Tag: Africa CDC

Pandora Report 11.15.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report includes program news, updates on H5N1 and the pandemic agreement negotiations, and coverage of Africa CDC’s new mpox clinical trial and Ukrainian reporting on alleged Russian chemical weapons use.

All-BIOD Panel at the Tucker Symposium on Chemical and Biological Weapons

On November 13-14, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies hosted the 13th Annual Jonathan B. Tucker Symposium. The symposium is held in honor of Jonathan Tucker who dedicated his career to fighting the scourge of chemical and biological weapons. The first panel of the symposium was composed of two alumni of the Biodefense Graduate Program at the Schar School of Policy and Government: Yong-Bee Lim, Biodefense PhD ’21, and Minh Ly, MS Biodefense ’21. Dr. Lim, who is the Deputy Director of the Converging Risks Lab at the Council for Strategic Risks, gave a presentation on “Technology Democratization and its Implications for CBW Safety and Security: Lessons Learned from Engagement with Non-Traditional Communities.” Ly, who is a Research Fellow at CNS, served as the moderator. In his talk, Dr. Lim discussed his research on the Do-It-Yourself Biology community: a grassroots, decentralized community drawn together by a shared passion for biological experimentation, fostering innovation, and a desire to democratize access and use of life sciences materials, equipment, knowledge, and tools. While often discussed as a potential biosecurity threat in policy circles, Dr. Lim’s research found that much of the conventional wisdom on this community is oversimplified or incorrect. Dr. Lim’s talk concluded with three key lessons learned from his engagement with the community: 1) there is often a gap between perception and reality about biorisks that can lead to improper metrics and incorrect assessments that complicate policy formulation and implementation; 2) as the life sciences are practiced by more people, it is imperative to positively engage and receive buy-in from these communities on addressing biorisk issues; and 3) preventing and countering CBW will be increasingly difficult in a world where definitions for key terms such as biosecurity, democratization, and terrorism are either changing or have no global consensus.

Minh Ly (left) and Yong-Bee Lim (right)

Biodefense Program Bowling Party at the White House

On November 7, a group of students, faculty, and alumni from the Biodefense Graduate Program at the Schar School of Policy and Government went bowling at the Harry S. Truman Bowling Alley in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Competition was fierce, but friendly, between Team Smallpox, Team Anthrax, Team Plague, and Team Ebola. In between strikes, spares, and gutter balls, the group enjoyed coffee, pastries, and lively conversations. Biodefense master’s student Tyler Smith won a fall-themed White House challenge coin for achieving the highest score. Team Smallpox, composed of MS Biodefense students Will MacDonald and Tyler Smith, Biodefense PhD student Annette Prieto, and Biodefense PhD alum Jen Osetek, emerged victorious and walked away with more White House merch. “This was an amazing experience,” said Annette, who works as a Technical Analyst at RAND, “The fun and friendly competition we shared in such an iconic setting made for an unforgettable day and helped build bonds that will extend beyond the lanes.” Program director Gregory Koblentz was rusty but managed to throw one strike and two spares after a healthy infusion of caffeine. The bowling party was graciously hosted by Biodefense PhD student Katherine Dammer who is Special Assistant for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the National Security Council.

Avian Influenza Updates

Canada Reports First Domestically Acquired Human H5N1 Case

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed the country’s first domestically acquired human case of avian influenza (caused by H5N1) earlier this week. On November 9, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer for British Columbia reported that a BC teenager was hospitalized and tested presumptive positive for H5N1. On November 13, PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirmed the test result and that genomic sequencing indicated that the virus is related to the H5N1 viruses circulating in poultry in British Columbia. Provincial officials are conducting an investigation and are taking actions like contact tracing, testing, and offering antiviral medication to contacts. No further cases have been identified at this time, and it is not clear how the teenager was infected.

PHAC says that the risk to the general public remains low at this time, but the risk is higher for those with unprotected exposure to infected animals. Importantly, the genotype of H5N1 avian influenza in US dairy cattle is not the same as the one confirmed in the domestically acquired human case in BC. No cases of avian influenza have been reported in Canadian dairy cattle, and there is no evidence of its presence in Canadian milk samples.

CDC Calls for Expanding Testing

Federal health officials called for more testing of farmworkers after a CDC study showed that 7% of those tested in Michigan and Colorado had antibodies indicative of a previous H5N1 infection. Only one of the eight workers reported working with infected cows, despite all eight of them doing so. CDC explained in a statement that “…there are two primary ways that workers in the United States have been infected with H5N1 virus: via exposure to infected poultry during culling activities, and through exposure to infected dairy cows, including while caring for sick cows, or when working in a milking parlor, the area on the farm where cows are milked.”

Based on this, the agency has updated its existing recommendation on actions to prevent exposures to H5N1 infected animals, including:

  • “Decreasing human exposure through One Health control strategies and biosecurity to limit H5N1 virus infections in animals.”
  • “Enhancing personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance to more clearly detail what PPE is appropriate for exposure risk levels (high, medium, and low) in farming and poultry culling operations, alongside more robust worker training on proper use of PPE.”
  • “Identifying exposed workers and providing appropriate testing as well as post-exposure prophylaxis (i.e., efforts to limit spread of disease), and treatment (e.g., antivirals).”
  • “Offering testing to asymptomatic workers with a high-risk exposure who reported not wearing relevant PPE or who experienced a PPE breach or failure.”
  • “Increasing outreach and education with farm workers, employers, and advocacy groups to stress and ensure understanding of these messages and strategies.”

The CDC has also updated recommendations for testing and offering oral antiviral medications. This includes the recommendation that asymptomatic workers with a PPE-unprotected, high-risk exposure to sick animals be offered oseltamivir. The statement explains that a high-risk exposure “could include an unprotected splash in the face with raw cow milk from an infected or potentially infected cow, or not using recommended PPE during activities to depopulate poultry at a poultry farm with known H5N1.” The recommendations also include offering influenza A(H5) testing to asymptomatic workers who have had a high-risk exposure to animals infected with H5N1, whether or not that worker chooses to begin PEP.

The Pandemic Agreement Will Not Be Ready by December

Co-chairs of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou and Precious Matsoso, explained at a media briefing earlier this week that the pandemic agreement will not be adopted at a special World Health Assembly next month as initially thought. They indicated that this was because countries need “more time,” though the INB is already in its 12th meeting following 32 months of negotiations. Ambassador Amprou said at the briefing, “Today, member states agreed we need to conclude the agreement as soon as possible and continue negotiations into 2025 with the goal of concluding the agreement by the next WHA scheduled in May 2025, so we are moving in the right direction with a strong political commitment by member states.”’

Africa CDC Launches Mpox Drug Trial

The Africa CDC recently announced the launch of a trial of the antiviral drug brincidofovir as a treatment for mpox. Brincidofovir, sold under the brand name Tembexa, is a prodrug of cidofovir and is currently approved in the United States to treat smallpox. The trial, “The MpOx Study in Africa (MOSA),” will evaluate the safety and efficacy of brincidofovir with the drug’s developer, Emergent BioSolutions, announcing that it will be conducted and sponsored by PANTHER-the pandemic preparedness platform for health and emerging infectious response.

The trial was announced shortly after the total number of cases of mpox in this outbreak surpassed 50,000. Jean Kaseya, MD, Director General of Africa CDC, said in a statement “Africa is not just responding to the Mpox outbreak; we are leading the charge by spearheading research and development for Mpox therapeutics…The MpOx Study in Africa is a groundbreaking step toward developing an effective treatment that will save lives. This goes beyond research—it’s about African ownership and leadership in tackling our continent’s health challenges through essential research.”

Ukrainian General Staff Reports 323 Uses of Russian CW Use in October

Ukraine’s General Staff reported on November 8 that it had detected 323 Russian uses of CW on the battlefield in October. This brings the total to 4,613 uses reported by Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. An August investigation from the Kyiv Independent showed that Russia’s use of CW is growing, with some Ukrainian soldiers reporting dealing with up to six attacks daily. The United Kingdom announced sanctions against relevant Russian units last month, and the US Department of State cited Russian use of chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops in its announcement of more than 280 sanctions against individuals and entities tied to Russia earlier this year.

Emerging Infectious Diseases-“Vol 30, No. 14 Supplement – Reports from the US Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Program”

David M. Brett-Major writes in this issue of CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases‘ introduction, “This supplement contains new technical outputs and perspectives from the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program within the Department of Defense (DoD). GEIS develops, invests in, disseminates, and integrates information from health surveillance activities conducted by military, academic, public health, and other partners. GEIS-funded researchers from around the world provide novel surveillance data that are used to update the military and civilian outputs from this long-standing initiative.”

