Argentina's Growing Hantavirus Outbreak (Avian flu Diary) Scientists have identified dozens of viruses within the genus Hantavirus (named after the Hantaan River of Korea), with mortality that varies from1%-2% for some varieties (i.e. Seoul Virus, Puumala Virus) to more than 30% for the North American Sin Nombre and South American Andes Virus. Go to article
Fighting Ebola is hard. In Congo, fake news makes it harder.(Science) The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is providing a natural experiment in fighting fake news. Occurring in a conflict zone, amid a controversial presidential election, the epidemic has proved to be fertile ground for conspiracy theories and political manipulation, which can hamper efforts to treat patients and fight the virus's spread. Go to article
Government Affairs & National Security
FDA to Restart High-Risk Food Inspections Despite Shutdown(The Hill) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is going to restart high-risk food inspections this week despite the partial government shutdown, which has forced the FDA to suspend most routine domestic food facility inspections. Go to article
North Korea's Less-Known Military Threat: Biological Weapons(NYT) According to an analysis issued by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey last month, North Korea is collaborating with foreign researchers to learn biotechnology skills and build machinery. As a result, the country's capabilities are increasing rapidly.Go to article
Global Health Security
Hong Kong's Overnight MERS Scare(Avian Flu Diary)The 2003 SARS epidemic left an indelible mark on Hong Kong's Psyche (see SARS And Remembrance) - as between March 11th and June 6th of that year a total of 1750 cases were identified in the city, and of those, 286 died.Go to article
The Reemergence of Human Rabies and Emergence of an Indian Subcontinent Lineage in Tibet, China(PLOS) Until recently, Tibet, "the third pole" of the earth, has been relatively isolated from the outside world, and has stayed rabies free for almost two decades. However, from 2015 to 2017, one human case has been reported each year. Investigation of the origins of these cases revealed each of the three human cases has distinct origins. Go to article
Ten Threats to Global Health in 2019(WHO) The world is facing multiple health challenges. These range from outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, increasing reports of drug-resistant pathogens, growing rates of obesity and physical inactivity to the health impacts of environmental pollution and climate change and multiple humanitarian crises. Go to article
Predictors of Fatality in Influenza a Virus Subtypes Infection Among Inpatients in 2015-2016 Season(International Journal of Infectious Diseases) Highlights: The case fatality rate of Influenza A (H3N2) was significantly higher than influenza A (H1N1). Detection of the infection, allowing opportunity for the early use of antiviral agents, was found to be important for prevention of fatality. The vaccination should be should be prioritized for at-risk groups. Go to article
Other 21st Century Threats
OPCW Agrees to Ban Novichok(Washington Post)The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will add Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent used in a March attack last year in Salisbury, England, to its list of banned toxins after its decision-making body adopted a proposal by the United States, the Netherlands and Canada.Go to article
Delivered first thing each Tuesday morning, Preparedness Pulsepoints provides a snapshot of each week's USG action on readiness and response.
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