They say the world is not prepared for a pandemic.
Facebook yesterday announced the launch of new features to battle vaccine misinformation on Facebook and Instagram, a move that was applauded by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the latest global polio developments, Pakistan reported five more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, while two African nations—Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—reported more positive circulating vaccine-derived polio type 2 (cVDPV2) detections. The details appear today in the weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
Six more Ebola cases were confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ebola outbreak, raising the overall total to 2,983, according to numbers reflected today on the World Health Organization (WHO) online Ebola dashboard.
Health officials are still investigating 397 suspected infections. Four more people died from their infections, bringing the fatality count to 1,990.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Public Health Vaccines (PHV), LLC, have announced a partnership agreement worth up to $43.6 million to support the development and manufacturing of a Nipah virus vaccine.
In a statement today CEPI said it will fund preclinical studies, clinical studies through phase 2, manufacturing, and an investigational stockpile of the vaccine candidate.
A study yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the unique emergence of the pandemic multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli clone ST1193.
President Trump yesterday signed bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovations Act (PAHPA), which plays a crucial role in preparing the country for natural or manmade biological threats such as pandemic flu or a bioterror attack.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean regional office (EMRO) recently published its monthly snapshot of MERS-CoV activity, which covers 14 cases reported for May and one cluster, all in Saudi Arabia.
Of the 14 patients, 4 died from their MERS-CoV Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infections, all of them men who had underlying health conditions.
The national preparedness index score was 6.7 out of 10 in 2018, a 3.1% improvement.
The US Department of Human Services (HHS) said yesterday that Ned Sharpless, MD, will serve as acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), replacing Scott Gottlieb, MD, who announced his resignation on Mar 5 after less than 2 years in the position.
