Latest news with #IntegratedResearchFacility
GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Ozamiz City logs first mpox case
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow), cultured in the laboratory, captured at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. NIAID/ Handout via REUTERS Health authorities have confirmed the first positive case of mpox in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Mayor Indy Oaminal said in a press release on Friday, June 20, 2025. The patient, who sought medical attention at the Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, is currently in isolation and recovering well. He presented himself voluntarily for a check-up after experiencing symptoms. The City Health Office (CHO) has launched contact tracing efforts immediately to prevent the possible spread of the disease. Individuals identified as close contacts are now being monitored pursuant to the health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH). Oaminal urged the public not to panic, noting that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has confirmed that the mpox strain is Clade II, the milder and self-limiting form of the virus. However, residents are still urged to remain vigilant and report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, or back pain. The public is also reminded to practice proper hygiene such as regular handwashing, the use of close-fitting masks in public, and avoiding skin-to-skin contact. "Even if the strain is not deadly, we cannot be complacent. Please remain vigilant and practice the prescribed self-protection measures against the virus. At the first sign of symptoms related to Mpox, immediately proceed to the health facility nearest you," Oaminal said. — GMA Regional TV
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kristi Noem hospitalized under alarming circumstances — was a lab visit with RFK Jr. the main reason?
Kristi Noem , the US Secretary of Homeland Security, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, just one day after touring a high-level biohazard lab with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Senator Rand Paul . The timing has raised questions, but officials say it was an allergic reaction. Still, the situation is raising eyebrows in political circles. The visit was initiated in response to concerns about the lab's safety culture. The timing has sparked speculation and calls for transparency. What happened during the lab visit? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a picture of them both at a biosafety facility that had been temporarily closed because of safety concerns. The Health and Human Services Secretary posted a photo of himself at the Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, with Republican Sen. Rand Paul and Noem, captioning the photo, "With @Sec_Noem and @SenRandPaul inspecting the biological hazard labs at Fort Detrick.' Live Events With @Sec_Noem and @SenRandPaul inspecting the biological hazard labs at Fort Detrick. — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) June 16, 2025 Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS Tricia McLaughlin told the Daily Beast that Noem was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Tuesday because of a "allergic reaction." 'She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. She is alert and recovering,' he stated, as per a report. ALSO READ: Trump about to fire Tulsi Gabbard? Explosive reports reveal why he's furious and done with her Could the allergic reaction be linked to the tour? The allergic reaction's source is still unknown, and there is no proof that the incident was anything more than an odd coincidence. Fort Detrick's Integrated Research Facility investigates viruses that are "causing high-consequence disease," including SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola, according to its website. One of its focal points is to alleviate significant public health incidents associated with emerging or reemerging infectious diseases or biological warfare assaults. The MAHA Institute announced on X that Noem, Paul, and Kennedy visited the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases biosecurity laboratory at Fort Detrick on Monday, as per a report by the Daily Beast. Why was the lab already under scrutiny? In April, the lab was placed on indefinite work stoppage by Kennedy's department. When the safety stand-down occurred, an NIH spokesperson told WIRED that it "follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility's safety culture." Fox News was informed by an unnamed HHS official that the incident was caused by a "lover's spat" between researchers at the facility, in which one of them allegedly poked holes in the other's PPE. Kennedy declared in May that because of the hazardous pathogens being handled at the Integrated Research Facility, the FBI was looking into a possible "deliberate criminal act" there. FAQs Was Kristi Noem's hospitalization related to the lab visit? There is no confirmed link, but the close timing has raised concerns. Officials say it was simply an allergic reaction. Why is Fort Detrick's lab under the spotlight? The lab works with dangerous pathogens and had recently paused work due to serious safety concerns, including the possibility of sabotage.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ICE Barbie Visited Biohazard Lab With RFK Jr. Before Hospitalization
