DRC – The Pandora Report

Pandora Report 9.12.2025

September 15, 2025September 15, 2025 by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Welcome to this week’s Pandora Report! This issue features coverage of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, updates on COVID-19 and long COVID, fallout from recent CDC leadership changes, highlights from new science communication books, and GMU alumni making an impact in public health and national security. Carmen Shaw, a first-year Biodefense PhD student also joined the Pandora Report this week as a co-managing editor. She will oversee the weekly newsletter.

Ebola in the DRC

Last week, Congo’s health authorities declared a new Ebola outbreak in Kasaï province, reporting 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers. WHO has confirmed this as the country’s 16th outbreak of Ebola since 1976, with a case fatality rate of roughly ≈54%. The index case – a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the hospital last month – has died from multiple organ failure. In response, WHO has dispatched teams to strengthen surveillance, treatment and infection control. Yet local leaders warn that critical gaps remain. “The main challenges we face involve the lack of personnel and the shortage of personal protective equipment,” said Dr. Amitié Bukidi, head of the Mweka health zone. “Beyond that, our hospitals need to be supplied with medicines and special equipment capable of addressing this epidemic.”

Further Reading:

COVID-19 Trends, Vaccine Scrutiny, and Transparency Gaps in Response

COVID-19 activity in the U.S. continues to show signs of peaking, but the impact remains uneven. The CDC’s COVID-19 surveillance data reports that test positivity for SARS-CoV-2 has dipped to 10.8% from last week’s 11.6%, yet emergency visits rose slightly from 1.5% to 1.6% and remain elevated among children ages 0 – 4 and 5 – 17 years. Against this backdrop, the FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced an “intense investigation” into anecdotal reports of childhood deaths following COVID-19 vaccination. While no causal link has been established and current evidence does not indicate major safety risks, the probe reflects heightened scrutiny of vaccine safety at a time when public confidence remains fragile.

Attention is shifting toward the global prevalence of long COVID, which the WHO defines as a “post-COVID-19 condition” involving lingering symptoms weeks or months after infection with COVID-19. A new global meta-analysis published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases found that many teens and adolescents reported long COVID, though most symptoms resolve within three months. In their analysis, the three strongest risk factors were being unvaccinated, infections from pre-Omicron variants, and female sex. The most frequently identified lingering symptoms were memory problems and muscle weakness. “Less than 30% of adolescents reporting symptoms who tested positive reported their symptoms persisted for three or more months,” the authors concluded.

Beyond the clinical challenges of COVID-19, concerns are mounting over U.S. transparency in infectious disease reporting and tracking. HHS has indefinitely suspended a CDC project that would have launched a real-time, user-friendly platform with case counts for 127 notifiable diseases, expert interpretation, and expanded surveillance data. Envisioned as a one-stop hub – akin to a “National Weather Service for public health” – the site was designed to centralize state-level reporting and eventually integrate emergency departments, mortality, and wastewater data. Its suspension follows leadership turmoil, including the recent firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignation of senior staff like Jennifer Layden [DK1] who led the agency’s Office of Public Health Data, Science, and Technology. “We lost a lot of staff, and we couldn’t re-hire,” Layden said, noting that the ability to be effective had become increasingly difficult. Scientists involved voiced frustration that after major gains in data integration and strategy, political interference and staffing cuts are eroding progress, leaving the U.S. less transparent and less prepared for future health threats.

Further Reading:

“Mpox no longer international health emergency but remains concern in Africa,” Al Jazeera
“‘We have basically destroyed what capacity we had to respond to a pandemic,’ says leading epidemiologist Michael Osterholm,” Nicoletta Lanese, Live Science
“Global Prevalence of Long COVID, Its Subtypes, and Risk Factors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” Hou et al., 2025
“A long COVID researcher continues to search for answer,” Karen Feldscher, Harvard T.H. Chan SPH

Avian Influenza Updates

By Margeaux Malone, Pandora Report Associate Editor

Global Leaders Convene in Brazil to Address Escalating Bird Flu Threat

Approximately 500 experts from across the poultry industry, public health, science, and policy sectors met this week in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, for a global multisectoral dialogue on high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, this landmark meeting aimed to coordinate international defense against the rapidly spreading highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. Since 2020, HPAI has devastated poultry flocks globally and spread to 83 mammal species, including dairy cattle and wildlife. With far-reaching impacts on biodiversity, international trade, and global food security, the current avian influenza panzootic has prompted urgent calls for coordinated action.

The three-day summit focused on developing effective prevention and control strategies, building on the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of HPAI published by FAO in collaboration with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) earlier this year. Key priorities included promoting early warning systems, vaccination strategies and biosecurity measures, with an emphasis on supporting vulnerable low-income countries and informal backyard poultry systems where surveillance and biosecurity remain challenging. Additionally, the summit focused on strengthening multisectoral coordination through a comprehensive One Health approach and sharing innovative and field-ready solutions for diagnostics, surveillance, and outbreak response. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stressed that “no single country or sector can tackle this threat in isolation, and failure is not an option. Practical, science-based collaboration like this is essential to protect our agrifood systems, livelihoods, and public health.”

The event marked the first time that government and scientific leaders were joined by private sector representatives in this type of global dialogue, allowing stakeholders to better understand industry challenges and also acknowledge the ongoing efforts and solutions being implemented by producers to combat the threat posed by H5N1.

Udderly Concerning: CDC Warns Raw Milk Could Carry H5N1 Risk

A new CDC report has concluded that the risk of potentially contracting H5N1 via ingestion of contaminated foods like raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products remains “low but theoretically possible”.

The CDC’s conclusion stemmed from analysis of scientific and medical literature demonstrating that influenza A may infect mammals through non-respiratory routes, including studies demonstrating that seasonal and novel flu viruses can spread to the GI tract of infected ferrets, reports of severe H5N1 infections in dogs and cats that consumed contaminated raw food or milk, and laboratory studies showing influenza A viruses can multiply in human GI tissues.

While it is unknown if avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to people through consumption of raw dairy products from infected cows, the agency emphasized that the possibility remains theoretically viable. Given that HPAI H5N1 has been found in commercially sold raw milk, CDC recommends avoiding the consumption of raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products, noting that pasteurization effectively inactivates influenza viruses. Officials also urge proper cooking of poultry, eggs, and beef to appropriate internal temperatures.

Further Reading:

“Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals,” Emily Anthes, The New York Times
“Cat in San Francisco euthanized after latest bird flu infection tied to raw pet food,” Jonel Aleccia, Associated Press
“Earlier H5N1 detection adds to Texas dairy herd total; researchers can’t pinpoint source of California child’s illness,” Lisa Schnirring, CIDRAP
“Bird flu fears spark demand for stricter shoot rules,” Steffan Messenger, BBC

Policy & Public Health Leadership

The turmoil at the CDC continues to reverberate. Last Thursday, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in a hearing that quickly turned contentious. Lawmakers from both parties pressed him on his decision to fire CDC Director Susan Monarez, appoint vocal vaccine skeptics to the advisory panel that guides immunization policy, and narrow access to updated COVID-19 vaccines. At several points, Secretary Kennedy contradicted established evidence – from vaccine safety and effectiveness to estimates of how many lives COVID-19 vaccines have saved.

Despite Secretary Kennedy’s assurances to lawmakers that “anyone” could get a COVID-19 vaccine, many Americans have reported difficulty accessing updated shots due to patchy pharmacy supply, shifting eligibility rules, and state-level confusion. Doctors, pharmacists, and local health officials are scrambling to adapt while the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices prepares to meet on September 18 to set national guidance. In the meantime, this confusion has left vulnerable populations at risk, pending clearer guidance.

