Preparedness Program. Created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the program also funds training for emergency managers and emergency responders to make sure every aspect of a region’s health care system has a plan for and is able to communicate during disasters, whether they are pandemics, cyberattacks, mass shootings, wildfires or hurricanes. Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request to Congress asks lawmakers to zero out all $240 million in funding for the program. Scientific American
Sudan Sanctioned for 2024 Chemical Weapons Use
On April 24, 2025, the U.S. government formally determined that Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024, triggering sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. The finding, detailed in a report addendum to Congress delivered this week, also declares Sudan in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which it is a signatory. After a 15-day notification period, the U.S. will impose punitive measures including export restrictions and cuts to Sudan’s access to U.S. government credit, with sanctions expected to take effect around June 6. U.S. State Department
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
HHS Cancels Nearly $600 Million Moderna Contract on Vaccines for Flu Pandemics
Though the possibility of the cancellation had been anticipated — the new leadership at HHS told the company in February that it was reviewing the contract, signed with the Biden administration — the move is being seen as a significant blow to the country’s capacity to respond to pandemic influenza. STAT, CIDRAP
Advancing Antiviral Strategies and Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis
This research explores antiviral responses and vaccine strategies targeting Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Key findings include the identification of critical immune pathways that enhance protection against Bacillus anthracis infection and the development of a novel vaccine platform demonstrating superior efficacy in preclinical models. These insights provide a foundation for developing more effective vaccines and therapeutic interventions against anthrax. Talanta
Single-Dose Replicon RNA Sudan Virus Vaccine Uniformly Protects Female Guinea Pigs From Disease
After Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus, Sudan virus (SUDV) has been responsible for the most outbreaks of human filovirus disease, primarily occurring in Uganda.The study demonstrated that a single dose of a replicon RNA SUDV vaccine delivered using a nanocarrier (LION) provided 100% protection against lethal SUDV infection in female guinea pigs, with no clinical signs of disease. The vaccine, which expresses the SUDV glycoprotein (GP) alone or in combination with the Ebola virus (EBOV) GP, showed superior efficacy compared to an EBOV-only vaccine, which only provided 50% protection. Notably, vaccinated guinea pigs exhibited strong antigen-specific antibody responses, reduced virus replication, and no significant viral presence in critical organs. These findings suggest the potential of the LION-SUDV platform for further development as a single-dose SUDV vaccine candidate. Nature Communications
Ensuring Continuity in Antibody Measurement: Bridging FANG and Luminex Assays in the PREVAC Ebola Vaccine Trial
The PREVAC trial, a large phase 2b study in West Africa, evaluated three Ebola vaccine regimens, but encountered a critical challenge in maintaining assay consistency over time. Researchers developed a robust conversion methodology to align antibody measurements from two different assays (FANG ELISA and Luminex), using a three-step process involving WHO standard calibration, conversion to standardized units, and Deming regression to account for inter-laboratory variability. This approach ensured consistent interpretation of long-term antibody data across a five-year study period, providing a model for maintaining data continuity when assay techniques change in clinical trials. Journal of Epidemiology and Population Health
Science & Tech Spotlight: Universal Vaccines
Developing vaccines is a risky economic venture, typically costing billions of dollars and years of research, with a high failure rate. Universal vaccines may have lower potential profits to developers than traditional vaccines because they would be used less frequently. GAO
Moderna Opens UK Vaccine Manufacturing Lab
Covid vaccine manufacturer Moderna has completed a new site in the UK, which it says will help prepare the the country against future pandemics. One of the key features of the facility is speed. It is set up to react quickly so manufacturing can change from one vaccine to another as the country needs it. BBC
Nanolipoprotein Particle Vaccine Shows Promise Against Plague: Enhanced Protection Against Yersinia pestis Aerosol Challenge
A novel nanolipoprotein particle (NLP)-based vaccine has demonstrated significant protective efficacy against Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, particularly in its most lethal form—pneumonic plague. Using a BALB/c mouse model, researchers compared an advanced subunit vaccine (F1V fusion protein) with an NLP-based vaccine. Both vaccines generated strong immune responses, but the NLP formulation, combined with Alhydrogel and CpG, induced a superior cytokine response and complete protection against an aerosolized Y. pestis challenge. The study highlights the potential of NLPs as a versatile platform for multi-antigen vaccines, offering enhanced immunity against plague—a disease that continues to pose a public health threat. Frontiers in Immunology
Past, Present, and Future of Viral Vector Vaccine Platforms: A Comprehensive Review
