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Category: COVID-19 Vaccine

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Novel Treatment for Hemophilia A or B, with or without Factor Inhibitors

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    March 28, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Qfitlia (fitusiran) for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with hemophilia A or hemophilia B, with or without factor VIII or IX inhibitors (neutralizing antibodies).
    “Today’s approval of Qfitlia is significant for patients with hemophilia because it can be administered less frequently than other existing options,” said Tanya Wroblewski, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Non-Malignant Hematology in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This new treatment option highlights our continued efforts to improve the lives of patients with hemophilia.”
    Hemophilia A and hemophilia B are genetic bleeding disorders caused by a dysfunction or deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) or IX (FIX), respectively. Patients with these hemophilias are unable to clot properly and may bleed for a longer time than normal after injury or surgery. They may also have spontaneous bleeding in muscles, joints and organs, which can be life-threatening. These bleeding episodes are typically managed by either on-demand, episodic treatment or prophylaxis using products containing FVIII or FIX, or a product that mimics a factor.
    Qfitlia does not replace the missing clotting factor. Rather, it reduces the amount of a protein called antithrombin, leading to an increase in thrombin, an enzyme critical for blood clotting.
    Qfitlia is administered under the skin (subcutaneously) starting once every two months. The dose and frequency of injections are adjusted using the FDA-cleared INNOVANCE Antithrombin companion diagnostic test. This companion diagnostic is intended to monitor and—by informing dosing and frequency of injections—achieve antithrombin activity in the target range to reduce the risk of bleeding and to reduce the risk of excessive blood clotting. The FDA granted clearance of the INNOVANCE Antithrombin test to Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH.
    Qfitlia’s efficacy and safety were assessed in two multicenter, randomized clinical trials which enrolled a total of 177 adult and pediatric male patients with either hemophilia A or hemophilia B. In one study, participants had inhibitory antibodies to FVIII or FIX and previously received on-demand treatment with medicines known as “bypassing agents” for bleeding. In the second study, participants did not have inhibitory antibodies to FVIII or FIX and previously received on-demand treatment with clotting factor concentrates. In the two randomized trials, participants received either a fixed dose of Qfitlia monthly or their usual on-demand treatment (bypassing agents or clotting factor concentrates) as needed for nine months. The fixed dose of Qfitlia is not approved because it led to excessive clotting in some patients.
    Participants subsequently entered a long-term extension study in which they received an adjustable dose of Qfitlia based on periodic measurements of antithrombin activity. This antithrombin-based dosing regimen is the approved dosage regimen. Efficacy of Qfitlia using the antithrombin-based dosing regimen was established by comparing patients on this dosing regimen of Qfitlia during the long-term extension study to the on-demand control data from the two randomized clinical trials.
    The primary measure of efficacy of Qfitlia was the estimated annualized bleeding rate of treated bleeds. In the participants with inhibitors who received the antithrombin-based dosing regimen of Qfitlia, there was a 73% reduction in estimated annualized bleeding rate compared to those who received on-demand treatment with bypassing agents. In participants without inhibitors who received the antithrombin-based dosing regimen of Qfitlia, there was a 71% reduction in estimated annualized bleeding rate compared to those who received on-demand treatment with clotting factor concentrates.
    Qfitlia has a boxed warning for thrombotic events (blood clotting) and gallbladder disease (with some patients requiring gallbladder removal). Qfitlia also has a warning about liver toxicity and the need to monitor liver blood tests at baseline and then monthly for at least six months after initiating treatment with Qfitlia or after a dose increase of Qfitlia.
    The most common side effects of Qfitlia are viral infection, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis) and bacterial infection.
    The FDA granted Qfitlia Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations for this application.  
    The FDA granted the approval of Qfitlia to Sanofi.
    ###

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    Content current as of:
    03/28/2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province continues to ensure people are protected from COVID-19, measles

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Starting Tuesday, April 8, 2025, free additional COVID-19 vaccines will be available to people in B.C., with a focus on those who are at higher risk of severe illness.

    “While the peak of respiratory illnesses has passed, influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are still here, and we must continue to practise healthy habits to keep illnesses from spreading,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer for British Columbia. “This is particularly important as spring break ends, a period when many people have been travelling. This is a reminder to stay home if you are sick, and if you need medical care, to call ahead so you can be seen safely.”

    The spring COVID-19 vaccine will be available throughout the province at approximately 400 pharmacies, as well as regional health-authority clinics, some primary-care offices, community health centres, long-term care homes and First Nations communities. Public health units will also have vaccine available for children under 12.

    “For people at the highest risk of serious illness, an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can boost their immunity through the spring and summer,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why notifications to priority populations will go out starting April 8.”

    Based on guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, B.C. health officials recommend that the following people receive an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine this spring:

    • adults 65 years and older, with a particular focus on people over 80 years;
    • Indigenous adults 55 years and older;
    • adult residents of long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities (including those awaiting placement); and
    • individuals six months and older who have been diagnosed as clinically extremely vulnerable (a CEV 1 or CEV 2).

    Notifications to book appointments will be sent out to priority populations beginning April 8, 2025. The spring vaccine program will end on June 30, 2025. Anyone else who feels they would benefit from an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can consult with their health-care provider, contact the call centre at 1 833 838-2323 to book an appointment or call a pharmacy for availability.

    With an increasing number of measles cases reported in B.C. and the resurgence of measles cases worldwide, public health officials are encouraging people in B.C. to check their immunization records to ensure they are up to date with their measles immunization by going on Health Gateway or connecting with their health-care provider, and if needed, to book an appointment to get a free measles vaccine.

    Officials are also reminding people to monitor for symptoms if they have recently travelled. To date, five cases of measles have been reported in the province, all in the Lower Mainland and all related to travel to areas in the world where measles outbreaks are occurring.

    “Increasingly, we’re seeing cases of measles in parts of Canada, with outbreaks in Ontario and cases here in B.C., and around the world,” said Dr. Henry. “Measles can cause serious illness, particularly for young people who are not vaccinated. And we have tragically had one death in Canada last year.”

    Measles is an extremely contagious virus that can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and even death. People who are most at risk from measles are those who are completely unvaccinated against the disease and who have no immunity from past exposures.

    “As we’re seeing an increase in cases of measles in B.C. and around the world, people need to make sure their measles immunizations are up to date and that they follow healthy habits,” said Osborne. “It is easy and free to get the measles vaccine, to protect yourself and your loved ones from this serious virus.”

    Adults born in 1970 or later should ensure they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine as one dose is not enough to ensure adequate protection. Adults born before 1970 are generally assumed to have acquired immunity to measles from exposure to measles before immunization was widely available.

    In B.C., children are routinely provided with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine with the first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine given at 12 months and the second dose of measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine given at four to six years.

    Children from six months of age travelling to parts of the world where measles is more common can receive MMR vaccine prior to departure. They will then require two doses of vaccine after they reach 12 months to be fully protected. Children between one and four years can also get their second dose early if travelling to areas where measles is spreading.

    People can get free measles vaccines from their local health unit or health centre. Some doctors and nurse practitioners also offer vaccines to infants, children and adults. Children 4 years and older, as well as adults, can be vaccinated at a pharmacy. In First Nations communities, people can also be immunized by their community health nurse at their community health centre or nursing station.

    Two backgrounders follow.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Tens of millions risk starvation as funding cuts deepen crises in DR Congo: WHO, WFP

    Source: United Nations 2

    28 March 2025 Humanitarian Aid

    Sharply declining aid could force tens of millions across the globe who rely on food aid into extreme hunger and starvation, the World Food Program (WFP) warned on Friday.  

    The United Nations agency has received only $1.57 billion of the $21.1 billion required to sustain its operations this year, with donations slashed by 40 per cent after cuts from major donors like the United States.

    “WFP is prioritizing countries with the greatest needs and stretching food rations at the frontlines. While we are doing everything possible to reduce operational costs, make no mistake, we are facing a funding cliff with life-threatening consequences,” said Rania Dagash-Kamara, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation.

    “Emergency feeding programmes not only save lives and alleviate human suffering – they bring greatly needed stability to fragile communities, which can spiral downwards when faced with extreme hunger.”

    The drastic reductions are threatening the organization’s global programs in 28 regions, including Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    Bracing for the rainy season

    With the rainy season looming in fighting-stricken South Sudan, two-thirds of its estimated 12.7 million people facing acute food insecurity could go even hungrier.

    WFP delivers food and nutrition aid to 2.3 million people in the east African country who have escaped war, extreme climate events, and economic downturn. More than one million people have fled to the impoverished nation from neighboring Sudan.

    Outbreaks surging

    Meanwhile, shortages in medical supplies are likely to worsen the crisis in conflict-torn eastern DRC, with the public health system on the brink of collapse and spikes in viral outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday.

    After recent clashes in Walikale, in the western part of the city of Goma, nearly 700 people are seeking treatment in a hospital, but funding cuts, disease outbreaks and blocked aid are hampering their access to healthcare.  

    “There is no possibility for access – no partner, nobody can really join that place,” said Dr. Thierno Baldé, WHO Incident Manager for Eastern DRC.

    Some 2,000 people have already died, Dr. Baldé stressed, adding that the crisis is also affecting neighboring countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

    One in 10 infected people is currently dying of cholera in a major outbreak near the Congolese border with Burundi, he said.

    The region is seeing a surge in outbreaks of infectious diseases, including cholera and mpox, and the dire humanitarian situation is driving spikes in mortality rates, Dr. Baldé reported.

    A drop in the ocean

    Emergency medical teams are “doing the best they can”, mobilizing local people for additional support in providing care. The World Health Organization was recently able to ship 20 tons of medical supplies on roads all the way from Uganda over Kenya and Tanzania into Goma, providing some relief, but as Mr. Baldé highlighted, all of this was just a “drop in the ocean” in the country where 50 million people are affected by the crisis.

    Vaccines out of stock  

    Funding cuts in humanitarian aid directly threaten half of the 4 million people living in North Kivu. “Vaccines for routine immunization are almost out of stock in Goma,” Mr. Baldé warned.

    In the imminent danger of vaccines running out, Ms. Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health Organization added, that this concerns the whole world.  

    “Infectious diseases don’t care about borders; they don’t care about elections and governments. If you don’t vaccinate everywhere, you’re going to be affected everywhere,” she said.  

    Amidst the US government announcing to suspend financing the Alliance for Vaccine (GAVI), a driving force in providing children vaccinations in poor countries, a  out that an estimated 154 million lives have been saved over the past 50 years thanks to global immunization drives. “It’s madness not to invest in vaccination,” she concluded.

    Refugees at risk

    Providing further proof of the health threats caused by funding cuts, Allen Maina, Public Health Chief of the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) stated, that nearly 13 million displaced people, including six million children are “at risk of not being able to access lifesaving health and nutrition care.”

    Echoing that infectious diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, malaria are more likely to break out, Mr. Maina stressed that the problem doesn’t only stem from“overwhelmed hospitals and health systems”, but also in disrupted water supply systems, sanitation facilities and waste management.  

    “This situation is devastating, but it’s coming on top of longstanding shortfalls in humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Maina reminded, highlighting that in Ethiopia’s Gambela region, operations in four out of seven refugee sites have recently been closed due to the funding cuts. “99 severely malnourished children had to be discharged immediately because programs had to close”, he said, maintaining that for 980 acutely malnourished children, there were only two staff members available.  

    “We’re talking about people here. We talk about men and women. We talk about children, worried whether their parents will live to see another day, Mr. Maina stressed. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Provincial health officer’s statement on end of respiratory illness season

    Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, has issued the following statement about the end of respiratory illness season:

    “Based on the most recently released data from public-health partners at the provincial and federal level, including yesterday’s respiratory illness season update from the BC Centre for Disease Control, I am officially declaring an end to the 2024-25 respiratory illness season. This means additional measures implemented in health-care settings are no longer required. The standard that requires use of personal protective equipment and additional precautions based on point-of-care risk assessment remains in place.