“Trump Administration’s Chance to Lead on Pandemic Preparedness”

Syra Madad discusses the incoming administration’s opportunity to leverage lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in this piece from the Belfer Center, writing in part “As the Trump administration prepares to take office, it faces a pivotal moment to leverage hard-earned lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more resilient, pandemic-prepared nation. The challenges of managing the first year of COVID-19 exposed critical vulnerabilities in our fragmented public health infrastructure and decentralized healthcare system. The administration is now uniquely positioned to prioritize pandemic preparedness as a matter of national security. This proactive approach is more important than ever, particularly given the current threat posed by H5N1 avian influenza, which is spreading rapidly among wild birds – among other species and causing outbreaks in U.S. poultry and dairy herds. Recent human cases among farmworkers exposed to infected livestock further underscore the urgency of this threat.”

“Cyberattacks on Healthcare: A Global Threat That Can’t Be Ignored”

Vibhu Mishra wrote this piece discussing UNSC’s interest in protecting healthcare infrastructure against cyberattacks for UN News: “An alarming surge in ransomware attacks is putting the world’s healthcare infrastructure at critical risk, endangering patient safety and destabilising health systems, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, as the Security Council convened to discuss strategies to counter the growing threat.”

Read more here and read the WHO Director-General’s remarks from the meeting here.

“Robust Biosecurity Measures Should Be Standardized at Scientific Cloud Labs”

Jeffrey Lee and Barbara Del Castello recently authored this commentary piece for the RAND Corporation. In it, they discuss clous labs and argue that “By adopting comprehensive security measures, including routine evaluations and monitoring via artificial intelligence (AI), the scientific community, ideally through a consortium, can harness the full potential of cloud labs while ensuring safe and secure research environments.”

“The U.S. Could Soon Face a Threat ‘More Powerful’ Than Nuclear Weapons”

Ashish K. Jha, Matt Pottinger and Matthew McKnight discuss the implications of rapid advancement in synthetic biology and how to achieve bioweapons deterrence in this Washington Post opinion piece. They point to the importance of superior intelligence gathering and analysis, writing that “For deterrence to work, Washington and its allies must have a robust, pervasive system for tracking and, where possible, eliminating highly dangerous research around the world.” However, they explain that the primary challenge to expanding and improving US BIOINT efforts is not technology, but resolve, with Congress having recently watered down the Biden administration’s budget request for pandemic prevention and biosurveillance efforts outlined in the 2023 Biodefense Posture Review remaining underfunded. They conclude that BIOINT alone won’t deter adversaries, but that all necessary elements of bioweapons deterrence depend on world-class BIOINT.

“Developing Guardrails for AI Biodesign Tools”

From NTI: “The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the life sciences offers tremendous potential benefits to society, but advances in AI biodesign tools also pose significant risks of misuse, with the potential for global consequences.”

“AI biodesign tools (BDTs) are technologies that enable the engineering of biological systems. These tools are trained on biological data and are developed to provide insights, predictions, and designs related to biological systems. BDTs have the potential to drive progress in the development of new therapeutics and are likely to have a significant impact across the broader bioeconomy, including in agriculture, health, and materials science. However, there are risks BDTs could be misused to design dangerous pathogens, and few safeguards exist to ensure that the benefits of these technologies can be realized safely and securely.”

“Innovative strategies are needed to reduce the risks associated with potential misuse of biological design tools without significantly hindering beneficial uses. This report identifies a number of strategies, referred to as guardrails, that could be developed to safeguard BDTs against misuse.”

Read the report here.

What We’re Listening To🎧

Build the Base Podcast-Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD
“In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Tracy Frost, Director of Technology Industrial Innovation Base, and Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology at the Department of Defense. The conversation explores the revolutionary intersection of biotechnology and national security, diving into how the DoD is leveraging bio-manufacturing to strengthen domestic supply chains and innovate defense capabilities. From converting waste products into valuable materials to creating new pathways for manufacturing critical components, the discussion reveals how public-private partnerships are reshaping America’s industrial base.”

One Health and the Politics of COVID-19 Book Launch

The Writer’s Center is hosting a book launch for Dr. Laura Kahn’s new book, One Health and the Politics of COVID-19 (blurb below) on November 23 at 2 pm EST in Bethesda, MD. Learn more and RSVP here.

“One Health and the Politics of COVID-19 unpacks the mysteries of COVID-19’s origins to impart important lessons for future outbreaks. The One Health concept recognizes the interconnected links among the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. By comparing the history, science, and clinical presentations of three different coronaviruses—SARS-CoV-1, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)—Kahn uncovers insights with important repercussions for how to prepare and avoid future pandemics. The One Health approach provides a useful framework for examining the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the origins of this zoonotic disease requires investigating the environmental and molecular biological factors that allowed the virus to spread to humans. The book explores the many ways in which the wild animal trade, wet markets, and the camel industry contributed to the spread of the earlier SARS-CoV-1 and MERS coronaviruses. For SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Kahn examines the biosafety, biosecurity, and bioethics implications of gain-of-function research on pandemic potential pathogens. This book is a must read to understand the geopolitics of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Enhancing the Resilience of Healthcare and Public Health Critical Infrastructure

From NASEM: “Healthcare and public health infrastructure, technology, and operations are rapidly changing and are increasingly interdependent and interconnected. Threats to the nation’s critical social and physical infrastructure systems are also rapidly evolving and highly complex—posing potentially new or growing risks of disruption and challenging the assumptions used to design and protect these systems.”

“The National Academies Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies will host a hybrid public workshop to explore strategies, policies, and innovative actions to improve the resilience of healthcare and public health (HPH) critical infrastructure to impacts from disasters and other emergencies.”

This event will take place in DC on December 9 and 10. Register here.

Resilience in the Face of Global Risks

From CSR: “The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) cordially invites you to our first annual CSR symposium, Resilience in the Face of Global Risks, scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2024. This is the first event bringing together all three of CSR’s institutions—the Center for Climate & Security, the Converging Risks Lab, and the Janne E. Nolan Center on Strategic Weapons—to engage with leaders across our mission sets.”

“The United States and its allies face a complex global security landscape where systemic risks like climate and ecological crisis, nuclear proliferation, and biological threats are blending with war, geopolitical competition, and human insecurity in new and profound ways. While there has been tremendous leadership—and meaningful progress—across these overlapping risk areas, they require persistent innovation in community building to meet the modern risk landscape.”

“The symposium will dive into the progress our communities have made—and how our passionate communities can better work together to help shape the future.”

“In addition to a keynote address, guests will hear from panels, take part in breakout sessions showcasing important issues and new ideas, plus engage with thought leaders between sessions. It will be a widely attended gathering, free to attendees.”

“As we enter a new year with an exceptionally dynamic security environment, we hope CSR’s December event will inspire and build a stronger community across professionals dedicated to anticipating and addressing the world’s greatest risks. We appreciate your consideration and hope you will be able to join us on the 10th of December.”

RSVP here.

2024 CBD S&T Conference

From DTRA: “The CBD S&T Conference brings together the most innovative and influential chemical and biological defense community members from around the globe to share insights and collaborate on the emerging chem-bio threats of tomorrow.”

“Join the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Chemical and Biological Technologies Department in its role as the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) for Chemical and Biological Defense, an integral component of the Chemical and Biological Defense Program, as we Focus Forward to uncover novel concepts and examine groundbreaking discoveries within the chem-bio defense landscape.”

“The 2024 CBD S&T Conference will be held at the Broward County Convention Center, December 2–5, 2024.”

Learn more and register here.

Health Security Intelligence: Managing Threats Risks and Hazards Post-Covid 19
“As  the acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, many unaddressed questions remain for Australia about how to better prepare for the next likely health threat, risk or hazard.”

“In addition to how we enhance national public health capacity, what are the important lessons we can learn from the pandemic from national security and biosecurity perspectives?”

“Given the likelihood of another pandemic at some point, an increasingly uncertain geo-political order and the potential exploitation of biotechnology by bad actors how does Australia and its allies better prepare for a future of increasingly complex health security and biological security threats, risks and hazards?”

“This event is for all health security intelligence stakeholders (policy-makers, national security staff, scientists, researchers and clinicians) who work across the one health continuum and national security agencies.”