Viral vector-based vaccines are a versatile and potent platform in modern vaccinology, capable of eliciting strong cellular and humoral immune responses due to their direct delivery of genetic material into host cells. These vaccines have been successfully applied against diverse pathogens, including Ebola, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating their adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, challenges such as pre-existing immunity against vector backbones, rare adverse events (e.g., vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia), manufacturing scalability, and regulatory hurdles continue to impact their development. To overcome these obstacles, advanced engineering strategies, including chimeric capsids and plug-and-play self-amplifying RNA, are being explored, aiming to enhance safety, immunogenicity, and production efficiency. Vaccines
Molecular Modeling Approach to Repurposing Cangrelor as a Potential Inhibitor of Nipah Virus
Researchers applied an attention-based deep neural network to screen 500 FDA-approved drugs, ultimately finding that Cangrelor exhibited stronger binding affinity to NiV’s RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L protein) than the control drug Remdesivir. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of Cangrelor’s binding, suggesting it may interfere with viral replication. The findings highlight the potential for Cangrelor to be repurposed as an antiviral treatment for NiV, pending further in vivo studies. Scientific Reports
A VLP-Based Vaccine Protects Against Zika Virus Infection
A self-adjuvanted VLPs-based vaccine displaying the envelope protein domain III (EDIII) of ZIKV was built. Findings support the potential of the this vaccine formulation as a promising candidate for ZIKV immunization. The induction of neutralizing antibodies, protection against tissue pathology, and favorable in vivo safety profile provide a strong rationale for continued preclinical development. NPJ Vaccines
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
Broken Lifelines: The Economic Consequences of Defunding Academic Public Health
The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) has released Broken Lifelines, a new report outlining how recent federal funding cuts are harming academic public health. The report highlights the deep economic, institutional, and workforce impacts of the 2025 budget disruptions and why restoring federal investment is critical to the nation’s health and preparedness. ASPPH
Risk Perception of EMTs in Biological Disasters
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), positioned at the forefront of medical services, are at greater risk of contracting emerging infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19) and passing it on to their families and communities than others. Recognizing the risks can play a crucial role in the care and prevention process. BMC Emergency Medicine
Biological Threat Preparedness through Vaccine Development and Stockpiling: Challenges and Strategic Implications
This study analyzes the current status of vaccine development and strategic stockpiling for five biological agents – B. anthracis, Variola virus, Yersinia pestis, Vibrio cholerae, and botulinum toxin-which are believed to be potentially weaponized by North Korea. The study also examines the vaccine stockpiling strategies of major countries and international organizations, with a focus on key pathogens, logistical frameworks, and policy implications. Frontiers in Public Health
Safeguarding Against Biological Weapons
The lack of a formal verification mechanism of the Biological Weapons Convention has been the greatest weakness of the treaty, allowing signatories such as the Soviet Union and Iraq to violate the agreement for years. A proposal to improve its implementation through on-site inspections was negotiated by state members in the mid-1990s, but it was abruptly shut down in 2001 by the United States. The United States failed to recognize at the time that onsite inspections could be powerful instruments of implementation for the Convention because they target two major vulnerabilities of covert bioweapons programs—fragility of bioagents and fear of detection. Science
Down with the Sickness: Biological Weapons in the Past, Present, and Future
A survey of biological weapons, beginning with an overview of the subtypes of biological weapons and the technical considerations associated with their production and deployment. Belfer Center
Biological Research Funders Prioritize Stronger Biosecurity and Biosafety Practices
Representatives from influential, non-governmental funding organizations who advance critical life science research around the world met virtually on May 9, 2025 for the second Bio Funders Forum. They gathered to discuss and share perspectives on how best to integrate safety and security considerations into life science research funding decisions amid calls for better oversight of non-federally funded research. NTI
High-Consequence Infectious Disease Patient Transport Concept of Operations
New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, as the Region 2 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center, has developed a cutting-edge patient transport system for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs), ensuring safe transfers even in complex scenarios like those encountered during the COVID-19 and mpox outbreaks. This system, which emphasizes real-world readiness through quarterly drills, extensive partner engagement, and a well-coordinated concept of operations (CONOPS), was refined through a large-scale workshop with regional stakeholders. The updated CONOPS not only enhances patient safety but also addresses unique challenges, such as limited air transport options and the need for rapid interjurisdictional coordination, making it a model for managing infectious disease threats across a diverse and densely populated region. Health Security
American Doctors Look to Relocate to Canada to Avoid the Trump Administration