Kristi Noem was hospitalized for an allergic reaction one day after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photo of them both visiting a biosafety lab that was temporarily shut down due to safety concerns. 'With @Sec_Noem and @SenRandPaul inspecting the biological hazard labs at Fort Detrick,' the Health and Human Services Secretary posted, sharing an image of himself with Noem and GOP Sen. Rand Paul at the Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland. On Tuesday, Noem was taken to the hospital by ambulance for an 'allergic reaction,' DHS' Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told the Daily Beast in a statement. 'She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. She is alert and recovering,' McLaughlin said. It's not clear what prompted the allergic reaction, and there's nothing to suggest the incident was anything more than a bizarre coincidence. Noem is yet to comment on her condition publicly. The Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick studies viruses 'causing high-consequence disease' such as Ebola and SARS-CoV-2, according to its site. One of its focus areas is to 'mitigate major public health events related to emerging or reemerging infectious diseases or biological weapons attacks.' The MAHA Institute, a think tank supporting Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, posted on X earlier that Noem, Paul, and Kennedy had toured the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases biosecurity lab at Fort Detrick on Monday. The offices of Noem, Paul and Kennedy did not immediately return requests for comment. Kennedy's department ordered an indefinite work stoppage at the lab in April. A spokesperson for NIH told WIRED at the time that the safety stand-down 'follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility's safety culture.' An unnamed HHS official told Fox News the incident stemmed from a 'lover's spat' between researchers at the facility, which allegedly resulted in one of the people poking holes in the other's personal protective equipment. Kennedy told a Senate committee in May the FBI was investigating it as a potentially 'deliberate criminal act' because the pathogens the individuals were handling were highly dangerous. He said he intended to visit the facility with Noem. Democrats last week pressed Kennedy's office for more answers on the research pause, noting that scientists at the Integrated Research Facility 'study some of the most dangerous pathogens and viruses to prevent, address, and eradicate high-consequence and deadly diseases,' and that safety measures there 'are of the utmost importance for our constituents in the surrounding communities.' The letter also asked for a timeline on when work at the labs would resume.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kristi Noem's hospitalisation linked to her visit with RFK Jr to a controversial biohazard lab for Ebola, SARS-CoV-2?
Kristi Noem hospitalised Live Events — SecKennedy (@SecKennedy) Who is Kristi Noem? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after experiencing an allergic reaction, her spokeswoman said. 'She is alert and recovering,' said the statement from department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, who said the hospital treatment was out of an 'abundance of caution.'She has been among the more high-profile members of President Donald Trump's cabinet, traveling extensively and maintaining a robust social media to a report in The Daily Beast, Noem was hospitalized for an allergic reaction one day after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photo of them both visiting a biosafety lab that was temporarily shut down over safety concerns.'With @Sec_Noem and @SenRandPaul inspecting the biological hazard labs at Fort Detrick ,' the Health and Human Services Secretary posted, sharing an image of himself with Noem and GOP Sen. Rand Paul at the Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland. On Tuesday, Noem was rushed to the hospital via ambulance for an "allergic reaction", DHS' Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told the Daily Beast in a statement.'She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. She is alert and recovering,' McLaughlin said. What promoted Kristi Noem's allergic reaction is yet to be determined and there's no evidence to suggest that the incident was anything more than a bizarre coincidence. Noem is yet to comment on her condition Tuesday, Health Secretary posted a picture with Kristi Noem and Senator Rand Paul when they inspected the biological hazard labs at Fort Detrick. The MAHA Institute, a think tank supporting Kennedy's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, posted on X earlier that Noem, Paul, and Kennedy had toured the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases biosecurity lab at Fort Detrick on Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick conducts research on viruses responsible for severe diseases like Ebola and SARS-CoV-2 , as stated on its website. Its core mission includes helping to prevent major public health crises caused by emerging or reemerging infectious diseases and potential biological weapon 53, heads a sprawling department with roughly 260,000 employees handling immigration enforcement, airport security, disaster response and other matters. She has been among the more high-profile members of President Donald Trump's cabinet, traveling extensively and maintaining a robust social media is often the public face of his mass deportation effort, frequently goes out on immigration enforcement operations and has appeared in commercials encouraging immigrants in the country illegally to voluntarily leave the U.S. Before being tapped to head Homeland Security, Noem was a two-term governor of South Dakota, a former member of Congress and a staunch Trump has said she specifically asked Trump for the Homeland Security portfolio because she knew it dealt with Trump's top this year Noem's purse was stolen on Easter Sunday while she was out to dinner with her family. The purse reportedly contained about $3,000 in cash, her keys, driver's license, passport and Homeland Security badge.