“It will introduce participants to Charles Sturt’s extensive research agenda across the one health biosecurity, health and biological security and discuss both their national security and scientific implications.  You will hear briefings from key researchers across both STEM and social sciences disciplines working on assessing key health security threats, risks and hazards relevant to your work.”

This event will take place in-person and over livestream on December 4 from 2-4 pm AEDT. Learn more and register here.

NEW: “New Public Health Cybersecurity Readiness Survey Set to Boost Preparedness Against Cyber Threats”

“The co-chairs of the Joint Public Health Cybersecurity Task Group of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) published a special announcement letter announcing the launch of the Public Health Cybersecurity Readiness Survey. The move aims to enhance the cybersecurity preparedness of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health agencies. Participants can expect the anonymous survey to take about 15 minutes to complete, and it will be open until Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.”

Read more and access the survey here.

The Schar School is Hiring!

The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University is hiring a tenure-track assistant professor. Expertise in international security, national security, homeland security, emergency management, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the defense industrial base, or transnational crime and corruption will be regarded positively. Candidates whose work focuses on climate security, technological change, and the future of warfare, or domestic extremism are also encouraged to apply, as are candidates with regional expertise. Details can be found here: https://listings.jobs.gmu.edu/jobs/assistant-professor-fairfax-va-virginia-united-states-other.

US AI Safety Institute Issues RFI on Responsible Development of Chem-Bio Models

From AISI: “The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (U.S. AISI), housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), released a Request for Information seeking insight from stakeholders regarding the responsible development and use of chemical and biological (chem-bio) AI models.”

“Input from a broad range of experts in this field will help the U.S. AISI to develop well-informed approaches to assess and mitigate the potential risks of chem-bio AI models, while enabling safe and responsible innovation.”

“Respondents are encouraged to provide concrete examples, best practices, case studies, and actionable recommendations where possible. The full RFI can be found here.”

“The comment period is now open and will close on December 3, 2024, at 11:59PM Eastern Time. Comments can be submitted online at www.regulations.gov, under docket no. 240920-0247.”

Pandora Report 8.30.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report covers updates on mpox, COVID-19 misinformation, the US Government’s plan to re-launch its no-cost COVID-19 testing kit program, and more.

Mpox Updates

WHO Launches Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan

The WHO announced this week the launch of its global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan that is designed to stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox. According to the organization, “The plan covers the six-month period of September 2024-February 2025, envisioning a US$135 million funding need for the response by WHO, Member States, partners including Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities, and researchers, among others,” and it aims to coordinate this through global, regional, and national efforts.

Furthermore, “The plan, which builds on the temporary recommendations and standing recommendations issued by the WHO Director-General, focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance, prevention, readiness and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures like diagnostic tests and vaccines; minimizing animal-to-human transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak prevention and control.”

The same statement also says that WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) will collaboratively spearhead the effort to respond to mpox in the WHO Africa Region with Africa CDC. It explains that “WHO AFRO and Africa CDC have agreed on a one-plan, one-budget approach as part of the Africa Continental Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, currently under preparation.”

However, not everyone is convinced the WHO will find success in its approach. In a recent article for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists titled “A new mpox variant is taking off in Africa. The WHO plan for stopping it isn’t realistic,” Georgios Pappas writes, “In the mpox-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, local health care systems may lack in capabilities to deal with threats like mpox.  At the same time, political instability can be a barrier to improving health care facilities. Furthermore, malnutrition in the region predisposes children to unfavorable mpox outcomes. The WHO’s declaration of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the designation the body gives to the most threatening crises, should have served as a chance to support this lacking health infrastructure. But the proposals so far to address the crisis don’t appear to be rising to the occasion.”

DRC Struggles Without Adequate Access to Vaccines, Tests, and Treatments

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the current mpox outbreak, say they are without the necessary resources to contain the outbreak and treat those who are infected. NYT‘s Stephanie Nolen explains in a recent piece that the country has limited ability to diagnose mpox cases, a particularly concerning fact as the transmission and presentation of the disease change. She also writes “There is no effective antiviral treatment for mpox in Congo. The country is also short on the medications necessary to treat people with painful mpox lesions. Its fragile public health system is struggling to provide those infected with basic care, which has been shown to improve survival rates even in the absence of antiviral drugs.”

The DRC also continues to want for mpox vaccines, despite the country requesting them two years ago and manufacturers saying they have the supplies. This is in large part because of the WHO’s regulatory process. In the years since the last worldwide mpox outbreak, the WHO has still yet to approve the vaccines nor issue an emergency use license for them. This prevents UNICEF and Gavi from helping to facilitate immunizations in developing countries as they require one of these forms of authorization.

As Nolen explains in another piece, many low- and middle-income countries depend on the WHO to make these judgments about vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, in contrast to high-income countries that rely on their own regulators. This is a problem as “…the organization is painfully risk-averse, concerned with a need to protect its trustworthiness and ill-prepared to act swiftly in emergencies,” according to Blair Hanewall, a global health consultant who “managed the W.H.O. approvals portfolio as a deputy director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a key funder, for more than a decade.”

Despite these roadblocks, the WHO announced today that mpox vaccines are set to arrive in the DRC over the next few days. 230,000 doses, which were donated by the European Commission and Bavarian Nordic, are immediately available to be dispatched.

Read More-“Mpox Vaccine Tracker: Millions Pledged, Millions Still Yet to Be Delivered,” Chloe Searchinger and Allison Krugman, Think Global Health

WHO Urges Diagnostic Test Rapid Access and Invites Manufacturers to Emergency Review

This week, the WHO also asked manufacturers of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) for mpox to submit expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL). This comes after discussions with these manufacturers about the need for IVDs, especially in low-income settings. WHO explained in its statement on the action that “With as many as 1000 suspected cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone this week, the demand for diagnostic tests is on the rise. In this heavily affected country, WHO has worked with partners to scale up diagnostic capacity to respond to the upsurge of cases. Since May 2024, six additional labs have been equipped to diagnose mpox, enabling a decentralization of testing capacity from major cities to affected provinces. Two of these labs are in South Kivu, selected to respond to the outbreak of the new viral strain, called Ib. Thanks to these efforts, testing rates have dramatically improved in the country, with four times as many samples tested in 2024 so far as compared to 2023.”

US Government to Resume Offering COVID-19 Tests Through Mail at No Cost Again

Early this week, the US government announced it will again offer COVID-19 test kits to American households at no cost. Households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests upon the program’s reopening. This announcement comes alongside urging people to seek out updated COVID-19 boosters before the fall and winter come. While many Americans do have some immunity to COVID-19 because of previous infections or immunizations, less than 25% of adults in the US got an updated COVID-19 vaccination last fall.

More Americans Believe COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 28% of respondents incorrectly believe that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for thousands of deaths. This is in contrast to 22% in June of 2021. Furthermore, the percentage of respondents who say this is false declined from 66% to 55% during the same time period. 22% believe it is safer to be infected rather than get the vaccine, in contrast to 10% in April of 2021. The belief that COVID-19 vaccines change patients’ DNA rose from 8% in April 2021 to 15% now. Finally, while about two-thirds of respondents said the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the potential risks, this number is lower than those who believe the same for mpox, RSV, and MMR vaccines.

As Axios’ Adriel Bettelheim explains, “Previous polling has shown sizable numbers of Americans who believe COVID vaccine misinformation know they’re at odds with scientists and medical experts, suggesting that educating people on the science behind vaccines won’t change many minds.”

These trends are especially concerning given the United States’ renewed struggles with COVID-19 this summer and the push to prepare the public for the upcoming fall and winter respiratory virus season.

“International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment”

From the National Academies: “The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce plays a vital role in fostering and sustaining innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security. This workforce currently depends, and for the foreseeable future will depend, on both international and domestic talent. Foreign STEM talent contributes to domestic innovation, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in science and technology and also expands perspectives and networks essential to future scientific collaborations and discoveries.”

“At the request of the U.S. Department of Defense, this report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and their corresponding scientific, economic, and national security benefits. International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining international students and scholars relative to the programs and incentives other nations use to support national research capabilities, especially in national security and defense-related fields.”

Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, an associate professor with George Mason’s Biodefense Graduate Program, provided the study committee with insight into China’s Thousand Talent Program.