The Medical Council of Canada said that the number of American doctors creating accounts on physiciansapply.ca, which is “typically the first step” to being licensed in Canada, has increased more than 750% over the past seven months compared with the same time period last year. NPR
Medical Preparedness for Bioterrorism and Chemical Warfare
The review highlights nucleic-acid-based diagnostic and sensor networks as essential for real-time biological agent detection. It underscores the importance of community engagement, psychological resilience training, ongoing pathogen research, and robust protection measures. Effective bioterrorism risk reduction, it argues, requires advanced integrated strategies combining state agency collaboration, cutting-edge monitoring, and strengthened public health systems. Medicine
Lessons From the Pandemic Can Help States Manage Federal Funding
To help states address the economic and public health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided the largest influx of emergency relief funds in the nation’s history, a massive infusion of one-time dollars totaling more than $800 billion across six legislative packages. The additional capacity and practices that states created to manage federal money provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some established after the Great Recession and major natural disasters, have applications for managing federal funds moving forward. Pew
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Outbreak Update: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Between 1 March and 21 April 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported nine cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Two of these cases died. Among the nine cases, a cluster of seven cases were identified in Riyadh, including six health and care workers who acquired the infection from caring for a single infected patient. The cluster was identified through contact tracing and subsequent testing of all contacts, with four of the six health and care workers being asymptomatic and two showing only mild, nonspecific signs. The notification of these cases does not change the overall risk assessment, which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels. World Health Organization
Attenuation of Virulence in Yersinia pestis Across Three Plague Pandemics
Plague has devastated human and rodent populations alike many times throughout history. Sidhu et al. tracked the genetics of virulence in the plague pathogen Yersinia pestis in ancient and modern samples. They observed that the bacterial virulence factor pla, a gene encoding a protease, periodically becomes depleted late in epidemics. The authors verified that pla depletion reduces virulence in mouse models of bubonic plague. Therefore, in response to high disease mortality, selection could act to attenuate virulence. This would allow the pathogen to persist in tolerant reservoir hosts when susceptible host populations fragment and pathogen transmission becomes uncertain. Science
A One Health Approach to Understanding and Managing Nipah Virus Outbreaks
NiV causes serious disease in infected humans, with a mean case-fatality rate of 70%, and no approved treatment or vaccines exist. Humans have been infected directly from bats through shared food or through infected bridging hosts, including pigs and horses, although other spillover pathways may exist. This paper reviews the pathways of NiV spillover and transmission, highlighting areas needing further research. Nature Microbiology
Pulmonary Tularemia: A Case Report From Virginia
Pulmonary tularemia is a rare zoonosis with significant diagnostic challenges, often mimicking atypical pneumonia, malignancy, or other pulmonary diseases. In addition, serologies can take up to several weeks to result which can further delay diagnosis. Delay in treatment can further increase morbidity and mortality. Like most patients with tularemia, this patient had various nonspecific symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. This case highlights the importance of detailed exposure history in identifying zoonotic infections in patients with atypical pneumonia. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
The Rising Threat of Nipah Virus: A Highly Contagious and Deadly Zoonotic Pathogen
The World Health Organization has categorized NiV as a priority pathogen owing to its epidemic potential, recurrent outbreaks, and alarming mortality rates. The case fatality rate of Nipah virus infection varies widely, ranging from 40 to 75%, and is regulated by factors such as healthcare availability and quality, the patient’s condition, and the virulence of the infecting strain. NiV has been reported in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India, with fruit bats serving as natural reservoirs. Early detection and prompt response are crucial for controlling outbreaks; however, these efforts are hindered by diagnostic challenges and delayed recognition. Virology Journal
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
HHS Secretary Threatens to Stop US Scientists From Publishing in Major Medical Journals
US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during a podcast interview that the Trump administration will stop government scientists from publishing their research in major medical journals “unless those journals change dramatically.” Said Kennedy: “We’re probably going to stop publishing in the Lancet, JAMA [the Journal of the American Medical Association], New England Journal of Medicine, and those other journals because they’re all corrupt.” The BMJ
World Agrees to Pandemic Accord for Tackling Outbreaks of Disease
