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DHS helps with Plum Island upgrade
While DHS is looking for new site for the $450 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility — there are five finalists competing for the contract — it is upgrading the aging Plum Island facility
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Bill overhauls way FDA approves drugs
Problems with Vioxx and questions about the side-effects of other drugs lead Congress to tighten, and make more transparent, the FDA’s drug-approval process
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Lethal disease devestates China's pig herds
China is the world’s largest pig meat exporters, but the blue ear pig disease is devestating China’s pig farm economy; virus spreading to neighboring countries; nimble vaccine makers stand to benefit
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U.S. food suppliers suggest FDA oversee food imports
Growing worries about the safety of food imports prompt legislatures to propose tightening regulations of, and requiring fees for, imported food shipments; large U.S. food suppliers offer alternative schemes
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North Carolina community split over biodefense lab
As has been the case in other U.S. locations, communities are split down the middle over building a $450 million biolab in their back yard — jobs, prestige notwithstanding
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Human plague case in Arizona
For first time in years; a human plague case is found in Arizona; reports of plague cases in New Mexico; fleas, rodents may be source of infection
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MRI launches biological safety center
There is a growing demand for expertise in laboratory services for the biodefense, agriculture, food safety, and vaccine development industries, and MRI steps forward to offer its services
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Bottle makes dirty water drinkable; ideal for post diaster relief
A bottle which purifies even the dirtiest water — it uses filter which cuts out anything longer than 15 nanometres, which means that viruses are filtered out — is ideal for post-disaster relief, soldiers in the field
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Transfusion-related HIV infection plunges Peru's health system into crisis
Peu’s health system in crisis after four tranfusion patients are infetced with HIV; country’s 240 blood banks shut down for thorough screening
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Small Minnesota company creates national food safety Web portal
FoodShield.org is a Web site used to alert various federal regulatory bodies and scientific communities about any dangers related to food
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U.K. foot-and-mouth same as August strain
Initial tests show that the foot-and-mouth strain found in cows near Egham is the same as the strain found in August; if results hold, farmers can hope disease could be contained in a small region
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VGX Pharmaceuticals wins $1.9M bioterrorism contract
Pennsylvania company receives contract from U.S. government to develop skin micro-electroporation for improved biodefense vaccine efficacy
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Ebola outbrak in east Congo; neighboring countries on alert
The World Health Organization confirms an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virsu infection, with 166 dead and 372 reported cases; neighboring states take precuationary measures
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Scientists discover clues for vanishing bee colonies
Honey bees are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of crops each year in the U.S.; since 2004, a growing number of U.S. bee colonies have collapsed, imperiling U.S. agriculture; scientists now find clues why collapse occurs
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Anthrax infection in Connecticut
As was with the February 2006 case of the New York musician and drum maker who contracted anthrax from imported animal hides, a Danbury drum maker and his family contract anthrax from imported hides he used in his craft
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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.