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Lethal disease devestates China's pig herds
China is the world’s largest pig meat exporters, but the blue ear pig disease is devestating China’s pig farm economy; virus spreading to neighboring countries; nimble vaccine makers stand to benefit
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U.S. food suppliers suggest FDA oversee food imports
Growing worries about the safety of food imports prompt legislatures to propose tightening regulations of, and requiring fees for, imported food shipments; large U.S. food suppliers offer alternative schemes
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North Carolina community split over biodefense lab
As has been the case in other U.S. locations, communities are split down the middle over building a $450 million biolab in their back yard — jobs, prestige notwithstanding
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Human plague case in Arizona
For first time in years; a human plague case is found in Arizona; reports of plague cases in New Mexico; fleas, rodents may be source of infection
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MRI launches biological safety center
There is a growing demand for expertise in laboratory services for the biodefense, agriculture, food safety, and vaccine development industries, and MRI steps forward to offer its services
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Bottle makes dirty water drinkable; ideal for post diaster relief
A bottle which purifies even the dirtiest water — it uses filter which cuts out anything longer than 15 nanometres, which means that viruses are filtered out — is ideal for post-disaster relief, soldiers in the field
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Transfusion-related HIV infection plunges Peru's health system into crisis
Peu’s health system in crisis after four tranfusion patients are infetced with HIV; country’s 240 blood banks shut down for thorough screening
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Small Minnesota company creates national food safety Web portal
FoodShield.org is a Web site used to alert various federal regulatory bodies and scientific communities about any dangers related to food
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U.K. foot-and-mouth same as August strain
Initial tests show that the foot-and-mouth strain found in cows near Egham is the same as the strain found in August; if results hold, farmers can hope disease could be contained in a small region
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VGX Pharmaceuticals wins $1.9M bioterrorism contract
Pennsylvania company receives contract from U.S. government to develop skin micro-electroporation for improved biodefense vaccine efficacy
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Ebola outbrak in east Congo; neighboring countries on alert
The World Health Organization confirms an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virsu infection, with 166 dead and 372 reported cases; neighboring states take precuationary measures
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Scientists discover clues for vanishing bee colonies
Honey bees are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of crops each year in the U.S.; since 2004, a growing number of U.S. bee colonies have collapsed, imperiling U.S. agriculture; scientists now find clues why collapse occurs
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Anthrax infection in Connecticut
As was with the February 2006 case of the New York musician and drum maker who contracted anthrax from imported animal hides, a Danbury drum maker and his family contract anthrax from imported hides he used in his craft
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Year-round consumption of leafy greens increases disease risk
Desiring healthier food, more Americans and European now eat leafy greens year round; trouble is, the need to supply these vegetables year-round has required new methods to clean, package, and deliver these fragile food items across large distances, creating more opportunities for contamination and infection
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DHS increases funding for GenVec's FMD vaccine program
The U.S. Department of Agrictultre and DHS are both worried about foot-and-mouth disease, and a Maryland company has its contract increase to develop unique molecular-based FMD vaccine for cattle
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