In the days following the hearing, the fallout was swift. Several members of Secretary Kennedy’s own family, including Joseph P. Kennedy III and Kerry Kennedy, publicly called for his resignation, warning that his leadership poses a direct threat to Americans’ health and wellbeing. Their criticism added to bipartisan concern in Congress and growing unease among state and local officials tasked with implementing vaccine policy. Looking ahead, the spotlight will turn back to the CDC on September 17, when former director Susan Monarez is set to testify before a Senate panel about her dismissal and the wave of high-profile resignations that followed.

Further Reading:

“I resigned from the CDC. Here are three questions for RFK Jr.,” Debra Houry, Washington Post
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me,” Susan Monarez, Wall Street Journal
“How to get a coronavirus vaccine and who’s eligible amid limited access,” David Ovalle, Washington Post
“Doubts about RFK Jr. grow for some Republicans,” Dan Diamond, Theodoric Meyer, and Rachel Roubein, Washington Post
“Surgeons general warning: CDC saves lives. It’s up to us to save public health,” Joycelyn Elders, USA Today

George Mason University Alumni Spotlight

Scott Wollek, MPA ’12 and adjunct professor in the Biodefense Graduate Program at the Schar School of Policy and Government has been named the new Director of the Maryland Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) at the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA).

Scott, a recognized expert in public health and healthcare emergency preparedness and health security, brings policy experience from leading a health emergency preparedness portfolio at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, including collaborations with ASPR, NIH, DHS and SLTT health departments and private/non-profit healthcare systems, as well practical, operational experience in emergency response and capacity building from service with American Red Cross Disaster Services in the National Capital Region to his new role.

Now in its third decade, the HPP program provides regional collaboration statewide for health care system readiness. In Maryland the program is implemented through partnership between the Maryland Department of Health and MHA. HPP supports four regional healthcare coalitions across Maryland, bringing together hospitals, EMS, emergency management, and local health departments to strengthen and build capacity for response to disasters and large-scale emergencies.

Craig Wiener, PhD ‘16 in Biodefense (Concentration in International Security) at the Schar School of Policy and Government has been appointed as a Nonresident Fellow in Science and Technology Policy and Research Security at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The Baker Institute is consistently ranked among the world’s top university-based think tanks, known for its nonpartisan, policy-relevant research on global and domestic challenges—from energy, trade, and diplomacy to science, technology, and security.

Wiener said, “In this capacity, I look forward to contributing to the Institute’s Science & Technology Policy Program, with a special focus on safeguarding research integrity and driving forward-thinking policy at the nexus of science, technology, and national security. This new role is complementary to my principal responsibilities as a Technical Fellow at MITRE, advising the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community on cybersecurity, CBRN defense, and national-level threat analysis. I will continue as a Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute, at the Antonin Scalia Law School, where I engage on security issues with a nexus to U.S. national security law, defense and intelligence.”

“At the Baker Institute, I aim to help shape policy-relevant research that reinforces U.S. leadership in secure science and technology innovation, addresses the strategic dimensions of emerging technologies, and supports evidence-based decision-making.”

“I am grateful for this opportunity—and excited to collaborate with the renowned team at the Science & Technology Policy Program, alongside the broader community at Rice University and beyond.”

How to Be an Ambassador for Science: The Scientist as Public Intellectual by James L. Olds

How to be a Science Ambassador by James L. Olds explores what it means for scientists to step beyond the lab and act as public intellectuals. Drawing on decades of experience in Washington, D.C., and abroad, Olds offers practical guidance on navigating the science-policy ecosystem, engaging in diplomacy and managing crises. He emphasizes the importance of building coalitions, forging trust across political divides, and learning how to advocate effectively for science with leaders and the public. Designed as a “how-to” guide, the book provides students and professionals alike with tools to strengthen their science communication skills and embrace leadership roles in the broader public arena.

The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics by Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker

In The Big One, Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker warn that while COVID-19 was devastating, it was not the catastrophic pandemic experts fear most. Drawing on history, they analyze how societies have confronted past pandemics, evaluate the global response to COVID-19, and project scenarios for future outbreaks. The book underscores that the world already has many of the tools needed to prepare – from rapid vaccine platforms to stronger public health systems – but political will and sustained investment remain lacking. Framed as both a cautionary tale and a practical guide, The Big One argues that readiness today is the only way to prevent disaster tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

Learn more and register here.

Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop

From NASEM: “Most biological molecules are chiral entities where their mirror images have different structures and functional characteristics. Scientists have begun synthesizing left-handed DNA and RNA and creating proteins that can write left-handed nucleic acids. This, and other related research, is described as “mirror biology” and includes research toward creating mirror-image self-replicating living systems. The National Academies will host a foundational workshop on mirror biology, focusing on the state of the science, trends in research and development, risks and benefits of this research, and considerations relating for future governance of relevant enabling technologies.”

This event will take place virtually, September 29-30. Register here.

Doing More with Less: Practical Biosafety on a Budget

“Led by Azelia Labs biosafety experts, Katerina Semenyuk, PhD, RBP (ABSA) and Sarah Ziegler, PhD, RPB, CBSP (ABSA) this webinar will provide a comprehensive guide to maintaining a robust biosafety program in resource-constrained environments. We will address the unique challenges that arise when faced with limited funding or leadership hesitation to invest in safety protocols.”

“This session will focus on practical, actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles. Topics will include how to prioritize essential safety measures when budgets are tight, creative solutions for providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and innovative approaches to maintaining equipment and facilities without costly upgrades. We will also discuss methods for effectively communicating the value of biosafety to leadership to secure the necessary support for your program.”

This online event will take place on October 2, 12-1 pm EDT. Register here.

EMBRACE 2025 – Scientific Pathways to Biotoxin Preparedness Online Event

From CMINE: “Join us at the forefront of chemical and biological security for EMBRACE 2025 – a key event dedicated to cutting-edge research on biotoxins and human biomarkers of intoxication. This international symposium will spotlight ground-breaking scientific work and host the inauguration of EMBRACE’s Biotoxin Task Force.”

“What to Expect:

A unique opportunity to shape the scientific landscape of biotoxin threat preparedness and learn more about the EU EMBRACE project and the Biotoxin Task Force

A platform for showcasing innovation in biotoxin detection and response

Networking with global experts in biological forensics and toxicology”

This event will take place on October 15, 0900-1700 CEST. Register here.

Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction

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

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

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

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

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

Learn more and register here.

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

“Building on the incredible momentum of GHS2024 in Sydney, we look forward to bringing together the global health security community once again – this time in one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”

“Registration and Call for Abstracts are now live!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

Applied Biosafety Call for Papers

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

Learn more and submit by November 1 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

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

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

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

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

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

Pandora Report 9.5.2025

September 5, 2025 by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report covers the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, updates on the administration, H5N1, and more.

DRC Declares Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak

Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province. As of September 4, 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths have been reported. Africa CDC reports that the index case is a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital in August with high fever and repeated vomiting, among other symptoms. The cases and deaths have been identified across the Bulape and Mweka health zones. Four cases were in healthcare workers. Furthermore, laboratory testing has confirmed the outbreak is of the Zaire strain. Kasai province last reported an EVD outbreak in 2008, while the DRC last reported an outbreak in 2022 in Équateur province.

Read more here.

“Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance”

Geoffrey Kamadi recently published this article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, writing in part, “The cholera outbreak in Malawi illustrates how natural disasters and climate change can create or exacerbate public health crises. But researchers are only beginning to understand the relationship between climate change and AMR specifically. “For the last five years, a lot of new work has gone into how climate change and AMR are relating to one another,” says Arshnee Moodley, the team lead for AMR at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi.”

“Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies”

From NASEM: “The U.S. scientific enterprise has produced countless discoveries that have led to significant advances in technology, health, security, safety, and economic prosperity. However, concern exists that excessive, uncoordinated, and duplicative policies and regulations surrounding research are hampering progress and jeopardizing American scientific competitiveness. Estimates suggest the typical U.S. academic researcher spends more than 40 percent of their federally funded research time on administrative and regulatory matters, wasting intellectual capacity and taxpayer dollars. Although administrative and regulatory compliance work can be vital aspects of research, the time spent by researchers on such activities continues to increase because of a dramatic rise in regulations, policies, and requirements over time.”

“To better ensure that the research community is maximally productive while simultaneously ensuring the safety, accountability, security, and ethical conduct of publicly funded research, Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science examines current federal research regulations. This report identifies ways to improve regulatory processes and administrative tasks, reduce or eliminate unnecessary work, and modify and remove policies and regulations that have outlived their purpose while maintaining necessary and appropriate integrity, accountability, and oversight. Simplifying Research Regulations provides a roadmap for establishing a more agile and resource-effective regulatory framework for federally funded research.”

Read STAT News’ coverage of this report here.

NEW: Doing More with Less: Practical Biosafety on a Budget

This online event will take place on October 2, 12-1 pm EDT. Register here.

NEW: EMBRACE 2025 – Scientific Pathways to Biotoxin Preparedness Online Event

“What to Expect:

A unique opportunity to shape the scientific landscape of biotoxin threat preparedness and learn more about the EU EMBRACE project and the Biotoxin Task Force

A platform for showcasing innovation in biotoxin detection and response

Networking with global experts in biological forensics and toxicology”

This event will take place on October 15, 0900-1700 CEST. Register here.

ICYMI: Strengthening Biosecurity in the Latin America / Caribbean Region
From IFBA: “The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA), alongside its network of biosafety associations and partners, continue to jointly implement activities designed to strengthen biological security across the Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) region. Most recently, an IFBA/LAC delegation, including included two participants from IFBA’s LAC Mentorship Program, participated in the Sixth Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention between August 12-15, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to attending the plenary meeting and its associated events, the delegation engaged with the Youth for Biosecurity Fellows in collaboration with UNODA representatives during their field visit to Geneva. The IFBA’s Senior Program Officer presented the IFBA’s existing program successes and future strategic planning to the Global Partnership’s Biological Security Working Group.”

Read more here.

Biological Threats in the Age of Emerging Biotechnology – A Workshop Series

From NASEM: “The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will convene an ad hoc planning committee to organize a workshop series with international scientists. The series will engage early-career and established experts to: a) examine dual-use risks in biotechnology research; b) explore potential misuse of knowledge, tools, and materials; c) review existing frameworks for assessing and mitigating dual-use concerns; and d) identify steps to reduce exploitation while promoting responsible innovation. The workshops will focus on balancing scientific progress with security considerations. Key insights and recommendations will be compiled in a publicly available workshop proceedings document.”

These workshops will take place 10 am-1 pm ET on September 10, 17, and 18. Register here.

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

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

Learn more and register here.

Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems – A Workshop

This event will take place virtually, September 29-30. Register here.

Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction

Learn more and register here.

GHS 2026

From GHS: “We’re excited to officially announce that the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) will be held in Kuala Lumpur on the 9 – 12 June, 2026!”

Learn more, submit abstracts, and register here.

Applied Biosafety Call for Papers

Learn more and submit by November 1 here.

64th ISODARCO Course

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

Pandora Report 10.4.2024

October 4, 2024 by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

This week’s Pandora Report covers the recently-reported outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, the recent discovery of four more Missouri healthcare workers who experienced respiratory symptoms after caring for a patient infected with H5 avian influenza, new human cases of bird flu in California, and more.

Upcoming Virtual Information Sessions on the Biodefense Graduate Program

A virtual open house for the MS in Biodefense will be held online on Thursday, October 17, 7 to 8 p.m. ET . The Biodefense Program offers flexible part-time or full-time options that teach applicable, real-world skills for bridging the gap between science and policy. The online session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. Register here.

The Schar School PhD programs will be holding a virtual open house on Wednesday, October 30 from 6-7:30 PM. Please join Dr. Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, to learn more about the Biodefense PhD program and ask any questions you may have. Register here.

Marburg Outbreak Confirmed in Rwanda

Last week, the Rwanda Ministry of Health announced that it had confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the country. Blood samples taken from symptomatic people were tested using RT-PCR, and were found to be positive for Marburg virus. So far, there have been 36 confirmed cases and eleven deaths across at least seven of the country’s 30 districts. As of last week, over 70% of cases were in healthcare workers from two locations in Kigali, the nation’s capital. More than 300 contacts have been traced so far.

This is the first time MVD has been reported in the country, and the WHO has emphasized that it is likely the disease will spread to neighboring countries, many of which are currently struggling amid the mpox outbreak. There is currently no available treatment or vaccine for MVD. WHO has assessed the risk of this outbreak to be very high nationally, high regionally, and low globally.

MVD, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is severe, often fatal in humans, and is caused by a virus in the Filoviridae family, which also includes Ebola virus. Egyptian fruit bats are natural hosts of the virus; it is spread from them to people, and it then spreads further via human-to-human transmission. While the average MVD case fatality rate is about 50%, this has varied from 24% to 88% during past outbreaks. Early supportive care improves survival odds.

Experts are concerned as there were already more than two dozen confirmed cases by the time the Rwandan government announced the outbreak. It can take as long as 21 days between exposure and symptom onset with MVD. Furthermore, because Rwanda has never had an outbreak before, healthcare professionals may have not been suspicious of MVD and did not think to test for it. All of these are worrying signs that the disease may have been circulating in the country for a few weeks before the announcement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network Health Advisory on Thursday to inform clinicians and health departments in the US about the outbreak and advise them to be aware of the potential for imported cases.

Read more:

“Deadly Marburg Virus: Scientists Race to Test Vaccines in Outbreak,” Ewen Callaway, Nature News
“Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda Draws Concern Over Possibility of International Spread,” Helen Branswell, STAT News
“Marburg is an Especially Scary Virus. How Scared Should We Be of Rwanda’s Outbreak?” Gabrielle Emanuel, Goats and Soda

World Leaders Announce Target of 10% Fewer Superbug Deaths by 2030

World leaders gathered during a meeting at the UN General Assembly announced a new political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that was signed by 193 member states. Each year, AMR is linked to 4.7 million deaths, and that number is projected to reach 8.2 million by 2050. The declaration calls for increased action across sectors like farming, pharmaceutical manufacturing, environmental protection, and healthcare to combat AMR. Furthermore, it calls for financial support for poorer countries, who are most affected by this issue, and to commit to scaling up efforts in order to reduce AMR-related deaths by 10% by the end of the decade. The declaration also invites the Quadripartite organizations (WHO, UN Environment Programme, World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) to create an independent panel to provide scientific evidence to support strategies to combat AMR. They will also update a global AMR action plan by 2026.