“We Need a Global Framework for Promoting Safe Handling of High Consequence Pathogens”

Karlsson et al. authored this opinion piece for the BMJ, writing in their introduction “The covid-19 pandemic has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding biosafety and biosecurity procedures in global pathogen research. This includes questions about any possible role of field and laboratory research into the emergence of the SARS-COV-2 virus.1 The $125m Discovery and Exploration of Emerging Pathogens-Viral Zoonoses programme, funded by the US Agency for International Development, researching new zoonotic viruses was recently cancelled partly because of these concerns.2 This has raised broader discussion about the risks and benefits of viral surveillance and research. Limiting funds for pathogen surveillance and research compromises long term preparedness for pandemics and leaves pathogen spillover threats unmonitored. Rather than restrict scientific surveillance and research, a global safety governance framework that spans the entire pathogen value chain must be urgently developed. This must cover the life cycle of pathogen research, including collection, transportation, and laboratory handling.”

“Biotechs Bolster Biosecurity to Safeguard the Future of Nucleic Acid Sequencing”

Danielle Gerhard discusses expert calls for stricter security measures regarding synthetic DNA in this piece for The Scientist: “Since then, industry consortia and government bodies have stepped up to fill this gap and provide guidance on how DNA providers can help prevent biosecurity risks through enhanced screening frameworks. However, to keep pace with the evolving landscape of rapid technology advancements and requests for guidance from industry, the government has updated its framework for providers of these services, but some experts in the field call for end-users, including institutions, to take on more responsibility when it comes to minimizing the biosecurity risks associated with these technologies.”

“Can Operation Warp Speed Serve as a Model for Accelerating Innovations Beyond COVID Vaccines?”

Arielle D’Souza, Kendall Hoyt, Christopher M. Snyder, and Alec Stapp’s work on a framework for applying mission approaches and economic principles from Operation Warp Speed to other innovations was recently made available by the National Bureau of Economic Research: “Operation Warp Speed (OWS) was a U.S. government-led program to accelerate the development, production, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The program cut the typical ten-year timeline needed to develop a new vaccine down to ten months and began vaccinating vulnerable populations within a year after launch. OWS’s success has led to calls for a similar mission model to accelerate innovations addressing other pressing social needs, including a cure for Alzheimer’s disease or atmospheric-carbon removal to combat global warming. We provide a framework to understand which innovations call for a mission approach and apply economic principles to identify key design features that contributed to the success of OWS.”

“2022-2024 NBAF Science Accomplishments Report”

The US Department of Agriculture recently released this report on scientific accomplishments at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, KS. The report covers NBAF’s mission and capabilities as well as accomplishments made by the ARS Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, ARS Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Unit, ARS Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit, Biologics Development Module, and APHIS Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

“Behind the Smoke: How Disinformation Surrounding Syria’s Chemical Attacks Undermines Public Health”

Salma Daoudi recently authored this article for the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy that “…explores the strategic use of disinformation to manipulate public perceptions around the Assad regime’s chemical attacks and its ramifications for the public health sector.”

“Worldwide Trends in COVID-19-Related Attacks Against Healthcare: A Review of the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition Database”

Duffhues et al. recently published this article in Health Security: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence targeting healthcare reportedly increased. Attacks against healthcare can severely hamper the public health response during a pandemic. Descriptive data analysis of these attacks may be helpful to develop prevention and mitigation strategies. This study aimed to investigate trends regarding COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare from January 2020 until January 2023. COVID-19-related incidents occurring between January 2020 and January 2023 were extracted from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition database and screened for eligibility. Included incidents were linked to COVID-19 health measures or were attacks directly interfering with COVID-19 healthcare, including conflict-related attacks. Data collected per incident included temporal factors; country; setting; attack and weapon type; perpetrator; motive; number of healthcare workers (HCWs) killed, injured, or kidnapped; and health facility damage. The study identified 255 COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare, with 18 HCWs killed, 147 HCWs injured, and 86 facilities damaged. The highest attack frequency was reported during the beginning of the pandemic and predominantly concerned stigma-related attacks against healthcare. Reported incidents in 2021 included attacks targeting vaccination campaigns, as well as conflict-related attacks interfering with COVID-19 healthcare. COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare occurred in heterogeneous contexts throughout the pandemic. Due to underreporting, the data presented are a minimum estimate of the actual magnitude of violence. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of public education campaigns, improved coordination between healthcare organizations and law enforcement, and the possible need to bolster the security of medical facilities and health workers.”

Asimov Press Pandemic Prevention Mini-Issue

Asimov Press recently published a handful of essays as part of its Pandemic Prevention Mini-Issue, including “Is That DNA Dangerous?” by Tessa Alexanian and Max Langenkamp, “Day Zero Antivirals for Future Pandemics” by Brian Wang, “Measuring the Black Death” by Saloni Dattani, and “Defense-Forward Biosecurity” by Allison Berke.

“Unmasking the Threat”

Goran Georgiev recently published this blog post focused on WMD information manipulation in Bulgaria and Romania with the Center for the Study of Democracy, writing in part “The analysis underscores a stark contrast between Bulgaria and Romania in the spread and impact of misleading content about biological laboratories, reflecting broader cultural differences in how Russia is perceived publicly. Romania does not share many of the cultural pull factors or cognitive capture that make citizens in majority Slav countries vulnerable to pro-Kremlin information interference, particularly the shared linguistic, ethnic, and historical heritage. Differences in geopolitical public perceptions have been evident in numerous comparative surveys, with Romanians being over eight times less likely (at 3%) to see Russia as a strategic ally after the invasion compared to Bulgarians (at 26%) or Slovaks (25%). These differences appear to be reflected in the level of engagement with pro-Kremlin narratives related to WMD.”

“Transoceanic Pathogen Transfer in the Age of Sail and Steam”

Elizabeth N. Blackmore and James O. Lloyd-Smith authored this article in PNAS: “In the centuries following Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage to the Americas, transoceanic travel opened unprecedented pathways in global pathogen circulation. Yet no biological transfer is a single, discrete event. We use mathematical modeling to quantify historical risk of shipborne pathogen introduction, exploring the respective contributions of journey time, ship size, population susceptibility, transmission intensity, density dependence, and pathogen biology. We contextualize our results using port arrivals data from San Francisco, 1850 to 1852, and from a selection of historically significant voyages, 1492 to 1918. We offer numerical estimates of introduction risk across historically realistic ranges of journey time and ship population size, and show that both steam travel and shipping regimes that involved frequent, large-scale movement of people substantially increased risk of transoceanic pathogen circulation.”

What We’re Listening to 🎧

Technologically Speaking Podcast: Season 4, Episode 3

“The Technologically Speaking Podcast sits down with Lindsay Gabbert, a microbiologist at the S&T Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). Lindsay and her colleagues at PIADC are on the front lines keeping dangerous animal diseases at bay and away from our farms. She talks about what the greatest threats are and what S&T and PIADC are doing to thwart them. She also shares anecdotes about her time working at PIADC, one of the most interesting and unique labs in the United States, nestled on a small and historic island in the Long Island Sound.”

BSL4ZNet International Conference

“The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet) is an international group of federal institutions in Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, United States and Canada responsible for high-containment laboratories that allows countries to work together to respond to dangerous zoonotic diseases that spread between animals and people.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference is taking place in September 2024. This year’s theme is “Emerging disease meets innovative science. The working language of the BSL4ZNet is English. The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference will be presented in English only.”

“The 2024 BSL4ZNet International Conference includes 4 sessions:

  • Wednesday, September 4: Threats and challenges – Delving into topics such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), Climate-Related Risks, and the nuanced landscape of Science Communication amidst Misinformation/Disinformation Challenges.
  • Wednesday, September 11: Innovation and emerging technologies – Innovation and Emerging Technologies: Exploring the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the realm of emerging technologies shaping our response to infectious diseases.
  • Wednesday, September 18: Biosecurity and biosafety – Addressing critical issues surrounding biosecurity and biosafety measures, crucial pillars in combating zoonotic diseases
  • Wednesday, September 25: Innovation for BSL4 activities and challenges – Featuring an enlightening panel discussion focusing on innovative approaches to address challenges inherent to BSL4 activities.”

Safeguarding the Food Supply: Integrating Diverse Risks, Connecting with Consumers, and Protecting Vulnerable Populations – A Workshop

From the National Academies: “On September 4-5, the Food Forum will host a workshop that explores the state of the science around hazard- and risk-based approaches to safeguarding both domestic and global food systems. Workshop presenters will examine nutrition, economic, and equity implications in food safety decision-making, and considerations and strategies for communicating hazard and risk across sectors. The workshop will also include national and international perspectives on risk assessment and tools to mitigate risk, as well as opportunities for the future of risk management and assessment, food safety, and public health.”

Learn more and register for this virtual event here.

Pandora Report 8.16.2024

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report discusses the recent mpox PHEIC declaration, updates on H5N1, and more.

