Bioterrorism

University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine to Conduct Smallpox Vaccine Research Study
CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are part of a nationwide research study to determine the safety and effectiveness of a new smallpox vaccine geared toward adults ages 18 to 34 who have never been vaccinated against the disease. The study is the first of its type in northeast Ohio. ...

Smallpox Outbreak: How Long Would It Take for Vaccines to Protect People?
In the event of a smallpox outbreak in the United States, how long would it take for a vaccine to start protecting Americans by stimulating an immune response? A new national study led by Saint Louis University School of Medicine will attempt to answer this question. General routine vaccinations for smallpox were stopped in the United States in 1971, and ...

Researchers Find Best Way to Detect Airborne Pathogens
Current methods used to sniff out dangerous airborne pathogens may wrongly suggest that there is no threat to health when, in reality, there may be. But researchers have found a better method for collecting and analyzing these germs that could give a more accurate assessment of their actual threat. For example, the findings may make it easier to detect airborne ...

Germs Under Foot Confirmed
A Nevada television station reporter tested two Las Vegas homes for various kinds of disease-causing bacteria, swabbing tile floors, carpeted areas, the soles of shoes, and even the family pet’s paws. The samples were taken to the Silver State Analytical Labs and scientists there found mold, fungus and coliform found ...
Immigrant Visa Vaccination Requirements Tightened
BALTIMORE -- New vaccine requirements will affect anyone who is applying for an immigrant visa for entry into the U.S. and anyone seeking adjustment of status for permanent residence. Applicants must show proof of vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases, as recommended by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Passport Health, ...

Infection Prevention Tips for Flood Clean-up
As Midwest floodwaters recede and clean-up efforts get underway, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) offers advice to help reduce the risk of infection:Nothing beats hand hygiene – It’s critical to remember to practice basic hand hygiene during the emergency period. Always wash your hands with ...

New Online Tool Manages Children’s Vaccine Schedules
Georgia Tech associate professor Pinar Keskinocak, graduate student Faramroze Engineer and executive secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC Larry Pickering (left to right) display the new online tool they developed that allows parents and pediatricians to ensure that the missed vaccines and future vaccines are ...

Consumers' Refrigerators are a Danger Zone for Foodborne Illnesses
Research shows that only 20 percent of consumers use thermometers, and a mere 30 percent are aware that they should have them in their refrigerators. Several experts addressed home-based food safety issues in “Consumers’ Refrigerators: A Danger Zone” Monday at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meeting and food expo ...

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An average of only 1 in 6 people wash their hands after using the restroom.
After using the restroom, a single hand can have a population count of more than 200 million bacteria per square inch.
When you sneeze, germs can travel at 80 miles per hour across a room.
One microbe can grow to become more than 8 million germs in just one day.
A kitchen cutting board harbors 50 times more bacteria than your toilet seat.
The average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
Viruses can survive on common surfaces like faucet handles for up to 72 hours.
The majority of food-poisoning cases are acquired in the home.
The average child catches at least 8 colds in a year, and U.S. kids miss as many as 189 million school days each year due to colds.