Avian Influenza Updates

Four More Missouri Healthcare Workers Develop Respiratory Symptoms After Contact with Bird Flu Patient

Four more healthcare workers who came into contact with a hospitalized bird flu patient in August are now confirmed to have later developed mild respiratory symptoms, bring the total to six. The Missouri patient had no contact with infected animals. One worker tested negative on a flu test, while the others’ symptoms were discovered too late to do testing. Missouri is continuing to investigate this situation with CDC’s assistance.

New Human Cases in California

CDC has confirmed two additional human cases of H5 bird flu from specimens submitted by California. Both cases are in people with occupational exposure to infected cattle. While California’s investigation is ongoing, there is no known link or contact between the two cases, which suggests these are two separate instances of animal-to-human spread of the virus. As the identification of H5 in people with exposure to infected animals is expected, CDC has not changed its risk assessment for the general public.

Read more:

“Pathogen Detection, Testing & Monitoring the H5N1 Outbreak,” Ava Desouza, Council on Strategic Risks

ISC Announces Expert Group for the Biological Weapons Convention

The International Science Council (ISC) recently announced the formation of its Expert Group dedicated to enhancing the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). In May, ISC and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs were jointly awarded a grant by the Geneva Science Policy Interface to strengthen the BWC. In a statement, ISC said this “…initiative is a significant step toward integrating scientific advancements into the operations of the BWC, addressing the critical need for a structured mechanism to review relevant science and technology developments.”

It further explained that “The ISC project “Science-policy synergies for the Biological Weapons Convention” fosters collaboration between BWC delegates and scientific experts, developing methodologies that build mutual understanding and trust. By facilitating targeted discussions and creating tailored knowledge products, the initiative aims to equip delegates with tools to tackle current and future biological threats, enhancing the BWC’s effectiveness in global biosecurity.”

Learn more here.

“Inside HHS’ ‘One-Stop Shop’ for Health sector Cybersecurity”

Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday interviews Biodefense PhD Program alumnus and Schar School adjunct professor Brian Mazanec in this article and accompanying Federal Drive episode. Mazanec is currently the deputy director of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s Center for Preparedness. He discusses how his organization is responding to recent attacks like the Change Healthcare ransomware attacks and what HHS can offer health organizations recovering from major cyber incidents.

“Anonymous Answers: How Can We Manage Infohazards in Biosecurity?”

Anemone Franz and Tessa Alexanian discuss input from eleven experts on how to best manage infohazards in biosecurity in the third part of this series from 80,000 Hours. Answers focus on helping researchers use information responsibly, limiting secrecy to improve problem solving, considering the effects of withholding information, and more.

“Vanishing Workforce: An Antimicrobial Resistance Threat”

James Anderson, Chair of the AMR Industry Alliance, discusses the decline of the antimicrobial research and development field, its importance to the fight against AMR, and how this decline can be reversed, writing in his conclusion, “Ultimately, to meet the need for new antimicrobials that can stay ahead of the resistant bacteria, both the public and private sectors should invest in the people who are responsible for the discovery of antimicrobials to attract and retain the best scientists into the future.”

“Proceedings of Workshop: Mitigating Arboviral Threat and Strengthening Public Health Preparedness”

From NASEM: “Arboviruses, or viruses carried by arthropods like mosquitoes or ticks, are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide each year. As the climate changes globally, the geographic distribution of these diseases, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, and yellow fever, are steadily expanding. The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop in December 2023 to explore avenues of threat reduction from known and emerging arboviral diseases in the context of public health preparedness and capacity building. The workshop featured talks from experts in entomology, public health, ecology, virology, immunology, disease modeling, and urban planning.”

“This proceedings highlights the presentations and discussions that occurred at the workshop.”

“WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research: Report of the Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 16-18 April 2024”

“The WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences and Dual-Use Research (TAG-RULS DUR) was established to provide independent advice to WHO on the monitoring and mitigation of biorisks, the advances in the life sciences and related technologies, the governance of dual-use research and the responsible use of the life sciences. The first hybrid meeting of the group took place at WHO headquarters in Geneva, from 16 to 18 April 2024, in order to provide the opportunity for TAG-RULS DUR members to exchange on WHO and related advisory groups activities relevant to their areas of work; to discuss current and upcoming activities related to the implementation of the WHO Global Guidance Framework for the responsible Use of the Life Sciences and to provide technical guidance to WHO.”

Read the meeting report here.

“Exclusive: Sen. Todd Young on biosecurity, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)”

“Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) was recently named Chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), established by Congress to recommend policy on biotech and national security. Bio.News spoke to him in an exclusive interview about the work of the commission, the BIOSECURE Act and PASTEUR Act, and more.”

1540 Compass Second Issue

“The second issue of the 1540 Compass explores the critical components of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), with a focus on border and export control systems crucial for its full and effective implementation. This edition particularly underscores the significance of clauses in operative paragraph 3, highlighting the global commitment to securing a world where proliferation risks are minimized through robust domestic controls.”

“This issue offers a comprehensive look at the implementation, especially across Africa, examining the varied approaches to managing exports of biological weapons-related materials. It presents a range of contributions and in-depth interviews that delve into national efforts to develop voluntary action plans and regional collaborations.”

“Discussions also extend to the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, on the resolution, especially concerning the need for end-user controls in exports. The edition further explores strategic trade controls with best practices from selected countries that have effectively implemented such measures.”

“A significant portion of this issue is dedicated to addressing the challenges of proliferation finance, providing insights into the complexities of this area without an official definition and offering practical recommendations for future approaches.”

“In recognizing the role of civil society in preventing weapons of mass destruction proliferation, the journal includes discussions on how various stakeholders can collaborate with governments and international organizations to ensure compliance with the resolution.”

“This issue also introduces a new Letters-to-the-Editor section, encouraging a thoughtful and nuanced discussion within the dedicated community towards enhancing global security through stringent border and export controls.”

“Reforming the Australia Group to Better Combat Biological Threats”

Kyle Wilgus discusses recent moves by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security to remove export controls on biological materials and technologies for companies and individuals residing in nations participating in the Australia Group. He argues that this is an important step in strengthening biotechnology and broader technological innovation because it “…incentivized free, unburdened trade in biological materials and technologies among its members and showcased the potential impact of the Australia Group.” He argues that, in the future, the group should build on this progress by “reformulating and expanding to better mitigate the ever-evolving spectrum of biological threats.”

“Healthy Ecosystems, Healthy Humans”

Tomas Weber discusses how biodiversity acts as a barrier against disease as “Flourishing ecosystems safeguard humans from a panoply of zoonotic illnesses,” in this piece from Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health. He covers multiple drivers of biodiversity loss and research work that is being done to help combat these effects.

“‘He Began to Complain of Sharp Pain in the Stomach”: Official Documents Obtained by The Insider Confirm Navalny Was Poisoned in Prison”

Roman Dobrokhotov re-visits Navalny’s death in this piece, writing in part “The Insider has obtained access to hundreds of official documents related to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in the Polar Wolf penal colony in the Russian Far North on Feb. 16, 2024. Officially, Navalny’s death was attributed to natural causes, and Russia’s Investigative Committee stated in July that the case “does not have a criminal nature.” However, the contents of the documents in The Insider’s possession demonstrate that Russian authorities consistently removed references to symptoms Navalny was noted by prison doctors to have been suffering — symptoms that did not fit with the Russian state’s official cause of death. As medical experts confirm, these symptoms clearly indicate that Navalny was poisoned.”

“Chemical Terrorism Threat Perceptions”

In his latest working paper, Alexander Kelle of the Arms Control and Emerging Technologies program at IFSH Hamburg examines the evolving salience of chemical terrorism within the CWC framework and the contribution of the OPCW. He finds that responses have been linked most often to the international cooperation and assistance norms, and regularly noted the work of the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism. Read the working paper here.