World Health Organization Declares Mpox PHEIC

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, which is part of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Two clades exist (clade I and clade II). Clade IIb caused a global outbreak of mpox in 2022-23 that also resulted in a PHEIC (public health emergency of international concern) declaration. Now, the WHO has declared an outbreak of clade I mpox a PHEIC as case counts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries swell. 548 people have been killed by the disease in 2024, according to the DRC government.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration “on the advice of an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts who met earlier in the day to review data presented by experts from WHO and affected countries. The Committee informed the Director-General that it considers the upsurge of mpox to be a PHEIC, with potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent.”

Tedros said in a statement, “The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying. On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”

According to WHO “The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970). Mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animals to people. Following eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa.”

Image Credit: CDC PHIL| “This is a colorized transmission electron microscopic image of mpox virus particles (purple), which were found within an infected cell (brown), having been cultured in the laboratory. The image was captured and color-enhanced at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Integrated Research Facility (IRF), located in Fort Detrick, Maryland.”

Sweden Reports First Clade I Case Outside Africa, ECDC Raises Risk Alert Level

The Public Health Agency of Sweden reported on Thursday that the country has recorded the first case of mpox caused by clade I outside of Africa. Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed said in a news conference, “We have now also during the afternoon had confirmation that we have one case in Sweden of the more grave type of mpox, the one called clade 1.” State Epidemiologist Masnus Gisslen said in an official statement that the patient was infected while visiting “the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of mpox clade 1.”

Following Sweden’s announcement, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) raised its risk level for mpox from ‘low’ to ‘moderate,’ for sporadic cases appearing in the EU. The agency also asked countries to maintain high levels of awareness regarding those traveling from affected areas. The ECDC says the overall risk to the EU population has gone up from “very low” to “low” and that it expects there will be more imported cases in the coming weeks.

United States Announces Further $424 Million in Assistance for the DRC

This week the US, through the United States Agency for International Development, announced “…nearly $424 million in humanitarian and health assistance to address the ongoing catastrophe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This includes $414 million in humanitarian assistance to support people experiencing persistent humanitarian needs resulting from conflict and displacement. This announcement, made in Kinshasa by the U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn and U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture Jeffrey Prescott, also includes an additional $10 million in health assistance to respond to the current mpox outbreak in the DRC and in other affected countries in the region. USAID is also donating 50,000 mpox vaccines to the DRC, which is the country most impacted by this outbreak.”

The statement later explained that “The United States is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to the DRC and the largest bilateral donor to DRC’s health sector. This Fiscal Year, the U.S. provided more than $256 million in health assistance through bilateral programs including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the Global Health Security program, which enabled more than seven million people to receive lifesaving treatment for diseases including TB, HIV, and malaria.”

European Commission Coordinates Procurement and Donation of 215,000 Bavarian Nordic Doses to Africa CDC

The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Respons Authority (HERA) announced on Wednesday that it “will procure and donate 175,420 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine, the only FDA and EMA-approved mpox vaccine, as an immediate response to the mpox outbreak in Africa. In addition, the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic will donate 40,000 doses to HERA. The Africa CDC will distribute the vaccines according to regional needs.”

The announcement came in response to Africa CDC’s call for the international community to assist in mobilizing two million vaccines to stop this outbreak. The Commission said in its statement that “Through the Africa CDC, these vaccines will be distributed to affected countries. Furthermore, HERA is in collaboration with the Africa CDC with the aim to expand access to mpox diagnostics and sequencing in the region, with a €3.5 million grant foreseen for early autumn.”

Bavarian Nordic Wins $157 Million Contract to Replenish US JYNNEOS Vaccine Supply

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has reached an agreement with the Danish company Bavarian Nordic to “partly replenish” its stockpile of JYNNEOS vaccine following the 2022 mpox outbreak. This $156.8 million deal follows a similar one made last year by the US government totaling $120 million.

Further Reading

H5N1 Threat Persists but Remains Low

Despite the renewed focus on mpox, concern still remains about the spread of avian influenza globally, particularly H5N1, which has infected thirteen farmworkers in the United States so far this year. Despite the relatively low risk, Seqirus has begun producing and storing doses of its new vaccine targeting H5N1 in its facility outside of Raleigh, NC. In total, the company has agreed to produce 4.8 million doses in exchange for $22 million from the federal government. The government has also given Moderna $176 million to develop mRNA vaccines for influenza, including H5N1.

The CDC explained in a recent summary about its Influenza Risk Assessment Tool that “The current overall individual and population health risk to the general public posed by the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus presently spreading in cows, poultry, and other mammals remains low. Systematic comparisons of data related to this avian influenza A(H5N1) virus using the Influenza Risk Assessment Tool (IRAT) to data from other influenza A viruses has scored this virus’s future pandemic potential as “moderate risk” based on information through June 26, 2024. This is similar to previous assessments of earlier avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses.”

Furthermore, the WHO released an updated assessment on recent H5N1 events in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health. The assessment found that “At the present time, based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5N1) viruses to be low, while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation measures in place. Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a limited number of human infections have been reported. Although additional human infections associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are likely to continue to occur, the overall public health impact of such infections at a global level is minor.”

DOD, NNSA Inaugurate New Supercomputing System Dedicated to Biological Defense

Earlier this month, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced a new supercomputing system that is dedicated to biological defense at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. According to DOD, the Department “…is working with NNSA to significantly increase the computing capability available to our national biodefense programs. The collaboration has enabled expanding systems of the same system architecture as LLNL’s upcoming exascale supercomputer, El Capitan, which is projected to be the world’s most powerful supercomputer when it becomes operational later this year.”

“The biodefense-focused system will provide unique capabilities for large-scale simulation and AI-based modeling for a variety of defensive activities, including bio surveillance, threat characterization, advanced materials development, and accelerated medical countermeasures. DoD and NNSA intend to allow the U.S. Government interagency, International Allies and partners, and academia and industry to access the supercomputing capability.”

Learn more here.

Schumer Pledges to Block Any Senate Effort to Significantly Cut CDC Budget

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told The Associated Press this week that he would block any legislation from passing the Senate that proposes significant cuts to the budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Schumer further said that such cuts “would wreak havoc and chaos on food safety funding mechanisms and tracking operations at a core level.” As the AP explains, “Democrats said the proposal in a House bill includes a reduction of the CDC’s proposed budget by $1.8 billion, or about 22%, that would harm public health. The Republican-led effort also would mean a major cut in programs designed to address firearm injuries and opioid overdose prevention.”

The House Appropriations Committee passed the measure on a party-line vote last month.

“AIxBio: Opportunities to Strengthen Health Security”

Aurelia Attal-Juncqua, Anita Cicero, Alex Zhu, and Thomas Inglesby recently authored this published this preprint on SSRN: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize biosecurity, health security, biodefense, and pandemic preparedness by offering groundbreaking solutions for managing biological threats. This landscape review explores recent advancements in AI across these fields, drawing from both grey literature and peer-reviewed studies published between January 2019 and February 2024. AI has demonstrated potential in predicting viral mutations, which could enable earlier detection of outbreaks, and streamlining resource allocation by analyzing diverse data sources. It could also play a crucial role in accelerating the development and deployment of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and therapeutics. Additionally, use of AI may enhance laboratory automation, reducing human error and increasing biosafety. Despite these promising advancements, significant challenges and risks related to the potential misuse of AI, data security, and privacy concerns necessitate careful implementation and robust governance. This paper highlights the rapid progress and vast potential of AI in biosecurity, and provides key recommendations for U.S. policymakers to effectively harness AI’s capabilities while ensuring safety and security. These recommendations include expanding access to advanced computing resources, fostering collaboration across sectors, and establishing clear regulatory frameworks to support the safe and ethical deployment of AI technologies.”

“Emerging Biosecurity Threats in the Age of AI”

Suryesh K Namdeo and Pawan Dhar recently published this piece with IndiaBioscience: “As artificial intelligence (AI) enables the transformation of biology into an engineering discipline, an effective governance model that uses threat forecasting, real-time evaluation, and response strategies is urgently needed to address accidental or deliberate misuse. This article talks about the risks at the interface of AI and biosecurity and what could India do to better prepare for potential AI-biorisks.”

“2023 Biorisks, Biosecurity and Biological Disarmament Conference Report”

From UNIDIR: “To facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement around biological risks, biological security and biological disarmament, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) co-organized a stakeholder conference designed to bring together actors from civil society, academia and industry, as well as diplomats, to stimulate the exchange of ideas and thinking around how to build biosecurity and bolster biological disarmament.”

