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On Behalf of the Open Philanthropy Project
     
Call for Biosecurity and Pandemic Preparedness Pre-proposals

 

The Open Philanthropy Project invites pre-proposals for risk assessment in the biosecurity and pandemic preparedness field. We believe infectious disease pandemics represent one of the biggest current risks to global welfare and stability, and the risks from engineered pandemics may grow in the future. We think more rigorous and comprehensive risk assessment tools will help the U.S. and other countries prevent and respond to the most serious biological threats facing the world. Full program details are available at http://openphil-rfp.org. 
 
Today's Headlines: March 21, 2017

Biological Agents & Infectious Diseases

Christian County Chicken Flock Tested Positive for H7N9 Avian Influenza ( WKMS) A Christian County broiler flock of 22,000 hens has been culled after birds tested positive for avian influenza. The confirmation of H7N9 is the same low pathogenic bird flu strain found in Tennessee, but it can't be directly linked according to Kentucky State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Stout. Go to article

France Sees Bird Flu Crisis Nearly Over as Spread Slows ( KFGO) The spread of a severe bird flu virus that ravaged the duck industry in southwestern France since late last year has slowed in the past 2 weeks, suggesting the crisis could be ending, the farm minister said on Monday. Go to article

Two Yellow Fever Cases Confirmed Outside of Rio de Janeiro ( CIDRAP) Despite fewer cases in Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, Brazil has confirmed 2 cases of yellow fever in a city just 83 miles away from Rio de Janeiro, according to a new update from the ECDC. Go to article

Peering Down the Rabbit Hole ( Avian Flu Diary) On Thursday, in Egypt: MOH Statement On Investigation of Undiagnosed Cluster of Illness, we looked at an unusual report of 11 illnesses (and 3 deaths) among members of 2 related households in Shubra El Kheima, just north of Cairo. Go to article


Government Affairs & National Security

Ryan Expects Changes to Trump's Proposed NIH Budget Cuts ( The Hill) Speaker Paul Ryan said Sunday he expects to see some changes made on Capitol Hill to President Trump's federal budget proposal, which called for cuts to NIH. Go to article


Global Health Security

When the US Funds Global Health, Other Countries Do Too ( Washington Post) In President Trump's proposed budget, there's a $54 billion bump in military spending. US foreign aid would be cut by 28 percent. Global health spending beyond AIDS, malaria and vaccines will suffer. Go to article

Experts Fear Return of Hong Kong's No. 1 Killer, TB, Amid Rise in Visitors from Hot Spots like China and Drug Resistance ( South China Morning Post) Deaths from tuberculosis peaked in Hong Kong in 1951, but with an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains, more tourists from disease hot spots, and the city's growing number of elderly, doctors fear a resurgence. Go to article

After Bringing Cholera to Haiti, UN Can't Raise Money to Fight It ( New York Times) When the leader of the UN apologized to Haitians for the cholera epidemic that has ravaged their country for more than 6 years--caused by infected peacekeepers sent to protect them--he proclaimed a "moral responsibility" to make things right. Go to article

Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance ( United Nations) On 21 September 2016, during the 71ST Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Member States adopted the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance contained in Resolution A/RES/71/3. This reflected Member States' recognition of the magnitude of this global problem and consensus about the actions needed to prevent a post-antibiotic era. Go to article


Medicine & Public Health

Doctor Admits Misleading Medics Over Pauline Cafferkey Temperature ( The Guardian) Hannah Ryan says she recorded lower reading for Ebola nurse on return from Sierra Leone but denies misconduct. Go to article

Facilitators and Barriers of Parental Attitudes and Beliefs Toward School-Located Influenza Vaccination in the United States: Systematic Review ( Vaccine) The study objective was to identify facilitators and barriers of parental attitudes and beliefs toward school-located influenza vaccination in the US. Go to article

Vaccination of Active Component US Military Personnel Against Salmonella Typhi ( Vaccine) Data were obtained from the Defense Medical Surveillance System and vaccination identified between 1998 and 2011 from vaccination codes. Clinical outcomes were assessed for four weeks post vaccination. Go to article

Gates Foundation's Rose-Colored World View Not Support by Evidence ( Humanopshere) The annual public letter from Bill and Melinda Gates has become a much-celebrated event in the global development calendar. But lost in the excitement around this year's letter is the fact that it uses 6,000 words to paint a picture that is so selective in its use of facts that it amounts to little more than propaganda for a failing aid and development industry, and indeed a failing ideology. Go to article

Ebola Preparedness Resources for Acute-Care Hospitals in the United Sates: A Cross-Sectional Study of Costs, Benefits, and Challenges ( Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology) To assess resource allocation and costs associated with US hospitals preparing for the possible spread of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease epidemic in the US. Go to article


Science & Technology

A Smartphone-Based Diagnostic Platform for Rapid Detection of Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue Viruses ( Scientific Reports) Current multiplexed diagnostics for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses are situated outside the intersection of affordability, high performance, and suitability for use at the point-of-care in resource-limited settings. Consequently, insufficient diagnostic capabilities are a key limitation facing current Zika outbreak management strategies. Go to article

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei Vaccines: Are We Close to Clinical Trials? ( Vaccine) B. pseudomallei is the cause of melioidosis, a serious an often fatal disease of humans and animals. The closely related bacterium B. mallei, which cases glanders, is considered to be a clonal derivative of B. pseudomallei. Both B. pseudomallei and B. mallei were evaluated by the US and the former USSR as potential bioweapons. Go to article

Use of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Considered in Houston ( ABC News) Officials are considering releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in Houston as part of the fight against the insects known to carry diseases such as the Zika virus. Go to article

Modeling and Simulation in Dose Determination for Biodefense Products Approved Under the FDA Animal Rule ( Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics) Development of effective medical countermeasures for biodefense is vital to the US biopreparedness and response in the age of terrorism, both foreign and domestic. Go to article

Military and Maritime Evidence of Pandemic Influenza in Canada during the Summer of 1918 ( War & Society) Analysis of archival correspondence, the daily logs of troopships transporting soldiers to Europe and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database for soldier deaths from pneumonia and influenza across Canada indicate the influenza was more common during the summer of 1918 than previously thought. Go to article


Other 21st Century Threats

The Toxic Mystery Behind Kim Jong-Nam's Assassination ( Yahoo News) More than a month after Kim Jong-Nam was murdered in Kuala Lumpur, experts are struggling to make sense of Malaysia's findings that the lethal nerve agent VX was used to kill him without apparent harm to anyone else. Go to article

Can Science Rob Snakes of Their Deadliest Weapon? ( STAT News) Even in a test tube, snake venom is terrifying. Mix a few beads of venom from a deadly Indian krait with blood cells and, within an instant, the clear liquid will turn bright red as toxins blast through the cells, rupturing their membranes. Go to article

How Americans Think About Climate Change, in Six Maps ( New York Times) Americans overwhelmingly believe that global warming is happening, and that carbon emissions should be scaled back. But fewer are sure that the changes will harm them personally. Go to article
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