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40 al-Qaeda terrorists dead after failed experiment with plague weapon
40 al-Qaeda members died after being exposed to the plague during a biological weapons test; test took place in cave hideouts in Tizi Ouzou province, 150 kilometres east of the Algerian capital Algiers
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Novartis awarded $486 million contract to create flu plant
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a $486 million contract to Novartis which will see the company build a plant in North Carolina to produce a flu vaccine
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The top 11 contaminants in U.S. drinking water
U.S. citizens may upset to learn — should be upset to learn — that their drinking water contain disturbing amounts of pharmaceuticals and hormonally active chemicals; the concentrations are small, for now, but individuals with some health conditions should consult their physicians
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WHO: Cholera sickens 30,000 in Zimbabwe
The World Health Organization reports that as many as 31,656 suspected cases were diagnosed to date with one third of them in the capital of Harare; this is up from 29,131 cases reported on Monday; 1,564 have already died
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India's bioterror plans will take some time to get off the ground
India is augmenting its preparations for bioterror attacks; experts complain that one of the major weaknesses in India’s ability to cope with a bioterror attack is the lack of interest, so far, of the private sector in being enlisted in the effort
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Gene that made 1918 flu lethal isolated
The 1918 Spanish Flu was history’s most devastating outbreak of infectious disease, killing between 20 and 50 million people; researchers isolate gene that made the 1918 gene especially lethal
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Zimbabwe cholera death toll soars past 1,500
The cholera epidemic has claimed more than 1,500 lives in Zimbabwe since August, the World Health Organization said Monday
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Virulent strain of bird flu hits Vietnam poultry farms
Until recently Vietnam led the world in H5N1 infection, but drastic measures by the government helped contain the disease; a recent outbreak, coupled with a cold and wet winter, may set back that effort
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Graham, Talent: U.S. should do more to prevent terrorist attack
The leaders of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism say that the incoming administration must do more, much more, to prevent a terrorist attack on the United States
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Political squabbles hobble H5N1 research
Indonesia has had the most cases of human H5N1 flu since 2005; it refuses to share the virus samples with Western pharmaceutical companies unless these companies agree to share with Indonesia the profits from the vaccine these companies develop — and also guarantee Indonesia access to a vaccine in case of a pandemic
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The continuing development of Fort Detrick offers business opportunities
In some places there is a debate about the balance between the business opportunities and risks that the presence of a BioLab facility offers; in Washington County, Maryland, they concentrate on the business opportunities the sprawling — and growing — Fort Detrick (it covers 1,127 acres and employs more than 8,000 people) offers
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Researchers show promising approach to avian flu vaccine
Terrapin researchers are developing a universal flu vaccine for animals; it could ultimately help prevent or delay another avian flu pandemic in humans
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South Africa declares region bordering on Zimbabwe cholera disaster area
Thousands of cholera-infected Zimbabweans cross into South Africa seeking treatment; the Mugabe government does not offer medical services to the population, and makes it difficult for NGOs and world health organizations to do so
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Zimbabwe hit with cholera epidemic
Zimbabwe is on the verge of collapse: with 80 percent unemployment, and an inflation rate of 11.2 million percent, the country has now been hit by c cholera epidemic; cholera, a highly contagious disease is both preventable and treatable under normal circumstances, but Zimbabwe’s health sector has collapsed as a result of President Mugabe’s policies
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Economic downturn to hurt medical emergency preparedness
Progress made better to protect the United States from disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and bioterrorism is now at risk, due to budget cuts and the economic crisis
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The long view
We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
Nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who served as directors or acting directors under Republican and Democratic administrations, serving under presidents from Jimmy Carter to Donald Trrump, argue that HHS Secretary Roert F. Kennedy Jr. poses a clear and present danger to the health of Americans. He has placed anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists at top HHS positions, and he appears to be guided by a hostility to science and a belief in bizarre, unscientific approaches to public health.