Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Containing and Preventing Biological Threats, by Jeffrey R. Ryan, is a very comprehensive and multi-faceted book. This was one of the first books that I read when I began learning about global public health and it gave me a great introduction into the sometimes complicated field of bioterrorism.
How the “Omics”- Revolution Will Change Medicine
I recently spoke with Dr. Suneil Malik about genomics and outbreak preparedness.
This is the second part of our conversation, in which we were discussing the benefits and potential downsides of the so-called “omics”-revolution, which consists of new technologies such as transcriptomics and proteomics that are changing the field of medicine.
A Canadian Perspective on Genomics and Outbreak Preparedness
I recently spoke with Dr. Suneil Malik about genomics and outbreak preparedness.
Dr. Malik is a Manager and Team Leader for Toxicology at Health Canada, a government agency directed by the Canadian Minister of Health. He is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sign up for the 2019 ASM Biothreats Conference!
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.
The Good News Nobody Talks About
When I first started out learning about global public health, the course that got me hooked was “An Introduction to Global Health”, taught by Professor Hans Rosling from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. After taking this course, I was inspired to further explore the field of public health and later biodefense. Continue Reading
National Biodefense Strategy 2018: The US Government’s Latest Approach to Combat Biological Threats
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
A Conversation About Pandemic Preparedness – Part 2
This is the second part of my conversation with Professor Benjamin J. Cowling about influenza pandemic prevention and preparedness. The first part was about pandemic preparedness and genomics. In this part, Prof. Cowling focuses on national and global responses.
A Conversation About Pandemic Preparedness – Part 1
I recently spoke with Professor Benjamin J. Cowling about influenza pandemic prevention and preparedness.
Our conversation will be posted in two parts. The first part below is about pandemic preparedness and genomics. The second part (to be posted next week) will examine national and global responses.
Five Reasons Why Bioterror is a Uniquely Difficult Topic to Tackle
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
Is the CDC Museum worth a trip?
To anyone interested in the topic of public health, a visit to the David J. Sencer CDC Museum in Atlanta is a must for two reasons:
1) The exhibit provides a comprehensive, yet easy to understand overview of the history and the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2) It shows the various battles fought against global diseases in the past and in the present, in great detail.