This week’s topics include a consensus on the Pandemic Treaty, a Marburg vaccine Phase II trial, legislation to increase stockpile readiness for anthrax bioterrorism, and the EU updating its medical countermeasures strategy.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
WHO Member States Conclude Negotiations and Make Significant Progress on Draft Pandemic Agreement
After more than three years of intensive negotiations, WHO Member States, now absent the U.S., took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics, by forging a draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. The agreement contains several key provisions, including a broad proposal for a new pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system to guarantee that countries that share scientific data such as pathogen samples and genomic sequences gain access to any vaccines, therapeutics, or diagnostics that are developed as a result. WHO would retain 10% of these products, as a donation from manufacturers, while another 10% would be offered at “affordable prices” to the world’s poorest countries. The details of the system will be worked out in another year of negotiations. World Health Organization, JHU Center for Health Security, AP
Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act
Congressman Don Davis (D-NC) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA) on April 11 introduced H.R. 2707, Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act. The legislation would require the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs and counterparts on the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) to develop a modernized ten-year strategy for ensuring sustained stockpiling of FDA-approved or cleared anthrax countermeasures, including the replenishment, consistent with requirement levels, of such Anthrax therapeutics stockpiled in the Strategic National Stockpile and by the Secretary of Defense. These countermeasures include those stockpiled for treatment of civilians, servicemembers and dependents on military installations. House of Representatives
What Does the Updated U.S. Dual-Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential Policy Mean for Asia?
The U.S. government recently updated its policy for dual-use research of concern (DURC) and research involving pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP). The policy comes into effect in May 2025. This U.S. policy contributes substantially to the evolving international consensus that funders, research institutions, and researchers should implement enhanced oversight for DURC and PEPP. Applied Biosafety
Technological Advances Are Challenging the Effectiveness of the 50-Year-Old Biological Weapons Convention
BWC working groups and nonprofits have been exploring a variety of approaches to strengthening the pact. Monitors could use AI to sniff out suspicious signals in trade data, scientific articles, and satellite imagery, for example, while companies that sell DNA sequences could use sophisticated screens to weed out those that might be used to construct weapons. Drug companies could be coaxed to stand in as proving grounds for inspections should treaty parties adopt site visits as a way to force violators to move or shut down work. But efforts to strengthen the BWC face stiff headwinds. Science
UK Pathogen Research Hub Remains Unbuilt Despite £400m Spend
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent creating one of the UK’s most secretive new research centres, but the project in Harlow has been in limbo since March 2023. Initially expected to cost £530m and open in 2021, the government put the project on ice when that estimate skyrocketed to £3.2bn. The project was born out of concerns about the aging high-containment laboratories in Porton Down in Wiltshire, and Colindale in north London. BBC
European Commission Seeks Feedback on Medical Countermeasures Strategy
The European Commission has published a call for input to inform its strategy to support medical countermeasures (MCMs) against public health threats. The Commission said the strategy will consolidate its work on MCMs over the past five years and build on the work carried out by EU countries and international partners to bridge gaps in product availability. The strategy will cover the full spectrum of products that help prepare for and respond to cross-border health threats, including vaccines, antimicrobials, medical devices, and personal protective equipment. European Commission, Regulatory Focus, NFP4Health
Statement from Leaders at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law on the First Pandemic Treaty
“While the United States’ decision to abstain is regrettable and leaves a critical gap in global leadership, it does not diminish the treaty’s significance. This agreement underscores the important role of multilateral institutions and international cooperation in addressing global public health threats. And, it sets a crucial framework for the sharing of pathogen data and the equitable distribution of medical countermeasures during health emergencies.” Georgetown University
