NEWS
White House developing comprehensive biosecurity strategy: official
7/21/17
A White House homeland security official stated that the administration is developing a comprehensive strategy to defend the US against disease pandemics and biological attacks by terrorists.
Tags: biosecurity policy, biodefense
Major Changes to Canada's Export and Technology Transfer Controls Coming into Force Shortly
7/21/17
The new version of the Guide to Canada's Export Controls comes into effect on August 11, 2017.
Tags: export biosecurity, export control, dual use
High-level lab in Winnipeg for studying dangerous pathogens to be beefed up
7/21/17
High-level biocontainment labs at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg are being expanded to increase capacity.
Tags: biocontainment laboratory, biosafety laboratory, BSL-4
The genesis of MRSA: resistance emerged years before the introduction of methicillin in the clinic
7/21/17
Researchers have found that that methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged years before the antibiotic methicillin was used in clinical practice challenging the assumption that widespread use of the methicillin led to the evolution of MRSA.
Tags: methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, antibiotic resistance
CDC keeping a watchful eye on Candida auris
7/21/17
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 98 clinical Candida auris infections in nine states, while the fungus has been isolated from an additional 110 patients.
Tags: Candida auris
Falsified medicine — tackling a serious threat to public health
7/21/17
Interpol posits that falsified medical products could account for 30 percent of the market in some Asian, African, and Latin American countries.
Tags: counterfeit pharmaceuticals
Improving vaccine trials in infectious disease emergencies
7/21/17
Better understanding of the options for trial design is needed in advance of outbreaks.
Tags: vaccine trial
How can social media be used to detect the next pandemic?
7/21/17
Researchers are using machine learning and social media to identify illness outbreaks.
Tags: infectious disease surveillance, social media, infectious disease monitoring
Dozens of workers test positive for Q fever
7/21/17
The City of Greater Geelong has revealed 25 Geelong Saleyards workers have tested positive for the presence of Q fever antibodies.
Tags: Q fever
Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Exposure to Microbiology Labs
7/20/17
Twenty-four people infected with Salmonella Typhimurium have been linked to various clinical, commercial, and teaching microbiology laboratories in 16 states.