“The Biorisks, Biosecurity and Biological Disarmament Conference took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 4–5 July 2023. The event provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic processes and current and upcoming issues in the areas of biorisk, biosecurity and biological disarmament.”

“More than 80 individuals from 30 countries, representing 60 institutions, participated in the discussion in person, and a further 334 individuals joined the discussion virtually from around the world. The participants included diplomats, public health professionals, security experts and scientists from a wide range of organizations.”

“The Conference consisted of seven substantive panels, which explored a range of topics, centred on advances in science and technology and their related risks and benefits, biosecurity implementation, dual-use governance, disease response, international cooperation, and verification technologies. The discussions that took place during all seven panels are summarized in this conference report.”

“Launching the Global Biosecurity Accelerator at the Helsinki Biosecurity Dialogue”

Christopher East covers the launch of the Global Biosecurity Accelerator in this post from the Council on Strategic Risks, writing in part “This is a core driver of why CSR launched the Global Biosecurity Accelerator, of which the Helsinki Biosecurity Dialogue was the first multinational convening. The Global Biosecurity Accelerator’s mission is to accelerate global resilience to the full spectrum of biological threats— natural, accidental, or deliberate. In addition to promoting strong biosecurity strategies across nations, Accelerator events will raise insights from the range of actions that nations take—from enhancing biodefense, to embedding biosecurity in a whole-of-society approach, to One Health initiatives. Designed with interoperability and depth of defense in mind, CSR aims for the Global Biosecurity Accelerator to help jumpstart a ‘whole-of-globe’ approach to resilience against biological threats.”

“Russian Influence in Eastern Europe is Aggravating HIV Epidemic, Say Experts”

The Guardian‘s Kat Lay discusses the role of Russian propaganda in deterring people in eastern Europe from accessing necessary healthcare as AIDS deaths are up 34% compared to 2010. Lay writes in part, “Efforts to improve treatment and prevent infections are being hampered by Russian-linked propaganda against targets including opioid replacement therapy services, which reduce the risk of HIV infection among people using drugs, and the LGBTQ+ community…Meanwhile, “foreign agent” laws in a number of countries, following a pattern established in Russia, require charities and organisations receiving overseas funding to register and impose onerous reporting requirements. This has forced some charities to withdraw, a media briefing at the 25th international Aids conference was told.”

“Ebola: Ten Years Later – Lessons Learned and Future Pandemic Preparedness”

Krutika Kuppalli recently authored this post for PLOS Global Public Health‘s Speaking of Medicine and Health blog, writing in part “In early December 2013, a 2-year-old boy in the remote village of Meliandou, Guinea fell ill with a mysterious disease and succumbed to the illness a few days later.1 The disease spread rapidly, resulting in 49 cases and 29 deaths before being identified as the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus and officially declared an outbreak on March 23, 2014.2 Over the ensuing months, the outbreak spread to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone, with cases also emerging in Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, the United States and Europe.3 On August 8, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest global health alert, signifying the outbreak posed a public health risk to other Member States and necessitated a coordinated international response.4 Despite global efforts to control the outbreak, it lasted for over two years, resulting in over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths by the time it was declared over on June 9, 2016.3 This crisis exposed significant weaknesses in global health systems, prompting a re-evaluation of pandemic preparedness and response strategies. A decade later, it is essential to reflect on the lessons learned from the West Africa Ebola crisis and their impact on current and future pandemic preparedness efforts. These lessons are outlined using the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) architecture developed by WHO, focusing on strengthening five core health emergency components: collaborative surveillance, safe and scalable care, community protection, access to countermeasures, and emergency coordination.”

“Déjà Vu All Over Again — Refusing to Learn the Lessons of Covid-19”

Michael S. Sinha, Wendy E. Parmet, and Gregg S. Gonsalves recently published this perspective piece in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which they explain “The spread of H5N1 avian influenza among cattle and other farm animals as well as to agricultural workers in the United States has raised concerns about the potential for an influenza pandemic. Although the threat of pandemic H5N1 doesn’t appear to be imminent — this variant has yet to show the potential to be transmitted from human to human — the federal government’s initial response suggests that, rather than heeding the lessons from Covid-19, elected officials and other key decision makers may be relying on a dangerous type of revisionism that could lead to more deaths, should H5N1 cause a pandemic.”

“The World Is Not Ready for the Next Pandemic”

Michael Osterholm and Mark Olshaker call for greater government investment in new and better vaccines in this Foreign Affairs article: “It is impossible to know when a new pandemic will arise, or which specific pathogen will be its cause. H5N1 is just one of the viruses that could mutate into something that will start a pandemic. But eventually, one will happen. It is therefore time to move away from vague recommendations and best practices to a far larger-scale program aimed at producing new and better vaccines, antiviral drugs and other countermeasures, and building the infrastructure at the scale needed to protect entire populations. Although such efforts will be costly, failing to take these steps could be catastrophic.”

NEW: AI and the Evolution of Biological National Security Risks

“In the wake of a global pandemic and rapidly advancing AI technologies, scientists and government leaders from around the world have sounded alarms about a changing biothreat landscape. Between dire warnings of more widely accessible bioterrorism capabilities, novel superviruses, and next generation bioweapons, how should policymakers and weigh the impacts of AI on biosecurity? Where are risks really changing, and where have they been overblown? What actions need to be taken now, and what emerging capabilities need to be monitored for future threats?”

“Please join the Center for a New American Security on Wednesday, August 21, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. ET for a panel discussion on these questions and more. Bill Drexel, Fellow in CNAS’s Technology and National Security Team, will be joined by leading biosecurity experts inside and outside government grappling with the nexus of AI and emerging biotechnologies.”

“This panel is part of CNAS’s AI Safety and Stability project, which aims to better understand AI risks and identify specific steps to improve AI safety and stability in national security applications. The event will build upon the project’s new report, AI and the Evolution of Biological National Security Risks: Capabilities, Thresholds, and Interventions in which Bill Drexel and Caleb Withers provide a clear-eyed overview of the emerging effects of AI on the biothreat landscape and propose actionable solutions to avoid the worst outcomes.”

This panel will feature Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of George Mason’s Biodefense Graduate Program, who reviewed and provided interviews to the report’s authors.

NEW-Safeguarding the Food Supply: Integrating Diverse Risks, Connecting with Consumers, and Protecting Vulnerable Populations – A Workshop

From the National Academies: “On September 4-5, the Food Forum will host a workshop that explores the state of the science around hazard- and risk-based approaches to safeguarding both domestic and global food systems. Workshop presenters will examine nutrition, economic, and equity implications in food safety decision-making, and considerations and strategies for communicating hazard and risk across sectors. The workshop will also include national and international perspectives on risk assessment and tools to mitigate risk, as well as opportunities for the future of risk management and assessment, food safety, and public health.”

Learn more and register for this virtual event here.

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences – August Information Gathering Meeting
From the National Academies: “This is the first in-person meeting of the consensus study, Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences. The open session of this information gathering meeting will include initial briefings containing information relevant to study issues. The committee will also meet in closed session for project planning and review of topics and speakers for remaining meetings.”

This event will take place on August 13 and 14. Learn more and register here.

Call for Experts-Enhancing the Resilience of Healthcare and Public Health Critical Infrastructure

From the National Academies: The National Academies Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies is seeking experts to participate in an upcoming workshop that will examine strategies, policies, and innovative actions to improve the resilience of health care and public health critical infrastructure to impacts from disasters and other emergencies.

Approximately 8-10 volunteer experts are needed to serve on the workshop planning committee. Expertise in the following areas is desired:

  • Healthcare operations and management
  • Public health, emergency management, and environmental health
  • IT, data science, and cybersecurity
  • Infrastructure systems, engineering, and supply chain
  • Risk assessment and mitigation
  • Insurances, cost management, and health economics
  • Community resilience and lived experience
  • Public policy

We are also collecting information for potential speakers, participants, and peer reviewers for any publications resulting from the activity.

Please submit nominations by August 23, 2024. For any additional questions regarding the workshop, please view the project page or email Shalini Singaravelu at SSingaravelu@nas.edu.

Learn more and submit nominations here.

Call for Experts-Potential Research Priorities to Inform Readiness and Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1): A Workshop

From the National Academies: The National Academies is seeking suggestions for experts to participate in a new workshop exploring research priorities to inform readiness and response to the ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) outbreak in the United States. Recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, and their shared environment, the workshop will take a One Health approach to bring together federal government agencies, the academic community, and the private sector, as well as other relevant stakeholders across the health, agriculture, and food safety sectors and will focus primarily on basic science and research questions of specific concern. 