Medical Journals Get Letters From Trump Administration’s DOJ
At least three journals received letters from a U.S. Attorney asking about “competing viewpoints”, probing whether the publications are partisan when it comes to various scientific debates. “When a United States Attorney wields the power of his office to target medical journals because of their content and editorial processes, he isn’t doing his job, let alone upholding his constitutional oath. He’s abusing his authority to try to chill protected speech.” MedPage Today
Bhattacharya, Trump’s New NIH Director, Says NIH to Reviews Policies to “Promote Academic Freedom”
“Starting today, NIH will undertake a comprehensive review of all policies and practices within its Intramural Research Program (IRP) to establish academic freedom as the rule and not the exception. With principles of academic freedom in place, NIH scientists can be certain they are afforded the ability to engage in open, academic discourse as part of their official duties and in their personal capacities without risk of official interference, professional disadvantage or workplace retaliation.” NIH
USDA Withdraws a Biden-Era Effort to Limit Salmonella Levels in Raw Poultry
On April 25, 2025, the Trump Administration’s USDA announced the withdrawal of a proposed regulation on Salmonella in raw poultry products. The Biden Administration effort, which had been in development for three years, would have required poultry companies to keep levels of salmonella bacteria under a certain threshold and test for the presence of six strains most associated with illness. If any of those strains were found or standard levels were exceeded, the poultry couldn’t be sold and would be subject to recall. The USDA has estimated there are 125,000 salmonella infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella causes 1.35 million infections a year, most through food, and about 420 deaths. The Daily Intake, CBS News
Biological Threats in the US Annual Threat Assessment: A Consistent View Reinforces the Need for Continued Action
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence just released the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the first to be released under the second Trump administration. Regarding biological and chemical weapons threats, this assessment continues to highlight ongoing, significant concerns regarding possession of these weapons by Russia and North Korea, and concerns that research and development work by China and Iran indicate biological and chemical weapons capabilities. The 2025 assessment also steps beyond last year’s report in the details it provides regarding Russia by noting: “Russian forces almost certainly continue using chemicals against Ukrainian forces, with hundreds of reported attacks occurring since late 2022.” Council on Strategic Risks
The Trump Administration’s Foreign Aid Review: Status of Global Health Security/Pandemic Preparedness
Experts estimate there is about a 50% chance we’ll see another pandemic at least as dangerous as COVID-19 in the next 25 years, with risk of disease emergence highest in the least prepared countries. The administration has signaled that it may seek rescissions of FY 2025 funding amounts, which could further affect global health security activities and funding. In addition, the President’s budget request for FY 2026, expected soon, could further signal the administration’s plans. KFF
Could Trump’s War on Harvard Spell the End of U.S. Leadership in Science?
“I was on the frontlines when COVID-19 hit and it felt like a surprise attack. Many academic research departments closed, but the Wyss Institute at Harvard, which I head, moved into high gear. We raced to develop new ways to manufacture nasal swabs, create diagnostics that could rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 with high sensitivity and specificity, and identify existing drugs that could be rapidly repurposed to confront this growing threat. Tension was high and fear was widespread; none of us knew what was coming next. Last week I found myself on the frontlines again for another surprise attack. But this time, we were attacked from behind by our own forces. I was among the first scientists at Harvard to receive stop-work orders from the government, demanding that I immediately cease research on two contracts funded in my lab by America’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).” MedPage Today
Trump Administration Takes First Steps Towards Tariffs on Pharmaceuticals
After months of signaling, the Department of Commerce disclosed on April 14 that it had begun an investigation into the national security impacts of importing pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients and derivative products. While Section 232 investigations can take up to 270 days, the Trump administration has included a relatively short 21-day window for public comment and could move to impose tariffs soon after that window ends on May 7. Brownstein, Federal Register
With the FDA In Turmoil, the ‘Revolving Door’ with Industry is Spinning Faster
