Pandora Report 7.18.2025

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report includes more updates on avian influenza, discussion of recent cuts and layoffs in the US federal government, discussion of Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and what they mean for efforts to destroy Syria’s CW stockpile, and more.

US Wastes Hundreds of Thousands of Vaccines Pledged to Africa

The United States has failed to deliver hundreds of thousands of mpox vaccine doses pledged to African countries, according to recent reporting from Politico. While the doses are still currently good, they will expire within six months, making them ineligible to be delivered now, according to Africa CDC officials. The US has so far sent about 91,000 of the more than one million mpox vaccines pledged by the Biden administration, and 220,000 doses have enough shelf life left to still be shipped if the Trump administration allows it. However, cuts by this administration have caused the rest to effectively be wasted. Using UNICEF numbers, Politico estimates these vaccines cost about $65 a dose.

This comes alongside broader concerning news about global vaccine coverage. Officials from the United Nations recently reported that 14 million children globally did not receive a single vaccine last year. While there was some good news (For example, about 85% of children who started completed the three-dose series of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, up from 84% in 2023.), officials say that the collapse of international aid this year will make it much more difficult to reduce the number of unprotected children globally. This is likely to worsen as vaccine skeptics continue to gain key positions within US government organizations, including HHS, and as the US continues to make cuts to foreign aid. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement about this analysis, “Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress.”

Other Vaccine News:

PEPFAR Survives Proposed Cuts

PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has emerged unscathed by a package of billions of dollars worth of funding cuts Congress sent to President Trump’s desk today. The original recissions package called for $400 million in cuts to the program that was established by former President George W. Bush in 2003. Senate Democrats and a number of Republicans rejected the proposed cuts. The package aims to claw back $9 billion in congressionally-approved funding for foreign aid and public media funding. It passed the Senate on Thursday, 51-48, after overcoming several hurdles, before passing the House.

Further Reading:

Cuts and Layoffs Continue to Abound in the Federal Government

HHS finalized this week 10,000 layoffs across federal health agencies, including NIH, FDA, and CDC, following a Supreme Court ruling allowing the administration to move forward with the lay offs. Laid off employees included people who helped coordinate travel for overseas drug facility inspectors, communications staff, public records officials, and employees who oversaw contracts related to federal research. Their terminations were previously announced in March, with many only finding out they had been laid off when their work badges stopped working on April 1. The NIH is also now set to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers, reportedly to more closely align the agency with the administration’s priorities.

The State Department also fired more than 1,300 employees late last week in a move the administration says will cut back on “bloat” and inefficiencies. Offices impacted include the Office of Global Women’s issues, as well as others, such as those focused on diversity and inclusion and Syria. Layoff notices were sent to more than 1,100 civil services employees (who largely have a 60 day separation period) and 240 Foreign Service employees, who will be placed on paid administrative leave then lose their jobs 120 days after notice. An FAQ document provided to fired employees said this action was taken to “focus the Department’s resources on policy priorities and eliminate redundant functions in order to better deliver for American taxpayers.”

In a statement defending the firings, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was necessary to overhaul what has been described as the Department’s sluggish decision-making processes and redundancies. Rubio said in May, “There were 40 boxes on this piece of paper,” referring to the policy approval process. “That means 40 people had to check off ‘yes’ before it even got to me. That’s ridiculous. And if any one of those boxes didn’t get checked, the memo didn’t move. That can’t continue.”

Further Reading:

Avian Influenza Updates

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor

Invisible Pandemic: How H5N1 is Decimating Global Wildlife

While headlines focused on rising egg prices and concerns for a human pandemic, H5N1 bird flu has been quietly ravaging global wildlife populations. Wildlife scientists have monitored avian influenza for decades, mostly watching out for potential spillovers into commercial poultry or humans. The many variations of circulating bird flu virus typically have minimal effect on wild birds. However, since the emergence of the 2.3.4.4b clade in 2020, scientists have noted an unprecedented impact on bird and mammalian species across six continents, with little attention from the general public. Stephanie Avery-Gomm, a conservation scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, estimates nearly 40% of Canada’s Northern Gannet population died as a result of a months-long H5N1 outbreak in 2022. In 2023, Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, observed as a breeding colony of southern elephant seals in Argentina lost 96% of the year’s pups, approximately 17,400 animals. Similar reports are coming in from wildlife experts around the world: 24,463 Cape Cormorants in South Africa, 21 California Condors in the western U.S., 5,500 Peruvian Pelicans. With one in six affected bird species and 25% of affected mammals already considered threatened, H5N1 pushes vulnerable populations toward potential extinction. Recovery timelines stretch decades, and some populations may need a century to rebound.

The tallies of known dead animals and the estimation of missing animals in breeding colonies is heartbreaking, but what’s even more concerning is the number of invisible deaths. Scientists can only account for losses in monitored populations, but a significant amount of wildlife mortality occurs where no one is watching, such as out at sea or in vast swaths of wilderness with no humans around to see. The bottom line is that the true scale of H5N1 in wildlife populations is unknown and hard to determine. However, the impact extends far beyond just the losses in individual species; large animal die-offs could throw entire ecosystems into disarray. Northern Gannets, as apex ocean predators, help regulate fish populations. Their significant decline could trigger cascading effects throughout marine food webs. Similarly, the virus has impacted scavenger species like vultures and skuas, disrupting natural cleanup systems. In India, similar vulture losses increased disease transmission and human death rates by 4% when carcasses accumulated without scavengers for to remove them. This crisis underscores a fundamental One Health reality: wildlife health and human health are inseparably linked through shared ecosystems. Although scientists have detected protective antibodies in some animals, the virus continues to spread to new species and monitoring is still limited. The invisible wildlife crisis represents not just an environmental tragedy, but a critical blind spot in our pandemic defense systems.

Further Reading:

UF Tackles Bird Flu Misinformation

The University of Florida (UF) has established an H5N1 Coordination Group to combat bird flu misinformation through science-based education. Although the number of human cases remains low, the illness is still being detected regularly in migratory birds, wildlife, and livestock, including a new outbreak in a U.S. dairy cattle herd in California confirmed July 9th. UF expects transmission risks to increase during the fall migration season. The group has published educational guides targeting consumers and backyard chicken owners, covering topics like transmission methods, precautions, and infection signs. They emphasize that properly handled eggs, milk, and chicken are safe; however, raw milk and poultry products are not safe for human or animal consumption. Extension personnel are also completing professional training to be able to respond to concerns from local farmers and consumers, and the group is helping develop biosecurity guidelines for county fairs and livestock shows to mitigate potential outbreaks. The ultimate goal of these outreach efforts is to support a well-informed public that is capable of making smart health decisions related to this potentially serious health issue.

COVID-19 Updates

The CDC reported late last week that cases of COVID-19 are likely rising across 25 states as this year’s summer wave gets going. The rise in cases is in many states in the Southeast, Southern, and West Coast regions. However, national COVID-19 activity is still considered “low” based on wastewater sample data, up from “very low” the week prior. The Pacific Northwest has seen a sharp rise in ER visits for COVID-19, and rates are also rising in the Southeast.

Further Reading:

Syria Official: Israeli Strikes on Damascus Hinder Efforts to Destroy CW Stockpile

Ibrahim Olabi, who is the legal adviser to Syria’s Foreign Ministry tasked with the chemical weapons file, said this week that Israel’s airstrikes on Damascus are hindering the country’s efforts to find and destroy chemical weapons stockpiled under the Assad regime. He explained further that a planned visit by OPCW inspectors has already had to be postponed. The Organisation will reportedly hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the country. Israel’s airstrikes on Wednesday damaged the defense ministry, which Olabi says provides the institutional infrastructure necessary to organize and secure visits by OPCW inspectors.