The WHO Pandemic Agreement was passed with applause by delegates at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. The US will not be part of the agreement, having withdrawn from the WHO and negotiations after Donald Trump took office. In order to reach the agreement this week, some key points of contention have been pushed back for later talks. The issue of pathogen access and benefit sharing (Pabs) – or what countries can expect, in terms of access to vaccines and treatments, in return for sharing data on any novel bugs emerging in their territory – will be governed by an annexe to the treaty, to be negotiated over the next 12 months. The Guardian, GVN, DW, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford
Identifying and Closing Gaps in the Federal Select Agent Program
Emerging biotechnologies, including increased recombinant DNA capabilities and AI, call for a proactive review of the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP), including gaps and potential mitigation strategies. Changing the FSAP structure from a list-based to a function-based program could mitigate the threats identified in the report, but the feasibility of quantifying functional variables in a timely and objective manner could be challenging. RAND
With a New Government in Place, Canada Must Lead on Pandemic Preparedness
The world is at a critical point in global health governance. Institutions designed to coordinate global health efforts are under increasing strain as major powers such as the US retreat and public trust in multilateralism continues to decline. Canada has an opportunity to fill this vacuum and lead a renewed approach to global health governance, while simultaneously tackling domestic priorities. “If the United States does not want to lead, Canada will.” These were the comments of Canada’s new prime minister Mark Carney. The BMJ
Trump’s HHS Orders BSL-4 Lab to Stop All Research
NIAID’s Integrated Research Facility is one of the few federal facilities charged with studying Ebola and other potentially devestating pathogens. Tuesday afternoon, all of its work was put on indefinite pause by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s department. “Halting research on high-consequence pathogens like Ebola and Lassa fever undermines decades of scientific progress and preparedness. This facility is one of the few in the world equipped to safely study these threats, and its closure represents a setback for both national and global public health. “Equally troubling is the absence of communication with local leadership and stakeholders from the federal government.” Frederick News-Post, Wired,
Scientific Integrity Under Threat: The Role of the IDSA, PIDS, and SHEA Journals in an Evolving Political Landscap
Recent policy changes in the United States, including the removal of key educational materials from government websites, funding freezes on global health initiatives such as PEPFAR, and restrictions on language use in scientific communications, present a significant threat to the integrity of scientific discourse. The implications of these policies extend beyond research institutions—they have real and lasting consequences for healthcare equity, evidence-based policy making, and the ability to address infectious diseases worldwide. Clinical Infectious Diseases
The Dismantling of US Science: Can It Survive Trump 2.0?
In just the first three months of his second term, US President Donald Trump has destabilized eight decades of government support for science. His administration has fired thousands of government scientists, bringing large swathes of the country’s research to a standstill and halting many clinical trials. It has threatened to slash billions in funding from US research universities and has terminated more than 1,000 grants. The Trump administration is considering cutting spending at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 40%. Many of the administration’s actions mirror suggestions made in Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump presidency developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. One of its four central objectives is to “dismantle the administrative state”, which includes thousands of workers at agencies such as the NIH, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency. Nature
Editorial: Censoring The Scientific Enterprise, One Grant At A Time
“During the previous three years, I served as a program officer at the NSF Science of Science (SOS) program. We reviewed, recommended, and awarded competitive research grants on science communication, including research on science communication to the public, communication of public priorities to scientists, and citizen engagement and participation in science. Projects my team reviewed and funded on misinformation are among the many others at NSF that have now been canceled (see the growing list here).” ARS Technica
Importance of Reinstating CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)
“HICPAC is an essential component of patient safety, and its contributions cannot be replicated by the private sector. As professional societies representing the infection prevention and infectious diseases community, we strongly urge CDC through HHS to reinstate HICPAC to preserve a resilient, coordinated, and science-driven public health infrastructure.” Infectious Diseases Society of America
WHO Outlines Long Road Ahead Before Pandemic Agreement Comes into Force
The final draft of the pandemic agreement for the World Health Assembly (WHA) next week was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) this week – along with a document outlining the long road member states still have to travel before it is enforced. Specifically, member states’ signature of the pandemic agreement will only happen after the adoption of an annex on the much-contested Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System – a mechanism on how to share information about pathogens with pandemic potential and any possible benefits (such as vaccines and therapeutics) that might arise from sharing this information. Health Policy Watch