    “This decision is informed by low and decreasing levels of respiratory illness seen in the most recent data for influenza, RSV and COVID-19 in B.C.

    “Data published on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows that respiratory illnesses in B.C. continue to decrease. Currently, there are approximately 40 people in hospital with COVID, a number that has been trending down in recent weeks, and influenza and RSV test positivity have decreased in recent weeks, with decreasing detection of both in wastewater samples.

    “We must continue to practise healthy habits to prevent illnesses from spreading, keeping our families and communities safe. That includes cleaning your hands, staying home when sick, covering your coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask when appropriate and getting the latest vaccines by booking immunization appointments across B.C.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Carolina Prepares for Measles Prevention Amid National Increase in Cases

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: North Carolina Prepares for Measles Prevention Amid National Increase in Cases

    North Carolina Prepares for Measles Prevention Amid National Increase in Cases
    jwerner
    Thu, 03/27/2025 – 17:01

    As measles cases continue to rise across the country, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is taking proactive steps to ensure the state remains prepared for any potential cases or outbreaks. While there have been no reported cases of measles in North Carolina so far in 2025, public health officials are urging residents, health care providers and child care centers to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves, their communities and those at highest risk, especially unvaccinated children.

    “Although we currently have no cases of measles in North Carolina, the increase in cases across the nation and the world means we must be vigilant,” said Dr. Zack Moore, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist. “Vaccination is the best way to protect against measles. We encourage all North Carolinians to ensure they are up to date on their MMR vaccinations, and we are working with local health departments to ensure our state is prepared for any potential outbreaks.”  

    In the United States, measles cases surged from 59 cases in 2023 to 285 cases in 2024. As of March 27, 2025, a total of 483 confirmed measles cases were reported by 20 jurisdictions. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious health complications, especially in babies and young children. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. The virus can spread before and after the presence of symptoms, putting unvaccinated individuals at high risk.

    The more infectious a virus is, the higher the percent of the population that needs to be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak. For measles, a population vaccination rate of at least 95% is needed to protect the community from an outbreak. The state’s measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate for kindergartners was 93.8% for the 2023-2024 school year, just below the 95% threshold, but vaccination rates are even lower in some counties and schools. For 2023-2024 school-specific coverage and exemption rates, please visit the North Carolina Kindergarten Immunization Data Dashboard.    

    Key Preparedness Measures for North Carolina:

    • Vaccination: NCDHHS strongly urges all residents to ensure they are up to date on the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Children should receive the first dose of the vaccine at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. Adults who have not been vaccinated or are unsure of their status should consult their health care provider. Please see the CDC’s measles FAQ and vaccinations page for more information.
    • Public Awareness: The state and local health departments are  working closely with health care providers, schools and child care centers across the state to ensure that they are aware of the risks and prepared for potential cases of measles.
    • Guidance for Child Care Centers and Schools: NCDHHS encourages schools, childcare centers and community organizations to review vaccination records and ensure that all children and staff members are up to date with their vaccinations. Early identification and action are essential if an outbreak were to occur.  For detailed vaccination recommendations, please refer to the NCDHHS measles webpage.
    • Preparedness and Monitoring: The state’s public health officials are closely monitoring trends in other states and globally. NCDHHS has issued guidance for health care providers to be on the lookout for measles symptoms and to immediately report suspected cases.

    What Residents Can Do:

    • Ensure children and adults are vaccinated or have evidence of immunity to measles. For more information, visit the CDC Measles Vaccine Considerations page.
    • Be aware of measles symptoms, including fever; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a red rash that usually begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
    • If you suspect you or your child may have been exposed to measles, call your health care provider immediately. Do not visit the doctor’s office or emergency room without notifying them in advance to prevent exposure to others.
    • If you are planning to travel internationally or to an area with a known outbreak domestically, tell your health care provider about your travel plans.

    For more information on measles prevention and vaccination resources, visit the NCDHHS website and see the page dedicated to measles and measles prevention.

    A medida que los casos de sarampión continúan aumentando en todo el país, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) está tomando medidas proactivas para garantizar que el estado permanezca preparado para cualquier posible caso o brote. Si bien no se han reportado casos de sarampión en Carolina del Norte hasta ahora en 2025, los funcionarios de salud pública urgen a los residentes, proveedores de atención médica y  centros de cuidado infantil a tomar las precauciones necesarias para protegerse a sí mismos, a sus comunidades y a aquellos en mayor riesgo, especialmente a los niños no vacunados.

    “Aunque actualmente no tenemos casos de sarampión en Carolina del Norte, el aumento de casos en todo el país y el mundo significa que debemos estar atentos”, dijo el Dr. Zack Moore, epidemiólogo estatal de NCDHHS. “La vacunación es la mejor manera de protegerse contra el sarampión. Alentamos a todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte a asegurarse de que estén al día con sus vacunas contra el sarampion, papera y rubeola (MMR, pos sus siglas en ingles), y estamos trabajando con los departamentos de salud locales para asegurarnos de que nuestro estado esté preparado para cualquier posible brote”.

    En los Estados Unidos, los casos de sarampión aumentaron de 59 casos en 2023 a 285 casos en 2024. A partir del 27 de marzo de 2025, ya tenemos 483 casos confirmados en 20 jurisdicciones. El sarampión es una enfermedad viral altamente contagiosa que puede provocar complicaciones graves de salud, especialmente en bebés y niños pequeños. El virus se propaga por el aire cuando una persona infectada habla, tose o estornuda. El virus también puede propagarse por contacto con superficies u objetos contaminados y puede permanecer en el aire hasta dos horas después de que una persona infectada abandone el área. El virus puede propagarse antes y después de la presencia de síntomas, lo que pone a las personas no vacunadas en alto riesgo.

    Cuanto más infeccioso es un virus, mayor es el porcentaje de la población que necesita vacunarse para prevenir un brote. Para el sarampión, se necesita una tasa de vacunación de la población de al menos el 95% para proteger a la comunidad de un brote. La tasa de vacunación contra el sarampión, las paperas y la rubéola (MMR) del estado para niños de jardín de infantes fue del 93,8% para el año escolar 2023-2024, justo por debajo del umbral del 95%, pero las tasas de vacunación son aún más bajas en algunos condados y escuelas. Para conocer la cobertura y las tasas de exención específicas de la escuela para 2023-2024, visite el Tablero de datos de inmunización de Kindergarten de Carolina del Norte. 

    Importantes medidas de preparación para Carolina del Norte:

    • Vacunación: NCDHHS urge encarecidamente a todos los residentes a asegurarse de estar al día con la vacuna contra el sarampión, papera, y rubéola (MMR). Los niños deben recibir la primera dosis de la vacuna a los 12 a 15 meses y la segunda dosis a los 4 a 6 años de edad. Los adultos que no estan vacunados o no están seguros de su estatus de vacunacion deben consultar a su proveedor de atención médica. Consulte la página de preguntas frecuentes y vacunas contra el sarampión de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) para obtener más información.
    • Concientización pública: Los departamentos de salud estatales y locales están trabajando en estrecha colaboración con los proveedores de atención médica, las escuelas y los centros de cuidado infantil de todo el estado para garantizar que conozcan los riesgos y estén preparados para posibles casos de sarampión.
    • Orientación para centros de cuidado infantil y escuelas: NCDHHS urge a las escuelas, centros de cuidado infantil y organizaciones comunitarias a revisar los registros de vacunación y garantizar que todos los niños y miembros del personal estén al día con sus vacunas. La identificación temprana y la acción son esenciales si un brote ocurre. Para obtener recomendaciones detalladas de vacunación, consulte la página dedicada al sarampión.
    • Preparación y monitoreo: Los funcionarios de salud pública del estado están monitoreando de cerca las tendencias en otros estados y en todo el mundo. NCDHHS ha emitido una guía para que los proveedores de atención médica estén atentos a los síntomas del sarampión e informen de inmediato los casos sospechosos.

    Qué pueden hacer los residentes:

    • Asegurarse de que los niños y adultos estén vacunados o tengan evidencia de inmunidad contra el sarampión. Para obtener más información, visite la página Consideraciones sobre la vacuna contra el sarampión de los CDC.
    • Tener en cuenta los síntomas del sarampión, como fiebre; tos; secreción nasal; ojos rojos y llorosos; y una erupción roja que generalmente comienza en la cara y se extiende al resto del cuerpo.
    • Si sospecha que usted o su hijo pueden haber estado expuestos al sarampión, llame a su proveedor de atención médica de inmediato. No visite el consultorio del médico o la sala de emergencias sin notificárselo con anticipación para evitar la exposición a otras personas.
    • Si planea hacer un viaje al exterior o a un lugar donde hay un brote conocido en una zona del pais, informe a su proveedor de atención médica sobre sus planes de viaje.

    Para obtener más información sobre la prevención del sarampión y los recursos de vacunación, visite el sitio web de NCDHHS y consulte la página dedicada al sarampión y prevención del sarampión.

    Mar 28, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: At Hearing, Warren Highlights Risk of DoD Drug Supply Produced Overseas, Military Leader Agrees on the Need For Domestic Drug Manufacturing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 28, 2025
    A report reveals supply chain for a third of all drugs on the FDA essential medicines list is at very high risk because the ingredients are sourced from foreign countries. 
    “This overreliance gives our adversaries the power to restrict DoD access to drugs when we need to be able to treat our men and women in uniform.”
    Video of Exchange (YouTube)
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Mr. Keith M. Bass, nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities. Mr. Bass committed to purchasing essential drugs from domestic manufacturers and working to expand DoD’s capabilities of manufacturing essential drugs in-house.
    Senator Warren has raised concerns about the DoD’s overreliance on foreign drug manufacturers and ensuing supply chain risks, including drug shortages and their impact on service members’ health and national security. 
    “DoD should prioritize domestic purchasing, but there are some instances where it makes sense for DOD to actually produce the medication itself,” said the senator.
    Mr. Bass agreed with the Senator on the need to have onshore capabilities: “The health and well-being of all of our military members is a priority… I commit to working with you and your staff.”
    Senator Warren secured provisions in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that requires the Pentagon to establish a plan to ensure access to safe, high-quality pharmaceutical products and eliminate or mitigate risks in the pharmacy supply chain, including the feasibility of establishing a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility owned and operated by the Department of Defense (DoD).
    Transcript: Hearings to examine the nominations of Troy Meink, Michael Duffy, Emil Michael, and Keith BassSenate Armed Services CommitteeMarch 27, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, healthcare for our men and women in uniform is critical in peacetime and even more so in wartime. Mr. Bass, if you are confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, you’re going to be responsible for ensuring nearly 10 million service members and their families receive quality health care, including timely access to medication. I am very concerned about our overreliance on foreign nations for the very medications that put the health of service members at risk and our national security along with it. 
    DoD spends over $5 billion on prescription drugs each year. It’s a lot of money. But in November 2023, the Defense Logistics Agency released a report revealing that the supply chain for a third of all drugs on the FDA essential medicines list is at very high risk. Why? Because the ingredients from these drugs are sourced from China, or we don’t even know where they’re sourced from. 
    So, Mr. Bass, do you agree that it is a threat to our readiness and to the potential health of our service members that DoD’s pharmaceutical supply chain relies so heavily on China?
    Mr. Keith Bass: Thank you, Senator, and thank you again for meeting with me. I do agree that it is a threat. It is a vulnerability.
    Senator Warren: This overreliance gives our adversaries the power to restrict DoD access to drugs when we need to be able to treat our men and women in uniform. It also leaves us with much less visibility into the practices of foreign manufacturers, which, by the way, routinely have quality issues that threaten both the efficacy and the safety of these drugs. For these reasons, the DoD report recommends boosting the production of finished drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and other key starting materials so that we are making more of this right here in the United States. 
    Mr. Bass, do you think DoD should work to onshore the critical drugs the military needs, including writing contracts that require manufacturers to onshore these capabilities? 
    Mr. Bass: Thank you, Senator. I do. I think that we need to work with our industrial base, our private and public partners, and we need to have rapid response contracts, and we need to make sure that we have either onshore or near-shore capabilities.
    Senator Warren: Good. I’m glad to hear you say this. DoD should prioritize domestic purchasing, but there are some instances where it makes sense for DoD to actually produce the medication itself, like when the DoD is the sole customer for that medication. One example: the adenovirus vaccine, which is critical in preventing serious respiratory illness among service members, particularly service members in basic training. DoD developed the vaccine and licensed it then to private industry, but because the military is basically the only buyer, DoD couldn’t find a commercial manufacturer for nearly a decade. DoD eventually had to pay a private manufacturer nearly $100 million just to resume production. And during the years that the private sector refused to manufacture for DoD, there were thousands of cases of adenovirus per month and service members who actually died. 
    So Mr. Bass, if confirmed, will you commit to expanding DoD’s capabilities of producing essential drugs in-house to reduce risk and to secure DoD’s medical supply chain?
    Mr. Bass: Thank you, Senator. The health and well-being of all of our military members is a priority. I’m not familiar with the report, but I commit to working with you and your staff. 
    Senator Warren: All right, I appreciate that, because this is a serious problem, and ultimately, these are investments that will pay off. One expert estimated that the DoD would make its money back in three years after building its own adenovirus manufacturing facility. This is a long-standing, bipartisan concern. I worked with Senator Rubio for years on this, and last year, the Senate adopted our language directing the DoD to enter into contracts to domestically manufactured drugs and drug components that are currently sourced overseas and that are used exclusively by the military. I want to see us get that in the final version of the NDAA. There’s more work to do, and I look forward to working with you on this, Mr. Bass. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont and Connecticut Department of Transportation Commemorate 10th Anniversary of CTfastrak