Scores of FDA employees are searching for an exit from an agency in turmoil, particularly staff members tasked with reviewing drug applications. An estimated 600 drug reviewers have recused themselves from approval processes because they’re interviewing with pharma companies. These staff oversee applications for new medicines and are partially funded through the user fees the FDA collects from drug companies. STAT
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Sabin Vaccine Institute Begins Trial of Vaccine Candidate for Marburg Virus Disease
The Sabin Vaccine Institute has begun a Phase II trial in the US to evaluate its Marburg vaccine, with the first doses being given to subjects in Melbourne, Florida. The trial aims to enrol 200 subjects aged 18 to 70 years at sites in Alabama, Illinois and Texas, as well as Melbourne. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study will continue to assess the vaccine’s immunogenicity and safety by monitoring participants over a year. Clinical Trials Arena, Pharma Forum
Draper Announces BARDA Award to Study Filovirus Infection
The company was awarded a third project from BARDA in support of the Screening Countermeasures In vitro for Filovirus Infections (SCIFI), to improve the scientific understanding of how filoviruses attack human tissues. To do this work, Draper has partnered with the BU National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory (NEIDL). Draper
NIH Nixes Support for Pluri’s Radiation Exposure Cell Therapy Amid Cost-Cutting Drive
The U.S. government has pulled the rug out from under Pluri Biotech’s PLX-R18 cell therapy. Pluri, an Israeli company previously called Pluristem Therapeutics, secured the $4.2 million deal as part of a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. The pact was designed to advance the cell therapy with the end goal of adding to the U.S.’ medical countermeasures. Fierce Biotech
A Synthetic Genomics-Based African Swine Fever Virus Engineering Platform
Report on the use of synthetic genomics methodology to develop a reverse genetics system for ASFV using a CRISPR-Cas9–inhibited self-helper virus to reconstitute live recombinant ASFV from synthetic genomes to rapidly generate a variety of combinatorial mutants of ASFV. The method will substantially facilitate the development of therapeutics or subunit and live-attenuated vaccines for ASF. Science Advances, Feed Strategy
Regulator Experiences of Trials During Ebola Epidemics in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Similar barriers were identified in the three countries, related to weak legal frameworks and partnerships between ethics committees and regulatory bodies. Inadequate human resources, outdated standard operating procedures and guidelines, and lack of finance to support timely reviews were identified. We also noted a lack of awareness from politicians, scientists, and communities about the existence and functions of regulatory bodies/ethics committees, a lack of independence, and low interest in research. Tropical Medicine and International Health
South Korea Clears World’s First Recombinant Anthrax Vaccine
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on April 8 cleared Barythrax injection (GC-1009) as the world’s first recombinant anthrax vaccine. The product was codeveloped by GC Biopharma Corp. and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. BioSpace
Ebola Virus Vaccination Elicits Ebola Virus–Specific Immune Responses Without Substantial Cross-Reactivity to Other Filoviruses
Study investigated the humoral and cellular immune response elicited by a combination of an adenovirus-based EBOV vaccine and a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine containing immunogens from several filoviruses. The authors found that, despite the multivalent nature of the MVA vaccine, the overall immune response elicited by the vaccine pair was specific to EBOV, with limited cross-reactivity to MARV or other filoviruses. These data highlight the need for multivalent filovirus vaccine candidates. Science Translational Medicine
Expansion of Myeloid Suppressor Cells and Suppression of Lassa Virus-Specific T Cells During Fatal Lassa Fever
These results suggest that T cells are crucial for the control of LASV and that immunomodulatory therapeutics, such as checkpoint inhibitors, could contribute to new therapeutic strategies to treat Lassa fever. They also highlight how immunosuppressive mechanisms described in sepsis and cancer patients may play a role in the pathogenicity of Lassa fever, as well as in other similar hemorrhagic fevers. The significance of this work may extend to other viral hemorrhagic fevers. PLOS Pathogens
Cellular Immunophenotyping in Human and Primate Tissues During Healthy Conditions and Ebola and Nipah Infections
Development of a 29-color spectral cytometry panel to enhance nonhuman primate (NHP) models for cross-reactive immunophenotyping. This panel is suitable for biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) viruses and can be used with both human and NHP samples in BSL-2 research settings. JCI Insight
ERK Pathway Reactivation Prevents Anthrax Toxin Lethality In Mice