Trump Administration Health Officials Inject New Uncertainty Into Approval Process for Covid Boosters
Confusion over the Food and Drug Administration’s delay in granting full approval to Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine deepened over the weekend when the agency’s commissioner, Marty Makary, took to social media to defend the FDA’s controversial handling of the company’s submission. In the process, Makary and a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services appeared to raise the specter that, going forward, manufacturers of Covid vaccines might have to generate new effectiveness data before the release of annual updates of their vaccines — a hurdle they would be unlikely to clear to vaccinate people in time to protect them when Covid transmission is occurring. STAT
FDA Picks Critic of COVID Boosters to Be New Top Vaccines Official
Vinay Prasad replaces Peter Marks, who served as the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and played a key role in launching Operation Warp Speed. Prasad has long criticized the FDA for granting emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccine boosters, saying last year that Marks was “either incompetent or corrupt to authorize a booster without clinical, randomized data.” After Marks was forced out by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Prasad called Marks “one of the most dangerous, pro-pharma regulators of the 21st century” and a “mediocre academic” before joining the government. STAT, CBS News, BioPharma Drive
Former NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli on the Impact of DOGE’s Biomedical Research Cuts
The NIH is now facing cuts of 35 percent, and under the new Trump-Vance administration researchers have had to struggle with getting reimbursed for routine expenses such as lab mice—especially after DOGE put a one-dollar spending limit on the use of government credit cards. Years of work have been put at risk. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
RESILIENCE
Scientists Protest White House Plan to Put Political Appointees in Charge of Grant-Making
A Trump Administration Office of Personnel Management proposal would reclassify broad swaths of federal bureaucrats as political appointees — making their employment up to the whim of the administration in power. Notably, among those who would be reclassified are employees across the government involved in grant-making functions. “There is a threat of more politics, more instability, [and] loss of people who have the institutional memory and the skill set to manage NIH operations well.” STAT
Federal Judge Extends Block On Public Health Cuts
A federal judge indefinitely blocked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from canceling $11 billion in public health grants set for state and local health departments, extending a temporary restraining order she issued last month that barred the Trump administration from wiping out pandemic-era funding to Washington D.C., and 23 Democratic-led states. Although the grants were initially authorized by COVID-19 relief legislation, the funds were allowed to be spent on other public health efforts like combating the ongoing measles outbreak. McElroy ruled that the agency does not have the legal right to unilaterally withhold the grant funding that has already been allocated to localities, especially in states where that funding has been used to build essential health programs. The Hill, The Globe and Mail, New York Times
Senate Dems Urge HHS to Undo Rule Barring Some Public Comments
Senate Democrats are urging the Trump administration to reconsider its recent move to get rid of public comment periods for certain proposed HHS regulations. “Rather than throw open the doors of government, RFK Jr. has shut the gates, locking out doctors, patient advocates, and everyday Americans from weighing in on the chaotic disruption of America’s healthcare that the Trump administration is pursuing. Trump and Kennedy should … reverse course on this disastrous decision to plug their ears to the critical feedback of medical professionals, healthcare providers, and concerned citizens.” MedPage Today
A Top Global Health Expert’s Message to Graduates: Kick the Tires
Maria Van Kerkhove knows how to operate under stress. Now interim director of the department of epidemic and pandemic threat management at WHO, Kerkhove was in Washington, D.C., last week to deliver the commencement address to the Georgetown School of Health. “My message is that they may be thinking that they’ve chosen the wrong field, but they absolutely have not, that the path they are on is the right one. There’s no perfect trajectory to what you think your job is going to be…and now is not the time to retreat. Now is actually the time to dig in and to think of something different. And we need young people’s voices. We need that innovation. We need them to kick the tires and say, hey, you’re not doing so great. We have a different way.” NPR
MPOX
Sierra Leone Battles Mpox Surge – Hundreds of Cases in Young Children
Sierra Leone reported its first mpox cases in January, and activity is now skyrocketing, so much so that the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has added the country to its list of most affected nations. The mpox outbreak in Uganda has significantly expanded since the first case was confirmed in August 2024. As of 30 March 2025, a total of 4,881 confirmed cases had been reported across 103 districts. 37 deaths had been reported since the onset of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.78 percent. Since the onset of the epidemic, 825 children (under 18 years of age) have been affected. Notably, 212 cases were reported among children aged 0-4 years and 187 cases reported among children aged 5-9 years. CIDRAP, UNICEF
