Biosecurity Briefing: On May 16, 2008, health officials from Indonesia announced that the republic would begin sharing information about H5N1 cases with a new global database known as the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID).
Fri, 16 May 2008 19:44:05 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-05-16-indonesiashareh5n1gisaid.html
Biosecurity Briefing: IOM released report, Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on Developing a Distribution and Dispensing Program. Toronto approved a plan to purchase antiviral medication to treat city employees in the event of flu pandemic.
Mon, 05 May 2008 15:45:31 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-05-02-iomantiviraldistribution.html
Biosecurity Briefing: CIDRAP News reports the HHS stated that Indonesia appears to be linking the restriction of work at a U.S. laboratory in Jakarta with the ongoing international H5N1 virus-sharing impasse.
Biosecurity Briefing: Government-appointed experts backed a proposal for pre-pandemic vaccination of healthcare workers in Japan. S. Korea officials confirmed H5N1 at a fourth farm in Yeongam. Russia has had recent avian outbreaks in the Primorye region.
Biosecurity Briefing: On April 8, 2008, Nature News reported that the Chemical Weapons Convention is meeting from April 7-18 in The Hague, the Netherlands, to reassess the convention, "...emphasis will soon switch to preventing future production."
Biosecurity Briefing: Sinovac, a China-based biopharmaceutical company, announced approval of a production license in China for its human vaccine Panflu. Reuters reported that Vietnam has begun clinical trials on a human vaccine for H5N1 virus, VN1194.
Biosecurity Briefing: Agence France Presse reported that U.S. officials have created in Thailand's eastern province of Chachoengsao, a "regional" stockpile of personal protective and diagnostic equipment protective materials for battling avian influenza.
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:02:28 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-03-28-usaidstockequipthailand.html
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
Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported Vietnam will begin human trials of an H5N1 avian influenza vaccine. In related news, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization warns that the H5N1 virus could "mutate and cause a human influenza pandemic."
Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:43:23 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-03-21-vieth5n1vactestindonesia.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The British Government released a statement announcing the first National Security Strategy of the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented the document to the House of Commons.
Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:36:49 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-03-21-ukrelease1stnatlsecstrat.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The European Medicines Agency, equivalent of U.S. FDA, announced that it recommends "the authorization of...[Europe's] first 'pre-pandemic vaccine' for humans against influenza caused by the H5N1 virus."
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:40:46 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-03-07-1stprepanfluvaceulicense.html
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
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, 03 Mar 2008 17:59:11 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/other/2008-02-29-whofindsincreasedrugresisttb.html
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
Biosecurity Briefing: CDC reports seasonal flu more severe than last 2 years and a mismatch between this year's vac and two of predominant strains of flu. Europe reports unexpected emergence of H1N1 virus with a decreased sensitivity to oseltamivir.
Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:00:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-02-15-fluvacmismatchresisteurope.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that "some of the A (H1N1) viruses in circulation this winter are resistant to the antiviral drug oseltamivir (also know by the brand name Tamiflu)."
Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:39:52 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/2008-02-01-tamifluresistancefound.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Canadian Press reports the WHO has created an electronic database to track the H5N1 influenza viruses provided to international laboratories. Also, authorities in Bengal, India admitted falling behind in H5N1 battle.
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:53:24 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-01-25-whotracksh5n1samplesindiacntrl.html
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
Biosecurity Briefing: PATH, an international, non-profit organization, announced a $39 million award from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to launch the rapid development of flu vaccines and "innovative vaccine technologies" for developing nations.
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:35:13 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-01-18-gatesawardsmillionsfluvac.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The Writing Committee of the Second WHO Consultation on Clinical Aspects of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus published a review article in the NEJM providing updated info on human cases of H5N1 infection.
Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:22:11 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/2008/2008-01-18-whoupdateh5n1infections.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On December 18, 2007, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that health officials in Indonesia are investigating "several recent cases" of H5N1 avian influenza in humans who did not have contact with infected birds.
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:46:54 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-12-21-indonesiainvestigatesoutbreakh5n1humans.html
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."
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:50:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-12-07-ugandaseekscoordresponseebola.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On November 26, 2007, Reuters reported that last week's talks held by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva failed to yield an agreement from the Republic of Indonesia to resume sharing H5N1 influenza virus samples.
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:02:04 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-11-30-noagreewhoindonesiashareh5n1samples.html
Biosecurity Briefing: 62 "probable" cases of monkeypox reported in humans in the Republic of Congo since Jan 07. SIGA Technologies, Inc. announced its smallpox drug, ST-246, demonstrated 100% protection against death in primates w/monkeypox.
Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:12:55 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-09-28-monkeypoxcongodrugreducemortality.html
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.
