This week’s Pandora Report covers the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, updates on the administration, H5N1, and more.
DRC Declares Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak
Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province. As of September 4, 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths have been reported. Africa CDC reports that the index case is a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital in August with high fever and repeated vomiting, among other symptoms. The cases and deaths have been identified across the Bulape and Mweka health zones. Four cases were in healthcare workers. Furthermore, laboratory testing has confirmed the outbreak is of the Zaire strain. Kasai province last reported an EVD outbreak in 2008, while the DRC last reported an outbreak in 2022 in Équateur province.
Further Reading:
- “Ebola Outbreak Kills 15 in DR Congo,” Farouk Chothia, BBC
- “Ebola Outbreak in Congo Tests Global Response After US Aid Cuts,” Bloomberg
HHS Updates
Calls for Kennedy to Resign Continue
Following CDC’s chaotic saga last month, Secretary Kennedy is facing even more calls from politicians, former and current health officials, and professional organizations to step down. A letter signed by over 1,000 former and current HHS staff this week formally called for Kennedy’s resignation from HHS, building on a previous letter written following the shooting at CDC early last month. The latest letter cites Kennedy’s role in the firing of Susan Monarez, the subsequent resignations of several top CDC officials, the appointment of “ideologues who pose as scientific experts and manipulate data to fit predetermined conclusions,” and more. The letter came amid similar calls from Senate Democrats and yet more professional organizations for the secretary’s resignation. Kennedy also faced similar calls during a particularly explosive hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.
Further Reading:
- “More than 1,000 HHS Staff Call on RFK Jr. to Resign,” Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill
- “Joint Statement Calling for Secretary Kennedy Resignation,” Infectious Diseases Society of America; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American Academy of HIV Medicine; American Association of Immunologists; American Public Health Association; American Society for Microbiology; American Society for Virology; Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology; AIDS Vaccine Advisory Committee; Camenzind Solutions LLC; Fast-Track Cities Institute; HIV Medicine Institute; ID Care; International Association of Providers of AIDS Care; NTM Info & Research; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society; Peggy Lillis Foundation; Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America; Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists; Stop TB USA; Treatment Action Group
- “Statement from J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health on the Termination of the CDC Director and Departure of Senior Leadership at CDC,” Trust for America’s Health
- “Senate Democrats File Resolution Calling for Kennedy’s Resignation from HHS,” Kevin Hendricks, New Mexico Political Report
- “Bernie Sanders: Kennedy Must Resign,” Bernie Sanders, The New York Times
- “1 in 4 Americans Trust RFK Jr. with Medical Advice,” Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill
- “At CDC, Worries Mount That Agency has Taken Anti-Science Turn,” Stephanie Armour, KFF Health News
- “As CDC Crumbles, Fears Grow About Vaccines, Pandemics and Health Crises,” Lena H. Sun, Lauren Weber, and David Ovalle, The Washington Post
- “Will the C.D.C. Survive?” Apoorva Mandavilli, The New York Times
- “Resigned Health Official: ‘I Only See Harm Coming,'” David Cohen, Politico
- “GOP Senators Signal to Trump that Kennedy is on Thin Ice,” Alexander Bolton, The Hill
- “Democrat Who Called RFK Jr. a ‘Charlatan’ Says U.S. is Vulnerable to Next Pandemic,” Obed Manuel and Michel Martin, NPR
- “A Different RFK Jr. Just Appeared Before Congress,” Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic
- “I resigned from the CDC. Here Are Three Questions for RFK Jr.,” Debra Houry, The Washington Post
- “We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy is Endangering Every American’s Health,” Richard Besser, Mandy K. Cohen, William Foege, Tom Frieden, Jeffrey Koplan, William Roper, David Satcher, Anne Schuchat, and Rochelle P. Walensky, The New York Times
Kennedy Set to Nominate New ACIP Members Amid Vaccine Clashes
With COVID-19 activity continuing to rise and more Americans uncertain if they will be able to receive updated COVID-19 immunizations this fall, Secretary Kennedy is set to appoint seven more members to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Among those on the list are a cardiologist, neurologist, and geneticist who have previously been critical of vaccines or mandates. The views of the four others are not clear as of yet.
Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatrician at Stanford University who served on the panel until Kennedy fired everyone on it in June, told The New York Times, “At first blush, none of these potential candidates appear to have vaccine expertise…It seems that there is a theme of ‘mainstream’ Covid policy denial. Covid is not the only disease we are dealing with now, and we should move on to dealing with the overall vaccine disease prevention landscape.”