Exploring Monkeypox Virus Antibody Levels: Insights From Human Immunological Research
Current research on the MPXV and its antibodies indicates that the smallpox vaccine provides strong protection against mpox in the population, supporting its re-use. To effectively address the potential future outbreaks of mpox, the authors recommend strengthening early warning systems, improving case detection sensitivity, and enhancing information sharing across sectors and regions. Public health education should be tailored to various risk groups—such as travelers, key populations, and the general public—to promote awareness and prevention. The authors also stress the urgency of accelerating vaccine and treatment development. Virology Journal
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Viruses: Knowns, Unknowns, and Challenges
Clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1 viruses have caused unprecedented outbreaks worldwide since October 2020. The virus has been widely identified in wild birds, domestic poultry, and many mammalian species. This paper outlines our understanding of the current clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus evolution, host range, molecular marker, host factors, and virus control by vaccination. Journal of Virology
Emergence of Antigenic Variants in Bovine H5N1 Influenza Viruses
The emergence of H5N1 influenza virus in dairy cattle has raised significant public health concerns, with researchers identifying four key mutations (E2K, D104G, V147M, and S336N) in the virus’s hemagglutinin (HA) protein that reduce the efficacy of current candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs). Notably, variants carrying all four mutations exhibited up to a 3.3-fold decrease in neutralization sensitivity, while the D104G mutation alone, found in nearly half of the analyzed sequences, significantly enhanced antibody escape. These findings underscore the critical need for ongoing surveillance and antigenic evaluation to maintain effective pandemic preparedness. Journal of Medical Virology
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
Chemical Weapons in Syria: A Legacy of Tragedy and Policy Failures
The 2013 chemical attack in Ghouta, Syria, marked a tragic milestone in the country’s ongoing conflict, exposing the horrific impact of chemical weapons on civilians. Despite international efforts to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, the near-elimination of USAID funding by the Trump Administration severely undermines counter-CBRNE initiatives, hindering efforts to ensure long-term security and accountability. This funding cut cast serious doubts on the international community’s ability to effectively monitor and prevent the resurgence of chemical weapons in the region. Foreign Policy
Telemedicine Via Data Glasses in CBRN Protection Suit—Evaluation of Medical Qualification and Technical Feasibility
A medical scenario was developed in which paramedics with four different medical qualifications were to provide initial care to a contaminated patient. Using data glasses worn in the CBRN protection suit, a telemedicine physician directed the simulation via video streaming. The times and attempts for each measure were examined, as well as the users’ evaluation of two different data glasses. PLOS One
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
Simultaneous Detection of Classical and African Swine Fever Viruses
Researchers coupled two of the most validated PCR assays for the detection of CSFV and ASFV in a single reaction tube. The combination of the two tests for the detection of two target nucleic acids did not affect the analytical sensitivity, and the duplex RT-qPCR assay was comparable with the standard molecular techniques. Pathogens
Streamlining Anthrax Detection: A High-Throughput Solution
Researchers have developed a high-throughput method (HTM) for processing sponge-stick samples to detect Bacillus anthracis spores, significantly improving the efficiency of spore recovery. Unlike traditional methods that process samples one at a time and require extensive time, materials, and equipment, the HTM can process 12 samples simultaneously using reduced buffer volumes. The research addresses a critical bottleneck in responding to large-scale anthrax incidents, providing a faster and scalable approach for environmental sampling and analysis. Journal of Microbiological Methods
Rapid and Highly Sensitive Detection of Ricin in Biological Fluids Using Optical Modulation Biosensing
Researchers present an optical modulation biosensing (OMB)-based ricin assay capable of detecting low concentrations of ricin in buffer, plasma, and biological samples. The OMB-based ricin assay achieved an LoD of 15 pg/mL in buffer and 62 pg/mL in plasma. A 60 min assay achieved an LoD of 114 pg/mL in plasma, with only a modest decrease in sensitivity compared to the 110 min protocol. The ability to detect ricin in murine BALF and serum samples following intranasal exposure demonstrates the potential clinical relevance. Biosensors
Unveiling Hidden Pathogens: High-Throughput PCR Reveals Vector-Borne Agents in Brazilian Birds
A high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR assay has been validated for detecting vector-borne agents (VBAs) in wild birds from the Brazilian Pantanal, revealing a broader diversity of VBAs than previously known. This advanced method demonstrated superior sensitivity over conventional PCR, detecting DNA of Anaplasma spp. (18.2%), Plasmodium spp. (6.2%), Haemoproteus spp. (4.7%), and Onchocercid filariids (6.5%), with a particularly low detection rate for Bartonella spp. (0.36%). The study highlights the need for region-specific primer design due to the genetic diversity of VBAs in avian populations, providing critical insights for One Health surveillance and biosecurity efforts. Pathogens
AI + CYBERBIOSECURITY
Are We Ready for a ‘DeepSeek for Bioweapons’?