University of Pittsburgh researchers discovered that a mix of growth factors can rescue cells from late-stage anthrax damage by reactivating key survival pathways, offering hope for treatments beyond the current therapeutic window. Nature Microbiology, Popular Mechanics, Genetic Engineeering & Biotechnology News
Nipah Virus Glycoprotein G Epitope-Based Peptide Vaccine in Mice
This study focused on the preliminary screening and validation of peptide vaccines using single formulations with minimal modifications in the peptide candidates. Similarly to other paramyxoviruses (e.g., parainfluenza, mumps, and respiratory syncytial virus), surface glycoproteins G and F are the main targets in most immunization strategies, as virus-neutralizing antibody responses are largely directed against these glycoproteins. Between these two glycoproteins, NiV-G plays a crucial role in host cell receptor attachment; hence, it was the focus of this work. Vaccines
Basics of Antidote Pharmacology: A Summary of Programs for Biological Agent Research, Post-Exposure Therapeutic Advice, and Prophylaxis
Commercial vaccines are available to prevent smallpox, cholera, anthrax, plague, and Q fever; however, there are no approved vaccines to prevent botulinum toxins, viral encephalitis, melioidosis, or ricin. In cases of anthrax, plague, Q fever, melioidosis, or probable exposure, antibiotics remain the cornerstone therapy recommendation. Botulinum toxins and smallpox can be treated using anti-toxin therapy and anti-virals, respectively. Nonetheless, the sole or primary post-exposure treatment for cholera, viral encephalitis, and ricin is supportive care; this advice has not transformed throughout decades. Universal Library of Medical and Health Sciences
Emergent Presents ACAM2000 Historical Safety Data at World Vaccine Congress
Emergent BioSolutions will present an overview of historical safety data for ACAM2000 (Smallpox and Mpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) this week at World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C. Emergent BioSolutions
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
State and Local COVID-Era Funding Cuts Hit ID Hard
In late March, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced the cancellation of more than $11 billion in funding to local and state public health departments. In the healthcare setting, the cuts may result in dramatically reduced state and local capacity to address healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance through testing and laboratory detection. Medscape
NACCHO Recognizes 21 Local Health Departments for Excellence in Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the country’s over 3,300 local health departments, this week announced agencies from across the United States have been recognized by NACCHO’s Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) for their ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. View the list: NACCHO
Design of a Public Health Emergency Equipment Modularized System for Bioterrorism Events
Train stations, airports, subways, and other major public places are densely populated and have frequent contact with each other, allowing bioterrorism agents to spread rapidly and proliferate through close contact with the crowd, rapidly causing social panic and adverse effects. This situation requires that health emergency equipment be standardized, systematized, and modularized so that it can arrive quickly at the scene. Frontiers in Public Health
NJ Governor Signs Legislation Authorizing the Department of Health to Designate a Public Health Institute
Governor Phil Murphy on 22 April signed legislation authorizing the Department of Health to designate a Public Health Institute (PHI). Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is responsible for designating a nonprofit organization that meets certain criteria to serve as the Public Health Institute. The nonprofit must be recognized by the National Network of Public Health Institutes; possess the capacity to integrate and coordinate public health functions on a local, county, and statewide level; and maintain a network with relevant health policy and research experience, among other things. State of New Jersey
Pandemics, Pathogens and Being Prepared: Why the Work to Identify Emerging Threats Never Stops
As the UK Pandemic Sciences Network conference kicks off in Glasgow, virus expert Prof Emma Thomson says new technologies are boosting science’s ability to fight novel strains of infectious diseases. The Guardian
Bioterrorism and the Emergency Physician: On The Front Lines
Emergency medicine will play a leading role in disaster response, training of first responders, and the initial care of patients. In the anthrax attacks of late 2001, nine of the 11 patients with inhalational anthrax initially presented to EDs, while the other two eventually sought care in the ED as their illness progressed. The emergency physician is uniquely poised to detect the outbreak, identify the pathogen, and alert the public health community. Emergency Medicine Practice
Potential World Cup Health Risks: Are We Ready?