Approximately 8-10 volunteer experts are needed to build a committee for a future workshop and any publications resulting from this activity. Expertise in the following areas is desired:

  • One Health and emerging infectious diseases
  • National, state, and/or local public health and medical readiness and response
  • Epidemiology and surveillance
  • Medical countermeasures (diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics)
  • Agricultural and veterinary health and sciences
  • Food safety
  • Social sciences, risk communication, and community engagement
  • Modeling, risk assessment, and strategic foresight
  • Regulatory issues

Please submit nominations by August 30, 2024. For any additional questions regarding the forum, please view the project page or email Shalini Singaravelu at SSingaravelu@nas.edu.

Learn more and submit nominations here.

Pandora Report: 2.24.2023

by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week we have several exciting announcements, a leadership change at Africa CDC, and more to cover. We also have plenty new publications, including multiple from our own students and faculty. This edition rounds out with new upcoming events, an AMR resource from the CDC, and, as always, a trivia question so you can show off what you know.

Biodefense Alumna, Faculty Member Named to PLOS Global Public Health Editorial Board

Biodefense faculty (and alum) Dr. Saskia Popescu is now a member of the  PLOS Global Public Health Editorial Board.  PLOS Global Public Health is an open access global forum for public health research that reaches across disciplines and regional boundaries to address the biggest health challenges and inequities facing our society today. ­­PLOS Global Public Health addresses deeply entrenched global inequities in public health and makes impactful research visible and accessible to health professionals, policy-makers, and local communities without barriers. The journal amplifies the voices of underrepresented and historically excluded communities and prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels – editors, editorial boards, peer reviewers and authors – to broaden the range and diversity of perspectives at the forefront of public health and advance the health of all humankind. 

Dr. Jean Kaseya Becomes Head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Dr. Jean Kaseya, a Congolese physician with more than twenty years of experience working in public health both in the DRC government and in international institutions, has become the first Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Kaseya’s candidacy was approved by the African Union this past weekend, and he joins the agency amid a transition designed to allow it to operate with more authority and flexibility. Whereas his predecessors were directors of the Africa CDC (which functioned as a technical institute), Kaseya is director general of Africa CDC that functions now as a public health agency, which will grant him more powers and less expectations of dealing with African Union bureaucratic issues.

Kaseya has indicated one of his main priorities is healing the relationship between Africa CDC and the WHO. Health Policy Watch noted “Today, after the confirmation, my first call was with Dr [Mashidiso] Moeti, Regional Director, WHO/AFRO region to reiterate my commitment to work closely with WHO to address health issues in Africa,” he stated, putting aside the rift that opened between the Africa CDC and WHO last summer over the degree of autonomy that Africa CDC should have in declaring regional public health emergencies.”

While Africa CDC grew its prominence through its COVID-19 response, Kaseya now must manage maintaining that level of prominence as the AU shifts to managing other challenges. The same Health Policy Watch article continues with “But COVID-19 is no longer the priority that it used to be, Guzman noted.  Instead, many countries are now preoccupied with a burgeoning fiscal and debt crisis, as well as multiple other competing priorities.  These include accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area, the main agenda item at the 36th AU Assembly, as well as confronting the growing effects of climate change and the war in Ukraine on food security, and beyond. “

South Sudan Assents to Accession to Biological Weapons Convention

On February 15, the United States notified the BWC Implementation Support Unit that South Sudan deposited its instrument of accession to the Biological Weapons Convention in Washington DC. This makes South Sudan the 185th State Party to the Biological Weapons Convention. South Sudan joins the majority of other countries as a State Party, including Namibia, which acceded to the BWC less than a year ago on February 25, 2022. Learn more about the Convention and the ISU’s work here.

“How the James Webb Space Telescope Can Inform Health Security”

Biodefense PhD student Ryan Houser recently published this article in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. He writes in part, “In a moment when life on Earth has felt increasingly tragic and troubling based on what has become the background noise of the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, dangerous climate change impacts, and other international affairs challenges, NASA and its partners released images of the early universe from a historical space telescope. The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in December, 2021 was the result of decades of innovation and challenges, but the images just beginning to be released are awe-inspiring. Not since the release of ‘Earthrise’ from the Apollo 8 mission has images from space highlighted how Earth is both grand and delicate. Against the vastness of the universe, the fragile nature of the Earth is overshadowed by the endless possibilities that exist within the galaxies around us. The images from the Webb telescope are an inspiration for scientific progress and for the next generation of scientists who will lead us into the future. The story of the James Webb Space Telescope and its creators serves as an important and informative lesson for the future of global health security which is still reeling from the continued threat of COVID-19 and the newly emerging Monkeypox threat. The necessary advancements in global health security will be a formulation of great failures such as the overall COVID-19 response, the result of never-ending commitment to progress from practitioners and policy makers, an effort of global collaboration, and one of increasing complexity that requires a diversity of thought to find innovative solutions; all themes which line the story of the James Webb Telescope and serve as an analogy for the mission towards the next great frontier in global health security, one free of global catastrophic biological risks.”

“Biology Is Dangerously Outpacing Policy”

Dr. Gregory Koblentz, Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, and Dr. Rocco Casagrande recently published this opinion piece in The New York Times. In it they discuss concerns about dual-use research and the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity’s recent recommendation to majorly overhaul government oversight such research. They explain the core problem this recommendation aims to address, writing “Historically, the United States has taken a reactive and haphazard approach to preventing lab accidents and the misuse of high-risk science. A patchwork of regulations, guidance and policies exists based on the specific pathogen being researched, the type of research being conducted and the source of funding. But some research doesn’t fall under any agency, leaving an oversight vacuum.”

They continue, explaining “This fragmented system has not kept pace with the evolving risk landscape. There are now more powerful tools for genetic engineering, and these tools are easier to use and more widely available than ever before. There are also more researchers interested in conducting research with engineered pathogens for scientific and medical purposes. According to the Global Biolabs Initiative, of which Dr. Koblentz is a co-director, there are more than 100 high and maximum containment labs around the world conducting high-risk research, with more planned. The United States has more such labs than any other country. Failure to update bio-risk-management policies is too great a concern.”

They later offer a proposal to create a government agency specifically tasked with managing this oversight: “The United States also needs to establish an independent government agency that has the authority and resources to regulate this research. This agency would serve a similar purpose as the National Transportation Safety Board or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and be dedicated to understanding the cause of accidents and mitigating risk anywhere in the United States. This would provide a central place for scientists to receive guidance about their work or to raise concerns. Such an agency could develop and promote policies so that all institutions doing this work would be held to the same standards.”

“Some researchers argue that these recommendations are too far-reaching and will inhibit science. But many of these measures would align the regulatory environment of the United States with those of its peers, such as Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany. Fears that more oversight will have a chilling effect on research are belied by the robust research programs found in each of these countries. Still, the implementation of these recommendations will require a careful balancing act: fostering innovation in the life sciences while minimizing the safety and security risks.”

“Blind Spots in Biodefense”

In this editorial for Science, Ann Linder and Dale Jamieson discuss the Biden administration’s National Biodefense Strategy and critical areas it fails to address. They write in part “In October, the Biden administration released its National Biodefense Strategy (NBS-22), the first update since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Although the document notes that one of the lessons of the pandemic is that threats originating anywhere are threats everywhere, it frames threats as largely external to the United States. NBS-22 focuses primarily on bioterrorism and laboratory accidents, neglecting threats posed by routine practices of animal use and production inside the United States. NBS-22 references zoonotic disease but assures readers that no new legal authorities or institutional innovations are needed. Although the US is not alone in failing to confront these risks, its failure to comprehensively address them echoes across the globe.”

“More zoonotic diseases originated in the United States than in any other country during the second half of the 20th century. In 2022, the US processed more than 10 billion livestock, the largest number ever recorded and an increase of 204 million over 2021. Risks occur across the supply chain, from facilities where animals are born to homes where they are consumed. The ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has left 58 million animals dead in backyard chicken coops and industrial farms. It has infected animals in one of the dozens of live poultry markets in New York City (elsewhere called “wet markets”). Of the many agencies that govern food animal production, the US Department of Agriculture is the most important, but even it has no authority to regulate on-farm animal production.”