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (NEW BRITAIN, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto today hosted a ceremony in downtown New Britain attended by a large crowd of state and local officials, transit advocates, small business owners, housing developers, and commuters to celebrate the tenth anniversary of CTfastrak, the state’s first regional bus rapid transit system.

    Launched on March 28, 2015, CTfastrak is a system of ten bus routes operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation that provides direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, and Manchester, with portions operating on a 9.4-mile dedicated roadway between New Britain and Hartford. It provides a one-seat, no-transfer ride to many regional employment, shopping, and healthcare destinations, as well as to rail service, including the New Haven Line, the Waterbury Branch Line, and the Hartford Line.

    Since its launch, CTfastrak has provided more than 28.5 million passenger trips. Today, it averages about 14,000 weekday trips. Among CTfastrak’s routes is Route 101, which is the busiest bus route in the state, serving about 1.1 million passengers annually.

    More than $550 million in transit-oriented development projects near CTfastrak stations have been completed, are currently under construction, or are being planned.

    In 2024, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy ranked CTfastrak the No. 1 bus rapid transit system in the United States.

    “Take one look at any neighborhood that has a CTfastrak station and compare it with how those areas were doing ten years ago and you will note the hundreds of new units of housing and the many new businesses that have established operations in these communities over the last decade,” Governor Lamont said. “CTfastrak’s impact extends beyond providing commuters with convenient public transit. It is revitalizing communities and showing the direct connection between our transportation system and the growth of vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and play.”

    The Connecticut Department of Transportation continues to evolve CTfastrak’s service based on customer feedback and changing ridership habits.

    “CTfastrak has done more than connect communities — it’s reshaped the state’s economy and set the gold standard in the U.S. for bus rapid transit,” Commissioner Eucalitto said. “This success proves that when government, local leaders, and the private sector collaborate, we can deliver results that help residents and businesses thrive.”

    For more information about CTfastrak, visit cttransit.com/services/ctfastrak.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: DeGette Statement on RFK Jr.’s Assault on Public Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after across-the-board cuts were announced throughout the Department of Health and Human Services.

    “Secretary Kennedy and DOGE’s illegal assault on public health is going to harm the American people, weaken American leadership, and destroy our ability to combat diseases and research groundbreaking cures and treatments. He is circumventing Congressional authority and putting culture wars over science. His actions are going to harm our national biosecurity, stop cures for cancer, and leave everyday Americans unable to access the care they need.

    “Thanks to the world-class research conducted at and supported by the NIH, we have new treatments for sickle cell disease and spinal muscular atrophy. We are on the cusp of a breakthrough in type 1 diabetes that could cure the disease. Scientists have promising early results from an mRNA therapeutic vaccine that might revolutionize treatment for pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers. Already this administration has been slashing research that supports work like this. These cuts will devastate biomedical research and delay the cures that millions of patients are desperately waiting for.

    “These illegal attacks on Americans’ public health must stop. As the top Democrat on the Health Subcommittee, I reiterate my demand for a meeting with Secretary Kennedy to address my immense concerns with these actions.”

    Following Secretary Kennedy’s confirmation, Ranking Member DeGette led the Health Subcommittee Democrats in calling for a meeting with Secretary Kennedy. He never responded to that request.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Grants Marketing Authorization of First Home Test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    March 28, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted marketing authorization to Visby Medical for the Visby Medical Women’s Sexual Health Test. This is the first diagnostic test for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis that can be purchased without a prescription and performed entirely at home. The test is intended for females with or without symptoms and delivers results in approximately 30 minutes.
    “Home tests can give people information about their health from the privacy of their home. This can be particularly important for sexual health tests for which patients may experience fear or anxiety, possibly resulting in delayed diagnosis or treatment,” said Courtney Lias, Ph.D., director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Expanding access to tests for sexually transmitted infections is an important step toward earlier and increased diagnosis, which can result in increased treatment and reduced spread of infection.”
    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Report, more than 2.2 million cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were diagnosed and reported in the U.S. in 2023. Additionally, it is estimated that trichomoniasis is the most prevalent nonviral STI worldwide, affecting approximately 2.6 million people in the U.S., according to the CDC’s treatment guidelines. Typically, all three infections can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, can cause serious health complications for patients, including infertility.
    The Visby Medical Women’s Sexual Health Test is a single use, at home test, that includes a collection kit (self-collected vaginal swab) and a powered testing device, which communicates securely to the Visby Medical App, which displays results when the test is complete.In individuals with and without symptoms, the Visby Medical Women’s Sexual Health Test correctly identified 98.8% of negative and 97.2% of positive Chlamydia trachomatis samples, 99.1% of negative and 100% of positive Neisseria gonorrhoeae samples and 98.5% of negative and 97.8% of positive Trichomonas vaginalis samples.
    Individuals with positive results for any of the three infections should seek medical care. Individuals with symptoms, recent exposure to an STI or other concerns despite a negative result should contact their health care provider for additional testing.
    As with many other tests, the risks associated with this test are mainly the possibility of false positive and false negative test results. False negative test results can result in delays to effective treatment and spread of infection to other persons. False positive results could lead to unnecessary treatment and/or a delay in receiving a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
    The FDA reviewed this test under the FDA’s De Novo premarket review pathway, a regulatory pathway for low- to moderate-risk devices of a new type. Along with this De Novo authorization, the FDA is establishing special controls that define the requirements related to labeling and performance testing. When met, the special controls, in combination with general controls, provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for tests of this type. This action creates a new regulatory classification, which means that subsequent devices of the same type with the same intended use may go through FDA’s 510(k) premarket notification process, whereby devices can obtain marketing authorization by demonstrating substantial equivalence to a predicate device, which may save a developer time and expense compared to other review pathways.
    This announcement follows last year’s authorization of the first at-home syphilis test, as well as the authorization of the first diagnostic test for chlamydia and gonorrhea with at-home sample collection in 2023, which was the first FDA-authorized test with at-home sample collection for any sexually transmitted infection other than HIV.
    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ITALY – The Society of the Divine Word missionaries commemorate 150 years of their founding, as a sign of the “Missio Dei”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    photo Pascale Rizk

    Rome (Agenzia Fides) – In the Gospel accounts, the disciples who first encounter the risen Jesus do not recognize him immediately: Mary Magdalene mistakes him for the gardener, Peter and the other Apostles who see him on the shore of the lake doubt that it is Him. The disciples of Emmaus only realize that it is the Nazarene when he breaks the bread for them. It is always Jesus himself who makes himself known to them. And even now, only those who are amazed by his newness recognize Jesus, allow themselves to be guided by Him on the journey to follow him and remain with him.Thus, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, suggested that the heart of the mission is the work of Christ himself, of his living and active presence. He said this in a brief address at the opening of the International Conference entitled “Missio Dei in Today’s World, Witnessing to the Light from Everywhere for Everyone,” organized to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Society of the Divine Word (1875-2025).The Conference, which began on Thursday, March 27, and is hosted at the Matteo Ricci Conference Center of the Pontifical Gregorian University, was divided into three mornings of conferences and meetings. The introductory presentation was given by American theologian Stephen Bevans, Professor emeritus of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and former president of the American Society of Missiology, who offered an in-depth examination of the theology of “Missio Dei,” outlining the characteristics of mission as a work of God, inspired by the mystery of the Trinity.The various work sessions covered a wide range of topics.On the first day, dedicated to the theme “Healing Wounds,” the interventions and discussions of the working groups focused on “Missio Dei,” which takes the form of care and predilection reserved for people wounded by life, migrants, and victims of violence.On Friday the 28th, the reflection focused on the challenges of postmodernity, including those of “transhumanism” and “posthumanism.”For the session on Saturday, March 29, talks and debates are scheduled on the contribution that religions and cultures offer to the crises and emergencies of the present time.The Society of the Divine Word was founded in Steyl, Holland, by Saint Arnold Janssen in 1875. It is an international congregation of brothers and priests known as Missionaries of the Divine Word or “SVDs.”The worship, imitation, and preaching of the Incarnate Word are the principal activities of the SVD missionaries. The triune God, who is at the center of their spirituality, is manifested in the world through the incarnation of the Son of God. The first group of SVDs also included Saint Joseph Freinademetz, who was sent as a missionary to China. The Society of the Divine Word currently has more than 6,000 members, spread across five continents. (PR) (Agenzia Fides, 28/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the VI International Arctic Forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” have been summed up

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The 6th International Arctic Forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” was held in Murmansk on March 26–27. The organizer was the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Russian Government.

    “The International Arctic Forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” – 2025 was attended by about 1.3 thousand participants and media representatives from 21 countries, as well as about 230 representatives of Russian and foreign businesses from more than 110 companies. The business program included 20 events with the participation of more than 150 speakers. The forum turned out to be truly international and significant. At the plenary session, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin announced a number of fundamental decisions for the socio-economic development of the Arctic. The most important task of the IAF is to discuss current problems that the Government of Russia, federal ministries and regions must jointly solve for the successful operation of enterprises, improving the standard of living of people, supporting the territories as a whole,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev.

    The IAF has become a platform for international dialogue on issues such as the development of the Northern Sea Route, increasing the investment and entrepreneurial potential of the Arctic zone, as well as environmental issues, humanitarian and cultural cooperation.