Hudson Regional Hospital is the closest hospital to MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, where several of the soccer matches in next summer’s World Cup — the biggest sports tournament in the world — are set to be held. Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, CEO of the 200-bed facility, said he has had little guidance from New Jersey health officials or event planners. “There hasn’t been any proactive process from the state or anybody else in reaching out to us as hospitals in preparation for this huge event that’s coming. What’s the first phone call? Does it go to the state? Does it go to some sort of command center that the state puts together?” NJ Spotlight
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Death Toll of Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria Rises to 127
The death toll of the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has risen to 127. A total of 674 confirmed cases have been recorded from 4,025 suspected cases reported since the onset of the outbreak in January, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said in a statement on 15 April. All Africa, ICIR Nigeria, CGTN Africa
Arkansas Man Sentenced to 8 years in Federal Prison for Possession of Biological Weapon
A Winslow, Arkansas man was sentenced last month to 96 months in prison without the possibility of parole for Possession of a Biological Agent. According to court documents, a concerned citizen made an anonymous tip that Jason Kale Clampit, age 44, was manufacturing and may have poisoned one of his family members with ricin. While in jail, he made statements on a monitored phone call in which he directed others to dispose of liquid ricin contained in a jar that was secreted in a camper on his property. FBI agents responded quickly, contacted the individual Clampit directed, and located, in a trash can, a jar containing processed ricin. DOJ USAO Western District of Arkansas
Where is the Elusive Primary Ebolavirus Reservoir and How Do We Find It?
Paper describes the epidemiological, ecological, and immunological factors that have likely stymied the efforts to identify a primary reservoir of Ebolavirus. Research synthesizes observations about host life history and seasonal variation in a key resource to provide recommendations for the geographic locations, species, and sampling regimes likely to prove most profitable for future sampling efforts. BioScience
Jamaican Fruit Bats’ Competence for Ebola But Not Marburg Virus is Driven by Intrinsic Differences
Despite the mounting evidence that bats naturally host orthoebolaviruses, the lack of a full-length genome sequence or isolate for all species that cause disease in humans limits our understanding of which bat species may serve as reservoir hosts. The results of this study suggest that bat species have inherent differences in their susceptibility to different filovirus species. Researchers modeled filovirus infection in the Jamaican fruit bat by inoculation with either Ebola virus (EBOV) or Marburg virus (MARV). Infection with EBOV results in systemic virus replication and oral shedding of infectious virus. MARV replication is transient and does not shed. In vitro, the Jamaican fruit bat cells replicate EBOV more efficiently than MARV, and MARV infection induces innate antiviral responses that EBOV efficiently suppresses. Nature Communications
Mass Anthrax Outbreak Kills Dozens of Hippos in African National Park
At least 50 hippopotamuses and other large wildlife have died from anthrax poisoning in eastern Congo’s Virunga National Park, with carcasses seen floating down a river that eventually empties into one of Africa’s Great Lakes. Anthrax, a severe illness caused by Bacillus anthracis, which survives for decades in soil where animals that died of anthrax or were carriers were buried. “Although this disease mainly affects wildlife, it poses a potential risk of transmission to humans and domestic animals,” noted the local Congolese conservation authority. Science Alert
Clinical Overview of Anthrax
CDC updated resource identifying people at increased risk for anthrax occupational exposures, current vaccination protocols, sample collection, testing and treatment of inhalation anthrax, gastrointestinal anthrax, injection anthrax and the more recently identified “welder’s anthrax”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
State of Knowledge Regarding Transmission, Spread, and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S.
