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Biosecurity Briefing

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Agents and Diseases Archive

Anthrax | Botulism | Plague | Smallpox | Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers | Other
 

Anthrax

Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Anthrax

Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to anthrax biological agents.

  1. Anthrax Outbreak follows Bird Flu Outbreak in West Bengal (02-15-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: Bans lifted on poultry sales in West Bengal, India, following serious H5N1 flu outbreak in South Asia. Also, anthrax infection was confirmed in cows in West Bengal and two neighboring states.
    Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:27:33 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-02-15-anthraxbirdflubengal.html

  2. New Study Suggests ABthrax Protects Monkeys, Rabbits Against Inhalational Anthrax (12-21-2007)

    Biosecurity Briefing: The Human Genome Sciences, Inc., (HGSI) announced results from two animal studies of its treatment drug, ABthrax (raxibacumab) that "...demonstrate a survival benefit in two animal species..."
    Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:29:24 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-12-21-studyabthraxprotectsmonkeysrabbits.html

  3. House Committee Concerned About Timeline for Acquisition of Anthrax Countermeasures (09-14-2007)

    Biosecurity Briefing: The House Committee on Homeland Security expressed disappointment regarding the pace with which the agency has moved toward the development and procurement of a recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine.
    Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:03:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/countrmeasr_dev/content/2007/2007-09-14-housecomtimeanthraxcounter.html

  4. Symptoms of Anthrax in Children May be More Varied than Previously Thought (09-07-2007)

    Biosecurity Briefing: A review of data from more than a century of pediatric anthrax case reports suggests that the clinical presentation of anthrax among pediatric patients may be more varied that previously recognized.
    Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:44:28 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-09-07-symptomsanthraxchildrenmorevaried.html

  5. Israel Developed Anthrax Vaccine (05-18-2007)

    Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported Israel has developed its own version of a U.S. anthrax vaccine. In a top secret program administered from 1998 to 2006, the Defense Ministry developed the vaccine and tested it on 700 Israeli solders.
    Fri, 18 May 2007 20:24:50 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/anthrax/2007-05-18-israeldevelopedanthraxvac.html

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Botulism

Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Botulism

Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to botulism biological agents.

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    Plague

    Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Plague

    Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to plague biological agents.

    1. Researchers Concerned about Growing Threat of Plague (01-18-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: Several news reports released this week highlighted a study published in the journal PLoS Medicine about the growing threat of plague. Plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and it is carried by rodents.
      Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:39:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/plague/2008-01-18-researchconcernplague.html

    2. Mouse Study Evaluates 2 Pneumonic Plague Drugs (08-03-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: The Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) published a study comparing the use of two antibiotics (doxycycline and gentamicin) for treatment of mice infected with an aerosol of the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis.
      Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:19:02 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/plague/2007-08-03-mousestudyevalplaguedrugs.html

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    Smallpox

    Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Smallpox

    Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to smallpox biological agents.

    1. CDC Reports Vaccinia Infections among Laboratory Workers, Stresses Importance of Vaccination and Biosafety (04-25-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: According to the CDC, state health departments reported a total of five cases of laboratory-acquired vaccinia infection to the CDC between 2005-2007. Vaccinia (VACV) is the live virus component of the smallpox vaccine.
      Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:02:55 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/smallpox/2008-04-25-cdcrptsinfectionlabwrkrs.html

    2. Acambis Wins USG Contract for Smallpox Vaccine (04-25-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported that British vaccine developer Acambis won a $425 million, 10-year contract to supply the U.S. govt with 9 million doses of the ACAM2000 smallpox vac. each year for delivery to the Strategic National Stockpile.
      Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:51:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/smallpox/2008-04-25-acambisusgsmallpoxvac.html

    3. Smallpox Vaccine Approved by FDA (09-07-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: The FDA announced the approval of ACAM2000(TM), a cell-based smallpox vaccine and the first smallpox vaccine to be approved by the FDA since 1931.
      Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:34:05 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2007-09-07-smallpoxvacapprovedbyfda.html

    4. Destruction of Smallpox Virus Delayed (05-25-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: In a May 18, 2007, Reuters report, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it would postpone destruction of the world's last known samples of smallpox virus.
      Fri, 25 May 2007 18:04:37 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2007-05-25-destructionsmallpoxvirusdelayed.html

    5. FDA Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Approval of ACAM2000 (05-18-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: The UK-based pharmaceutical company Acambis announced that its ACAM2000 smallpox vaccine received unanimous approval a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee.
      Fri, 18 May 2007 20:51:14 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/smallpox/2007-05-18-fdacomrecommendapprovalacam2000.html

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    Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

    Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

    Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to viral hemorrhagic fevers.