    “Right now, the Arctic is becoming a territory of opportunities for the entire country. Given the revision of traditional technological chains, given participation in large-scale Arctic projects, huge prospects are opening up for enterprises across the country and creative, artistic people. The development of the Northern Sea Route as the main transport artery in the Arctic, the construction of new railway approaches to northern ports will also have a multiplier effect for the entire country. Within the framework of the upcoming major international forums, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Arctic theme will be taken into account and allocated to a separate block of the business program of events,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of Russia, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the Preparation and Holding of the International Arctic Forum “The Arctic – Territory of Dialogue”.

    One of the central topics of the forum was the discussion of state policy in the Arctic, aimed at the comprehensive development of the Far North and the growth of the well-being of the region’s residents.

    “The mechanisms of state support need to be improved for the accelerated development of the macro-region, the implementation of investment projects, and the improvement of the quality of life of people. Based on the results of the implementation of the first stage of the Arctic development strategy until 2035, proposals will be prepared to update this fundamental document,” said Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov at a joint meeting of the State Council commissions on the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route.

    The forum was held under the motto “Live in the North!” The event brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, businesses and the expert community.

    “Our strategic plan is “Live in the North!” This is the motto of today’s forum. For us, this is a plan in addition to national projects. Clear, worked out with people, designed, aimed at ensuring investment growth and, of course, increasing people’s incomes and their quality of life,” noted Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of the MAF.

    Business program

    The business program of the forum included 20 sessions divided into four thematic blocks: “The Arctic and the NSR: how to win in the competitive struggle of world routes”, “The Arctic and the NSR: a pole for attracting investments”, “The Arctic and the NSR: development of key settlements”, “International cooperation and ecology”. More than 150 speakers took part in the discussions.

    The forum included a joint meeting of the State Council commissions on the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, which united five State Council commissions – in the areas of “Northern Sea Route and the Arctic”, “International Cooperation and Export”, “Energy”, “Youth and Children”, and “Efficient Transport System”.

    The session “The Arctic: Bridges of Cooperation between Peoples and States” summed up the results of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “The Universe of the Polar Bear: Effective Cooperation in the Arctic”.

    Also, for the first time, the MAF hosted a special session dedicated to the role of women in the development of northern regions – the “Arctic Living Room”.

    Plenary session

    The key event of the forum was the plenary session with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    “Development of the Russian North, overcoming the challenges of harsh nature, the state’s entry into new promising frontiers – these tasks inspired many generations of our ancestors: sailors and Novgorod merchants of the Middle Ages, Arctic pioneers of the 16th and 17th centuries, industrialists of the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists, polar explorers, engineers, workers of the Soviet Union, teams of companies of modern Russia, which launched large Arctic projects in the early 2000s. And today, the northern vector of development is in the foreground, it is our sovereign, historical choice. And this means that the tasks that we set and solve in the Arctic, the projects that we implement here, must be of an appropriate, historical scale, with an expectation of decades, maybe even centuries. We will do everything to strengthen Russia’s global leadership in the Arctic, and, despite all the current difficulties and complexities, we will ensure the comprehensive development of this region and create a solid foundation for future generations,” the head of state noted.

    Participants

    The forum brought together about 1.3 thousand participants and media representatives from 21 countries, including Russia (Argentina, Great Britain, Venezuela, Vietnam, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Qatar, China, UAE, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA, Serbia, Singapore, Turkey, Finland, France, Switzerland, Japan).

    The forum was attended by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Adviser and Special Representative of the President for International Cooperation in Transport Igor Levitin, Presidential Aide Alexei Dyumin, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, and Presidential Adviser Anton Kobyakov.

    The forum was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev and Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Northwestern Federal District Alexander Gutsan, Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Siberian Federal District Anatoly Seryshev, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov and Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov.

    The forum participants included seven heads of federal services and agencies and ten heads of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

    The Chairman of the Committee of Senior Arctic Officials, Norwegian diplomat Morten Höglund, addressed the forum participants with a video message. In addition, the forum site was visited by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea Lee Do-hoon.

    The forum brought together about 230 representatives of Russian and foreign businesses from more than 110 companies.

    ​

    Media

    The forum was attended by 305 media representatives from Russia and nine foreign countries (Great Britain, Venezuela, Vietnam, Germany, Qatar, Serbia, Turkey, Finland, France).

    ​

    Agreements

    Nine agreements were signed at MAF-2025:

    ● PJSC Rosseti North-West, JSC Rosseti Scientific and Technical Center and the Novosibirsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering signed a strategic partnership agreement;

    ● JSC Far East and Arctic Development Corporation signed an agreement on information interaction with the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, as well as with JSC Arsenal on cooperation in the extraction and enrichment of rare metal ores in the Murmansk region within the framework of the Kulyok – Rare Earths project with a total investment volume of 10 billion rubles;

    ● The Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs and PJSC Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel signed an additional cooperation agreement;

    ● a cooperation agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Karelia and Vodohod LLC;

    ● the Ministry of Property Relations of the Murmansk Region and the public-law company Roskadastr signed an agreement on the implementation of the pilot project “Involvement of real estate objects in economic circulation in the Murmansk Region”;

    ● the government of the Murmansk region and the Avito company signed a cooperation agreement;

    ● the government of the Murmansk region, Sberbank of Russia PJSC and the V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center signed a cooperation agreement;

    ● The Arkhangelsk Region Government and the United Volunteer Center of the Murmansk Region signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of volunteerism and strengthening cooperation in the regions of the Arctic zone, scaling up practices to support the wives of military personnel in the Northern Fleet.

    Sports program

    The sports program included eight events. The Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Northwestern Federal District Alexander Gutsan and the Governor of the Murmansk Region Andrei Chibis took part in the ceremonial event dedicated to the 90th Festival of the North. The program of competitions, which will last until mid-April, included cross-country skiing, biathlon, speed skating and alpine skiing, bandy and others.

    For the forum participants, Arctic team building, exercise in ties, ice floating, alpine skiing and snowboarding, snow fights, as well as an introduction to traditional sports of the peoples of the North were organized.

    The forum included a presentation of the Arctic Mosaic sports, health and strength festival, which will be held annually in different regions of the Arctic zone. Under the auspices of the MAF, the IV All-Russian Arctic Games were held in Salekhard and Labytnangi, the program of which included nine sports.

    The final and largest event of the MAF-2025 sports program will be the 51st Murmansk Ski Marathon. On March 29 and 30, 2.5 thousand athletes will take to the start line of the 25 km and 50 km races at the Dolina Uyuta sports complex. The marathon participants will be Olympic winners and medalists Nikita Kryukov, Alexey Petukhov, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Alexander Bessmertnykh.

    Cultural program

    The cultural program included the opening of the Taste of the Arctic gastrofestival, where a joint team of restaurateurs and chefs from the subjects of the Russian Arctic zone presented a menu of regional cuisine. The Sami Village and the Taste the North ice bar operated on the site. There was also an Arctic crafts fair.

    The Murmansk Regional Museum of Local History offered the forum participants excursions that told about the uniqueness of the Murmansk Region. Thematic exhibitions were timed to coincide with the MAF. Among them was an exhibition of paintings dedicated to the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, from the collections of the Murmansk Regional Art Museum.

    There was also a ceremony of donating works of art to the Murmansk Region and the opening of the exhibition “H2O. Art about water and more…”. Seven paintings and three sculptures were donated to the Murmansk Regional Art Museum from the Siyanie Contemporary Art Center and the collections of Vladimir Nekrasov and Andrey Malakhov.

    In addition, forum participants were able to take a tour of the icebreaker Lenin, the world’s first vessel with a nuclear power plant, which provided navigation along the Northern Sea Route for about 30 years. The icebreaker has guided thousands of ships through the Arctic and traveled a total of 654,400 nautical miles. It has now become a calling card of the Murmansk Region and one of the most visited tourist sites in the Kola North.

    The Murmansk Drama Theatre hosted an “Art Cocktail”, during which the audience saw the play “Prologue to the Murmansk Region” and a concert by the Pacific Fleet ensemble.

    On March 30, a creative evening of People’s Artist of Russia Alexander Oleshko “Set the Mood” will take place.

    ​

    Project “Soul of Russia. Arctic”

    As part of the project, seven films were screened in partnership with Roskino, including the films North Pole and Village of Widows, which were dedicated to the Year of Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    Creative meetings “Inspired by the Arctic” were held, during which viewers met with the production designer of the Soyuzmultfilm studio, creator of the animated series “Umka” Anna Popova, director of the film “North Pole” Alexander Kott, scriptwriter and producer of the film “Widows’ Village” Olga Martisova.

    During the children’s program “Arctic Film Vacations” they showed “The Best Episodes of Soyuzmultfilm Series” and “Warm Animation from Soyuzmultfilm”.

    The business program included a session entitled “The Northern Creative Path: A Territory of Business Opportunities,” where the contribution of creative industries to the economic growth of the northern territories, the use of the wealth of national cultural traditions to create unique brands, and other issues were discussed.

    Expert and analytical support

    The Roscongress Foundation’s information and analytical system continued to develop the Summary service, which uses artificial intelligence to obtain brief analytical summaries of discussions with descriptions of key conclusions, problems, and solutions voiced during the discussions.

    Based on the results of the forum, an analytical report “Results of the International Arctic Forum 2025” will be prepared, which will be available in electronic form in the information and analytical system of the Roscongress Foundation roscongress.org.

    Expert and analytical support for the forum was provided by experts representing the country’s leading scientific and educational centers that conduct research on a wide range of topics on the Arctic agenda, including the Murmansk Arctic University, the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, the St. Petersburg State University of Economics, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the G.P. Luzin Institute of Economic Problems of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Regional Economic Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, etc.

    Partners

    The co-organizer of the forum is the state corporation Rosatom, the strategic partner is PJSC Rosseti, the strategic scientific partner is the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, the communications partner is the media holding MAER, the business program partners are VTB Bank, PJSC Novatek, MMC Norilsk Nickel, PhosAgro, and the business partner is VEB.RF.

    The information partners were the TV channel Rossiya 24, MIA Rossiya Segodnya, the TASS information agency, MIC Izvestia, the Vedomosti newspaper, the RT TV channel, the Business FM radio station, Sputnik, the Arguments and Facts newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the Mir TV channel, the Komsomolskaya Pravda publishing house, Lenta.ru, Gazeta.Ru, Shkulev Media – Vokrug Sveta, the Federal Press information agency, the Expert magazine, the Regional Russia magazine, Vesti FM, the NEWS.ru portal, the GoArctic portal, the Arktik-TV TV channel, the Murmansk State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, the TV21 TV channel, the Murmansk Herald, the Vecherniy Murmansk newspaper and the Severpost information agency.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cuts to science research funding cut American lives short − federal support is essential for medical breakthroughs

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Deborah Fuller, Professor of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

    Divesting from the next generation of researchers means cutting the lifeblood of science and medicine. J Studios/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    Nearly every modern medical treatment can be traced to research funded by the National Institutes of Health: from over-the-counter and prescription medications that treat high cholesterol and pain to protection from infectious diseases such as polio and smallpox.

    The remarkable successes of the decades-old partnership between biomedical research institutions and the federal government are so intertwined with daily life that it’s easy to take them for granted.

    However, the scientific work driving these medical advances and breakthroughs is in jeopardy. Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation are terminating hundreds of active research grants under the current administration’s direction. The administration has also proposed a dramatic reduction in federal support of the critical infrastructure that keeps labs open and running. Numerous scientists and health professionals have noted that changes will have far-reaching, harmful outcomes for the health and well-being of the American people.

    The negative consequences of defunding U.S. biomedical research can be difficult to recognize. Most breakthroughs, from the basic science discoveries that reveal the causes of diseases to the development of effective treatments and cures, can take years. Real-time progress can be hard to measure.