The release of Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 marks a turning point in AI safety discourse, as it is the first public model to raise credible concerns about aiding bioweapons development. Unlike previous models, which were deemed incapable of facilitating extreme harm, Opus 4 may significantly help individuals with limited scientific training plan, obtain, or deploy biological weapons. While Anthropic has taken commendable steps to mitigate these risks—implementing over 100 security controls and detailed biosafety evaluations—such precautions remain voluntary across the industry. This raises concerns as similar models could soon be developed by other actors, including international or open-source groups with less stringent safety protocols. Lawfare
The AI Threat to Public Health No One Is Thinking About: A Fake Bioterrorist Attack
“While I am deeply concerned about the long-term existential threat of AI and synthetic biology to create new or modified pathogens, my extensive experience detecting and controlling outbreaks around the world makes me fear a more immediate threat: a rogue actor using existing AI tools to simulate a bioterrorism attack that would destabilize a region or the world.” STAT
Responsibly Unleashing Artificial Intelligence in Pandemic Preparedness
From predicting which viral family the next pandemic may spill over from, to forecasting how a virus might evolve, AI is reshaping the way the world can prepare for and respond to pandemic threats. CEPI
Machine Learning Assisted in silico Discovery and Optimization of Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the Nipah Virus
This study used machine learning-enhanced in silico techniques to identify and optimize small-molecule inhibitors targeting the Nipah virus glycoprotein (NiV-G), a critical protein involved in viral entry. Out of 754 antiviral compounds screened, five top candidates were identified, and further refined to three through density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Notably, one compound demonstrated superior stability and binding affinity, validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These results highlight the power of AI-driven computational methods in accelerating the discovery of promising antiviral candidates against Nipah virus. Scientific Reports
Documenting Cloud Labs and Examining How Remotely Operated Automated Laboratories Could Enable Bad Actors
Research laboratories that allow for remote execution of experiments and rely heavily on automation, known as cloud labs, can be manifestations of the convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology. However, the automation and remote capabilities that define cloud labs also could introduce specific risks, particularly in the context of biosecurity. The potential for misuse by malicious actors to develop harmful chemical or biological weapons through these platforms is a notable concern. RAND
Dual-Use Capabilities of Concern of Biological AI Models
Rapid advancements in AI have raised concerns about misuse in life sciences, where dual-use research—capable of both beneficial and harmful outcomes—has long been a biosecurity focus. Researchers argue that lessons from dual-use biological research should guide AI model evaluations, emphasizing a capabilities-based approach to identify and mitigate high-risk capabilities, such as creating engineered pathogens. This strategy aims to balance AI’s benefits with safeguards against misuse, protecting public health. PLOS Computational Biology
Built-In Safeguards Might Stop AI From Designing Bioweapons
Researchers outline measures that could be built into AI models themselves. One example is a guardrail is known as FoldMark. It borrows its concept from existing tools such as Google DeepMind’s SynthID, which embed digital patterns into AI-generated contents without changing their quality. In FoldMark’s case, a code that serves as a unique identifier is inserted into a protein structure without changing the protein’s function. If a novel toxin were detected, the code could be used to trace it to its source. This kind of intervention is “both feasible and of great potential value in reducing risks”. Science
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
WHO Warns of “Explosive” Yellow Fever Outbreaks as Disease Spreads in Americas
The Pan American Health Organization is calling for countries across the Americas to ramp up vaccination and surveillance against yellow fever, having recorded an eightfold rise in cases of the highly fatal disease in the first 20 weeks of 2025. At least 221 cases of yellow fever and 89 deaths have been detected so far this year, prompting particular concern because most infections were reported outside the Amazon region, where the disease is endemic. The BMJ
Widespread Measles Outbreak in Morocco
From 1 October 2023 through 13 April 2025, more than 25,000 suspected measles cases were reported, 13,706 of which were laboratory-confirmed cases and 184 people died. During the week ending 27 April 2025, Morocco reported 995 suspected measles cases, representing an incidence rate of 2.7 per 100,000 population. Data from Jan 2024 shows an estimated 68% of cases occurred among individuals under the age of 18. Lower vaccination rates in the past 3 years have contributed to this situation. World Health Organization
