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Learnings on Biodefense Preparedness from Singapore

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Singapore’s Gardens By The Bay. Photo by Mia Tellmann

All around the world, the structure and security measures for biodefense preparedness vary. Countries have very distinct strategies based on their location, size, and type of government. I was particularly interested in Singapore, a very small country of only 5.8 million residents and 278 square miles, because of its reputation for efficiency and high standards. Therefore, I asked the Singaporean Government if they could share information on their approach to protecting their country from biological threats.  Continue Reading

Flu shots are now available!

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Influenza virus. Picture by Shutterstock/Rost9

Flu shots for the 2019-20 season are out. Go and get yours! It’s the best prevention that’s available for now. I got mine on Labor Day at my local pharmacy, which proved to be a good decision as there were no lines with people still away for the holiday. Continue Reading

How Max Joseph von Pettenkofer Changed the World of Hygiene

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German hygienist Max Joseph von Pettenkofer. Picture by Shutterstock

An interesting fact I came across while I was preparing to meet a German public health expert (see my blogs in the coming weeks), is that the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, among many other institutions, was inspired by and modeled after the Hygieneinstitut (Hygiene Institute) in Munich. Continue Reading

Update on Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Ebola virus. Picture by Shutterstock/ jaddigt

The World Health Organization has recently declared the nearly year-long Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Public-Health Emergency of International Concern. The declaration was made after recent developments in the outbreak made it one of international concern. Continue Reading

Coming up: Summer Workshop on Pandemics, Bioterrorism, and Global Health Security

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For all of you interested in pandemics, bioterrorism, and global health security, the annual summer workshop at the Schar School of Policy and Government in Arlington, Virginia, is open for sign up!

Early bird tickets are available until June 1, 2019. For details, click here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-workshop-on-pandemics-bioterrorism-and-global-health-security-from-anthrax-to-zika-tickets-56374070362

Don’t wait, vaccinate!

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As of yesterday, New York City has declared a public health emergency in response to a widespread measles outbreak in Brooklyn. Measles is a viral infection that can be very dangerous for small children, but has been preventable with a vaccine since the 1960s. Common measles symptoms include a cough, runny nose, fever, and a red skin rash. Measles symptoms do not appear until 10 to 14 days after the initial exposure, which allows for easy transmission of the virus during the initial days of infection. Continue Reading

Sign up for the 2019 ASM Biothreats Conference!

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Happy New Year, everyone! From January 29th to January 31st 2019 there will be a conference held by the American Society for Microbiology in Arlington, Virginia. Discussions and exhibitions on the latest developments in biosecurity and bioterrorism will be held by leading experts in academia, government, and the public health industry from around the world.

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National Biodefense Strategy 2018: The US Government’s Latest Approach to Combat Biological Threats

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Scientists in high security lab. Picture by Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff

On the preparedness front in the United States, the new National Biodefense Strategy was released on September 19, 2018. The new strategy establishes clear and thoughtful goals that will become a vital part of “managing the risk of biological incidents… in today’s interconnected world” 1. Continue Reading

Five Reasons Why Bioterror is a Uniquely Difficult Topic to Tackle

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Smallpox variola virus. Photo by fotovapl/Shutterstock.com

As I have researched the topic of bioterrorism, I have found this subject to be a uniquely challenging issue for society and nations to tackle to ensure the safety of their citizens. Dr. Jeffrey Ryan defines bioterrorism as, “the intentional use of microorganisms or toxins derived from living organisms to cause death or disease in humans or the animals and plants on which we depend.”1 In this article, I will point out the issues that make bioterror not only a difficult topic, but an extremely important one to focus on, as well. Continue Reading

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