A study published in the September issue of Nature highlights nanodevices that act much like brain cells. Using these devices, the researchers demonstrated proof of concept that the nano-system can identify possible mutations in a virus, key to ensuring the efficacy of vaccines and medications for viruses that exhibit genetic diversity. 

Four hundred US troops are testing a watch and ring pair that track changes in physiological states and can alert the wearer to impending illness. The pair identify biometric indicators, such as skin temperature changes, and compare them to an algorithm developed using almost 250,000 patient data sets. Being able to predict illness in individual troops would ensure faster treatment, recovery, and return to duty times, as well as potentially curbing an infectious disease outbreak in service member populations.

Detection methods for the SARS-CoV-2 virus often involves reactive measures - such as testing individuals based on suspected exposure and/or symptomology. Time from initial individual exposures to testing results can be days or even weeks. Monitoring viral RNA particles in sewage may lessen the time from exposure to detection. Wastewater sewage surveillance is one method being explored as a way to examine a population directly, as well as trend prediction, and potentially estimate numbers of infected individuals in a population.

Three published studies point to international air travel as the cause of three COVID-19 'super spreader' events. Through contact tracing, researchers were able to trace the origin of resultant cases to particular flights. A closer examination of current airline industry standards for COVID-19, which currently recommend only the use of face masks and not physical distancing, may be impacted by the studies.

Many countries on the African continent continue to struggle with disease outbreaks such as Ebola and Lassa virus in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the US have developed an inexpensive, efficient point of care test for Ebola and Lassa to help manage the detection of outbreaks with limited resources. 

A total of 3,245 people have tested positive for brucellosis as of 14 September 2020 in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province, according to an investigation into the December 2019 brucellosis antibody positive event in Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD)  released two documents outlining the United States Government's detailed strategy to deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the American people as quickly and reliably as possible. 

This journal article proposes some effective, low cost, low resource solutions for diagnosing anthrax in animals. 

The Guardian article provides a summary of the major outbreaks that have been linked to industrial farming.

Scientists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the US have developed a point-of-care test for both the Lassa virus and Ebola virus that is accurate, fast, and cheap.The test is based on SHERLOCK a new diagnostic that uses CRISPR technology to detect genetic fingerprints that indicate the presence of pathogens in a sample. The test can be done in any environment with minimal equipment powered with solar panels or a small generator.