The Fate of Tuberculosis Programmes Without USAID
Of the approximately US$1.5 billion provided in international funding for tuberculosis in 2023, $406 million came from the USA, $394 million of which was administered by USAID. Almost all the remaining $1.1 billion came from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which the USA is by far the largest donor. In the same year, USAID was the third biggest contributor to research on tuberculosis, behind the Gates Foundation and the US National Institutes of Health (which itself is facing deep cuts). Key figures involved in tuberculosis research, such as Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Emily Erbelding, Director of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at NIAID, have been put on administrative leave. The Lancet Microbe
U.S. Health Authorities Recommend Pause in Valneva Chikungunya Vaccine for Older Adults
The recommended pause for use in people ages 60 and older follows a CDC alert in early March that said it was investigating five hospitalizations in people ages 65 and older who had received the vaccine. Globally, 17 severe adverse events, 2 of them fatal, have been reported in people ages 62 to 89 years who received the vaccine. Six were from the United States. The FDA said it will conduct an updated risk-benefit assessment. CIDRAP
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
A Stricter FDA Policy for COVID Vaccines Could Limit Future Access
The Trump Administration’s FDA is taking a new approach to COVID-19 vaccines that would prioritize immunizations for people at highest risk for serious complications from the disease but could make it harder for many other people to get the shots. The new approach doesn’t take other issues into account, such as the fact that even younger, healthier people can get long COVID and that immunization can reduce that risk. Others at low risk themselves may want to get vaccinated to protect other people, such as older family members and those with weak immune systems. The U.S. has seen 300,000 hospitalizations and 30,000 deaths from COVID this year. NPR, MedPage Today
CDC Blindsided as RFK Jr. Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Agency officials were not aware that Trump Administration’s HHS secretary (who has no professional credentials in science or medicine) was going to change the recommended vaccine schedule until he annouced it on social media. “They’ve made it much less insurable, and therefore this could make it much less available for people. It’s a continued war against vaccines by our secretary of health and human services.” Washinton Post
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
Smallpox Used To Kill Millions Of People Every Year. Here’s How Humans Beat It.
More than a million Americans have died of Covid-19, while the global death toll stands at over 15 million. It has been a horrifying and largely unnecessary tragedy, one that risks repeating itself as new diseases like bird flu knock on our door. But for all that the world has lost in the last few years, the history of infectious disease has a grim message: It could have been even worse. That appalling death toll resulted even though the coronavirus kills only about 0.7 percent of the people it infects. Imagine instead that it killed 30 percent. And imagine that instead of being deadliest in the elderly, it was deadliest for young children. That’s smallpox. Vox
A Plague Like No Other: Beyond The Buboes in Thucydides’ Account of the Plague of Athens
The Athens Plague (430–427 BCE) was a devastating outbreak during the Peloponnesian War, described in detail by Thucydides. This review reexamines the Athenian plague through historical and microbiological lenses, reassessing diagnostic hypotheses and proposing the plausibility of an ancient pneumonic strain of Yersinia pestis. Clinical Microbiology and Infection
SPECIAL INTEREST
An Insider’s View of the Texas Measles Outbreak
Katherine Wells has been an epidemiologist working to protect the public from disease outbreaks for 25 years. Until January, she had never encountered measles. “I mean, we considered measles eradicated in the United States,” she said. Now, as public health director for Lubbock, Texas, Wells is at the center of a measles outbreak that has infected more than 700 people in Texas alone, sent more than 90 to the hospital and killed two otherwise healthy children. NPR
An Epidemiologist Reviews Outbreak Movies
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center and Professor of Epidemiology at Brown University, reviews depictions of epidemics in Twilight (2008), The Last of Us (2023), Outbreak (1995), and Contagion (2011), and discusses how they relate to real public health systems today. Brown Political Review
ALSO READING
Poxvirus structural biology for application to vaccine design. Trends in Immunology
Dual-use capabilities of concern of biological AI models. PLOS Computational Biology
UNODA reinforces implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Cameroon. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Comparison of methods for extraction of infectious influenza virus from raw milk cheeses. Journal of Food Protection
Exploring pandemic preparedness through public perception and its impact on health service quality, attitudes, and healthcare image. Scientific Reports