In related news, the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington announced this week that they are forming the West Coast Health Alliance to provide unified recommendations to “ensure residents remain protected by science, not politics,” in response to upheaval at CDC. The trio warned that there will be serious ramifications if CDC becomes “a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science.”
Further Reading:
- “Kennedy Rejects Criticism, Data and Decorum in Contentious Hearing,” Apoorva Mandavilli, Dani Blum, Christina Jewett, and Reed Abelson, The New York Times
- “Prominent Critic of RFK Jr. Blocked from FDA Vaccine Committee,” Rachel Roubein, The Washington Post
- “Whistle-Blower Complaints Detail Tension Over Vaccines at N.I.H,” Benjamin Mueller, The New York Times
- “America Needs Warp Speed on Vaccines, not RFK Jr.’s Warped Decision Making | Opinion,” Brett P. Grioir, USA Today
- “RFK Jr.’s Endless Anti-Vax Campaign Targets the Science That Could Lead to Cancer Vaccines,” Jennifer B. Nuzzo, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- “How mRNA Vaccine Cuts Threaten US National Security,” Margaret Hamburg and Jaime Yassif, The Hill
- “How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Spreads Doubt and Distrust,” Jay K. Varma, Psychology Today
- “Unraveling the Arc of Vaccine Progress,” Seth Berkley, Science
Avian Influenza Updates
By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor
AI Tool Shows Promise for H5N1 Detection in Emergency Departments
University of Maryland researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that could greatly enhance H5N1 surveillance by identifying high-risk patients who slip through the cracks during routine emergency department visits. In the study recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, the team used GPT-4 Turbo to analyze over 13,000 emergency department visits from patients presenting with respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis in 2024.
While these symptoms could indicate seasonal flu, they’re also consistent with early H5N1 infections, making it crucial to also identify potentially relevant animal exposures. The AI tool successfully flagged 76 cases where patients mentioned risk factors like working as butchers or on livestock farms. After human review, 14 patients were confirmed to have had recent exposure to animals known to carry H5N1. Notably, these exposures were often mentioned incidentally in medical notes rather than being recognized as clinically significant by healthcare providers. The entire process required just 26 minutes of human oversight and cost only 3 cents per patient record. This scalability could enable widespread deployment across hospital systems nationwide.
“Because we are not tracking how many symptomatic patients have potential bird flu exposures, and how many of those patients are being tested, infections could be going undetected,” explained lead researcher Katherine Goodman. “It’s vital for healthcare systems to monitor for potential human exposure and to act quickly on that information.”
However, experts noted some important limitations. The model was conservative when identifying animal exposures relevant to avian influenza, flagging even low-risk contact with animals such as pet dogs, emphasizing the need for human review of any flagged cases. Furthermore, current AI tools like this one rely on already knowing what to look for when screening for H5N1. More sophisticated systems will be needed to identify emerging patterns as H5N1 evolves or new pandemic threats emerge. Still, for a virus where early detection could mean the difference between containment and widespread human transmission, this represents meaningful progress in our surveillance capabilities.