ICYMI: NTI|Bio Briefs Capitol Hill on Innovative Solutions to Biotechnology Risks

From NTI: “Against a backdrop of growing risks associated with advances in bioscience and biotechnology, NTI | bio and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation (CACNP) hosted a September 17 Congressional staff briefing on “Preventing Biological Catastrophe and Protecting the U.S. Bioeconomy.”’

“The event, which explored opportunities for Congress and the White House to mitigate the risks, featured a panel discussion on safeguarding evolving capabilities that arise from the combination of artificial intelligence with biotechnology and providing oversight of dual-use life science research of concern. Participants included:

Dr. Ryan Ritterson, specialist lead, Deloitte.

Mr. Daniel Gastfriend, director for Biodefense and Pandemic Preparedness, National Security Council

Dr. Gregory Koblentz, associate professor and director of the Biodefense Graduate Program, George Mason University”

Read more here.

NEW: Synthesis Screening Workshop 2-Securing Bioproduction Against an Evolving Threat Landscape

From AI for SynBio: “Advances in AI are changing the threat landscape in many fields, including in the field of biology. With AI assisted design tools, the complexity and obfuscation potential of the synthetic biological materials is expected to increase. Conversely, the same AI advances can be deployed to help screen DNA/RNA synthesis requests before they can be used for malicious purposes. This workshop seeks insight on current and future advances that will shape both the threat and countermeasure landscapes and prepare the community for the changing threat landscape. The workshop seeks perspectives from academia, industry, and government….The Fall Workshop will focus on the evolving landscape in the years beyond 2026 with an eye towards 2030.”

This hybrid event will take place on October 9. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Airfinity Avian Influenza Webinar

“Join Airfinity and its expert panelists in a discussion of the current avian influenza outbreak. Key topics will include the evolution of the virus, the potential of a recombination event and the current state of pandemic preparedness.”

This event will take place on October 10 at 10 am ET. Learn more and join here.

NEW: Potential Research Priorities to Inform Readiness and Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1)

“The National Academies will host a 2-day virtual public workshop, October 22-23, to explore research priorities for the ongoing H5N1 outbreak in the U.S. Recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, and their shared environment, this 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.”

“Workshop discussions will focus on basic science and research areas of concern and may help inform future research that could provide local, national, and global communities with information about virus transmission, mitigation of risks, and appropriate measures to prevent the spread of disease.”

Learn more and register here.

NEW: 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.”

Responsible AI: Design, Development, and Use

Join the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC) for this 3-day in-person course on Responsible AI: Design, Development, and Use!  As AI becomes increasingly pervasive across various domains, it is essential that we prioritize responsible principles, policies, and practices. Learn from top AI scholars and industry experts about ethical and safe AI deployment. You’ll also gain the critical skills to navigate the complexities of AI in business, healthcare, transportation and more.
Course Dates: October 15-17, 2024
Registration Deadline: October 8, 2024

FLUency: True Expertise and Effectiveness in the Battle Against Influenza

“This Commission meeting, FLUency: True Expertise and Effectiveness in the Battle Against Influenza, will be held on Tuesday, October 8th, in Washington, DC. The focus of this meeting will be to provide the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense with a better understanding of: (1) national leadership to defend food and agriculture against influenza; (2) federal operational requirements for preparedness, coordination, and response; (3) biosurveillance, forecasting, and the need for diagnostic tests; and (4) front-line needs and partnerships in the fight against influenza.”

This event will take place in-person on October 8 from 9:20 am to 2 pm EST. Learn more and register here.

Bio and Beer (October 10)

From the Northern Virginia BioHub: Join us for a panel discussion with local investors as they share their funding priorities, insights on what’s ahead, and tips for meaningful engagement. Also, connect with our dynamic community of professionals from industry, academia, healthcare, investment, and government for a fun evening of networking!

Our panelists include:

Deborah Hemingway, Managing Partner, Ecphora Capital
Bibhash Mukhopadhyay, Managing Partner, Sound Bioventures
Kevin O’Connell, Senior Vice President, In-Q-Tel

Location: JLL Tysons Office, 1800 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, Virginia 22102

Hosted by: The Northern Virginia BioHub

Signature Sponsor: JLL

Additional Sponsors: Virginia Bio, the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, and George Mason University’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation

External Review of Ethical, Legal, Environmental, Safety, Security, and Societal Issues of Engineering Biology Research and Development

From NASEM: “Engineering biology holds significant potential to transform the U.S. and global economy, with promise to deliver innovative solutions in health, climate, energy, food and agriculture, and more. As research and development in engineering biology and other areas of the bioeconomy advance, addressing the societal issues related to these technologies is imperative. As requested by the CHIPS and Science Act, this study will conduct an evaluation of the ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and other societal issues related to engineering biology, and make recommendations on research needs related to these issues and means to effectively incorporate their consideration into research practice.”

“The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will appoint an ad hoc committee to review and make recommendations on the ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and other appropriate societal issues related to engineering biology research and development. The committee will address the scholarship and practice of addressing these issues, focusing specifically on:

(1) An assessment of the current knowledge and practice on assessing and mitigating various societal issues including ethical, legal, environmental, safety, and security issues.
(2) A description of the gaps and needs relating to such issues, focusing on approaches for co-generation of assessment approaches and design of products, technologies, and services with users of engineering biology research and development
(3) Actionable recommendations on how the National Engineering Biology Research and Development Initiative, established by the CHIPS and Science Act, can address the identified gaps and needs.
(4) Actionable recommendations on how researchers across the range of disciplines engaged in engineering biology can best incorporate considerations of such societal issues into the development of research proposals and the conduct of research.”

“NASEM will produce a consensus report presenting the results of its work and offering its findings, conclusions, and recommendations.”

“We invite you to submit suggestions for experts to participate in this activity. The call for experts closes on October 16, 2024 at 11:59 (ET).”

Recommend an expert here.

DARPA Invites Proposals for AI Biotechnology Pitch Days Dec. 5-6

“DARPA funds the research and development of technologies with the potential for transformational impact, central to delivering on the agency’s mission to create and prevent strategic surprise for national security. The agency’s Biological Technologies Office focuses on the natural world to derive revolutionary capabilities centered on:

Foundational technologies that promote simulation and prediction of biological systems and outcomes, like simulation, foundational models, and data generation,
Warfighter readiness, health, and recovery, such as medical countermeasures, diagnostics, health IT and medical devices, and
Operational support of U.S. forces to enable their execution of missions across the spectrum, ranging from fibers for garments to distributed, point-of-need manufacturing.”

“To capitalize on these new opportunities and further accelerate the pace of scientific and technological discovery and development, DARPA looks to include targeted and limited-scope investments via an AI BTO solicitation seeking proposals on technologies focused at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology.”

‘“AI BTO seeks to fund proposals that catalyze the formation of future research projects by clarifying the opportunity space and de-risking technical barriers to achieving high impact,” said BTO Director Dr. Michael Koeris. “To this end, the office is providing $4.5 million to support up to 45 revolutionary catalyst projects and will be finalizing research agreements day of. We look forward to reviewing the novel biotechnology approaches to further our national security mission.”’