    Medical breakthroughs are built on years of painstaking research.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    As biomedical researchers studying infectious diseases, viruses and immunology, we and our colleagues see this firsthand in our own work. Thousands of ongoing national and international projects dedicated to uncovering the causes of life-threatening diseases and developing new treatments to improve and save lives are supported by federal agencies such as the NIH and NSF.

    Considering a few of the breakthroughs made possible through U.S. federal support can help illustrate not only the significant inroads biomedical research has made for preventing, treating and curing human maladies, but what all Americans stand to lose if the U.S. reduces its investment in these endeavors.

    A cure for cancer

    The hope and dream of curing cancer unites many scientists, health professionals and affected families across the U.S. After decades of ongoing NIH-supported research, scientists have made significant progress in realizing this goal.

    The National Cancer Institute of the NIH is the world’s largest funder of cancer research. This investment has led to advances in cancer treatment and prevention that helped reduce the overall U.S. cancer death rate by 33% from 1991 to 2021.

    Basic science research on what causes cancer has led to new strategies to harness a patient’s own immune system to eliminate tumors. For example, all 12 patients in a 2022 clinical trial testing one type of immunotherapy had their rectal cancer completely disappear, without remission or adverse effects.

    Cuts in NIH funding will directly affect patients.

    Another example of progress is the 2024 results of an ongoing clinical trial of a targeted therapy for lung cancer, showing an 84% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death. Similarly, in a study of women who were immunized against the human papillomavirus at age 12 or 13, none developed the disease later. Since the widespread adoption of HPV vaccination, cervical cancer deaths have dropped 62%.

    Despite these incredible successes, there is still a long way to go. In 2024, over 2 million people in the U.S. were estimated to be newly diagnosed with cancer, and 611,720 were expected to die from the disease.

    Without sustained federal support for cancer research, progress toward curing cancer and reducing its death rate will stall.

    Autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases

    Nearly every family is touched in some way by autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Government-funded research has enabled major advances to combat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

    For example, approximately 1 in 5 Americans have arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes joint swelling and stiffness. A leading cause of disability and economic costs in the U.S., there is no cure for arthritis. But new drugs in development are able to significantly improve symptoms and slow or prevent disease progression.

    Researchers are also gaining insight into what causes multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves and can result in paralysis. Scientists recently found a link between multiple sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus, a pathogen estimated to infect over 90% of adults around the world. While multiple sclerosis is currently incurable, identifying its underlying cause can provide new avenues for prevention and treatment.

    The NIH’s BRAIN Initiative has invested more than $3 billion in neuroscience research since it began in 2013.
    Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

    Alzheimer’s disease causes irreversible nerve damage and is the leading cause of dementia. In 2024, 6.9 million Americans ages 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s. Most treatments address cognitive and behavioral symptoms. However, two new drugs developed with NIH-supported research and clinical trials were approved in July 2023 and July 2024 to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s. Federal funding is also supporting the development of blood tests for earlier detection of the disease.

    None of these breakthroughs are a cure. But they represent important steps forward on the path toward ultimately reducing or eliminating these devastating ailments. Lack of funding will slow or block further progress, leading to the continued rise of the incidence and severity of these conditions.

    Infectious diseases and the next pandemic

    The world’s capacity to combat infectious disease will also be weakened by cuts to U.S. federal support of biomedical research.

    Over the past 50 years, medical and public health advances have led to the eradication of smallpox globally and the elimination of polio in the U.S. HIV/AIDS, once a death sentence, is now a disease that can be managed with medication. Moreover, a new version of treatments called preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, offers complete protection against HIV transmission when taken only twice per year.

    Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical role biomedical research plays in responding to public health threats. Increased federal support of science during this time allowed the United States to emerge with new drugs, vaccine platforms with the potential to treat a variety of chronic diseases, and insights on how to effectively detect and respond to pandemic threats.

    The ongoing avian influenza outbreak and its spillover into American dairy herds and poultry farms is another pandemic threat looming on the horizon. Rather than build upon infrastructure for outbreak surveillance and preparedness, grants that would allow scientists to better understand long COVID-19, vaccines and other pandemic-related research are being cut. Decreased funding of biomedical research will hamper the U.S.’s ability to respond to the next pandemic, putting everyone at risk.

    Research across the country has ground to a halt as grants remain in limbo or have been terminated altogether.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Losses from defunding biomedical research

    The National Institutes of Health contributed over $100 billion to support research that ultimately led to the development of all new drugs approved from 2010 to 2016 alone. Over 90% of this funding was for basic research into understanding the causes of disease that provides the foundation for new treatments.

    Under the new directive to eliminate projects that support or use terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion, the NIH and other federal agencies have made deep cuts to biomedical research that will directly affect patient lives.

    Already, nearly 41% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, and nearly 11% with Alzheimer’s. About 1 in 5 Americans will die from heart disease, and nearly 1.4 million will be rushed to an emergency room due to pneumonia from an infectious disease.

    Defunding biomedical research will result in a cascade of effects. There will likely be fewer clinical trials, fewer new treatments and fewer lifesaving drugs. Labs will likely shut down, jobs will be lost, and the process of discovery will stall. The U.S.’s health care system, economy and standing as the world’s leader in scientific innovation will likely decline.

    Moreover, when the pipelines of scientific progress are turned off, they will not so easily be turned back on. These consequences will affect all Americans and the rest of the world for decades.

    University shortfalls directly resulting from cuts to research support will dramatically reduce the capacity of American institutions to educate and provide opportunities for the next generation. Funding cuts have led to the shuttering or heavy reduction of training programs for future scientists.

    Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees are the lifeblood of biomedical research. Supporting these young people committed to public service through research and health care is also an investment in medical advancements and public health. But the uncertainty and instability resulting from the divestment of federally funded programs will likely severely deplete the biomedical workforce, crippling the United States’ ability to deliver future biomedical breakthroughs.

    By cutting biomedical research funding, Americans and the rest of the world stand to lose new cures, new treatments and an entire generation of researchers.

    Deborah Fuller receives funding from the National Institutes Health. The personal views expressed here are those of the authors.

    Patrick Mitchell receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. The personal views expressed here are those of the authors.

    – ref. Cuts to science research funding cut American lives short − federal support is essential for medical breakthroughs – https://theconversation.com/cuts-to-science-research-funding-cut-american-lives-short-federal-support-is-essential-for-medical-breakthroughs-252150

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Call to scale up cervical cancer interventions 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The international community has been called upon to scale up cervical cancer interventions and progress against the only noncommunicable disease that can be eliminated. 

    This call was made by the Government of South Africa, Unitaid and the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Group of Twenty (G20) Health Working Group meeting, which took place on Thursday in Zimbali, outside Durban.  

    According to the Department of Health, cervical cancer is preventable and potentially curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. It is the second most common form of cancer among women in South Africa. 

    Statistics by the WHO show that the disease claimed the lives of almost 350 000 women globally in 2022.

    “New vaccines, tests, and treatment technologies have transformed cervical cancer prevention in recent years, yet the disease continues to disproportionately impact women mostly in low- and middle-income countries where access to primary health care and preventive services are limited. Cervical cancer elimination would address a major gap in Women’s health,” the department said.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 health meeting, Unitaid’s Deputy Executive Director Tenu Avafia said Unitaid has invested US $81 million or R1.4 billion to bring down prices, increase volumes and address operational questions involved in cervical cancer screening and treatment to enable countries to scale up proven interventions with minimal risk.

    “However, funding shortfalls still pose enormous challenges to building national cervical cancer elimination programs in low- and middle-income countries,” Avafia said.

    Unitaid makes health products accessible, available and affordable for people who need them most.

    Department of Health’s Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi said improving women’s health was not just a health issue but “an economic imperative”.

    “It drives social stability, boosts productivity, and breaks the cycle of poverty. Global efforts to combat cervical cancer serve as a concrete illustration of how cooperation can advance women’s health and realize a shared goal to bring about the first-ever elimination of a cancer,” he said.

    In 2020, the WHO launched the global strategy for cervical cancer elimination, the first-ever roadmap for the elimination of a cancer. Since then, countries have made enormous strides in rolling out new tools and services. 

    Vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) provides protection against infection that causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer. 

    And a package of screening and treatment tools – including HPV tests with the option for self-sampling and devices for quickly and easily removing pre-cancerous cells – make it possible to make lifesaving services available to women at lower levels of the health care system.

    The health working group session called for a coordinated approach drawing on domestic resource mobilization, blended financing, and partnerships with multilateral development banks to scale these solutions, ensure long-term sustainability and reduce dependency on external aid.

    Government asserted South Africa’s commitment to scaling up cervical cancer prevention programs nationwide with support from Unitaid, the WHO and other partners.

    “The South African G20 health agenda promotes solidarity, equality and sustainability. It complements the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the development agenda of Africa as the world’s fastest-growing continent, and the Lusaka Agenda. It also focuses on rebuilding momentum to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the department said.

    On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi reiterated the importance of nations reallocating resources towards health, strengthening global health partnerships, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps.

    READ | Motsoaledi urges global action to address health funding gaps

    The Minister used the platform to highlight South Africa’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which aims to provide financial protection and efficient resource utilisation.

    The three-day meeting which began on Wednesday, will conclude on Friday, 28 March 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Threats posed by the Astravets nuclear power plant – E-000325/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission shares the concerns regarding the safety of the Astravets nuclear power plan. Given the current political situation, all bilateral relations with the authorities of Russia and Belarus have been suspended.

    The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group completed a peer review of the post-Fukushima nuclear safety assessment ‘stress tests’ of the Astravets nuclear power plant in 2021 and issued safety improvement recommendations.

    The nuclear safety regulator of Belarus drew up a National Action Plan, updated in 2023[1], to implement these recommendations. The Commission continues to monitor Belarus’s progress in implementing them within the framework of relevant multilateral conventions adopted under the auspices the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but it is not currently in a position to restart contacts with the Belarus nuclear safety regulator.

    The Commission will continue to maintain contacts with the IAEA, which has the mandate to promote the implementation of international nuclear safety standards worldwide, including in Belarus.

    The Commission intends to use existing international peer review mechanisms, notably the upcoming Eighth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention[2] in March 2025 and the Convention on Nuclear Safety Review Meeting in March 2026 to probe the implementation by Belarus of its obligations under these Conventions, which are relevant for Belarus follow-up of the findings of the stress tests peer review [3].

    • [1] https://gosatomnadzor.mchs.gov.by/znaniya-dlya-kazhdogo/biblioteka/
    • [2] Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, adopted under IAEA auspices in 1997. In December 2024, the Commission, on behalf of Euratom, analysed Belarus National Report and inquired the Country on several safety aspects of spent fuel and radioactive waste management.
    • [3] The position for the upcoming Joint Convention Review Meeting is coordinated with the Member States in the Working Party on Atomic Questions of the Council.
    Last updated: 28 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 March 2025 Departmental update Fully-funded Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a lifeline for child survival, says WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Vaccination accounts for 40% of the worldwide improvement in infant survival over these 50 years, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Much of this success is a result of the investments entrusted to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, founded in 2000.  

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which includes WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation as core founding members, was created to widen the benefits of EPI by helping the poorest countries in the world benefit from new, life-saving vaccines, and increase the coverage of EPI vaccines. These two goals, one to expand the scope of protection and one to expand the scale of protection, have resulted in a greater breadth of protection against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases. This intensified effort, including in the most vulnerable parts of the world, has helped to save more lives and further vaccine equity – ensuring children who never receive a single vaccine are reached.  

    Since 2000, Gavi has protected an entire generation – over 1 billion children – against infectious diseases, helping to cut by half child mortality in 78 lower-income countries. From 2000-2023, Gavi supported 637 vaccine introductions and vaccination campaigns to protect children around the world against 16 life-threatening infectious diseases. Not only are vaccines delivering protection and high impact, immunization is a ‘best buy’ in health with a return on investment of $54 for every dollar invested. 

