Biosecurity News and Research

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Biosecurity is a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive alien species, living modified organisms.

Abbott’s fast COVID test poses safety issues, lab workers say

Lab personnel say worries are mounting over the safety of a rapid coronavirus test by Abbott Laboratories that President Donald Trump has repeatedly lauded - particularly, the risk of infection to those handling it.

23 Apr 2020

Coronavirus able to survive near boiling point of water, study shows

A startling paper by a team of French scientists published in the preprint journal bioRxiv in April 2020 suggests that the novel coronavirus is capable of surviving at high temperatures. This could mean that laboratory technicians handling the virus are at danger of infection.

15 Apr 2020

Preclinical trials for two coronavirus vaccine candidates commence

Scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s national science body, and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria, have commenced preclinical trials for two novel coronavirus vaccine candidates.

7 Apr 2020

Australia: Coronavirus spreads, drive-through testing, pop up clinics and $2.4 billion

Australia has seen an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and this will continue for weeks despite strict border control measures, experts say. With 116 confirmed cases and thousands of people waiting to be tested, Australian hospitals could be overwhelmed by thousands of patients.

10 Mar 2020

During a pandemic, states’ patchwork of crisis plans could mean uneven care

A possible coronavirus pandemic could overwhelm the nation's hospitals and force doctors into difficult decisions about how to allocate limited resources. Yet, experts say, only a handful of states have done the work necessary to prepare for such worst-case scenarios.

5 Mar 2020

Australia reports first human-to-human coronavirus transmission, total cases now 39

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has started to gain momentum over the past week, spreading to 77 countries, including Australia. The number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 41, with ten new cases reported in Queensland.

3 Mar 2020

Innovative breath collecting device could change coronavirus diagnosis around the world

An innovative breath collecting device developed by academics at Northumbria University, Newcastle, could revolutionize the way we diagnose diseases, such as the newly emerged strain of coronavirus, COVID-19.

19 Feb 2020

CSIRO begins key research on novel coronavirus

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has commenced key research in the rapid global response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

From CSIRO 30 Jan 2020

UMD entomologists recognized by AAAS with 2019 Newcomb Cleveland Prize

The American Association for the Advancement of Science awarded its 2019 Newcomb Cleveland Prize to University of Maryland entomologists Raymond St. Leger, Brian Lovett and their seven West African collaborators.

24 Jan 2020

RNAssist and Rapid Labs agree on a manufacturing and supply agreement for genoPHIX and vivoPHIX

RNAssist has developed several universal biological sample stabilization, fixation and microbial inactivation reagents.

From Rapid Labs Ltd 23 Jan 2020

Novel coronavirus from Wuhan in China

The Australian Government Department of Health is aware of the cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the region of Wuhan in China, and watching developments very closely.

20 Jan 2020

CSIRO researchers find simple way to estimate lifespan of animals

Researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have discovered a simple way to estimate how long a species lives.

13 Dec 2019

Developments in the search for a Zika vaccine - success in mice and a new platform for flavivirus vaccines

Researchers have vaccinated mice against the Zika virus, whilst others have discovered a new platform for flavivirus vaccines.

12 Dec 2019

A recombinant platform for flavivirus vaccines and diagnostics using chimeras

A new technology to produce safer ‘hybrid’ viruses at high volumes for use in vaccines and diagnostics for mosquito-borne diseases has been developed at The University of Queensland.

11 Dec 2019

New technology gives Aussies more prawns to enjoy for Christmas

Australians will be enjoying more Aussie-grown prawns this Christmas thanks to a new prawn health check developed by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

6 Dec 2019

Tightening of Ebola care practice rules following survivor’s death

Guidelines for the safe care of Ebola patients are being looked over after a patient's death due to a second infection from Ebola.

1 Nov 2019

Study shows antibiotic resistance in livestock has almost tripled since 2000

The growing appetite for animal protein in developing countries has resulted in a smorgasbord of antibiotic consumption for livestock that has nearly tripled the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in disease-causing bacteria easily transmitted from animals to humans, according to a recent report in the journal Science.

10 Oct 2019