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European Commission releases annual report on RASFF
The annual report on food safety in the European Union show that notifications of possible food risks have rose 22 percent; this may seem alarming to some, but in the EU, it seems to just show that more people are following food safety rules, and that new member states have become stricter at borders and during food inspections
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The rate of salmonella falls in first quarter of 2006
Salmonella in raw meat products has fallen in the first quarter of 2006 owing to changes in the FSIS inspection of processing plants, reporting, and product testing
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Innovative UV-based bioterror protection device
Another CCAT-supported promising solution: Novatron developed a UV-based protective system against bioterror agents; the military is already interested, and non-military markets may soon warm up to the solution
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U.S. to buy $165 million worth of anthrax medicine from HGS
After fourteen years, HGS has their first product sale; the company is experimenting in anthrax therapies and the U.S. government is buying; 20,000 doses to be exact
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Bush administration releases master plan for bird flu emergency
Administration comprehensive plan hinges on tight cooperation between U.S. government and international bodies, and between federal and state authorities; travel restrictions contemplated
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GAO: Security of water treatment facilities below par
Water treatment facilities are inviting targets for terrorists because of the toxic chemicals they use and their proximity to population centers, but the water collection system is also vulnerable, and a recent report says not much has been done to protect it
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U.S. draws up bird flu response plan
A few months ago the U.S. government issued its first plan for coping with bird flu epidemic, emphasizing the medical aspects; the second preparation plan outs emphasis on government activities during a flu scenario — including, for example, contingency plans for printing U.S. money abroad if too many of the mint’s employees become sick
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On-line avian flu preparedness course available
Continuing education: Now there is an online course on how to prepare your company for the avian flu; take a look
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Avian flu liability potential may pose risk to insurance companies
Avian flu poses risk to people, but insurance companies are not immune; a recent Morgan Stanley report says pandemic may undermine financial health of some companies
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JMAR and GMP in BioSentry distribution agreement
GMP systems will soon become the exclusive distributor of JMAR’s advanced laser technology throughout the northeastern U.S.
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Only partial success for avian flu vaccine
The avian flu continues to spread, so this cannot be good news: Researchers report only partial success in the first large-scale study of an avian flu vaccine
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The long view
What We’ve Learned from Survivors of the Atomic Bombs
Q&A with Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, New Vice Chair for the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
Combatting the Measles Threat Means Examining the Reasons for Declining Vaccination Rates
Measles was supposedly eradicated in Canada more than a quarter century ago. But today, measles is surging. The cause of this resurgence is declining vaccination rates.
Social Networks Are Not Effective at Mobilizing Vaccination Uptake
The persuasive power of social networks is immense, but not limitless. Vaccine preferences, based on the COVID experience in the United States, proved quite insensitive to persuasion, even through friendship networks.
Vaccine Integrity Project Says New FDA Rules on COVID-19 Vaccines Show Lack of Consensus, Clarity
Sidestepping both the FDA’s own Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), two Trump-appointed FDA leaders penned an opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine to announce new, more restrictive, COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Critics say that not seeking broad input into the new policy, which would help FDA to understand its implications, feasibility, and the potential for unintended consequences, amounts to policy by proclamation.
Are We Ready for a ‘DeepSeek for Bioweapons’?
Anthropic’s Claude 4 is a warning sign: AI that can help build bioweapons is coming, and could be widely available soon. Steven Adler writes that we need to be prepared for the consequences: “like a freely downloadable ‘DeepSeek for bioweapons,’ available across the internet, loadable to the computer of any amateur scientist who wishes to cause mass harm. With Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 having finally triggered this level of safety risk, the clock is now ticking.”
“Tulsi Gabbard as US Intelligence Chief Would Undermine Efforts Against the Spread of Chemical and Biological Weapons”: Expert
The Senate, along party lines, last week confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National intelligence. One expert on biological and chemical weapons says that Gabbard’s “longstanding history of parroting Russian propaganda talking points, unfounded claims about Syria’s use of chemical weapons, and conspiracy theories all in efforts to undermine the quality of the community she now leads” make her confirmation a “national security malpractice.”