“Interventions to Reduce Risk for Pathogen Spillover and Early Disease Spread to Prevent Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Pandemics”

This online report by Vora et al. was recently published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Abstract: “The pathogens that cause most emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, particularly wildlife, and then spill over into humans. The accelerating frequency with which humans and domestic animals encounter wildlife because of activities such as land-use change, animal husbandry, and markets and trade in live wildlife has created growing opportunities for pathogen spillover. The risk of pathogen spillover and early disease spread among domestic animals and humans, however, can be reduced by stopping the clearing and degradation of tropical and subtropical forests, improving health and economic security of communities living in emerging infectious disease hotspots, enhancing biosecurity in animal husbandry, shutting down or strictly regulating wildlife markets and trade, and expanding pathogen surveillance. We summarize expert opinions on how to implement these goals to prevent outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.”

“Hundreds of Incidents of Lost Nuclear and Radioactive Material Logged in Latest CNS Trafficking Database”

From the Nuclear Threat Initiative: “The latest edition of the Global Incidents and Trafficking Database, produced by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) exclusively for NTI, documents 352 incidents of nuclear and radiological material outside of regulatory control between 2020-2021. The Global Incidents and Trafficking Database is the only publicly available account of incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive materials. It aims to give researchers and policymakers a comprehensive picture of the amount and types of incidents that occur, from which they can develop data-driven policy solutions. CNS has logged more than 1,500 global incidents since the database was launched in 2013, emphasizing that the security of nuclear and radioactive materials remains a persistent global safety and security concern.”

“The latest dataset, available as a downloadable spreadsheet, is published with an accompanying analytical report and interactive map to illustrate where incidents have taken place. Delays and disruptions in national reporting due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the publication of a two-year aggregate report of 2020 and 2021 incidents. The dataset illustrates several alarming trends, including more incidents occurring because of failure of individuals to abide by appropriate procedures and attempts by right-wing extremist groups to acquire nuclear and other radioactive materials. Furthermore, the deteriorating relationship between Russia and the United States, even before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, has stymied progress on nuclear and other radioactive materials security issues on the international stage and the threat of radiological crime and terrorism remains high, particularly in unstable regions.”

“Disinformation in the Kremlin’s Toolkit of Influence: Training Guidance for Scoping the Threat to the Norms and Institutions of Weapons of Mass Destruction Nonproliferation”

The Center for the Study of Democracy recently published this report: “Russia’s hybrid warfare operations utilize a combination of tactics and tools. Disinformation – the deliberate spread of inaccurate, incomplete, or fabricated information – remains one of the core instruments through which the Krem­lin seeks to assert its political authority domestically and exercise influence abroad. During the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Russia has stepped up its disinformation campaigns focusing in particular on technically specific and malign narratives around chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons – collectively referred to as weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This training guidance focuses on hybrid threats that involve the use of materials associated with the development of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. It seeks to illustrate 1) how the use of WMD materials fits within the Kremlin’s toolbox of influence and 2) how disinformation activities regarding WMD-enabled attacks can impact the existing WMD nonproliferation norms and institutions. The guidance contains indicative scenarios which are intended to facilitate consideration of the possible manifestations of disinformation activities and the types of approaches and strategies that can be implemented to counter foreign malign activities in the media sector.”

What We’re Listening To 🎧

This Podcast Will Kill You, Special Episode: David Quammen & Breathless

Latest episode of TPWKY: “What do you get when you combine a love of reading with an interest in biology/public health/medical history and a background in podcasting? The TPWKY book club, of course! This season’s miniseries of bonus episodes features interviews with authors of popular science books, covering topics ranging from why sweat matters to the history of food safety, from the menstrual cycle to the persistence of race science and so much more. So dust off that library card, crack open that e-reader, fire up those earbuds, do whatever it takes to get yourself ready for the nerdiest book club yet.”

“We’re starting off this book club strong with a discussion of Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus, the latest book by award-winning science writer David Quammen (@DavidQuammen). Breathless recounts the fascinating – and sometimes frightening – story of how scientists sought to uncover the secrets of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. In this interview, Quammen, whose 2012 book Spillover explores the increasing pathogen exchange occurring among humans, wildlife, and domestic animals, shares with us how he decided to write Breathless and why this story of discovery needs to be told. Our conversation takes us into musings over why we saw this pandemic coming yet could not keep it from happening, the controversy over the origins of SARS-CoV-2, and the question of whether future pandemics are preventable or inevitable. Through this discussion, we find that the global response to future pandemics depends just as much on locating the gaps in our knowledge about this virus as it does on applying what we have learned so far. Tune in for all this and more.”

Osterholm Update: COVID-19 Episode 125-Masks, Memories, & Middle Ground

“In “Masks, Memories, & Middle Ground,” Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the US and around the world, the newly released CIDRAP Coronavirus Vaccine R&D Roadmap, and the rise of vaccine misinformation and disinformation.” Find this episode on CIDRAP’s website.

Personal Protective Equipment and Personal Protective Technology Product Standardization for a Resilient Public Health Supply Chain

“The National Academies will convene a public workshop, March 1-2, to examine standards gaps related to personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective technology (PPT). The event will explore innovative approaches and technologies needed to update and streamline the U.S. standardization system for PPE and PPT in support of supply chain resiliency. Policymakers, manufacturers, users, and relevant technical contributors will discuss ways to improve the effectiveness, safety, supply stability, and accessibility of PPE and PPT in health care settings and increase usage by critical infrastructure workers and the general public.” Learn more and register here.

The Biden Administration’s New Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism 

From the Nuclear Threat Initiative: “Join us as White House Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and other senior U.S. officials discuss the Biden administration’s new strategy to counter weapons of mass destruction terrorism and advance nuclear and radiological security.” This event will be held on March 2 at 11 am EST. Register here.

Report Launch Preparing for Success at the Fifth Review Conference of the CWC: A Guide to the Issues

“The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is pleased to invite you to the in-person launch of a new report on Preparing for Success at the Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention: A Guide to the Issues. This is the first in a series of events the Institute is hosting in preparation for the Fifth CWC Review Conference, which is scheduled to take place from 15 to 19 May 2023.” One version will be hosted in The Hague on Monday, March 6 from 12:30-14:30 CET and another in Brussels on Tuesday, March 7 from 12:30-14:30 CET. Both will also be broadcast via Zoom.

CDC Launches Antimicrobial Resistance Investment Map

From CDC: “Antimicrobial resistance (AR), when germs do not respond to the drugs designed to kill them, threatens to return us to the time when simple infections were often fatal. CDC is committed to protecting people and the future of the healthcare, veterinary, and agriculture industries from the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

The AR Investment Map showcases CDC’s critical activities in the U.S. and abroad to combat antimicrobial resistance with investments in laboratory and epidemiological expertise and public health innovation. CDC supports most of these activities through its AR Solutions Initiative, while also leveraging investments from successful programs across the agency for maximum efficiency.

The map also includes projects related to combating antimicrobial resistance that are funded by supplemental appropriations provided to CDC to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the American Rescue Plan Act or the CARES Act. These activities are also highlighted in a fact sheet.

Go To CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Website“

Sustainable Diagnostic Containment Laboratories – Request for Expressions of Interest

“This Expression of Interest (RFEI) is seeking bold ideas that will reinvent the diagnostic laboratory, making it fit-for-purpose in resource-limited contexts globally. These innovative solutions are expected to reimagine the physical laboratory in order to reduce ongoing operational and maintenance costs and allow sustainable presence of safe and secure handling of high-consequence pathogenic materials, whilst maintaining and/or optimizing core functions of a diagnostic laboratory in low- and middle- income countries.”

“This RFEI represents Phase I of a dual-phase approach to development of a Grand Challenge for Sustainable Diagnostic Laboratories. The pool of Expressions of Interest received will be used to inform the scope of a full Grand Challenge program in Phase II, under which Grand Challenges Canada will award funding. Submission of an Expression of Interest does not constitute an application for funding; however, Expressions of Interest will receive feedback from an external review process designed to improve the quality of full proposals submitted for an open call for funding applications in Phase II. Most promising Expressions of Interest may also be shortlisted for direct invitations to submit full proposals for funding in Phase II.”

Learn more and register here.

Weekly Trivia Question

You read the Pandora Report every week and now it’s time for you to show off what you know! The first person to send the correct answer to biodefense@gmu.edu will get a shout out in the following issue (first name last initial). For this week, our question is: What is the first multilateral disarmament treaty that banned an entire category of WMD?

The correct answer to last week’s question, “This viral disease is primarily spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and was first detected in humans through a serological survey conducted in Uganda in 1952. What is its name?,” is Zika.