The emergence in China of a novel H7N9 avian influenza virus in humans has raised questions about its pandemic potential as well as concerns of related influenza viruses. In a commentary recently published online, scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), address these questions by evaluating past outbreaks of H7 subtype influenza viruses among mammals and birds and comparing the H7 viruses with other avian influenza viruses and strains.
The Civil Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded ManTech International Corporation a contract to provide IT support, strategic planning, and training services to end users of its wide ranging systems. ManTech will support the Civil Division's systems with a responsive 24/7 service desk, software development, training, and administration to ensure that end users are able to access information where and when they need it the most.
To improve chemical risk assessment globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of a network of leading risk assessment institutions from around the world. The network - a voluntary, collaborative initiative - will scale up action and facilitate sustainable interaction between institutions on chemical risk assessments.
Federal Signal Alerting & Notification Systems has announced that it has successfully completed the first phase of a statewide emergency warning system upgrade in Hawaii. The project replaces existing VHF and trunked radio networks with redundant satellite and cellular communications for controlling and monitoring sirens throughout the state, and replaces aging siren equipment.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently issued a plan to guide health information technology (IT) activities across HHS. Such guidance will help to eliminate medical errors, protect patients, and improve the quality and efficiency of the nation's healthcare.
BioFire Diagnostics Inc. has announced Food & Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the company's FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) Panel. The 27-target panel is the most comprehensive test to be approved by the FDA to date. The FilmArray BCID Panel provides results from positive blood cultures, and can identify more than 100 blood pathogens known to cause sepsis.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $916 million to continue improving preparedness and health outcomes for a wide range of public health threats within every U.S. state, eight U.S. territories, and four of the nation's largest metropolitan areas.
Written testimony of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Senior Manager of Digital Engagement Shayne Adamski was presented in a hearing - of a House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications - on the agency's use of social media in disasters and emergencies.
With this approval, BioThrax becomes the only anthrax vaccine approved by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) for the prevention of anthrax disease. The marketing authorization approved by PEI provides for the administration of BioThrax in a three-dose schedule, with boosters at three-year intervals recommended thereafter.
When it comes to providing solutions for demanding mobile-PC applications that call for rugged, durable, lightweight products, GammaTech Computer Corporation's rapidly growing Durabook line of tablets is more than up to the task. Whether used indoors in an office setting or manufacturing facility, or outdoors in the harshest environments, GammaTech tablets are built tough and built to last.
