Public health

Emergency official suspended for asasaulting photographer
Columbia County, New York coordinator George Sharpe earns a thirty-day rest after attempting to destroy images of a pandemic response drill; HSDW demands a more creative punishment
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Researchers find human-chimp E. coli transmission
Study at a safari park in Uganda is the first to show a link between humans and a controlled animal population; many chimps found resistant to antibiotics
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Agriculture Department to focus inspections on chronic violators
New risk-based approach will consider type of meat being processed, plant size, and history of food safety violations; move comes in response to recent E. coli outbreaks; daily inspections will continue
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Meridian Bioscience receives FDA approval for Shiga-detecting test
Rapid diagnostic tool is first to distinguish between Shiga toxin producing E. coli and other 0157 strains; partnership with Merck pays off; only twenty minures needed to make a diagnosis
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Scripps researchers identify botulism-fighting molecules
One compound extends survival time by thirty-six percent; sixteen percent of mice treated with the second molecule survived with no obvious symptoms
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University of Portsmouth to test antibacterial gown
Hospital garb is coated with an anti-microbial coating known as Permagard; effort intended to mitigate MRSA transmission; unique design also minimizes contact with nurses
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FluMist found to reduce childhood infections by 55 percent
Report comes soon after FDA approves Medimmune’s refrigerated vaccine; heightened asthma risks for infants cited; company looks poised to run away with the novel flu vaccine market, especially if deal with Iomai goes through
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Air Force deploys mobile bioweapons detection labs
Equipped with $100,000 in equipment, the trailer can quickly identify fourteen biological agents; McConnell Air Force Base plays host; mobile testing marches on
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DHS to consolidate Centers of Excellence program
Three centers focussing on biological and chemical weapons will merge; four new centers to come on line; decision prompted by congressional criticism and threatened budget cuts
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Arkansas researchers develop new avian flu sensor
Swab samples from birds’ throats are exposed to micofluidic biochips; resulting complex is measured with a microelectrode array; researchers currently looking for funding
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Universal Detection receives Army anthrax detection order
Early warning BSM-2000 anthrax kits will be tested at the Dugway Proving Ground; the British government has already purchased two, but deal is the first with DoD; systems “pops” spores to measure the release of dipicolinic acid
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Nunn-Lugar appropriations come under fire
Senator Lugar slams the administration for cutting the overall budget by 7 percent and shortchanging efforts to secure biological weapons in the former Soviet Union; projects in Ukraine and Armenia to be delayed under proposd budget; Lugar will attempt to reinstate funding
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Polonium poisoning creates a market need for treatment
Few treatments exists for curing alpha particle damage; Litvinenko’s death sends companies scrambling; Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Biolabs Protectan, and Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals all make claims
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Washington U. researchers discover plague's weakness
The scourge of the Middle Ages continues to plague Africa; terrorism another major fear; researchers disable Yersinia pestis by removing a clot-inhibiting protein
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Iomai wins $128 million HHS contract for patch-based flu vaccine
Innoculation method could be mailed to patients; adjuvant stimulants allow the company to stretch out the nation’s vaccine supply; company looks for distribution partners, but many already see MedImmune as the most promising candidate
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