    Decades of progress have made many vaccine-preventable diseases a rarity in the lives of families. Cuts in the investments to Gavi pose a massive threat to unravel this progress. Infectious diseases do not stop at borders. Where there are pockets of un- and under-immunized children and adults, measles and other diseases can easily spread, as we’re seeing in the U.S. and around the world. This puts all lives at risk, costs individuals and governments substantial resources to respond to outbreaks and stretches already scarce health system resources. This says nothing about the long-term harms and even deaths that occur to what should have been healthy lives.  

    Gavi has been the front line to help keep deadly vaccine-preventable diseases at bay, working hand in hand with WHO, UNICEF and other public and private sector partners, most notably, community health workers and families eager to protect their loved ones. Through routine immunization, Gavi has been critical to maintaining vaccine stockpiles for outbreak-prone diseases such as Ebola, yellow fever and meningitis. 

    In the next 5 years, Gavi will protect at least 500 million children from preventable disease and in so doing save an additional 8-9 million lives. Without continued support by the U.S. and other donors, the world is at risk of a dangerous backsliding in immunization coverage – meaning more zero-dose children, more disease outbreaks, more diseases crossing borders, more threats to health and more children who never reach even their 5th birthday.    

    Every child has the right to health. Our best defense against infectious diseases is continued investment in life-saving immunizations for all. We cannot turn our backs on protecting all children and all communities from these diseases. Nobody should be mistaken that reversing the gains of the past 25 years of immunization is anything other than a grave threat to us all. It is critical to continue investment in Gavi so that life-saving immunizations can continue to reach all children. 

     —-

    Click here to subscribe to the Global Immunization Newsletter.

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    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Foreign aid cuts could mean 10 million more HIV infections by 2030 – and almost 3 million extra deaths

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Rowan Martin-Hughes, Senior Research Fellow, Burnet Institute

    CI Photos/Shutterstock

    In January, the Trump administration ordered a broad pause on all US funding for foreign aid.

    Among other issues, this has significant effects on US funding for HIV. The United States has been the world’s biggest donor to international HIV assistance, providing 73% of funding in 2023.

    A large part of this is the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which oversees programs in low- and middle-income countries to prevent, diagnose and treat the virus. These programs have been significantly disrupted.

    What’s more, recent funding cuts for international HIV assistance go beyond the US. Five countries that provide the largest amount of foreign aid for HIV – the US, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands – have announced cuts of between 8% and 70% to international aid in 2025 and 2026.

    Together, this may mean a 24% reduction in international HIV spending, in addition to the US foreign aid pause.

    We wanted to know how these cuts might affect HIV infections and deaths in the years to come. In a new study, we found the worst-case scenario could see more than 10 million extra infections than what we’d otherwise anticipate in the next five years, and almost 3 million additional deaths.

    What is HIV?

    HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. HIV can be transmitted at birth, during unprotected sex or thorough blood-to-blood contact such as shared needles.

    If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a condition in which the immune system is severely damaged, and which can be fatal.

    HIV was the world’s deadliest infectious disease in the early 1990s. There’s still no cure for HIV, but modern treatments allow the virus to be suppressed with a daily pill. People with HIV who continue treatment can live without symptoms and don’t risk infecting others.

    A sustained global effort towards awareness, prevention, testing and treatment has reduced annual new HIV infections by 39% (from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2023), and annual deaths by 51% (from 1.3 million to 630,000).

    Most of that drop happened in sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic was worst. Today, nearly two-thirds of people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, and nearly all live in low- and middle-income countries.

    HIV can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
    MaryBeth Semosky/Shutterstock

    Our study

    We wanted to estimate the impact of recent funding cuts from the US, UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands on HIV infections and deaths. To do this, we used our mathematical model for 26 low- and middle-income countries. The model includes data on international HIV spending as well as data on HIV cases and deaths.

    These 26 countries represent roughly half of all people living with HIV in low- and middle income countries, and half of international HIV spending. We set up each country model in collaboration with national HIV/AIDS teams, so the data sources reflected the best available local knowledge. We then extrapolated our findings from the 26 countries we modelled to all low- and middle-income countries.

    For each country, we first projected the number of new HIV infections and deaths that would occur if HIV spending stayed the same.

    Second, we modelled scenarios for anticipated cuts based on a 24% reduction in international HIV funding for each country.

    Finally, we modelled scenarios for the possible immediate discontinuation of PEPFAR in addition to other anticipated cuts.

    With the 24% cuts and PEPFAR discontinued, we estimated there could be 4.43 million to 10.75 million additional HIV infections between 2025 and 2030, and 770,000 to 2.93 million extra HIV-related deaths. Most of these would be because of cuts to treatment. For children, there could be up to an additional 882,400 infections and 119,000 deaths.

    In the more optimistic scenario in which PEPFAR continues but 24% is still cut from international HIV funding, we estimated there could be 70,000 to 1.73 million extra new HIV infections and 5,000 to 61,000 additional deaths between 2025 and 2030. This would still be 50% higher than if current spending were to continue.

    The wide range in our estimates reflects low- and middle-income countries committing to far more domestic funding for HIV in the best case, or broader health system dysfunction and a sustained gap in funding for HIV treatment in the worst case.

    Some funding for HIV treatment may be saved by taking that money from HIV prevention efforts, but this would have other consequences.

    The range also reflects limitations in the available data, and uncertainty within our analysis. But most of our assumptions were cautious, so these results likely underestimate the true impacts of funding cuts to HIV programs globally.

    Sending progress backwards

    If funding cuts continue, the world could face higher rates of annual new HIV infections by 2030 (up to 3.4 million) than at the peak of the global epidemic in 1995 (3.3 million).

    Sub-Saharan Africa will experience by far the greatest effects due to the high proportion of HIV treatment that has relied on international funding.

    In other regions, we estimate vulnerable groups such as people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and trans and gender diverse people may experience increases in new HIV infections that are 1.3 to 6 times greater than the general population.

    The Asia-Pacific received US$591 million in international funding for HIV in 2023, which is the second highest after sub-Saharan Africa. So this region would likely experience a substantial rise in HIV as a result of anticipated funding cuts.

    Notably, more than 10% of new HIV infections among people born in Australia are estimated to have been acquired overseas. More HIV in the region is likely to mean more HIV in Australia.

    But concern is greatest for countries that are most acutely affected by HIV and AIDS, many of which will be most affected by international funding cuts.

    Rowan Martin-Hughes receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. He has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    Debra ten Brink has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    Nick Scott receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. He has previously received funding to conduct HIV modelling studies from the Australian government Department of Health and Aged Care, Gates Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization.

    – ref. Foreign aid cuts could mean 10 million more HIV infections by 2030 – and almost 3 million extra deaths – https://theconversation.com/foreign-aid-cuts-could-mean-10-million-more-hiv-infections-by-2030-and-almost-3-million-extra-deaths-253017

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 29, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Democratic Physicians Announce Launch of Congressional Doctors Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, all six Democratic physicians serving in the U.S. House of Representatives formally announced the launch of the Congressional Doctors Caucus.

    The caucus is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of Americans, advancing pragmatic health care policy and providing fellow Members with insights on critical health issues.

    Members of the caucus include:

    • Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) – Internal Medicine
    • Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03) – Internal Medicine
    • Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) – Pulmonary & Critical Care 
    • Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03) – Obstetrics & Gynecology
    • Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) – Emergency Medicine 
    • Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) – Pediatrics

    “I am excited to launch the Doctors Caucus that will fight for quality, affordable health care for American families,” said Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25). “As doctors we understand the pain and suffering that people endure for not having access to care. We will work to ensure that every American has the health care they need.”

    “As physicians, we bring firsthand experience with the challenges facing patients and providers every day,” said Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06). “This caucus will harness our collective expertise to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that lower costs, expand access and strengthen care delivery. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable care.”

    “Medicine is not just a profession; it is a calling—a lifelong commitment to alleviating suffering, saving lives, and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves,” said Representative Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03). “By launching the Doctors Caucus, we are continuing that commitment. I’m proud to join my fellow Democratic doctors in creating this caucus, where we will fight for patients and providers. Considering the present political landscape, it is more important than ever that we stand together.”

    “At a time when Republicans are attacking science, slashing health care, and putting politics over patients, Democratic physicians must be organized to fight back,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) “The Congressional Doctors Caucus will be vigilant and active to do all we can to ensure healthcare policy is patient-centered and science-based. We will push back against dangerous misinformation and stand up for every American’s right to have meaningful access to high-quality, affordable health care.” 

    “We are seeing health care, evidence-based science, and lifesaving research come under attack more than ever before by the Trump-Vance Administration and their Republican majority in Congress. As doctors, we will always stand up for the health and well-being of all Americans,” said Representative Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03). “I am proud to join this group of Democratic doctors to fight every day to protect and expand access to the lifesaving care that Americans need and deserve.”

    “As Republicans in Congress slash Medicaid, condone the questioning of proven safety and efficacy of vaccinations, and endanger our public health by knee-capping key agencies and medical research, I’m proud to join my fellow Democratic Doctors in creating this Doc Caucus,” said Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08). “Together, we will stand up for patients, providers, innovation, science, and common-sense improvements that enhance health care and bring down costs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Travelling overseas? You could be at risk of measles. Here’s how to ensure you’re protected

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archana Koirala, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney

    Julia Suhareva/Shutterstock

    On March 26 NSW Health issued an alert advising people to be vigilant for signs of measles after an infectious person visited Sydney Airport and two locations in western New South Wales.

    The person recently returned from Southeast Asia where there are active measles outbreaks in several countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

    The NSW alert follows a string of similar alerts issued around Australia in recent days and weeks.

    If you’re travelling overseas soon, you could be at risk of measles. Here’s what to know to ensure you’re protected.

    First, what is measles?

    Measles is one of the most contagious viral illnesses. It spreads through the air when a person breathes, coughs or sneezes. On average, one person can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune.

    Initial symptoms include fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis. Then a non-itchy rash usually starts around the hairline before spreading around the body.

    Measles is most common in children, and they’re also most vulnerable to getting very sick with the virus. Measles is severe in around one in ten children. Complications can include ear infection, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and, more rarely, encephalitis (brain swelling).

    However, adults can also catch and spread the disease, making up 10–20% of measles cases during outbreaks.

    Vaccination has saved millions of lives

    The first measles vaccine was licensed for public use in 1963, and it changed the trajectory of this disease. In the 21st century alone, measles vaccination is thought to have saved more than 60 million lives globally.

    The measles vaccine is free through Australia’s National Immunisation Program. It’s routinely given at 12 and 18 months of age. The first dose is combined with mumps and rubella (the MMR vaccine) and the second adds protection against chickenpox, or varicella (MMRV).

    False suggestions the measles vaccination is linked with disorders such as autism have been thoroughly disproven. The vaccine is very safe and highly effective.

    Measles is one of the most contagious viruses there is.
    fotohay/Shutterstock

    However, because the vaccine is made from a live virus, people with weakened immune systems (for example, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer or pregnant women) cannot have the vaccine even though they’re at higher risk of severe measles. Their safety depends on high community immunisation rates to reduce the spread of the virus.

    Because measles is so infectious, at least 95% of the population needs to be immune to prevent its spread.

    Immunity occurs from either two doses of measles vaccine or past infection. Measles vaccination was introduced in Australia in 1968. Most adults born before the mid-1960s would still be immune from a past infection. But vaccination is recommended for everyone else who is not immune.

    Immunity gaps are opening up

    Gaps in immunity to measles have opened up around the world due to challenges in delivering routine immunisations during the COVID pandemic, and, in some cases, reduced acceptance of vaccination.