“BTO leadership is interested in engaging first-time or non-traditional proposers and seeks revolutionary approaches to emerging or anticipated Department of Defense challenges. During these events, BTO will introduce five new overarching topics that align with AI/ML applications:

Prediction and Health
Autonomous Science
Biomanufacturing/Synthetic Biology
Challenges with Scale
Exciting Frontiers”

Pitch Days

“DARPA will host AI BTO Pitch Days on December 5-6, 2024, in the Washington, DC, region to select and award AI BTO catalyst projects. To be considered for AI BTO Pitch Day participation, offerors must submit a short white paper consisting of a technical description of the proposer’s idea in response to one of the focus areas listed above.”

“DARPA will notify offerors if they are selected for further evaluation via an in-person Pitch Day presentation to a panel of BTO program managers at the AI BTO Pitch Day event.”

“If selected for award at Pitch Day, DARPA may issue a Research Other Transactions award for one of three award scenarios – $100,000, $200,000, or $300,000. The maximum amount of government funding given to any single proposer will be $300,000.”

“To submit a white paper, register at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/aibto_2024/signup. The deadline is Friday, October 9, 2024 by 4:00PM EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.”

“Additional information is available on SAM.gov.”

Call for Experts: Health-Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG)

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

“The concept of Health-Security Interface (HSI) applies to those public health activities whose performance involves to some extent the security sector broadly understood (e.g. international and non-governmental organizations, civil defense, military health personnel, law enforcement and armed forces, defense-related research programmes), certain international organizations and other entities with a security relevant mandate. These activities may include protection of health from traditional and emerging infectious disease threats; deliberate events and investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological agents including non-permissive environments and conflict zones; and any health activities performed in collaboration with security actors.”

“The HSI-TAG is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the Health-Security Interface.”

“Considering the recent developments and global trends, the Secretariat realized that there was a need to strengthen the following areas of expertise/experience, hence welcomes expressions of interest from:

Bioterrorism experts (knowledge on pathogens of security concern, their microbiological characterization and application/modification for weaponization, diagnostics, countermeasures and containment measures),
Decision/policy makers with hands-on experience dealing with significant deliberate event(s) (biological/chemical) response at the local, regional, or national level.”

“For the improved geographical and gender representation of the HSI-TAG members, the WHO Secretariat encourages applications from the WHO African, Western Pacific, European, Eastern Mediterranean and Pan American Health Organization/Americas regions and female or non-male gender identities.”

Learn more about the HSI and express interest by October 7 here.

Pandora Report 9.6.2024

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 by dkellogg97, posted in Pandora Report

Happy September! This week’s edition of the Pandora Report discusses promising outcomes from early studies of Moderna’s mpox vaccine candidate, H5N1 in Californian dairy cows, Pathoplexus’ launch, Google DeepMind’s AlphaProteo, and more.

Biodefense Program Virtual Information Sessions

If you are interested in a career in biodefense or global health security or want to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work at the nexus of health, science, and security, find out what the MS and PhD Biodefense degrees at the Schar School of Policy and Government have to offer. The MS in Biodefense offers the option of completing the degree entirely online. The virtual information session for the MS in Biodefense will be held on September 11 at 1 PM ET. This information session will provide an overview of the program, as well as the application process, student experience and graduate outcomes. Register here.

The PhD in Biodefense virtual open house will be held on September 18 from 5:30-7:30 PM ET. Register here.

Moderna’s Mpox Vaccine Bests Bavarian Nordic’s In Early Testing

Amid the sprint to develop new and improved mpox vaccines, Moderna, the biotech company probably best known for its SPIKEVAX COVID-19 vaccine, has found early success with its mRNA vaccine candidate targeted at mpox. The candidate-mRNA-1769-recently outperformed the dominant JYNNEOS vaccine from Bavarian Nordic, showing itself to be better at preventing severe disease and reducing viral loads in monkeys. In an article from Fierce Biotech, Jean Nachega, an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh, was quoted saying, “The mRNA-1769 vaccine appears promising. The vaccine’s ability to elicit a strong immune response, combining neutralizing and functional antibodies, suggests its potential as an effective tool against mpox.”

California Dairy Cows Test Positive for H5N1

Animals at three dairy farms in California have tested positive for bird flu, the California Department of Food and Agriculture reported late last week. This marks the 14th US state to report cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle, this time in the top milk-producing state in the country. More than 190 herds have been infected across the country since March, in addition to 13 workers from dairy and poultry farms. The jump from birds to cows and human infections are worrying because they mean the virus may have the opportunity to mutate and spread from person-to-person, though risk to the general public remains low.

Pathoplexus Promises to be Simple to Use, Transparent

A group of scientists, in response to difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in using the primary database for sharing SARS-CoV-2 sequences, has created an open-source database focused on some of the world’s deadliest viruses. A ScienceAdivser article explains further: “Called Pathoplexus, the database launched this week at first will focus on the Sudan and Zaire strains of Ebola virus, as well as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and West Nile virus. Like similar databases, it hopes to help communities derail outbreaks before they grow, and, if that fails, better respond to epidemics and pandemics. “We believe that building trust through transparency is essential for encouraging broader participation in data sharing,” says Pathoplexus co-founder Anderson Fernandes de Brito, a computational biologist at the All for Health Institute.”

“But Pathoplexus aims to stand apart in other ways—especially compared with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database, which has become a central repository of sequences for the viruses that cause COVID-19, influenza, mpox, pneumonia, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. GISAID has been harshly criticized for concealing its finances and governance, and several scientists have complained about its founder, erstwhile businessman Peter Bogner, and his representatives reprimanding them for how they use the database and even cutting off access during disputes.”

Read more here.

Google DeepMind Creates AI System That Generates Proteins That Binds to Target Molecules

Google DeepMind recently introduced AlphaProteo, the company’s “…first AI system for designing novel, high-strength binders to serve as building blocks for biological and health research.” They explain in their press release that, “Protein design is a fast-evolving technology that holds lots of potential for advancing science in everything from understanding the factors that cause disease, to accelerating diagnostic test development for virus outbreaks, supporting more sustainable manufacturing processes, and even cleaning contaminants from the environment.”

“To account for potential risks in biosecurity, building on our long-standing approach to responsibility and safety, we’re working with leading external experts to inform our phased approach to sharing this work, and feeding into community efforts to develop best practices, including the NTI’s (Nuclear Threat Initiative) new AI Bio Forum.”

“Going forward, we’ll be working with the scientific community to leverage AlphaProteo on impactful biology problems and understand its limitations. We’ve also been exploring its drug design applications at Isomorphic Labs, and are excited for what the future holds.”

“At the same time, we’re continuing to improve the success rate and affinity of AlphaProteo’s algorithms, expanding the range of design problems it can tackle, and working with researchers in machine learning, structural biology, biochemistry and other disciplines to develop a responsible and more comprehensive protein design offering for the community.”

Read the accompanying white paper, “De novo design of high-affinity protein binders with AlphaProteo,” here.

Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins Launches Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub

The Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University announced this week the launch of the Gene Synthesis Screening Information Hub, “…a new online platform dedicated to helping nucleic acid synthesis providers, manufacturers, and customers adhere to a new federal Framework aimed at preventing intentional misuse of synthetic nucleic acids and supporting safe scientific research practices in the United States.”

Learn more about the hub here and new US policies on nucleic acid synthesis screening here.

Members of Congress Introduce HR 9194, Nucleic Acid Standards in Biosecurity Act

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) and Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) recently announced the introduction of HR 9194, Nucleic Acid Standards in Biosecurity Act. Caraveo’s press release on the bill explained, “Biotechnology companies routinely produce custom-ordered nucleic acids, such as DNA, for university, industry, nonprofit, and government researchers. Given the increases in production, there must be larger actions taken to establish and develop industry standards for best practices or standards for identifying, flagging, and screening nucleic acid sequences of concern. Given the use of nucleic acid synthesis in downstream biologic activities, such as developing diagnostic tests or engineering antibodies to treat diseases, the development of screening best practices and standards requires careful deliberation by stakeholders.”

