Emerging Infectious Diseases
The Department of the Air Force rapidly executed three Department of Defense (DoD) contracts worth $133 million with 3M, Honeywell, and O&M Halyard to increase N95 mask production under the Defense Production Act Title 3.
“As the Department of Defense’s Executive Agent for the Defense... Read More »
Department of Defense (DoD) officials said the agency has earmarked funds for three companies to increase domestic N95 mask production by over 39 million over the next 90 days.
DoD Spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Andrews said the DoD would invest $133 million toward the effort. The contracts have been... Read More »
Despite high scores on the Global Health Security (GHS) index, the United States has fundamentally weak health security, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) warns, and its struggle with COVID-19 has emphasized its inadequate ability to deal with a pandemic.
COVID-19 has spawned more than... Read More »
Though 72 potential vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 are currently under development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its federal health partners note that urgency for additional products remains, and to jumpstart possibilities, they have launched a new Coronavirus Treatment... Read More »
Pharmaceutical firm Roche said it has developed and would soon launch its test detecting antibodies in people exposed to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19.
The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology test can support priority screening of high-risk... Read More »
Department of Justice officials recently forwarded a Business Review Letter to AmerisourceBergen, notifying the firm there would be no challenge to efforts to aid COVID-19 treatment efforts.
“We commend AmerisourceBergen’s efforts to assist the United States in responding to the COVID-19... Read More »
Newly developed COVID-19 testing options were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, with the granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) for an at-home test.
It marks the first at-home iteration of tests for the disease, which has infected more than 788,000 in the... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Tangen Biosciences, Inc. are teaming up to develop a rapid diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, capable of producing results within an hour.
The test will be paired with the Tangen GeneSpark, a molecular diagnostic system, and... Read More »
Novartis is proceeding with a Phase III clinical trial to evaluate the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 disease.
The company got the go-ahead from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trial will involve approximately 440 patients and be conducted at... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) is calling on the Trump Administration to develop a comprehensive COVID-19 testing strategy as part of its efforts to reopen the economy.
Pallone, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is concerned that the Trump Administration appears to be abandoning... Read More »
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers said they have developed a tool designed to aid hospitals and medical professionals in disinfecting N95 masks.
In the wake of hospitals nationwide disinfecting N95 masks by placing them in repurposed rooms or shipping containers... Read More »
Animal testing of the Gilead Sciences Inc.-created antiviral Remdesivir showed promise against rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists said.
This study was led by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and... Read More »
A universal Ebola vaccine may fight all four virus species that infect humans, according to preclinical tests of a new treatment at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Data published in the Journal of Virology shows the virus could work as a stand-alone protection, but may also... Read More »
In a teleconference between experts from the Immunization Action Coalition, FasterCures and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, one thing was made abundantly clear: the world needs the best possible vaccines to combat COVID-19 as quickly as possible.
In the opinion of Dr.... Read More »
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker filed a bill to help the state combat mosquito-borne diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and the West Nile Virus (WNV).
The legislation -- An Act to Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth – would empower the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA) is working with Hememics Biotechnologies to develop a rapid antigen and antibody test to identify the COVID-19 coronavirus in 60 seconds.
The test will be designed to detect the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, which causes COVID-19, from nasal... Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a recent collaboration including U.S. Cotton, UnitedHealth Group, Quantigen, and the Gates Foundation has resulted in further COVID-19 testing option expansion.
Officials said the determination that spun synthetic swabs, with a design... Read More »
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has forwarded correspondence to President Donald Trump, encouraging efforts to provide COVID-19 patients the right to try hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the course of their diagnosis.
Johnson is seeking to have the president issue a directive to remove the Food and Drug... Read More »
Moderna is working toward U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure on an mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID-19 -- with a $483 million award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
“Vaccines are a critical tool for saving lives... Read More »
Congressional legislators on Friday introduced two bipartisan bills in the U.S. House of Representatives to bolster the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), the nation’s repository of antibiotics, vaccines and other critical medical supplies that has been strained by the current coronavirus... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is partnering with the American Red Cross (ARC) to recruit blood donors who have recovered from COVID-19.
BARDA and the ARC are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect convalescent plasma for use as a... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking to temporarily amend H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers during the coronavirus emergency.
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs.
The rule... Read More »
National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists maintain N95 respirators can maintain functional integrity for up to three uses when decontaminated effectively.
The findings stem from a study conducted in a controlled laboratory setting. The results are not yet peer-reviewed but are being shared... Read More »
Citing an increased need for medical staff to handle the surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) are encouraging the waiving of restrictions on doctors with employment-based visas.
The legislators said the restrictions prevent the doctors from... Read More »
Harried by an ongoing shortage of personal protective equipment for some of the emergency responders who need it most amid the COVID-19 pandemic -- firefighters and EMS workers -- the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is pitching a survey they hope to present directly to President... Read More »
Efforts begun on a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in February are moving closer to fruition for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Sanofi Pasteur, with the announcement of pending non-clinical studies and a Phase 1 clinical trial.
These trials will determine the initial... Read More »
Millions of N95 respirators used by U.S. health care workers in hospital settings can now be sterilized for reuse, helping to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) on April 11 for one such technology that has the... Read More »
Researchers and engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Carle Health launched an effort to produce face shields for health professionals responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It stems from a personal protective equipment (PPE) design initiative led by The Grainger... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is working with Vela Diagnostics USA to develop a rapid diagnostic test for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rapid diagnostic test would be for use on two instrument platforms, which is needed to test as many people as possible and... Read More »
Ohio State University researchers have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a process designed to expand and accelerate COVID-19 testing statewide.
In response to shortages of test kit components, including swabs and vials filled with a liquid called viral transport media... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to expand assurances for public safety officers contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and Fire Services Caucus, House Judiciary Committee Chairman... Read More »
The push for convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulin immunotherapies to use against COVID-19 continues at the federal level, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) touting collaboration with non-governmental entities to see it done.
These immunotherapies could... Read More »
President Donald Trump’s pledge to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) while the White House reviews its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak has drawn immediate criticism from the health community.
“We must all be allies against this threat; this is not the time to stand... Read More »
A group of senators recently forwarded correspondence to Vice President Mike Pence, the Coronavirus Task Force, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking COVID-19 testing clarity.
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined colleagues in calling for the initiation... Read More »
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) officials said a new $2.5 million State of Maryland funding allotment would aid in initiating a broader COVID-19 testing initiative expanding testing capability.
"The state is in dire need of increased coronavirus testing, and the School of... Read More »
