National Centre for Biosecurity

Biosecurity News - Issue 27

Program News
Conferences, Seminars and Journal Issues
Special Coverage: H1N1 Influenza A
News Articles

Pandemic and Avian Influenza
HIV
Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases

Biological Weapons
Biosecurity Policy and Ethics
Global Health Governance and Disease Control

Program News

The National Centre for Biosecurity has re-launched its website. New content includes an archive of all back issues of the Biosecurity News, an archive of material from previous Biosecurity Symposiums, and a ‘live feed’ of the Biosecurity News which is updated as the editor highlights relevant stories throughout the fortnight.

An H1N1 resource page has also been created in order to facilitate the dissemination of NCB research relevant to the current H1N1 pandemic. It lists all pandemic-relevant publications by members in several categories and contains a downloadable graph of cumulative cases, updated as they are confirmed by the WHO. A list of H1N1-relevant resources from external organisations will be posted soon.

In the future, we plan to more actively use the website for disseminating research, news and events conducted by the NCB and its members. Any comments or suggestions are most welcome.

Jon

Conferences, Seminars and Journal Issues

Two articles in The Lancet addressed the level and effectiveness of global health aid. A summary and commentary are available from external sources plus the two reports: ‘An assessment of interactions between global health initiatives and country health systems’, and ‘Financing of global health: tracking development assistance for health from 1990 to 2007’

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The five year evaluation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was published online in April. Access at: http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/terg/evaluations/5year/

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Previous Announcement

The UNESCO's Sector for Social and Human Sciences calls for nominations for the Avicenna Prize 2009. Deadline: 15 July 2009. More information
The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet are organising a conference and special issue on influenza in the Asia-Pacific region. Conference: 21-23 August, 2009 in Qingdao, China. More information
Global Biosecurity 2010: safeguarding agriculture and the environment in Brisbane, Australia. Abstracts: 31 July 2009. Conference: 28 February – 3 March 2010. More information
US Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program provides funding for travel to biosecurity-related conferences. More information

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Special Coverage - H1N1

The novel H1N1 Influenza A outbreak affecting multiple countries receives special attention below. Some stories have been sourced to either the ABC (Australian Broadcast Corporation) or BBC online news sites because of their persistence over long periods of time and the continuity of their coverage. Readers seeking references to traditional print-based media should endeavour to search the online archives of their preferred news outlet using the key terms and dates gathered here.

Official Sources

The latest information update from the WHO:
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_06_26/en/index.html

Latest CDC update:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
and
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

WHO interactive timeline:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/interactive_map/en/index.html

Full list of guidance information from WHO:
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/en/index.html

National Response Sites:

Australia: http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/
Canada: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/swine_200904-eng.php
European Union: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_topics/novel_influenza_virus/2009_Outbreak/
New Zealand: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mexican-swine-influenza-update-270409
Singapore: http://www.crisis.gov.sg/FLU/InfluenzaA/
United Kingdom: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1240732817665?p=1240732817665
United States: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Epidemiology, Disease Progression and Impact

More than a million people infected in US, CDC modeler suggests
26 June 2009
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/06/with-more-than.html

‘Origins and evolutionary genomics of the 2009 swine-origin H1N1 influenza A epidemic’
25 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7250/full/nature08182.html

‘In New Theory, Swine Flu Started in Asia, Not Mexico’
23 June 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/health/24flu.html

‘Swine-origin influenza A H1N1 update’
22 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309909701628/fulltext

‘Swine-origin influenza virus in young age groups’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609611454/fulltext

‘Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections Among Health-Care Personnel’
19 June 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5823a2.htm

Review of: ‘Emergence and pandemic potential of swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus’
18 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7249/full/nature08157.html

‘Swine flu patients in ICU tough to manage, 'just really, really sick': doctors’
18 June 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h9z-hUaPs0bfX3MHZJ8vxrGgh2Nw

Confusion over ‘novelty’ of Brazilian H1N1 strain
17 June 2009
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/06/beware-of-stori.html
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/jun1709flustrain.html

‘Mexico blames swine flu for ‘lost summer’’
14 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/14/2597666.htm

‘Researchers say H1N1 virus jumped to humans months ago’
11 June 2009
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/jun1109rambau.html

Response

‘Swine flu deaths: hospitals face long winter’
24 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/24/2607689.htm

‘Flu fears: Indonesia watching Aussie tourists’
24 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/24/2607620.htm

‘China swine flu quarantine ‘like jail’’
23 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/23/2606025.htm

US Congress approves $8 billion pandemic fund
17 June 2009
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/06/house-approves.html

‘Passengers cheat flu scan with fever reducers’
15 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/15/2598998.htm

WHO Raises Pandemic Alert Level to 6: World now at start of 2009 Pandemic
11 June 2009
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html

‘Use of Revised International Health Regulations during Influenza A (H1N1) Epidemic, 2009’
10 June 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/8/pdfs/09-0665.pdf

‘Free swine flu jabs for 2.5m’ (Hong Kong)
10 June 2009
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/weekend_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=83254&sid=24165587&con_type=1&d_str=

UK scientific adviser criticizes UK planning for flu pandemic
9 June 2009
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/338/jun09_1/b2316