    In 2023 only 83% of the world’s children received at least one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday, down from 86% in 2019. This is not enough to halt spread.

    The withdrawal of US government funding from many global health programs, including a measles surveillance network that supports testing and outbreak responses, is throwing fuel on the fire.

    In Australia, small but progressive declines in the uptake of childhood vaccines over the past five years and immunity gaps in other age groups means our risk of outbreaks in increasing.

    Rates of childhood vaccination coverage have been declining slightly.
    Inna photographer/Shutterstock

    For example, coverage of the MMR vaccine at 24 months declined 0.4 percentage points between 2022 and 2023 (from 95.3% to 94.9% in Indigenous children and 95.1% to 94.7% in children overall).

    On-time vaccination rates – within 30 days of the recommended age – are also falling. The proportion of children who had their MMR vaccine on time dropped from 75.3% to 67.2% for non-Indigenous children and 64.7% to 56% for Indigenous children between 2020 and 2023.

    Measles outbreaks are increasing in Australia and across the world

    Measles cases are rapidly rising across the globe and more cases are arriving from overseas into Australia. So far in 2025, 37 cases have been reported compared to 57 in all of 2024, 26 in 2023 and seven in 2022. Most cases have been imported from overseas, but we’ve ascertained eight cases so far in 2025 were locally acquired.

    Many of the countries experiencing the largest measles outbreaks are popular travel destinations for Australians, including India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

    But few countries are free of measles. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and various countries in Europe are all tackling outbreaks.

    As the incubation period – the gap between exposure and symptoms – is around seven to ten days, travellers may enter the country without knowing they’re about to become ill and potentially spread the virus to others.

    Protecting yourself and your family

    Although the usual age for the first measles dose is 12 months, the MMR vaccine can be given to babies as young as six months who are travelling to measles hotspots or during outbreaks.

    This early measles vaccine dose does not replace those given at 12 and 18 months, but will help protect the infant in the interim.

    It’s important all adults, particularly those planning overseas travel, know their vaccination or infection history. If you don’t, talk to your health-care provider about being vaccinated.

    Everyone who doesn’t have immunity from an infection should have two lifetime doses. Some adults, including those who have migrated from overseas, may have had none or only one dose when they were younger. If you’re unsure, there’s no harm in receiving a vaccine if you’ve had measles or have been fully vaccinated already.

    If you come back from overseas and need medical care, inform your health-care provider about your symptoms and recent travel before attending a clinic in person.

    Archana Koirala has worked on projects funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW Health. She is the chair of Vaccination Special Interest Group and a committee member of Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases.

    Kristine Macartney is the Director of the Australian National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS). NCIRS receives funding from the Australian government Department of Health and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NSW and other state and territory health departments, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the NHMRC, the MRFF and the Wellcome Trust.

    – ref. Travelling overseas? You could be at risk of measles. Here’s how to ensure you’re protected – https://theconversation.com/travelling-overseas-you-could-be-at-risk-of-measles-heres-how-to-ensure-youre-protected-252802

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government backs next wave of semiconductor start-ups to scale up growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Government backs next wave of semiconductor start-ups to scale up growth

    Third cohort of semiconductor start-ups backed by government to drive economic growth.

    Third group of startups selected to bring new semiconductor products to market

    • A third cohort of innovative UK semiconductor businesses are chosen to join ChipStart, to continue driving economic growth and creating high-skilled jobs under the Plan for Change
    • These semiconductor startups are developing technologies that will have a direct impact on everyday life – from improving energy efficiency in devices to advancing smart automation and connectivity
    • The newly renewed scheme will build on the success of an initial two cohorts, which are on track to raise over £40 million in private investment

    New wave of semiconductor start-ups will join ChipStart, a government-backed incubator programme driving our Plan for Change by helping companies scale up, create jobs, and boost growth.

    ChipStart provides technical expertise and commercial support to help UK-based semiconductor innovators grow and create high-skilled jobs. Companies from the first two cohorts are already on track to raise over £40 million in private investment.

    Semiconductors are a cornerstone of the UK’s tech economy, with the sector already worth £10 billion and projected to grow up to £17 billion by 2030. They power the technology we rely on daily, from smartphones and medical devices to electric cars and cutting-edge AI. They control the flow of electricity in electronic systems and as demand for smarter, more efficient tech grows, the UK is well placed to lead, backed by a world-class innovation ecosystem and a thriving entrepreneurial environment. The UK is the number one country in Europe for venture capital investment, has the lowest corporation tax in the G7, and benefits from a highly skilled workforce and leading academic institutions.

    ChipStart – delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, leading global start-up accelerator – has successfully helped early-stage semiconductor companies turn their ideas into real-world products by providing expert mentorship, industry connections, and access to cutting-edge design tools.

    As part of our Plan for Change, and the wider Industrial Strategy we are supporting these high-potential companies to reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in entrepreneurship, creating the conditions for the next generation of world-changing technologies to thrive and driving growth in communities across the UK.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance said:

    The UK’s semiconductor industry is vibrant with innovation, and this third cohort shows just how much potential we have with many exciting start-ups.

    This sector holds incredible promise, and with the right partnerships, it will lead us into a future of greater economic growth and technological advancement – a key pillar of our Plan for Change.

    This announcement builds on the UK’s growing momentum in semiconductors, following Vishay Intertechnology’s plans to invest £250 million in the UK’s largest semiconductor factory. Announced by the Chancellor during a visit to South Wales yesterday, this investment will strengthen the UK’s domestic semiconductor supply chain – critical for industries like automotive, renewable energy, and defence. With South Wales emerging as a key semiconductor cluster, this investment underscores the UK’s competitive advantage in advanced chip manufacturing.

    From the successful second cohort, Qontrol, a University of Bristol spin-out, is developing technology that could transform the internet as we know it. Their precision control systems for photonics – the use of light to process data – could lead to faster, more reliable internet connections, helping to bring high-speed connectivity to rural communities and build the networks needed for next-generation digital services.

    This year’s cohort – backed by £1.1 million of government funding – includes RX-Watt, a company pioneering battery-free sensors that can be wirelessly powered using safe microwave signals. Their technology could save industries time and money where they depend on monitoring products and goods in real-time – helping manufacturers prevent costly equipment failures and ensuring critical goods like vaccines are stored at the right temperature throughout the supply chain.

    Companies from the first two ChipStart cohorts are already on track to raise over £40 million in private investment, proving the strength of UK semiconductor start-ups and the impressive return on investment associated with government backing.

    Another example from the second cohort is KuasaSemi, a Cornwall-based company, is revolutionising the design of semiconductors used in electric vehicles and renewable energy. By developing advanced computer tools to work with new types of materials, they are enabling the creation of faster, more efficient power devices. This means electric cars could charge faster, run longer, and perform better – helping to accelerate the shift to greener, more sustainable energy solutions.

    Sean Redmond, Silicon Catalyst UK said:

    We have been delighted with the high quality of new semiconductor startup applications we received for our third cohort of ChipStart from across the UK semiconductor clusters. Our now proven incubation process, that provides no cost design tools and chip manufacturing, will help these competitively selected companies attract the right private investment at the right time, launching them onto the global semiconductor stage.

    With the help of our experienced semiconductor executive advisors, which includes co-founders of Arm, we can help these young companies make great decisions and build the next generation of UK semiconductor unicorns. The next ten years of semiconductors will be a race to a £2 trillion industry. These new UK scale-ups will be in pole position to win that race.

    Wave Photonics, another successful company from the first cohort, is pioneering design technology to accelerate the development and mass production of integrated photonics – circuits that use light instead of electricity. These innovations are paving the way for energy-efficient AI communications, next-generation healthcare sensors, quantum technologies, and more.

    James Lee, co-founder of Wave Photonics said:

    ChipStart was fantastic preparation for raising and deploying our seed round to deploy our new approach to photonics design for quantum technologies, sensing and datacentre applications.

    As well as training and connection to mentors, ChipStart helps you directly plug into the UK semiconductor ecosystem and learn from the successes of the previous generation of UK semiconductor startups.

    Notes to editors

    Full list of the winning cohort.

    1. Chipletti
    2. Ethicronics
    3. Kahu
    4. Kelvin Quantum
    5. Unnamed from the University of Glasgow
    6. Prospectral 
    7. Quantopticon
    8. RxWatt
    9. SiDesign
    10. Smith Optical

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

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    Published 28 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: At Press Conference on HHS Cuts, Senator Murray Slams Trump Plans to Push Out Thousands of Health Workers, Gut Essential Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Plans to Hollow Out HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Safety
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), held a press conference with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ed Markey (D-MA) slamming the Trump administration’s plans, announced today, to push out roughly 20,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and hollow out the Department, which is responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services. Senator Murray released a statement responding immediately to the news earlier today.
    Today’s announcement follows weeks of mass firings across HHS, creating chaos at the Department that has prevented it from executing its mission to protect people’s health, and an onslaught of detrimental policies that are halting lifesaving biomedical research and more. HHS announced that it plans to cut its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 (a 25 percent reduction) through a combination of mass firings and buy-outs and remake HHS without thoughtful consideration and partnership with Congress. Among others, Trump, RFK Jr., and Musk plan to cut:
    3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is charged with protecting Americans’ health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines, biologics (including vaccines), and medical devices–and regulating food safety, cosmetics, and tobacco products.
    2,400 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is charged with protecting the American people from health threats, including infectious diseases. 
    1,200 employees at NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency, which propels biomedical research that produces life-changing and, in many cases, lifesaving treatments and cures. These cuts come as the Trump administration has already systematically decimated ongoing work at NIH to advance new cures and treatments.
    300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which has long been understaffed and is charged with helping to ensure over 100 million Americans have access to health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. 
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered at today’s press conference, are below and HERE:
    “We are here today to raise the alarm—because the Measles President, and Secretary Kennedy, are trying to turn the Department of Health, into the Department of Disease. 
    “Seriously, do you know what Trump and RFK Jr. are doing about the measles outbreak? They are ripping away funding Congress already provided to respond to the outbreaks—they’re stopping public health work in its tracks, even as this outbreak is threatening to spiral out of control.
    “What are they doing about the opioid crisis, or maternal death rates, or bird flu for that matter? More cuts, and don’t forget—mass firings!
    “What are they doing about vaccine hesitancy? Unsurprisingly, these anti-vaxxers are slashing vaccine research. And at the very same time, dedicating resources to launch vaccine conspiracy investigations and resurrect debunked science.
    “And now, RFK Jr. announces he is pushing out some 20,000 workers at HHS? That is about as good for the public health as a cough in your face.
    “Looking for new ways to make government more efficient and responsive is important. But Trump and RFK Jr. are doing anything but that!
    “It does not take a genius to understand that pushing out 20,000 workers at a preeminent health agency, choking off funding for cancer research, and eliminating funding that prevents infectious diseases like measles will not make Americans healthier!
    “It will just mean fewer health services for our communities, more opportunities for disease to spread, and longer waits for lifesaving treatments and cures.
    “These cuts will not reduce the deficit in any way. Not at all! Instead, they threaten to incur massive costs down the road when we are caught flat-footed by the next health care crisis.
    “Consider how much bipartisan spending Congress had to push out the door—why? Because Trump failed to get the COVID pandemic under control when it first hit.
    “It costs something to prevent pandemics, and it costs a whole lot more when we fail to stop them. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—but Trump and RFK Jr. are picking neither. They are picking chaos, plague, and pandemonium. That may as well be their official policy—because that is what is coming down the tracks if they don’t change course.
    “And I will tell you right now, when our health agencies are unprepared for a deadly pandemic…
    “When our hospitals are overwhelmed with sick kids because our local public health officials can’t track a worsening measles outbreak…
    “When people start getting E. coli and we cannot figure out where it came from…
    “Or whooping cough starts spreading—and we can’t do basic tracing to stop it…
    “Or flu season sweeps through nursing homes like never before, because no one bothered to help people get vaccinated…
    “Or a vaccine doesn’t even exist because HHS stopped funding seasonal flu vaccine development…
    “Or our mental health centers close because federal grants were axed, and opioid deaths rise again, because prevention and treatment work was cut off…
    “The American people won’t forget it was Trump and RFK Jr. who gutted essential services and put their lives at risk.
    “Today may be a great day for snake oil, it may be a great day for conspiracies, it may be a great day for measles, but it is an incredibly alarming day for America.
    “It’s an incredibly scary time for moms and dads who just want to keep their kids healthy, and just want to know there are competent people on the job keeping us safe from diseases.
    “I have warned my colleagues from the start, this is not some political game. The work HHS does—or in this case, stops doing—has life and death consequences.
    “Well, my colleagues better get used to hearing that warning, because for as long as Trump and RFK Jr. continue down this absolutely reckless path, I will echo that warning over, and over, and over again, because it is an important one.
    “Given the stakes here, given the serious threats to our families—I don’t see how any of us can do anything less.
    “We need to speak up about how dangerous this is—we are speaking up.
    “We need to push back and fight for our families, and we need our families to stand up and fight with us.
    “I know I will be. And I am proud to be here with two of my great colleagues who feel the same.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Joseph Nigro Appointed to Eos Energy Enterprises Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), America’s leading innovator in designing, manufacturing, and providing zinc-based long duration energy storage systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, today announced that Joseph Nigro, former CFO of Exelon Corporation (NADSDAQ: EXC) and CEO of Constellation Energy (then operating division of Exelon), has been appointed to the Eos Board of Directors, effective March 26, 2025. Nigro’s extensive leadership across both competitive and regulated energy markets is instrumental as Eos advances its mission to deliver safe, sustainable, and American-made energy storage.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Joe to the Eos board,” said Russ Stidolph, Chairman of Eos. “His decades of experience leading some of the most significant players in the energy industry, along with his deep financial and operational expertise, will be incredibly valuable as we continue to scale our operations and build long-term value for our stakeholders.”