Biosecurity Briefing: On September 18, 2007, Yahoo! News reported that an H5N1 influenza outbreak among farm-raised ducks in the Panyu district of Guangdong, China "has been brought under effective control," according to agricultural officials in China.
Biosecurity Briefing: A study in BMC Public Health reviews the progress that European Union member states and the non-EU countries of the Global Health Security Action Group have made toward establishing pandemic vaccine priority groups.
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.
Biosecurity Briefing: On August 23, 2007 the World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2007 World Health Report on global public health threats in the 21st century. The report focuses on the increasing threat from infectious diseases.
Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:28:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-31-whofindsinfectiousdisphsecuritythreat.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The European Commission released its Green Paper on Bio-Preparedness to "stimulate a debate and launch a process of consultation at [the] European level on how to reduce biological risks, and to enhance preparedness and response."
Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:43:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-24-eureleasesgreenpaperbio-prep.html
Biosecurity Briefing: On August 21, 2007, the Presidents of the United States and Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada announced the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza.
Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:46:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-24-canadamexicousplanavianpandemicflu.html
Biosecurity Briefing: A NY Times article reports that a "highly infectious swine virus" is killing pigs in 25 of China's 33 provinces. The outbreaks have caused a pork shortage and "the strongest inflation in China in a decade."
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:25:30 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-17-unidentifiedviruskillpigschina.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Indonesian health officials have announced they will begin using an H5N1 flu vac in Sept in spite of the fact the World Health Organization recommends that Indonesia save the vaccine for use only when a pandemic occurs.
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:12:13 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-17-despitewhorecommendindonesiabeginvac.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Agence France-Presse reported that Indonesia has not resumed sharing its samples of the H5N1 avian flu virus with the World Health Organization (WHO), despite assurances from the nation in May that it would do so.
Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:45:30 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-08-10-indonesiapostponessharingh5n1.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Science published a biosecurity report on the end of U.S. government support for bioweapons non-proliferation and threat reduction efforts in Russia "in favor of a similar but larger initiative in (other) parts of the world..."
Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:53:13 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-08-03-usendsupportbio-threatreducationrus.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Health Affairs article reviewed the infectious disease surveillance systems around the globe and concludes that gaps remain that may hinder early warning and response efforts in the event of a pandemic.
Biosecurity Briefing: On July 11, 2007, Reuters reported that the European Commission (EC) was calling for greater coordination among European Union (EU) member states to prevent a biological attack.
Biosecurity Briefing: A study published in the July 2007 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases suggests that, under particular circumstances, internal border controls may be effective in mitigating the spread of an influenza pandemic.
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.
Biosecurity Briefing: On June 22, 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of its new Global Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Response Plan.
Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:26:47 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-06-22-who_responseplandrugresistanttb.html
Biosecurity Briefing: According to a June 13, 2007 Reuters report, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plans to donate 50 million doses of its pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccine to a global stockpile specifically for the world's poorest countries.
Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:06:10 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-06-15-gskmaydonatateh5n1vax.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reports some Muslim countries may not be prepared for H5N1 outbreak in birds. Agence France Presse reported that five individuals in Malaysia suspected to be infected with the H5N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized.
Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:00:26 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-06-15-muslimstatesunprepmalaysiah5n1.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reports China has resumed sharing its human H5N1 virus samples with the WHO. Agence France-Presse reported that researchers from Indonesia have preliminary data indicating that humans are becoming more susceptible to H5N1.
Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:16:04 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-06-08-chinaindoresumeh5n1sharing.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The European Centers for Disease Control released a report on the status of communicable diseases in the EU. The document represents the "first ever comprehensive analysis of the threat posed by communicable diseases in the EU."
Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:48:02 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/international_biosecurity/content/2007-06-08-eurocdcissuesinfectiousdiseasesrpt.html
Biosecurity Briefing: The World Health Organization reported that the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency has confirmed that 4 individuals exposed to infected poultry in Conwy, Wales have tested positive for infection with the H7N2 influenza virus.
Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:53:38 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-06-01-waleshumanh7n2infection.html
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
Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reports human H5N1 flu within Indonesia and Vietnam. Associated Press reported that the WHO has "reached a preliminary agreement" about how to most equitably share pandemic flu vaccine supplies.
Fri, 25 May 2007 17:46:38 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-05-25-indonesiavietnamrpth5n1whovacresltn.html
Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported Indonesia wants equitable access to flu vaccines produced from samples it submitted to WHO. Swiss Info reported Swiss Federal Health Office issued personal hygiene guidelines for use during a flu pandemic.
Mon, 21 May 2007 14:48:56 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/avian_pandemic_flu/content/2007/2007-05-18-indonesiaaccessfluvacswissstockmasks.html
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