CWD affects both captive and free-ranging cervids and has been reported in 35 states and five Canadian provinces of North America as of August 1, 2024. The potential ramifications of the increasing spread of CWD are serious. National Academies
Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis Causes Inhalational Anthrax-Like Disease In Rabbits
Recent studies have identified Bacillus cereus isolates that possess pXO1 and pXO2-like plasmids and cause an anthrax-like disease. These isolates have been named B. cereus biovar anthracis (Bcbva). The data presented in this paper suggest that anthrax-like disease caused by Bcbva is similar to that caused by B. anthracis Ames 2084, and that currently available countermeasures are effective against inhalation exposure to Bcbva. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Pathogenesis of Chapare Virus in Cynomolgus Macaques
Chapare virus (CHAPV) is an emerging New World arenavirus that is the causative agent of Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF) responsible for recent outbreaks with alarmingly high case fatality rates in Bolivia near the Brazilian border. This paper describes a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of CHHF infection which represents an essential tool to understand this emerging biological threat agent. EMI: Animal & Environment
MPOX
Africa CDC and WHO Update Mpox Strategy as Outbreaks Persist
The joint Continental Response Plan for the mpox emergency as the disease continues to affect new areas has been revised, with vaccination coverage goals and a transition toward a longer-term, sustainable response. World Health Organization
Determining Effective Therapy for Mpox
Two pandemics of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) are ongoing, and currently, we have no proven therapies. The pandemic caused by clade I MPXV is focused in central and eastern Africa, with sporadic, travel-associated cases identified in many countries. Clade II MPXV has caused more than 100,000 cases of mpox in 122 countries, including 115 countries with no cases of mpox reported before the current pandemic. The New England Journal of Medicine
Mpox Activity Escalates in Uganda as Vaccine Shipments to Africa Pass 1 Million Doses
Mpox activity in African countries continues at a steady pace, with the region averaging about 3,000 new cases each week and the situation intensifying in Uganda. Africa has now received more than 1 million mpox vaccine doses, but officials estimate that the region needs 6.4 million doses over the next 6 months to slow down the spread of the virus. CIDRAP
Computational Repurposing of Polyphenols for Anti-Mpoxviral Activity
At the time of writing, no approved treatment for Mpox exists; however, several promising candidates have demonstrated the ability to inhibit viral replication, including resveratrol—a polyphenolic compound found in red wine. This study employs molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to assess the effectiveness and stability of nine resveratrol analogues. In Silico Pharmacology
AVIAN INFLUENZA
Update on H5N1 in Dairy Cows in the United States
17 of 50 states have reported infections, with 1,031 dairy herds testing positive as of 23 April 2025. Human surveillance. Between March 24, 2024, and now at least 16,600 people have been monitored for bird flu infections, with at least 9,300 of them having exposures to dairy cows, and at least 7,300 with exposures to birds and other animals including poultry (non-dairy cow source). CDC
Public Ignorance, Apathy Toward Avian Flu Could Threaten Containment, Researchers Say
While most US survey respondents had heard of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian flu, only about a quarter knew it can spread to people, and over half were unaware that pasteurized milk is safer than raw milk, finds a survey of approximately 10,000 people recently published in the American Journal of Public Health. Less than one fifth of respondents understood that H5N1 has been detected in cattle. CIDRAP
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Several Mammal Species in the Texas Panhandle
Recent testing has detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in mammal species including foxes, raccoons, striped skunks and domestic cats. These detections resulted from a collaboration between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control branch and the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab. Texas Parks and Wildlife
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
OPCW Finds More Chemical Weapons Use in Ukraine
The findings came after Ukraine requested that the OPCW investigate three separate incidents in October 2024 when toxic chemicals were allegedly used along the confrontation lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Arms Control Association
America Will Regret DOGE’s Cuts to Our Nuclear Security
