Anthrax alert in Namibia as more than 50 people are struck down by the killer disease
The World Health Organization said 52 people were reported to have been diagnosed with anthrax in Opuwo in the north-west of Namibia – the infection is believed to be spreading via goats. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - November 27, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Medical Aspects of Biological Warfare: 2018
Source: U.S. Army Borden Institute. Published: 3/2018.
This book, updated in March 2018, addresses many facets of biodefense research, preparedness, and consequence management related to biological warfare. Individual chapters are devoted to understanding the pathogenesis and disease progression associated with bacterial and viral biothreat agents, such as Bacillus anthracis, Ebola virus, and intoxications by toxins such as ricin. These chapters highlight the current state of science for these agents and toxins, and underscore the importance of pursuing basic science interests in these arenas, and maintaining a core pool ...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - November 12, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Vaccine protects animals against anthrax and plague
Scientists engineered a vaccine that protects animals from both anthrax and plague. After more development and testing, the approach could be used to combat public health threats. (Source: NIH Research Matters from the National Institutes of Health (NIH))
Source: NIH Research Matters from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - October 30, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Kenya:Man Dies of Suspected Anthrax in Tharaka-Nithi
[Nation] One person has died, and eight others received treatment of suspected anthrax at the Chuka County Referral Hospital in Tharaka-Nithi County. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 25, 2018 Category: African Health Source Type: news
New agent against anthrax
(Technical University of Munich (TUM)) A team led by Professor Arne Skerra at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed an innovative strategy for preventing the anthrax bacterium from absorbing iron, which is crucial for its survival. It does so by neutralizing a special iron complexing agent produced by the bacterium. Because the anthrax pathogen only spreads in the body when it receives access to the essential element, this is expected to provide an effective treatment against the life-threatening infection. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - October 22, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Vaccine that protects against anthrax and plague has been developed amid fears of terror threats
Researchers from The Catholic University of America created a single vaccine that could provide protection against the two diseases, even if someone is infected with a deadly dose. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - October 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
5 in Ukraine hospitalized with suspected anthrax from cattle
Ukraine's Health Ministry says five people have been hospitalized with suspected anthrax and are thought to have contracted the disease while slaughtering cattle (Source: ABC News: Health)
Source: ABC News: Health - October 2, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Health Source Type: news
Biosafety Reforms Still Lagging at Military Labs
Three years after finding that laboratories had mishandled deadly pathogens, the Pentagon has no way to measure the effectiveness of its reforms, according to a new report. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - September 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: EMILY BAUMGAERTNER Tags: Anthrax Defense Department Accidents and Safety Government Accountability Office Laboratories and Scientific Equipment Dugway Proving Ground (Utah) Epidemics Source Type: news
Genomic study of 412 anthrax strains provides new virulence clues
(Georgia Institute of Technology) By analyzing genomic sequences from more than 400 strains of the bacterium that causes anthrax, researchers have provided the first evidence that the severity -- technically known as virulence -- of specific strains may be related to the number of copies of certain plasmids they carry. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - August 29, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Romania finds deadly anthrax in pig at smallholding
A pig at a smallholding in Romania has contracted anthrax, which kills thousands of livestock in tropical and sub-tropical areas each year but is rare in temperate regions. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - August 7, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Angola:Benguela - Over 100,000 Heads of Cattle to Get Immunised
[ANGOP] Benguela -At least 145,000 heads of cattle are expected to be vaccinated in the centre-west Benguela Province against anthrax and blackleg, aimed at allaying the spread of diseases, the provincial head of veterinary services, Gaspar Ingl ês, has announced. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - June 27, 2018 Category: African Health Source Type: news
ACIP Issues Flu Season Guidance, Anthrax Vax in a'Mass Event '
(MedPage Today) -- Committee also heard data on cell-cultured influenza vaccines (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)
Source: MedPage Today Public Health - June 20, 2018 Category: American Health Source Type: news
FDA Issues Final Guidance on Inhalational Anthrax
THURSDAY, May 31, 2018 -- Final guidance has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to assist in the development of drugs for the prevention of inhalational anthrax for individuals who may have been exposed but who have not yet... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - May 31, 2018 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Anthrax: Developing Drugs for Prophylaxis of Inhalational Anthrax; Guidance for Industry
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 05/2018 The purpose of this 16-page guidance is to assist sponsors in the development of drugs for the indication of prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax in persons who have or may have inhaled aerosolized Bacillus anthracis spores but who have not yet manifested clinical evidence of disease. The indication also applies to persons with anticipated exposure to B. anthracis spores (e.g., first responders for anthrax incidents); in such cases, initiation of antibacterial therapy would begin immediately before entering the B. anthracis-contaminated environment. (PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Res...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - May 24, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: The U.S. National Library of Medicine Source Type: news
UCLA-led research finds vaccines against anthrax, plague and tularemia are effective in mice
Anthrax, plague and tularemia are three potent agents terrorists would be likely to use in an attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each is highly and quickly lethal to humans. But there are no licensed vaccines for tularemia and plague, and although there is an anthrax vaccine, it requires a burdensome immunization schedule and has severe side effects.Now, a UCLA-led group of researchers may have found a solution that, if found to be safe and effective in humans, could protect people from all three bacteria. The team used molecular engineering to develop vaccines against each that use a comm...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - May 10, 2018 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news