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Centralization of food production makes nation vulnerable
CDC says centralization of foor production and processing is the major cause of outbreaks of food-borne illness; centralization offers an inviting opportunity for terrorists to do harm
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More intensive, collaborative effort needed to prepare for bioterrorism
Medical countermeasures to combat biological weaponry will rely on the ability of scientists to develop potent vaccines and therapeutics that have broad activity and to do so rapidly
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Two major food safety laws are ineffective
Of the many food safety laws proposed, two were passed — Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and the facility registration database; trouble is, neither is very effective
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Morphotek in $2.7 million contract to develop monoclonal antibodies
Pennsylvania company to work with the Army’s research institute to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against potential biological warfare threats
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Worries about safety of U.S. biodefense labs
Since 2003, U.S. labs handling the world’s deadliest germs and toxins have experienced more than 100 accidents; as research into bioterrorism intesifies, number of accidents grows
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Preparations under way for 2011 review of biological weapons treaty
Representatives of 90 states meet in Vienna as part of an effort to bridge differences among countries about the best way to bolster the Biological Weapons Convention
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Ebola continues to spread in Congo
Lab tests confirm that number of cases now stands at twenty-four; WHO, MSF say outbreak is not yet under control
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The state of biodefense: I
In wargames of a terrorist biological attack on a U.S. city, it was predicted that an infectious agent such as smallpox could spread to 3 million people throughout the continental U.S. within 12 weeks of an attack; DoD, DHS work on early detection gear
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U.S. bans Canadian poultry after outbreak of avian flu in Saskatchewan
An especially virulent strain of avain flu — H7N3 — is confirmed in a Saskatchewan farm; U.S. bans poultry importation from province; two years ago a B.C. avian flu outbreak led to destruction of 17 million chickens
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Surge in imported food not met by increased inspection
The desire of U.S. consumers to save a few dollars is a major contributor to the surge in imported food products; legislation to tighten inspection of imported food
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Mattel's apology to China highlights a deeper problem
Western companies in China are operating in a largely lawless environment: There is hardly any effective regulation and little recourse to law, corruption is rampant, and the Chinese have no culture of compliance
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Fourth bluetongue case confirmed in U.K.
U.K. farmers are still anxious about foot-and-mouth disease, and now they have to worry about the fourth case of bluetoungue infection
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Avian Flu Lab-On-A-Chip Device
Researchers at three Singapore-based institutes develop a lab-on-a-chip device for early detection of avain flu; device may be used for detection of other infectious diseases such as SARS, HIV, and hepatitis B
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DHS helps with Plum Island upgrade
While DHS is looking for new site for the $450 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility — there are five finalists competing for the contract — it is upgrading the aging Plum Island facility
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Bill overhauls way FDA approves drugs
Problems with Vioxx and questions about the side-effects of other drugs lead Congress to tighten, and make more transparent, the FDA’s drug-approval process
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