InfectedNZ • Nov 21, 2016 •
By Associate Professor Lance Jennings, as part of the #InfectedNZ online campaign to raise awareness about infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. In the context of World Antibiotic Awareness week (November 14-20) and efforts to raise the awareness of infectious diseases in New Zealand, it is useful to include a discussion on viruses. Although few treatments and vaccines … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 12, 2013 •
While all has gone a little quiet on the Fonterra botulism scare, here is something likely to get everyone in a lather. Flu experts Ron Fouchier and Yoshihiro Kawaoka*, along with 20 other scientists from all over the world, have announced studies they say are needed to better understand the pandemic threat posed by influenza a subtype H7N9 viruses. Since … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Jun 03, 2013 •
I’ve recently returned from Denver, Colorado where I was attending the American Society of Microbiology’s (ASM) annual conference. It was one of the biggest conferences I’ve ever been to: approximately 7,100 attendees, nearly 230 sessions, 19 workshops, and over 2,500 posters. All in just 4 days. Exhausting! With such a huge amount going on, the organisors had developed a smart … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • May 04, 2012 •
And it’s Open Access! Late last year it was revealed that 2 papers submitted to the journals Science and Nature had been sent to the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), an American committee charged with providing guidance on the potential of research to be misused to pose a biological threat to public health or national security. Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Dec 21, 2011 •
As the first molecular evidence emerges that the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus from human patients matches that of environmental samples taken from live bird markets in China, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosafety has given its advice on publication of recipe for making a ‘weaponised’ (ferretised?) H5N1 strain. And the recommendation is? That the … Read More
Siouxsie Wiles • Nov 29, 2011 •
Reading New Scientist gives me my weekly reality check regarding how little I know about anything. This week I found out about a committee in the USA called the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity which is charged with providing advise and guidance on the potential of research to be misused to pose a biological threat to public health … Read More