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Biomedical Engineering - US

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This working group is focused on discussions about Biomedical Engineering.

The mission of this working group is to focus on discussions about Biomedical Engineering.

Members

John Girard Kathy Gilbeaux mdmcdonald

Email address for group

biomedical-engineering-us@m.resiliencesystem.org

Bill Gates Warns Tens of Millions Could be Killed by Bio-Terrorism

           

Bio-terrorism could kill 30 million people in a year, says Bill Gates

Microsoft founder and philanthropist tells Munich security conference genetic engineering could be terrorist weapon

theguardian.com - Bill Gates / Ewen MacAskill - February 18, 2017

A chilling warning that tens of millions of people could be killed by bio-terrorism was delivered at the Munich security conference by the world’s richest man, Bill Gates

Gates, who has spent much of the last 20 years funding a global health campaign, said: “We ignore the link between health security and international security at our peril.”

Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft who has spent billions in a philanthropic drive to improve health worldwide, said: “The next epidemic could originate on the computer screen of a terrorist intent on using genetic engineering to create a synthetic version of the smallpox virus ... or a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu.”

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

CLICK HERE - Munich Security Conference

 

 

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Economist: Some high-tech solutions fail with fight against Ebola in West Africa

THE ECONOMIST                                                                                                   March 9, 2015

As in all Ebola episodes, preventing infection in West Africa during what has been the worst outbreak in history has placed a lot of effort on looking after those dealing with the victims. New high-tech equipment is now available for use by health care workers, but in some countries it may be inappropriate....

Health care workers inside a USAID-funded Ebola clinic in Liberia wearing protective gear. Some of the best protective gear or technology is not available to African countries because of high costs or other conditions.  Photos by Abbas Dulleh • Associated Press,

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?: 

Hospitals Prepared In Event Of Bioterror Attack During NATO Summit

submitted by Mike Kraft

chicago.cbslocal.com - May 17, 2012

CHICAGO (CBS) — Some Chicago hospitals have prepared for possible bioterrorism attacks related to the NATO Summit.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Stroger Hospital of Cook County and University of Chicago Medicine say they are set up with decontamination tents or trailers should there be any bioterrorist act.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Panel Debates: Should We Test Anthrax Vaccine on Kids?

submitted by Luis Kun

msnbc.msn.com - by Lauran Neergaard - Associated Press - May 17, 2012

The Obama administration is asking a presidential commission to help decide an ethical quandary: Should the anthrax vaccine and other treatments being stockpiled in case of a bioterror attack be tested in children?

"We can't just assume that what we have for adults works for children," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the panel Thursday.

Controversy over whether to open pediatric studies of the anthrax vaccine led Sebelius to ask the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues to tackle the question.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Congress Considering Biodefense Measure

      

Biodefense efforts confounded by congressional inertia // Source: umdnj.edu

submitted by Luis Kun

Homeland Security News Wire - May 15, 2012

H.R. 2356, the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2011, will soon be debated before four different House committees, before going to the Senate to be debated further – all this four years after a congressionally mandated commission defined bioterrorism as a grave threat to the United States; critics charge that the reason is the unwieldy and dysfunctional manner in which Congress oversees DHS: currently there are 108 congressional committees and subcommittees with oversight responsibilities for different parts of DHS.

All agree that this is an important piece of legislation. It calls for developing a national biodefense plan and a coordinated budget across government departments and agencies – in a way similar to the way the U.S. federal government’s has been handling nuclear and cybersecurity issues.

Learning from the H5N1 Research Controversy

May 1

(Washington, D.C.)

A recent debate over whether to publish research papers on variants of the H5N1 virus precipitated an international discussion about the appropriateness and risks of this work and of dual use research in general.  This National Research Council and Institute of Medicine workshop will provide the opportunity to examine the implications of and challenges surrounding advances in the life sciences and associated technologies.  The workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the 20 F Conference Center, 20 F St., N.W.  To view the agenda or for information on attending the workshop or viewing the live webcast, visit http://www.nationalacademies.org/stl.

A Bioterrorism Threat for the Birds?

submitted by Luis Kun

by Leonard A. Cole - Homeland Security News Wire - February 14, 2012

In his first guest column, Leonard A. Cole, an expert on bioterrorism and on terror medicine who teaches at Rutgers University, explores the recent controversy over bird flu research, its implications on national security, and why efforts to curb information regarding the research will likely have limited success

A recommendation to conceal details about bird flu research has prompted a ruckus in the scientific world. The virus known as H5N1, has rarely jumped species to infect people. Only about 600 cases have been identified since 1997 when it was first found in the human population, though more than half of them died.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Compound May Help in Fight Against Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs

submitted by Luis Kun

news.ncsu.edu - February 13, 2012

North Carolina State University chemists have created a compound that makes existing antibiotics 16 times more effective against recently discovered antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”

These so-called superbugs are actually bacterial strains that produce an enzyme known as New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1). Bacteria that produce this enzyme are practically impervious to antibiotics because NDM-1renders certain antibiotics unable to bind with their bacterial targets. Since NDM-1 is found in Gram-negative bacteria like K. pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia, urinary tract, and other common hospital-acquired infections, it is of particular concern.

http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/tpndm1/

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