Further Reading:

“Predators at the Viral Gate: Multi-Species Foraging at a Marburg Virus Reservoir”

Atukwatse et al. recently published this preprint: “Understanding how zoonotic viruses spill over from wildlife to humans requires direct ecological observation at reservoir-host interfaces — yet such events remain rare in the literature, and no such interface has been documented at scale. As part of a broader long-term study on African leopard (Panthera pardus) population ecology in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, we deployed camera traps on animal trails and at Python Cave, a known roost site of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and a confirmed Marburg and virus reservoir. This serendipitous deployment yielded the first visual documentation of a multi-trophic predator and scavenger guild interacting at a filovirus reservoir site. Over a five month period (February 16th – June 5th 2025) across 304 trap nights, we recorded at least 14 different vertebrate species, including leopards, primates, raptors, and small carnivores, engaging in bat predation, scavenging on bat remains, guano foraging, or cave exploration across 261 temporally and spatially independent events (>1 hour apart). These instances were structured, repeated and the species continuously made contact with the bats or entered their roosting space. Camera traps also recorded an estimated 400 human individuals visiting the cave — including school groups, tourists, and local trainees — the majority with no personal protective equipment. The shallow, accessible structure of Python Cave appears to collapse the typical spatial buffers between reservoir species and both predators and humans. These observations constitute the first ecological confirmation of a dynamic, multispecies exposure network at a known Marburg virus site, and may represent a Rosetta Stone for interpreting the real-time mechanics of zoonotic spillover.”

Read more about this paper in this article from The New York Times.

“Priorities to Uphold European Biosecurity in 2025”

This is a joint briefing by Pandemic Action Network, RAND Europe, IBBIS, Pour Demain, and the Centre for Future Generations that concludes, “For the EU to appropriately balance both the tremendous promises and challenges of biotechnology, it is critical to advance the comprehensive planning, structures, and investments to respond to the risks we know now and stay attuned to risks of the future. A concerted effort to embed priorities to uphold European biosecurity will enable Europe to embrace and shape the future technological landscape.”

“International Experts Urge Collective Action to Address Emerging AIxBio Risks”

This NTI post explains that more than 35 leading experts have called for urgent and coordinated global action to address risks emerging from the convergence of AI and the life sciences. It notes that, while these technologies promise important breakthroughs, they also heighten the risk of accidental or intentional release of harmful biological agents. It provides further discussion of the Statement on Biosecurity Risks at the Convergence of AI and the Life Sciences and NTI’s recommendations for addressing these threats.

NEW: Accelerating Biosecurity Networking Event

“Join us for an evening with Ginkgo Biosecurity and SecureBio as we explore how we can accelerate biosecurity efforts in the next 1-3 years. With momentum building around initiatives like HHS’s potential $52 million investment in a new “Biothreat Radar Detection System”, and Ginkgo expanding its global pathogen surveillance network, there’s a clear opportunity to push the field forward. SecureBio’s Nucleic Acid Observatory is also scaling wastewater sequencing across the US, contributing to this growing biosecurity landscape.”

​”This is your chance to connect with fellow innovators and experts, share ideas, and brainstorm solutions to improve biosecurity in a rapidly evolving landscape. The evening will feature two short lightning talks from senior biosecurity leaders, followed by plenty of time to mingle and discuss ideas.”

This event will take place on July 31 at 6 pm in Boston. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction

From the World Organisation for Animal Health: “In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.”

“The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of
health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.”

“The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.”

“Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.”

“The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place. ”

Learn more and register here.

Biodefense in Crisis: Danger and Opportunity

“This Commission meeting, Biodefense in Crisis: Danger and Opportunity, will be held on July 22, 2025. As a new Administration begins to develop its policy priorities and realigns federal offices and programs, the government must maintain and strengthen federal capabilities to address the biological threat. The focus of this meeting will be to provide the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense with a better understanding of (1) core requirements for effective national biodefense; (2) Administration biodefense priorities; (3) impacts of department and agency realignment; and (4) strategies for addressing future biological threats. More information will be provided as the event date approaches.”

This event will take place on July 22, 10 am-4 pm ET in Washington, DC. Register here.

