-
Canadian aquaculture operators seek improved biosecurity infrastructure
Fish stocks in the oceans dwindle, and those still available are exposed the ever-growing levels of pollution; as a result there is a growing interest in fish farming; Canada’s fish farm operators want more government help to address biosecurity issues
-
-
Worry: First human-to-human transmission of H5N1 strain of bird flu
A young Chinese man who died of avian flu has passed the disease to his father; scientists fear the virus could mutate into a strain that jumps easily from person to person, risking wider outbreaks
-
-
Passengers on Israel-to-Canada flight become ill with Noro virus
Several passengers on Air Canada flight become severely ill with gastroenteritis; 75 of the 201 passengers kept in isolation at Toronto airport for further examination
-
-
CBP Creates New Position to Protect U.S. Agriculture
In the face of an avalanche of unsafe food stuffs being imported from China, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates a new position — Deputy Executive Director for Agriculture Operational Oversight — and appoints Kevin Harriger to the post
-
-
Brisk holiday activity in pharmaceutical packaging
Medicines is not only produced — it has to be packaged, with vaccines and treatments packaged and stored in such a way to keep them potent for years; this specialy field has witnessed some interesting activity toward the end of the year
-
-
Bioterror surveillance uneven from state to state
What is even worse than being a subject to bioterror attack? Answer: Being subject to such an attack in Mississippi; state is among six states scoring the worst scores on compatibility with CDC’s National Electronic Disease Surveillance System
-
-
Two more bird flu deaths in Egypt
Egypt’s location on major bird migration routes and the wide-spread practice of keeping domestic fowl near living quarters have helped make the country the hardest-hit country outside of Asia
-
-
Communication's last mile especially vulnerable to pandemic
As much as 40 percent of the U.S. workforce would be unable to go to work during peak periods of an outbreak, “and you don’t get to pick which 40 percent that could be,” says Greg Garcia, DHS’s assistant secretary of cybersecurity and communications
-
-
Two stillbirths lead to food warnings
Two recent stillbirths in North Carolina prompt health officials to issue a warning regarding eating habits of pregnant women; cold cuts and soft cheeses may expose pregnant women to the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes
-
-
Nanocavity sensor capable of detecting virus-sized particles
University of Rochester researchers develop a nanoscale device capable of detecting one quadrillionth of a gram of biological matter, which is about the size of many viruses
-
-
Epidemic preparedness varies widely from state to state
If an epidemic breaks out in the United States, you don’t want to find yourself in Arkansas or Mississippi: Research organization scores states’ epidemic preparedness level, and these two states brought up the rear
-
-
New, quick test for dehydration
In-the-field exertions by soldiers and first responders may cause dehydration, the result of fluid loss of only a few percent of body weight; Philips offers a transducer which measures how much the skin deforms when sucked — a clear indication of dehydration
-
-
Debate intensifies over London's biotech super-lab
U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown unveiled an ambitious project — a £500 million biolab facility next to the reopened St. Pancras station, which will house some 1,500 scientists who now work in several different labs; the project has its critics: London city hall wants low-income housing to be built on the site; some scientists argue that centralization of research is not good for science; and citizens worry about dangerous pathogens accidentally released in a populated area
-
-
Influenza pandemic could cost Canadian economy $9 billion
Over half of Canadian critical industry workers may not show up to work during a flu pandemic
-
-
U.K. anthrax death attributed to handling West African drums
One source of anthrax infection is untreated animal hides; in West Africa, untreated skins of cattle, sheep, and goats are used to make drums; musicians who use these drums are susceptible to infection; in the U.S., three cases of drum-related anthrax infection were reported
-