    1. Brazil Continues to Struggle with Dengue (04-11-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: On April 9, 2008, Agence France Presse reported that dengue has infected more than 75,000 in Brazil so far. In Rio de Janeiro, the state hit hardest by the outbreak, 18,000 new infections and 12 deaths were reported in the last week.
      Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:58:33 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/vhf/2008-04-11-brazilstrugglewithdengue.html

    2. Brazil Struggles to Control Dengue Epidemic (03-28-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that an ongoing epidemic of dengue fever in Brazil has resulted in 32,000 infections and 49 deaths so far this year, with most cases occurring in Rio de Janeiro.
      Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:37:35 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/vhf/2008-03-28-brazilstrugglescntldengue.html

    3. Uganda Seeks Coordinated Response to Ebola Outbreak (12-07-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported that at least 22 people have died and up to 93 have been infected with Ebola in Uganda as of 12-06-07. This outbreak is believed to be caused by "a previously unrecorded type of Ebola, making it a fifth strain."
      Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:50:04 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-12-07-ugandaseekscoordresponseebola.html

    4. After Ebola Outbreak, Uganda Looks Back at Challenges (02-29-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: A series of articles published within the last week provide new insight on the challenges Uganda faced in trying to control a recent outbreak of Ebola.
      Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:11:40 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/vhf/2008-02-29-ebolaugandalookschallenges.html

    5. DRC Shuts Border with Uganda as Ebola Outbreak Persists (12-14-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: IRIN reported that Uganda's neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has "closed the lake and land border with Uganda and shut down two markets as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Ebola from its neighbor."
      Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:37:44 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-12-14-drcshutsborderugandaebola.html

    6. New Research Suggests Ebola Viruses are Capable of Genetic Recombination (11-16-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) provides evidence that the Zaire strain of Ebola virus (ZEBOV) may have undergone genetic recombination.
      Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:43:04 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-11-16-newresearchebolavirusescapablegeneticrecomb.html

    7. International Community Increases Response to Ebola Outbreak in the DRC (09-21-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: The WHO online Disease Outbreak News released an update on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, showing Ebola case numbers are continuing to rise with concurrent outbreaks of typhoid fever and Shigella.
      Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:24:48 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-09-21-intlcommunityresponseeboladrc.html

    8. WHO Responds to Ebola Outbreak in the Congo (09-14-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: WHO issued a report about an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of September 11, WHO was "aware" of 372 suspected cases and 166 deaths suspected to be associated with the outbreak.
      Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:20:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-09-14-whoebolaoutbreakcongo.html

    9. Fruit Bats Are Likely Reservoir for Marburg Virus (08-24-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: On August 22, 2007, scientists published a study in the Journal Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE) on the discovery of a "common species of fruit bat" (Rousettus aegyptiacus) as a natural reservoir for the Marburg virus.
      Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:54:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-08-24-fruitbatsreservoirmarburgvirus.html

    10. Dengue Sweeping Southeast Asia (08-03-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: On July 30, 2007, the Associated Press (AP) reported a surge in dengue fever cases throughout Southeast Asia that has raised concern among public health officials.
      Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:24:08 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/content/viral_hemorrhagic_fevers/2007-08-03-denguesweepingsoutheastasia.html

    11. Dengue Cases Reportedly on the Rise Worldwide (06-29-2007)

      Biosecurity Briefing: A surveillance report by Eurosurveillance revealed that the annual incidence of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) has "increased dramatically" over the past few decades.
      Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:43:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-06-29-denguecasesonriseworldwide.html

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    Other

    Bio Briefing - Bio Agents: Other

    Biosecurity Briefing articles relating to biological agents.

    1. New WHO Survey Finds Global Increase in Drug-Resistant TB Infections (02-29-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: On Feb. 26, 2008, the WHO released the Fourth Global Report entitled Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World, which, "presents findings from the largest survey to date on the scale of drug resistance in tuberculosis."
      Mon, Mar 03 2008 17:59:11 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/other/2008-02-29-whofindsincreasedrugresisttb.html

    2. Ricin Discovered in Las Vegas Hotel Room; FBI Says Not Linked to Terrorism (02-29-2008)

      Biosecurity Briefing: On Feb. 28, 2008, CNN.com reported that police in Las Vegas, Nevada, are "investigating the discovery of . . . the deadly poison ricin in a hotel room." The FBI told Reuters that this is "not thought to be terrorism related."
      Mon, Mar 03 2008 17:36:16 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/other/2008-02-29-ricininlasvegashotelnotterrorism.html

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