SBA.4 International Synthetic Biology and Biosecurity Conference in Africa

From SynBio Africa: “The SBA 4.0 conference will serve as a platform for fostering connections among industry, academia, community groups, and policymakers. It will showcase innovative applications of synthetic biology and AI, and highlight ongoing efforts in biomathematics, biomanufacturing, one-health, biosafety and biosecurity. It will also facilitate networking and information exchange. Key focus areas include tackling agriculture, health, environmental management, and industry challenges. In Africa, synthetic biology is poised to drive the national development agenda by promoting a sustainable bioeconomy, supporting health and agricultural systems, and aiding environmental conservation and restoration. This event will provide a vital opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and strategize the integration of synthetic biology innovations, address policy, legal frameworks, and communicate the benefits of the technology.”

This conference will take place July 23-25 in Kigali. Learn more and register here.

CTD–SPECTRE Symposium, “Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases for Clinicians and Translational Scientists” 

“The CTD-SPECTRE Symposium on Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases for Clinicians and Translational Scientists 2025 offers a unique opportunity to connect with global experts, gain cutting-edge insights, and collaborate with peers dedicated to infectious disease research and treatment.”

“Taking place September 16 -19, 2025, at the historic Grand Galvez in Galveston, TX, this immersive symposium will unite clinicians, translational investigators, and trainees to explore the latest breakthroughs in tropical and emerging infectious diseases.”

“Hosted by the Division of Infectious Diseases at UTMB, Center for Tropical Diseases (CTD) and Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, & Education (SPECTRE) Program.”

Learn more and register here.

NEW: Open Call: Experts for the Collaboratory Technical Advisory Group

“The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Collaboratory Technical Advisory Group. This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.”

Read more and express interest by July 24 here.

NEW: 64th ISODARCO Course

From ISODARCO: “In recent years, the global security landscape has become increasingly volatile, shaped by a convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and evolving nuclear doctrines. The post-Cold War order that once provided a measure of predictability in global security has eroded. Conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and strategic competition between major powers have reshaped alliances and strategic postures.”

“At the same time, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonic missiles, and cyber threats – are adding new layers of complexity to both nuclear and conventional deterrence dynamics. These technologies are not only distorting the information landscape but also compressing decision-making timelines and complicating signaling mechanisms, increasing the risk of miscalculation.”

“Effectively managing nuclear escalation risks in this environment will require a combination of innovative diplomacy, technological safeguards, and renewed dialogue mechanisms to rebuild trust, reduce misperceptions, and stabilize strategic relations.”

“The ISODARCO 2026 Winter Course presents an invaluable opportunity for students and experts to discuss and examine these dynamics in depth and explore approaches to re-establishing strategic stability and reducing nuclear dangers in a volatile world.”

This course will take place January 11-18, 2026, in Andalo. Learn more and apply here.

Request for Proposals: Biosafety and Biosecurity Capacity Strengthening in Support of the 100 Days Mission

From CEPI: “This Request for Proposals (RfP) will support the establishment of a group of implementation partners to enable successful implementation of CEPI’s Biosecurity Strategy, focused on objectives associated with capacity strengthening, equity, and health-security partnerships, as described in CEPI’s Biosecurity Strategy Implementation Plan. The selected applicants will sign a Framework Agreement under which CEPI can make “call-offs”, i.e. requests for services, related to specific tasks. At CEPI’s direction, services rendered under this Framework Agreement may be provided to CEPI internally, or to a partner organization (e.g. partner countries, affiliates within CEPI’s laboratory and manufacturing networks particularly in the Global South, international organisations, etc.); such partners may govern aspects of the content of the work, but the legal agreement remains with CEPI.”

Learn more and submit proposals by July 30 here.

Applied Biosafety Call for Papers

“The Editors of Applied Biosafety are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue focused on the myriad of topics associated with global biosafety management. This special issue will showcase examples of innovative approaches, creative solutions, and best practices developed and used around the world for managing risks associated with the handling, use, and storage of infectious biological agents, toxins, and potentially infectious materials in research and clinical settings.”

Learn more and submit by November 1 here.

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