“These best practices must minimize risks while also supporting stakeholders to use nucleic acids for research and development to drive major societal benefits as well as contributions to economic and national security. This challenge will only grow as Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems improve in their capabilities to design complex sequences consisting of natural or engineered properties that might go unnoticed by traditional detection methods.”

“The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act would authorize consortium activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support the development and improvement of best practices and technical standards for biosecurity measures related to nucleic acid synthesis. Specifically, it would:

Mitigate potential risks without compromising biotechnology innovation and American biotechnology leadership. This bill gives industry the tools to evaluate the performance of their screening systems, which are critically important as technical capabilities in engineering biology, artificial intelligence, and other areas grow.

Authorize a consortium that includes representatives from industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and customers to develop consensus best practices and standards.

Provide technical guidance useful for practitioners by authorizing the development of voluntary, consensus-based technical standards and operational guidance useful for both industry and customers.”

“Preventing a Pandemic: Koblentz Promotes New Federal Agency at U.S. Senate Hearing”

This news post from the Schar School discusses Biodefense Graduate Program Director Gregory Koblentz’s recent testimony before the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs: “At a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the origins of COVID-19 in June, Schar School associate professor Gregory Koblentz advocated for the creation of a new federal agency to manage the oversight of biological and pandemic risks. Koblentz, director of the Schar School’s biodefense program, emphasized that instead of trying to uncover the definitive origin of COVID-19 we should instead learn lessons from that mystery.”

“Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health: A Mini-Series Exploring Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health”

This mini-series from Think Global Health includes three articles: “A New Era for Russian Foreign Policy on Global Health” by Nataliya Shok, “Russian Cooperation with Venezuela Integrates Health” by Julio S. Castro Méndez and Victoria E. Castro Trujillo, and “Russia’s Growing Footprint on the African Health Landscape” by Aloysius Ssennyonjo and Eric Ssegujja.

“Farmed Fur Animals Harbour Viruses with Zoonotic Spillover Potential”

Zhao et al. recently published this article in Nature: “Animals such as raccoon dogs, mink and muskrats are farmed for fur and are sometimes used as food or medicinal products^1,2, yet they are also potential reservoirs of emerging pathogens³. Here we performed single-sample metatranscriptomic sequencing of internal tissues from 461 individual fur animals that were found dead due to disease. We characterized 125 virus species, including 36 that were novel and 39 at potentially high risk of cross-species transmission, including zoonotic spillover. Notably, we identified seven species of coronaviruses, expanding their known host range, and documented the cross-species transmission of a novel canine respiratory coronavirus to raccoon dogs and of bat HKU5-like coronaviruses to mink, present at a high abundance in lung tissues. Three subtypes of influenza A virus—H1N2, H5N6 and H6N2—were detected in the lungs of guinea pig, mink and muskrat, respectively. Multiple known zoonotic viruses, such as Japanese encephalitis virus and mammalian orthoreovirus^4,5, were detected in guinea pigs. Raccoon dogs and mink carried the highest number of potentially high-risk viruses, while viruses from the Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae and Sedoreoviridae families commonly infected multiple hosts. These data also reveal potential virus transmission between farmed animals and wild animals, and from humans to farmed animals, indicating that fur farming represents an important transmission hub for viral zoonoses.”

Read a summary and discussion of the implications of this study from Jon Cohen for ScienceAdviser here.

“WHO Global Framework to Define and Guide Studies Into the Origins of Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential”

This new technical document is from the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens: “The WHO global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, developed by the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) has been designed as a resource for Member States. It provides, for the first time, comprehensive guidance on the studies that are needed to investigate the origins of emerging and reemerging pathogens.”

“Timely investigations into pathogens’ origins are critical for preventing and containing global health crises. Their findings provide the basis for stopping outbreaks before they begin, halting transmission chains and reducing the risk of pathogen spillover from animals to humans. They can also confirm or exclude the possibility of an unintentional breach in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.”

“The framework also offers recommendations on the capacities needed to conduct these studies and the critical importance of sharing all findings as soon as possible to guide next steps.”

“A Biomanufacturing Plan to Confront Future Biological Threats: Expert Panel Policy Review and Near-Term Recommendations”

The Council on Strategic Risks’ Nolan Center recently released this report. Its executive summary explains in part “The rising incidence of infectious disease outbreaks, re-emerging pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance, as well as the rising risk of future pandemics, highlight the urgent need for a close examination of our medical countermeasure production and response strategy, and implementation of changes where they are most needed. Some progress was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with extensive investment and interest in the development of broad-based diagnostics and medical countermeasures that can be advanced rapidly to address current and emerging biological threats. However, in an urgent event, the ability of such new technology to bring diagnostic kits, therapeutics, vaccines, and personal protective equipment to those in need is limited by how long it takes to scale up and produce these items at the needed quantities. Being responsive and meeting threat-driven emergent government requirements necessitates a manufacturing system that is agile, adaptable, and able to rapidly produce large quantities in a distributed manner.”

“One promising way to do this is through biomanufacturing.”

“Biomanufacturing, the process of using biological compounds or biological systems to manufacture products, lends itself to all of the above requirements and provides an industrial process that can improve US preparedness.¹ It has significant potential to increase the resilience of our healthcare systems and economy, spur economic growth, and minimize dependence on foreign manufacturing for pharmaceuticals.”

“Two key US government documents have begun to envision aspects of a national biomanufacturing approach: Executive Order 14081 on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy (issued in September 2022) and the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security (released in October 2022).² However, meeting these goals and requirements will require a whole-of-government approach along with public-private partnering efforts. Existing government capabilities and knowledge need to be leveraged, the private sector needs incentives and de-risking, the workforce needs to be trained and expanded, information and forecasting from pathogen early warning systems need to be fully distributed and rapidly shared, and pandemic response exercises using biomanufacturing need to be periodically conducted.”

Read more here.

“Eight Former CDC Directors: Hollowing Out the CDC Is a Prescription for Disaster”

William Foege, William Roper, Jeffrey Koplan, Julie Gerberding, Tom Frieden, Brenda Fitzgerald, Robert Redfield, and Rochelle Walensky, all former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently authored this article for STAT News. They write in part, “As former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are deeply concerned that recent recommendations to pare back the CDC would cost lives and damage the economy…One misguided narrative is that the CDC should focus only on a “core mission” of combatting infectious diseases. In fact, the core mission of the CDC is to save lives and protect Americans from all health threats — not only infectious diseases but also cancer, environmental risks, injuries, and the conditions that are the leading causes of death among Americans.”

“Boom, Now Bust: Budget Cuts and Layoffs Take Hold in Public Health”

Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez discusses the currently-unfolding consequences of public health’s boom-and-bust funding cycle in this piece for KFF Health News: “Even as federal aid poured into state budgets in response to the covid-19 pandemic, public health leaders warned of a boom-and-bust funding cycle on the horizon as the emergency ended and federal grants sunsetted. Now, that drought has become reality and state governments are slashing budgets that feed local health departments.”

“Identifying Pathogens in the Field with F-FAST”

Parker Martin discusses the Army’s Far-Forward Advanced Sequencing Technology (F-FAST) and its ability to identify biothreats in far-forward environments: “Future battlefields require an on-the-go approach to the identification of whatever biological threat our warfighters may come across. One such approach — Far-Forward Advanced Sequencing Technology, or F-FAST – uses rapid DNA and RNA sequencing systems for biothreat identification in far-forward environments.”