The Pentagon is eyeing large-scale cuts to its Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. This historically bipartisan national security bulwark has quietly prevented nuclear, chemical, and biological weapon risks that would imperil U.S. national security for three decades. Despite its hefty mission, this program costs the average American only around one dollar annually. Council on Strategic Risks
Russia Arms ‘Kamikaze’ Drones with Chemical Weapons, Ukraine Says
Russian forces have deployed Shahed-type “kamikaze” drones carrying toxic substances to attack Ukraine, the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said on April 16. Yahoo News
Project Anthracite: Assessing the Chemical Weapons Capability of the DPRK
Project Anthracite, a three-year project run by RUSI’s Proliferation and Nuclear Policy team and funded by Global Affairs Canada, seeks to provide a new and unique open source assessment of North Korea’s chemical weapons capability. RUSI
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
A Battery of Assays for Chasing Ricin and its Activity
This assessment included both field and lab-based assays to detect and differentiate different isoforms of ricin. Toxicology Letters
UK Launch Metagenomic Pathogen Surveillance Programme
In Jan 2025, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the launch of the metagenomics Surveillance Collaboration and Analysis Programme (mSCAPE)—the world’s first biosecurity surveillance system using metagenomic data for pathogen surveillance. Unlike whole genome sequencing and PCR, metagenomic sequencing enables pathogen-agnostic or untargeted sequencing of the genomes of all organisms present in a clinical sample simultaneously, rather than testing for a specific pathogen that is hypothesised to be present. The Lancet Microbe
Accelerating the Use of Pathogen Genomics and Metagenomics in Public Health
In July 2024, the National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore opportunities to advance the use of pathogen genomics and metagenomics data in the U.S. public health system. Speakers considered the application of these technologies to monitoring disease, characterization of emerging pathogens, rapid public health response to outbreaks, and biomedical research. Read the full report: National Academies
The Case for Sustaining Wastewater Surveillance Capabilities in the U.S.
The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September 2020 to connect independent, local wastewater efforts to form a robust, sustainable national system. But the funding supporting the NWSS will run out on September 30, 2025, raising the question of whether and how capabilities delivered by the NWSS will be sustained. RAND
Modeling Tool Protects Worker Health and Food Chain Security
Cornell researchers have created a computer model that can help produce farms and food processing facilities control COVID-19 outbreaks, keep workers safe and the food chain secure. Cornell Chronicle, Scientific Reports
Laboratory Evaluation of Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests to Detect Ebola and Sudan Viruses
Outbreaks in areas with limited laboratory infrastructure highlight the need for simpler filovirus diagnostic tests that can be rapidly and safely used in the field. This study evaluated nine antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for their ability to detect EBOV and SUDV. Five of the tests detected EBOV and three detected SUDV, although clinical sensitivity was low (20–40% for EBOV, 33% for SUDV), improving only with higher viral loads. All assays demonstrated 100% clinical specificity with no cross-reactivity. Findings highlight the need to improve Ag-RDT sensitivity or develop high-sensitivity point-of-care molecular diagnostics. Although none of the evaluated Ag-RDTs are suitable for routine diagnosis, some may be useful in high viral load contexts such as cadaver testing. SSRN
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
U.S. Measles Total Climbs to Nearly 900 Cases
Amid a rising number of outbreaks, including a large one centered in West Texas. So far, 30 jurisdictions have reported cases, up 5 from the previous week. One more outbreak was reported, bringing that total to 11, the largest one centered in West Texas. The CDC said 820 (83%) of the cases so far are part of outbreaks. As the number of affected states continues to climb, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) this week reported the state’s first measles case of the year CIDRAP
My Measles Journey: ‘I Woke to Find a Rash All Over My Body’
Saijal Ladd shares her experience of contracting measles at 42, and the serious impact this had on her health. UK Health Security Agency
U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Top 8,000 So Far This Year
In the past 6 months, two babies in Louisiana and a 5-year-old in Washington state have died from whooping cough. MedPage Today
Efficacy of Baloxavir Treatment in Preventing Transmission of Influenza