Further Reading:
- “H5N1 avian flu strikes South Dakota turkey farm,” Lisa Schnirring, CIDRAP
- “India’s Delhi zoo shut after positive bird flu tests from two storks, Times of India reports,” Reuters
- “Saving the world’s fattest parrot: can we vaccinate our rarest species before bird flu gets to them?” Gloria Dickie, The Guardian
Other Relevant Happenings
USARPAC Hosts Inaugural Biological Defense TTX
- “USARPAC Partners with HQDA and Johns Hopkins APL to Host the Inaugural Biological Defense Exercise Malama Pacific,” Kenneth A. Scarle, U.S. Army Pacific
Florida Moves to End Childhood Vaccine Mandates
- “Florida Moves to End Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren,” Patricia Mazzei, The New York Times
- “The Florida Surgeon General Who Likens Vaccine Mandates to Slavery,” Kayla Epstein, BBC
- “States Go Their Own (and Contradictory) Ways on Vaccine Policy,” Emily Baumgaertner Nunn, The New York Times
CDC Scales Back FoodNet
- “CDC Dramatically Scales Back Program that Tracks Food Poisoning Infections,” Jonel Aleccia, ABC News
FDA Investigating Following Confirmation of H5N1 in Raw Cat Food
- “FDA Notifies Pet Owners That Tests Show H5N1 Contamination in Certain Lots of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats,” FDA
- “California Cat Euthanizes After Getting Bird Flu from Raw Cat Food,” Rebecca Cohen, NBC News
Administration Agrees to Restore Public Health Datasets and Websites
- “Trump Admin Agrees to Restore Public Health Webpages,” Tina Reed, Axios
US Aid Cuts Disrupt HIV Services in Tanzania and Uganda
- “On the Brink of Catastrophe: U.S. Foreign Aid Disruption to HIV Services in Tanzania and Uganda,” Physicians for Human Rights
- “Trump Aid Cuts in East Africa Led to Unwanted Abortion and Babies Being Born with HIV – Report,” Kat Lay, The Guardian
Typologies of Terrorist Organizations: Conceptual Lenses and Counterterrorism Measures
This forthcoming book was authored by Mahmut Cengiz, Mitchel P. Roth, and Huseyin Cinoglu. Cengiz is an associate professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government and a research faculty member with Mason’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center who teaches courses in the Biodefense Graduate Program: “Explore the complex landscape of global terrorism with Typologies of Terrorist Organizations: Conceptual Lenses and Counterterrorism Measures. This essential volume provides a comprehensive examination of hundreds of terrorist groups and employs a detailed framework of typological classifications—religious, left-wing/revolutionary, ethnonationalist, anarchist, right-wing, ecoterrorism, state terrorism, cyberterrorism, and narcoterrorism—to analyze each group in depth, focusing on their ideologies, key actors, methods, and underlying motives.”
“What sets this book apart is its multidimensional approach, using conceptual lenses to delve into the causes of terrorist actions, the motivations driving these groups, and their strategies. This approach not only aids in combating terrorism but also enhances understanding of the broader context in which these groups operate. It provides insights into their organizational structures, tactics, weaponry, victim profiles, target types, funding sources, and networks, painting a comprehensive picture of the evolving nature of terrorism.”
“Additionally, Typologies of Terrorist Organizations offers a critical review of domestic and global counterterrorism strategies, examining how these strategies have evolved to address emerging threats. Each chapter provides a detailed perspective on counterterrorism efforts, making this book a valuable resource for understanding both the development of terrorist tactics and the responses designed to counter them.”
“Ideal for scholars, policymakers, and security professionals, this book is not only crucial for those engaged in counterterrorism but also for anyone seeking to understand the broader contextual dynamics of global terrorism. Its combination of theoretical depth and practical analysis makes it a significant contribution to the field of counterterrorism studies and an indispensable guide for navigating contemporary security challenges.”
“Neutralizing Nipah”
Rekha Dixit recently published this article in Shaastra: “Pedro is a fluffy seven-year-old alpaca from the Andes mountains of Chile. The Pteropus medius is a large fruit bat native to the Indian subcontinent. There is little to connect the two — barring the fact that Pedro’s blood might be able to fight the deadly Nipah virus harboured by the fruit bat.”
“Researchers from Austral University of Chile and The University of Queensland, Australia, have isolated a nanobody — DS90 — from Pedro’s immune cells that can bind to a surface protein of the Nipah virus, thereby blocking its ability to enter and infect mammalian cells (bit.ly/alpaca-Nipah).”
“Nanobodies are very small antibodies — one-tenth the size of standard antibodies — and are produced only in the Camelid group of animals, which includes alpacas. Researchers are looking at nanobodies to tackle diseases ranging from infection to cancer because of their size, enhanced ability to bind with antigens, robust stability and capability to breach the blood-brain barrier. Nanobodies can also be manufactured to scale. Discovered in 1989 by a team led by Raymond Hamers and Cécile Casterman, the first nanobody-based therapy was approved in 2018 to treat acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood disorder.”
Read more here.
“Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance”
Geoffrey Kamadi recently published this article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, writing in part, “The cholera outbreak in Malawi illustrates how natural disasters and climate change can create or exacerbate public health crises. But researchers are only beginning to understand the relationship between climate change and AMR specifically. “For the last five years, a lot of new work has gone into how climate change and AMR are relating to one another,” says Arshnee Moodley, the team lead for AMR at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi.”
“Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies”
From NASEM: “The U.S. scientific enterprise has produced countless discoveries that have led to significant advances in technology, health, security, safety, and economic prosperity. However, concern exists that excessive, uncoordinated, and duplicative policies and regulations surrounding research are hampering progress and jeopardizing American scientific competitiveness. Estimates suggest the typical U.S. academic researcher spends more than 40 percent of their federally funded research time on administrative and regulatory matters, wasting intellectual capacity and taxpayer dollars. Although administrative and regulatory compliance work can be vital aspects of research, the time spent by researchers on such activities continues to increase because of a dramatic rise in regulations, policies, and requirements over time.”
“To better ensure that the research community is maximally productive while simultaneously ensuring the safety, accountability, security, and ethical conduct of publicly funded research, Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science examines current federal research regulations. This report identifies ways to improve regulatory processes and administrative tasks, reduce or eliminate unnecessary work, and modify and remove policies and regulations that have outlived their purpose while maintaining necessary and appropriate integrity, accountability, and oversight. Simplifying Research Regulations provides a roadmap for establishing a more agile and resource-effective regulatory framework for federally funded research.”
Read STAT News’ coverage of this report here.
NEW: Doing More with Less: Practical Biosafety on a Budget
“Led by Azelia Labs biosafety experts, Katerina Semenyuk, PhD, RBP (ABSA) and Sarah Ziegler, PhD, RPB, CBSP (ABSA) this webinar will provide a comprehensive guide to maintaining a robust biosafety program in resource-constrained environments. We will address the unique challenges that arise when faced with limited funding or leadership hesitation to invest in safety protocols.”
“This session will focus on practical, actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles. Topics will include how to prioritize essential safety measures when budgets are tight, creative solutions for providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and innovative approaches to maintaining equipment and facilities without costly upgrades. We will also discuss methods for effectively communicating the value of biosafety to leadership to secure the necessary support for your program.”
This online event will take place on October 2, 12-1 pm EDT. Register here.
NEW: EMBRACE 2025 – Scientific Pathways to Biotoxin Preparedness Online Event
From CMINE: “Join us at the forefront of chemical and biological security for EMBRACE 2025 – a key event dedicated to cutting-edge research on biotoxins and human biomarkers of intoxication. This international symposium will spotlight ground-breaking scientific work and host the inauguration of EMBRACE’s Biotoxin Task Force.”
“What to Expect:
A unique opportunity to shape the scientific landscape of biotoxin threat preparedness and learn more about the EU EMBRACE project and the Biotoxin Task Force
A platform for showcasing innovation in biotoxin detection and response
Networking with global experts in biological forensics and toxicology”
This event will take place on October 15, 0900-1700 CEST. Register here.
ICYMI: Strengthening Biosecurity in the Latin America / Caribbean Region
From IFBA: “The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), alongside its network of biosafety associations and partners, continue to jointly implement activities designed to strengthen biological security across the Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) region. Most recently, an IFBA/LAC delegation, including included two participants from IFBA’s LAC Mentorship Program, participated in the Sixth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention between August 12-15, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to attending the plenary meeting and its associated events, the delegation engaged with the Youth for Biosecurity Fellows in collaboration with UNODA representatives during their field visit to Geneva. The IFBA’s Senior Program Officer presented the IFBA’s existing program successes and future strategic planning to the Global Partnership’s Biological Security Working Group.”
Read more here.
Biological Threats in the Age of Emerging Biotechnology – A Workshop Series
From NASEM: “The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will convene an ad hoc planning committee to organize a workshop series with international scientists. The series will engage early-career and established experts to: a) examine dual-use risks in biotechnology research; b) explore potential misuse of knowledge, tools, and materials; c) review existing frameworks for assessing and mitigating dual-use concerns; and d) identify steps to reduce exploitation while promoting responsible innovation. The workshops will focus on balancing scientific progress with security considerations. Key insights and recommendations will be compiled in a publicly available workshop proceedings document.”
These workshops will take place 10 am-1 pm ET on September 10, 17, and 18. 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.
Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop
From NASEM: “Most biological molecules are chiral entities where their mirror images have different structures and functional characteristics. Scientists have begun synthesizing left-handed DNA and RNA and creating proteins that can write left-handed nucleic acids. This, and other related research, is described as “mirror biology” and includes research toward creating mirror-image self-replicating living systems. The National Academies will host a foundational workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trends in research and development, risks and benefits of this research, and considerations relating for future governance of relevant enabling technologies.”
This event will take place virtually, September 29-30. Register here.
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.
GHS 2026
From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”
“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”
Learn more, submit abstracts, and register 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.
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.
The Pandora Report 