Commentary and Editorials

‘Constant use of 'mild' to describe swine flu misleading people about threat’
28 June 2009
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=28382

‘Pandemic Reality Check: What Can Be Done -- and What Can't -- To Protect Against H1N1’
23 June 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/22/AR2009062202386.html

‘Reacting to the emergence of swine-origin influenza A H1N1’
22 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309909701598/fulltext

‘H1N1, public health security, bioethics and human rights’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609611430/fulltext

‘Defining priorities: swine-origin H1N1 and the MDR-TB epidemic’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609611442/fulltext

‘Patient-oriented pandemic influenza research’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61131-4/fulltext

‘Avoiding panic in a pandemic’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609611302/fulltext

‘After Delays, WHO Agrees: The 2009 Pandemic Has Begun’
19 June 2009
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/324/5934/1496

‘The Signature Features of Influenza Pandemics — Implications for Policy’
18 June 2009
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/25/2595

‘Implications of the Emergence of a Novel H1 Influenza Virus’
18 June 2009
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/25/2667

‘Patchy pig monitoring may hide flu threat’
16 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090616/full/459894b.html

‘Pandemic Flu: Lessons From the Frontlines’ (report on the initial response)
12 June 2009
http://healthyamericans.org/report/64/pandemic-flu-frontlines

‘Watch your back’ (Nature on H1N1 and HFMD in China)
11 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7248/full/459751b.html

‘Swine flu alert levels confusing: expert’
9 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/09/2593573.htm

‘Is this a pandemic? Define ‘pandemic’’
8 June 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/health/09docs.html

‘Bipartisan WMD Panel Criticizes Obama Plan To Fund Flu Vaccine’
8 June 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/07/AR2009060702549.html

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News Articles

Pandemic and Avian Influenza

The following reports and studies relate to avian influenza and pandemic influenza in general, for information specific to currently circulating H1N1 Influenza, see above

‘Strategy to Enhance Influenza Surveillance Worldwide’
26 June 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/15/8/pdfs/08-1422.pdf

‘Pandemic Vaccine Preparedness—Have We Left Something Behind?’
26 June 2009
http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000482

‘Pandemic reveals strengths of new flu database’
25 June 2009
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/jun2509gisaid-br.html

‘What is the optimal dosing for patients with H5N1 influenza?’
23 June 2009
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000091

‘Antibodies against H5 and H9 Avian Influenza among Poultry Workers in China’
11 June 2009
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/24/2583

HIV

‘Drug resistance, patent resistance: Indian pharmaceuticals and the impact of a new patent regime’
23 June 2009
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a912618356

‘Investment should follow Obama’s pledges on HIV/AIDS’
22 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309909701653/fulltext

‘Lawsuits dropped in patent dispute about HIV drug resistance database’
22 June 2009
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/06/lawsuits-droppe.html

‘Health systems and increased longevity in people with HIV and AIDS’
18 June 2009
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/338/jun18_1/b2165

‘HIV in South Africa 'levels off'’
9 June 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8091489.stm
and:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/338/jun18_3/b2485

Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases

‘SARS: How a global epidemic was stopped’
23 June 2009
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a912619122

‘Relentless spread of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis’
22 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309909701641/fulltext

‘Animal farm: pig in the middle’
18 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7249/full/459889a.html

‘WHO probes suspected bubonic plague outbreak’
17 June 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/17/2601241.htm

Biological Weapons

‘Discovery of Untracked Pathogen Vials at Army Lab Sparks Concerns’
17 June 2009
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/324/5935/1626
and
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/06/unlogged-pathog.html

‘Can the US lead the way on dual-use education?’
16 June 2009
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/columnists/malcolm-dando/can-the-us-lead-the-way-dual-use-education

ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Biological Threat Reduction
10-11 June 2009
http://dfa.gov.ph/?p=5498
Remarks from the EU participants:
http://www.delphl.ec.europa.eu/docs/ASEAN%20Regional%20Forum%20on%20Biological%20Threat%20Reduction.pdf

Biosecurity Policy and Ethics

‘Is disease eradication ethical?’
27 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS014067360961179X/fulltext

‘Does Synthetic Biology Need Synthesized Ethics?’
24 June 2009
http://www.synbioproject.org/news/project/hastings_ethics/
And the full report: ‘Ethical Issues in Synthetic Biology: an overview of the debates’
http://www.synbioproject.org/library/publications/archive/synbio3/

A nice timeline of the longest published sequences of synthetic DNA
24 June 2009
http://www.synthesis.cc/2009/06/data-and-references-for-longest-published-sdna.html

‘Obama Plans to Replace Bush’s Bioethics Panel’
17 June 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/us/politics/18ethics.html

Global Health Governance and Disease Control

‘Strengthening health systems to promote security’
27 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609600027/fulltext

‘WHO Or Who Should Guarantee The Right To Health?’
24 June 2009
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/06/24/who-or-who-should-guarantee-the-right-to-health/

‘Framing and the politics of public health: an examination of competing health narratives in Honduras’
23 June 2009
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a912308386

‘Who runs global health?’
20 June 2009
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609611284/fulltext

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