(With inputs from AP)
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Top secret US research lab studying SARS-CoV-2 shut amid safety concerns
A top-secret US research facility that studies Sars-CoV-2, Ebola and other deadly pathogens has been shut down by the Trump administration amid safety concerns. The Integrated Research Facility (IRL) – which is located at a US Army base in Fort Detrick, Maryland – was told by email to stop all experimental work by 5pm on April 29 and its director was placed on administrative leave. The high security facility, which was once the centre of the US biological weapons program, is believed by many in China to have sparked the Covid-19 pandemic. Until Tuesday, when its doors were locked, the lab conducted research for the prevention and treatment of 'high consequence' diseases including Ebola, Sars-Cov-2 Lassa fever, Marburg and Eastern equine encephalitis. Bradley Moss, the communications director for the US National institutes for Health (NIH), told WIRED magazine that the lab had been closed amid safety concerns. 'NIH has implemented a research pause – referred to as a safety stand-down – at the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick. This decision follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility's safety culture, prompting this research pause,' he said. 'During the stand-down, no research will be conducted, and access will be limited to essential personnel only, to safeguard the facility and its resources.' An email seen by WIRED, further revealed that the facility's director had been placed on administrative leave, while the freezers in the facility's biosafety-level-4 (BSL4) labs padlocked shut. There are only around a dozen BSL4 labs in North America studying the world's most dangerous diseases, but the IRF facility is also one of just a handful globally that is able to perform medical imaging on animals infected with high consequence diseases. It has 168 employees and is part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases – which Dr Anthony Fauci led for 38 years. In August 2019, its germ research operations were temporarily shut down following serious safety violations – an unfortunate fact that has enabled the Chinese authorities to magnify un-evidenced conspiracy theories about the lab's role in the Covid-19 pandemic. While the consensus among scientists globally is that Covid-19 most probably had natural origins, a leak from a high security lab remains a possibility. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and its labs have been under scrutiny since Robert F Kennedy, President Donald Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, assumed office. The department has since announced that 10,000 people would lose their jobs – including those at the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – as Mr Trump and Elon Musk's attempt to reduce government spending. But there are concerns that overnight funding cuts could be a major setback for research. 'The sustained attacks on collaborative US biomedical science and public health are already destroying disease surveillance systems and game-changing clinical trials that will result in avoidable deaths and morbidities for years to come in some of the poorest countries,' said Prof Stuart Neil, head of the department of infectious diseases at King's College London. 'These aren't on-off switches that you restore with a flick of a finger if someone on high changes their minds. This is wilful vandalism of research and treatment programmes that have taken years to establish – things that you could legitimately say made America great,' he told the Telegraph. This week, Nature also reported that an upcoming NIH policy will at least temporarily stop funding to laboratories and hospitals outside the US. While the final text has not yet been agreed, it could have major ramifications on international partnerships. In 2023, about 15 per cent of NIH grants had at least one 'foreign component' – mostly in the UK, Canada, Germany and Australia – on projects ranging from cancer to Aids, Ebola to child health. 'These decisions will have tragic consequences,' Prof Francis Collins, who led the NIH for 12 years, told Nature. He added that when combined with the dismantling of USAID – which also funded research into diseases including malaria and tuberculosis – it means 'more children and adults in low-income countries will now lose their lives because of research that didn't get done'. The Telegraph has contacted Mr Holbrook and the NIH press office. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
