News

The Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases will holding a symposium on "Understanding Emerging Viral Diseases and and Their Public Health Impact" on November 3^rd and 4^th. More information may be found here.

The ABSA Risk Group Database consists of international risk group classifications for Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Parasites. In many countries, including the United States, infectious agents are categorized in risk groups based on their relative risk. Depending on the country and/or organization, this classification system might take the following factors into consideration: pathogenicity of the organism; mode of transmission and host range; availability of effective preventive measures (e.g., vaccines); availability of effective treatment (e.g., antibiotics); and other factors.

iPhone and iPad Instructions:

You can download the Risk Group Database app in the Apple iTunes store by searching for "Risk Group Database app."

Android Instructions:
You can download the Risk Group Database app in the Google Play Store by searching for "Risk Group Database."

The app only works when your device is connected to the internet.

Please send any comments or suggestions about the app to info@absa.org. An update is being planned for early October

ABSA International would like to express our sincere gratitude to the fellows at the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Program (NBBTP) for updating the ABSA Risk Group Database.

In May, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) approved  recommendations for the evaluation and oversight of proposed Gain of Function Research of Concern (GOFROC), following a process involving a risk/benefit and ethical analysis and several public meetings. The recommendations focus on a small subset of Gain of Function (GOF) research proposals, or research generating a pathogen with pandemic potential that entails risks that warrant additional oversight beyond the current oversight. Decisions about whether to fund GOFROC would be based on a set of principles, including merit, a risk/benefit analysis, consideration of alternative methods, history of the investigator and the institution, ability to respond to lab accidents, and whether an organism contains a virulence gene from another organism with which it could not recombine in nature. Oversight of GOFROC would apply to all microorganisms meeting these criteria, not just GOF research with influenza, MERS and SARS virus, which are currently subject to a pause of research funding. The new evaluations would occur pre-funding to determine whether or not a GOFROC study should be undertaken. 

The NSABB report is available here. The next step is approval by the NIH director, HHS Secretary and other department heads. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will then develop new guidance for funding and oversight of GOF research. OSTP hopes to complete an overarching structure for GOF research and then to lift the year and a half funding pause on certain projects involving influenza, SARS and MERS, which is viewed as discouraging to the field of infectious diseases. The NSABB expressed satisfaction with the recommendations, as an affirmation that GOF research has public benefit and that the new guidance will provide assurance to the public that this research will receive greater scrutiny and oversight, although a regulatory approach and new statutes are not desirable.

With Zika Virus grabbing the attention of the general public, here some links to recent laboratory-associated infections involving Zika virus:

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/06/needle-stick-infects-lab-worker-zika-virus

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/researcher-infected-zika-virus-laboratory-accident-pittsburgh/story?id=39736836

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2016/06/09/Fourth-case-of-Zika-virus-reported-in-Allegheny-County/stories/201606090159

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/11/science/lab-worker-in-pittsburgh-is-accidentally-infected-with-zika-virus.html?_r=0

Due to immense interest in our first "Train the Trainer Course for Biosafety Professionals", we decided to offer another opportunity for interested parties to join our course. Please see the events page for more details. Once again, to offer the best possible interaction between attendees and trainers, registration is limited to 10 people.

Here is a link to a review on face shields and their efficacy in infection control:

Article

Abstract

Face shields are personal protective equipment devices that are used by many workers (e.g., medical, dental, veterinary) for protection of the facial area and associated mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) from splashes, sprays, and spatter of body fluids. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. Although there are millions of potential users of face shields, guidelines for their use vary between governmental agencies and professional societies and little research is available regarding their efficacy.

This year's EBSA conference will take place in Lille, France between April 19^th and 22^nd. For further information please see the following link.

We are proud to announce the first two SBNet Workshops outside our normal framework of the annual SBNet Meeting. The first course will cover all aspects of shipping dangerous biological substances and participants will have the opportunity to obtain an official certificate allowing them to ship biological materials according to IATA / DGR.

See Announcement Workshop Transport

The second course draws from your feedback over the last few years and the desire to learn more about training and how to conduct biosafety trainings at your institutions. This course will give you the theoretical background as well as a load of practical examples that you can take back home and apply yourselves.
More details can be found in the attached documents. Hurry, as places are limited and are taken up very quickly.

See Announcement Workshop Train the Trainer

For basic principles and information concerning:

• Content of a Spill Kit
• How to clean-up a spill
• How to keep your hands clean

See PDF

Cleaning, Maintenance and Disinfection of Centrifuges, Rotors and Adapters

Samira Schroeder, Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany

In general, handling centrifuges is a safe process, as long as high quality equipment is used, such as anodized or PTFE coated aluminum rotors for instance, and the following conditions are met: the centrifuges and their equipment are used properly, are in an undamaged condition and maintained as recommended here.

See PDF