“While these types of tests normally require a degree of scientific know-how, researchers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) are working to make F-FAST’s rapid testing methods quicker and simpler than ever to address all potential biothreats – including those that are emerging and genetically modified.”

Journal of Strategic Trade Control Special Issue: Training Programs to Counter Current and Emerging Biological and Chemical Proliferation Risks: Themes, Practices, and Lessons Learnt

This special issue of the Journal of Strategic Trade Control includes articles like “The Nun Who Broke America’s Nuclear Sanctum: The Use of Case Studies in CBRN Nonproliferation Training,” “Training to Embrace Uncertainties? The ‘Pathway Evolution Process’ Serious Game for Assessing Toxic Waste Program,” “Addressing the Biological Security Educational Gap,” and more.

NEW: Schar School Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House

Prospective students are invited to join the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University for our Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House! The Schar School offers flexible part-time or full-time options for graduate certificate and master’s degree programs that teach applicable, real-world skills for in-demand careers.

This virtual event is the perfect opportunity to:
•   Explore our top-ranked master’s degree and graduate certificate programs;
•   Meet the graduate admissions team and program faculty;
•   Learn about your program of interest in depth, including the curriculum, admissions requirements, and career opportunities; and
•   Ask admissions team members specific questions about the application process.

WHEN: Monday, September 30, 7-8 p.m. Eastern

Learn more and register here.

NEW: The Role of AI in Advancing Public Health

From ICF: “For health departments that a short time ago were struggling to move from faxing to online reporting, the leap into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like a bridge too far. Even those with well-resourced data systems might find it challenging to grasp AI’s impact. However, AI has the potential to revolutionize how work gets done in local, state, tribal and territorial public health departments, improving day-to-day operations and unlocking new ways to advance health outcomes.”

“In this webinar, leading public health experts explore how AI can optimize operations at local, state, and national levels—from transforming data collection, analytics, and forecasting to customizing communication messages, responding to misinformation, and targeting resources to better promote equity.”

This event will take place at 12 pm EST on September 12. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Pandemics, Climate, Health, Conflict: Preventing Future Shocks

From the Pandemic Action Network (PAN): “How can this year’s UN Summit of the Future (Sept. 22-23) serve as a springboard for action in the year ahead?”

“Join PAN, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, and RANA for Pandemics, Climate, Conflict: Preventing Future Shocks on Sept. 24. This event will include former Heads of State and government, senior policymakers, and non-governmental leaders sharing their perspectives on the current political state of play, opportunities, and actions necessary to ensure we are prepared to respond to, and prevent, future global shocks.”

“Please register to indicate interest. Confirmation, full program, and location details to follow. In-person space is limited for this event.”

NEW: FLUency: True Expertise and Effectiveness in the Battle Against Influenza

This event will take place in-person on October 8 from 9:20 am to 2 pm EST. Learn more and register here.

NEW: Responsible AI: Design, Development, and Use

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.”

Associate Professor (Health Security) – Practice Track Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore

“The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, is seeking an exceptional and motivated early to mid-career academic to join our faculty as an Assistant or Associate Professor in Health Security. This position is designed for candidates with expertise in health security, biosecurity or related fields, with a strong public health background, and who are passionate about research, teaching, and contributing to global health initiatives. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing the school’s Asia Centre for Health Security in improving health security across Asia and beyond. Details on the position can be found here.”

“The Asia Centre for Health Security (Asia CHS, https://asia-chs.org/) is a new research and policy centre in Singapore focused on preventing high-consequence biological risks of any origin. Asia CHS was established at the NUS Saw See Hock School of Public Health, in collaboration with the NTU’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the Singapore National Centre for Infectious Diseases. The centre was founded with philanthropic gifts from several Asian and European donors totaling more than $7M for the Centre’s first three years of operations.”

Call for Experts – Technical Advisory Group on Laboratory Services, Systems and Diagnostics in Health Emergencies

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

“Well-functioning and sustainable laboratory services, systems and diagnostics, operating according to international principles of equity, quality and safety, are essential to implement the International Health Regulations (2005)1 and achieve global health security. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework, describing the critical role of the laboratory to implement Collaborative Surveillance.”

“Laboratories also provide essential data to guide clinical care and inform coordination operations, as well as public health and social measures, in a range of emergency situations including outbreaks of pandemic and epidemic prone pathogens and humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters. Considering this, a global strategy focused on laboratory services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies is needed to address all of these contexts.”

“This strategy will connect global efforts and advance implementation of the laboratory components of the HEPR framework and World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 74.7 on strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies that called for countries to “strengthen laboratory-based detection capacities”.”

“In this context, WHO is establishing a Technical advisory group on laboratory, services, systems and diagnostics for health emergencies (“TAG-LAB”). The TAG-LAB will act as an advisory body to WHO in this field.”

“The TAG-LAB is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to virus evolution. Up to 25 Members may be selected. WHO welcomes expressions of interest from experts in laboratory services, systems or diagnostics, clinical scientists, academic researchers, healthcare professionals, or others with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Laboratory Systems
Laboratory Services
Diagnostics
National and International Policy, Regulation and Guidance
Biosafety
Biosecurity
Bioinformatics
Clinical Management
Outbreak Preparedness, Response and Resilience
Emergency response in humanitarian settings involving conflict, protracted crises and natural or man-made disasters
Academic Research
Public Health
Virology, Microbiology, Mycology, and Emerging or Re-emerging diseases”

Learn more and submit and expression of interest here by September 30.

Call for Experts: Health-Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG)

“The HSI-TAG is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the Health-Security Interface.”

Bioterrorism experts (knowledge on pathogens of security concern, their microbiological characterization and application/modification for weaponization, diagnostics, countermeasures and containment measures),
Decision/policy makers with hands-on experience dealing with significant deliberate event(s) (biological/chemical) response at the local, regional, or national level.”

Learn more about the HSI and express interest by October 7 here.

The Nonproliferation Review Special Issue on Understanding the Nexus Between AI and WMD

“The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant opportunities and challenges for WMD nonproliferation. On the one hand, AI introduces new risks in which state and non-state actors could employ these new technologies to enable weapons development and use. AI could introduce other existential risks, some of which we may not have imagined previously. However, AI also has the potential to be a powerful tool for detecting and analyzing proliferation risks, supporting arms-control verification and treaty negotiation, and gaining new insights into the decision calculus of proliferators. Even the benefits of AI come with major risks when applied to WMD nonproliferation. To harness these benefits, policy makers must also contend with a new set of risks, including cyber-vulnerabilities that are relatively new to WMD nonproliferation but inherent to AI systems that rely upon software, hardware, and penetrable networks. The breathtaking pace of progress in the development of AI demands urgent action from the WMD-nonproliferation community to get ahead of this curve. Policy makers confront a closing window to steer outcomes toward the positive and need new insights to help them navigate these challenges.”

“This special issue will examine specific risks and opportunities at the nexus of WMD and AI while highlighting some of the general implications of AI for the WMD-nonproliferation field. Authors will be expected to conduct interviews with subject-matter experts and/or engage in other original empirical research to ensure the paper makes an original contribution and provides a technical perspective to the ongoing discussion among scholars and policy makers (see journal guidelines for more information). We welcome submissions from both academic and policy angles, but we are targeting policy makers working at the nexus of AI and WMD as the primary audience for this issue.”

Learn more here.

Pandora Report 8.30.2024

August 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 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.

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