The flu antiviral baloxavir can reduce flu transmission in households, raising the possibility that it could be used alongside other tools to reduce the annual burden of the disease and as a strategy in a pandemic setting. About one third of flu transmission occurs in households, where the risk of transmission is as high as 38%. Given that antivirals can reduce virus shedding, researchers have hoped that the drugs can provide indirect protection to close contacts. New England Journal of Medicine, CIDRAP
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Managing Mountains of Genomic Data
Tools invented at Fred Hutch are helping researchers analyze the enormous global database of genomic sequences of the virus that causes COVID-19 to better understand how pathogens evolve and spread. Fred Hutch
Cyclic Peptides as Potential Antiviral Drugs to Combat Future Coronavirus Outbreaks
Despite advances in antiviral treatments, many viruses lack specific therapeutic options, and more importantly, there is a paucity of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Additionally, the high costs of current treatments such as Remdesivir and Paxlovid highlight the need for more affordable antiviral drugs. Cyclic peptides from natural sources or designed through molecular modeling have shown promise as antiviral drugs with stability, low toxicity, high target specificity, and low antiviral resistance properties. These cyclic peptides can prevent interaction between the ACE2 receptor and the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 by binding with either the receptor or the spike protein. This review emphasizes the urgent need to develop specific and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs and highlights cyclic peptides as a sustainable solution to combat future pandemics. Molecules
Studies Detail High Rates of Long COVID Among Healthcare, Dental Workers
Researchers have estimated approximately 8% of Americas have ever experienced long COVID, or lasting symptoms, following an acute COVID-19 infection. Now two recent international studies suggest that the percentage is much higher among healthcare workers and dental professionals. CIDRAP
INFODEMIC + DISINFORMATION
Bioterror? Hungary and Slovakia Float Unconfirmed Theory on Foot-and-Mouth Outbreaks
Hungary and Slovakia have both suggested that ongoing outbreaks of highly infectious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) could be linked to bioterrorism — without presenting any supporting scientific evidence. The two countries have culled more than 10,000 animals this year to contain the highly contagious disease. Politico
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
An Early Report of Using Protecting Gloves by a Persian Surgeon in the 16th Century
Although using gloves in surgery dates back to the nineteenth century in modern medicine, it seems that the earliest evidence can be found in the Middle Ages. In a historical text, Persian Surgeon Ḥakim Mohammad advised fellow surgeons to use a sheath made of sheep testicle skin for their fingers when examining a wound and putting ointment and bandage on it to protect oneself from diseases that are transmitted through the skin and blood, such as people with wounds whose wounds are caused by smallpox, anthrax, leprosy and infectious wounds. Acta Chirurgica Belgica
Slovenian Influence in Early 18th Century Inoculations
In 1715, two Slovenian physicians, Johann Baptist Werloschnig de Perenberg and Antonius Loigk, published an extensive volume on the last plague epidemic in Central Europe. Hidden within its pages is a description of smallpox inoculation, which predates any record of this procedure in Europe by several years. Acta Medico-Historica Adriatica
Thousands-Years-Old Deep-Sea DNA Viruses Reveal Evolution of Human Pathogenic Viruses
In this study, researchers performed a viral metagenomic analysis of 159 deep-sea sediment samples with geologic ages from 2,500 to 7,750 years. A total of 554,664 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) were identified and further obtained 2,254 potential pathogenic viruses of vertebrates. Among them, 23 vOTUs exhibited high homology with 12 species of human pathogenic viruses which belonged to 4 viral families. Notably, variola virus, the first human pathogenic virus eradicated from humans and now only found in laboratories, was discovered in the ancient deep-sea sediments. Journal of Advanced Research
SPECIAL INTEREST
On Track for Preparedness: A Chemical Incident Response Tabletop Exercise at the Preparedness Summit
Join an interactive workshop at the Preparedness Summit on Thursday, May . This session will feature an interactive tabletop exercise for local health departments to come together and brainstorm, problem-solve, and prepare for a chemical incident. Attendees will hear about real-world scenarios, collaborate with local health department leaders, and learn about the newly published Chemical Preparedness Handbook. NACCHO
Sign-On Letter Encouraging AMR Funding in the FY2026 US Budget
If you represent a US-based organization with an interest in AMR, there is an opportunity to sign a letter advocating for AMR-related funding in the FY2026 US Government (USG) budget. AMR Solutions
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