    With three decades of experience in the energy industry, Nigro brings a wealth of knowledge and executive leadership to the board. His distinguished career includes serving as Chief Financial Officer of Exelon, overseeing the financial strategy for the company’s entire utility and generation portfolio. Nigro also served as Chief Executive Officer of Constellation Energy, a then Exelon Corporation operating division and their largest, where he successfully led efforts to strengthen the company’s market position and operational efficiency. Nigro’s career began at PECO Energy, now an Exelon Corporation company, in the 1990s and spent seven years prior with Phibro Energy, Inc., an independent oil trading and refining company. His extensive background spans across trading, operating, and financial strategy, providing a deep understanding of the full energy value chain.

    “Joe’s experience in the power industry brings a unique perspective that make him a natural fit for our board,” said Joe Mastrangelo, Eos Chief Executive Officer. “He understands what it takes to lead at scale, and his insight will help guide our execution and strengthen our position as America’s battery.”

    Currently, Nigro serves on the board of Talen Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: TLN), a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company with a diverse generation fleet. He is also an advisor to Blackstone’s energy transition practice and serves on the board of Kindle Energy, a portfolio company focused on generation assets. His extensive governance expertise across both mature and growth-oriented companies strengthens Eos’ leadership and complements its strategic vision.

    “I am honored to join the Eos board at such a dynamic moment for the Company and the energy industry at large,” said Nigro. “Eos is addressing a critical need for long-duration storage with a highly flexible American-made solution, and I’m excited to help guide the Company’s global growth.”

    Nigro’s appointment reflects Eos’ ongoing commitment to maintaining a world-class board with the expertise necessary to advance its strategic priorities and position the Company for accelerated growth.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.


    Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expected revenue, for the fiscal years December 31, 2025, our path to profitability and strategic outlook, statements regarding orders backlog and opportunity pipeline, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to increase product volume on our state-of-the-art manufacturing line, statements regarding our future expansion and its impact on our ability to scale up operations, statements regarding our expectation that we can continue to strengthen our overall supply chain, statements regarding our expectation that our new comprehensive insurance program will provide increased operational and economic certainty, statements that refer to the delayed draw term loan with Cerberus, milestones thereunder and the anticipated use of proceeds, statements that refer to outlook, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.

    Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to forecast trends accurately; our ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; our ability to achieve the operational milestones on the delayed draw term loan; our ability to raise financing in the future; risks associated with the credit agreement with Cerberus, including risks of default, dilution of outstanding Common Stock, consequences for failure to meet milestones and contractual lockup of shares; our customers’ ability to secure project financing; the amount of final tax credits available to our customers or to Eos pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act; the timing and availability of future funding under the Department of Energy Loan Facility; our ability to continue to develop efficient manufacturing processes to scale and to forecast related costs and efficiencies accurately; fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; competition from existing or new competitors; our ability to convert firm order backlog and pipeline to revenue; risks associated with security breaches in our information technology systems; risks related to legal proceedings or claims; risks associated with evolving energy policies in the United States and other countries and the potential costs of regulatory compliance; risks associated with changes to the U.S. trade environment; our ability to maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on NASDAQ; our ability to grow our business and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain our management and key employees; risks related to the adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and increased interest rates; risk from supply chain disruptions and other impacts of geopolitical conflict; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Eos may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; other factors beyond our control; risks related to adverse changes in general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties.

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev: It is planned to allocate about 5 billion rubles to the creation of domestic veterinary drugs by 2030

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev spoke at a meeting of the final board of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. The event summed up the work for the past year and outlined future plans.

    “Over 20 years of operation, the federal service has managed to create an effective system for protecting Russia from biological threats. At the same time, the President set a goal for the agro-industrial complex to increase production volumes by a quarter and increase exports by one and a half times by 2030. We must also ensure agricultural sovereignty. The entire industry is focused on fulfilling these guidelines – in particular, the Government has approved a new national project “Technological Support for Food Security”. It is important that the growth of production volumes is inextricably linked with control over the production process and quality,” said Dmitry Patrushev.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, despite the tense situation related to animal diseases around the world, the epizootic situation in Russia is stable. Rosselkhoznadzor specialists are conducting preventive measures at production facilities, examining livestock for diseases, marking, recording and vaccinating animals.

    Dmitry Patrushev emphasized that the Russian Government supports the creation of domestic drugs for veterinary use. It is planned to allocate about 5 billion rubles to the corresponding federal project of the new national project “Technological Support for Food Security” until 2030.

    “Rosselkhoznadzor has a strong scientific base. For example, the Federal Center for Animal Welfare has been developing vaccines for several years. In 2024 alone, 14 new drugs for the prevention of diseases in cattle, poultry and pets appeared on its platform,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    In 2025, a new function for prescription dispensing of veterinary drugs was introduced into the veterinary information system, which will improve the traceability of antibiotic use and strengthen control over the prescription of appropriate treatment to animals.

    In terms of supervision over the proper use of agricultural land, Dmitry Patrushev reported that in 2024 alone, due to the implementation of relevant measures, more than 330 thousand hectares were additionally returned to circulation. And in five years – already almost 1.5 million hectares of land. In the area of supervision over the proper use of pesticides and agrochemicals, according to the results of monitoring in 2024, the federal service identified about 300 violations of the rules for handling pesticides.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Russia has established one of the world’s best practices of control and supervision activities in the agricultural industry. Modern technologies provide great assistance to Rosselkhoznadzor. The introduction of information systems, among other things, helps reduce the volume of counterfeit goods on the market.

    Dmitry Patrushev noted that in 2024 Russia retained its status as a net food exporter.

    “Last year, the volume of crop products sent for export exceeded 87 million tons, which is 2.6 million tons more than the year before. I would like to separately note the growth in Russian grain supplies to the markets of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Shipments of processed grain products have also increased. In 2024, exports in this segment increased by almost 20% and exceeded 3 million tons. External supplies in the livestock sector also increased. Exports of meat products increased by almost a third, and dairy products by 18%. This was also facilitated by the work to open new markets. Thus, last year, permission was received to enter 16 countries for 58 types of livestock products,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    Dmitry Patrushev called on the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and Rosselkhoznadzor to continue dialogue with foreign partners to expand the opportunities of domestic exporters.

    In conclusion of his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of developing the analytical component of information systems used in the industry and integrating them with the platforms of the relevant ministry, as well as building more complex mechanisms for detecting violations by Rosselkhoznadzor. Such consolidated work of the agencies will allow our country to continue to develop and achieve high results.

    During the meeting, Dmitry Patrushev also presented state awards to employees of Rosselkhoznadzor for their services in the field of agriculture and many years of conscientious work.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can I tell if my child is too sick to go to school?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Sturgiss, Professor of Community Medicine and Clinical Education, Bond University

    Chay_Tay/Shutterstock

    As a GP and mum to two boys I have many experiences of trying to navigate the school morning when my boys aren’t feeling well. It always seems to happen on the busiest days.

    None of us want to send our child to school when they are not well – I hate the thought of my kids feeling sick in the classroom and also the idea they might make other children sick.

    Lots of families have someone for whom illnesses are more dangerous. They might have a weakened immune system because they are going through cancer treatment or suffer from another illness.

    But it can be hard to tell. A child might be dramatically crying “my tummy HURTS” one minute and racing around with their sibling the next. Or you might wonder if they are angling for some time off in front of the TV.

    How can you tell if your child is too sick to go to school?

    None of us want to send our child to school when they are not well.
    Pixel Shot/ Shutterstock

    Symptoms to look out for

    In school-aged children here are some symptoms to consider.

    Fever: if your child feels hot to touch, or you have a thermometer showing a fever (a temperature above 38 degrees), then they shouldn’t attend school.

    This is even if you are giving them regular paracetamol or ibuprofen to keep their temperature down. Your child won’t feel comfortable at school with a fever and they have a high chance of making others unwell.

    Vomiting and diarrhoea: children should stay home until it is at least 24 hours since their last vomit or runny poo. This is to reduce the spread of viral gastroenteritis (or stomach flu) and to make sure your child can stay hydrated and well. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhoea, it also is important to keep a close eye on them to make sure they are improving and to seek medical care if they are getting worse.

    Runny noses: a runny nose without a fever might be a sign of hayfever, especially if your child has other symptoms like itchy eyes or sneezing. On its own, this is not a reason to stay home.

    But a new runny nose with a fever is a reason to stay home. Many infections, including influenza, COVID and even measles can start with a fever and runny nose, although usually it signals a common cold.

    The common cold needs rest, fluids and encouraging your child to keep their nose clear with gentle blowing or saline sprays. And a reminder, the annual flu vaccine is an excellent way to protect your family from the serious consequences of the “proper flu”.

    Cough: there are many different reasons for a child to cough. This includes infections such as COVID, whooping cough and influenza and non-infectious reasons such as hayfever and reflux. If your child has developed a new cough, and especially if they are also feverish, this is a reason to keep them at home. A cough that doesn’t go away after two weeks should also be checked out by your GP.

    Tiredness: mostly on Fridays, my kids are tired after a busy week – much like me! Tiredness can be an early sign of a lurking infection or some other health issue. But on its own is probably not a reason to keep your child home. However, ongoing tiredness is a good reason to have your child checked out by your GP as there are many causes from poor sleep to iron deficiency.

    Poor appetite: kids’ appetites can vary so wildly, especially when they move into growing phases. Not wanting to eat breakfast in the morning might be an early gastro infection, a sign of constipation or nervous butterflies for the day ahead. If your child is otherwise OK, with no tummy pain, fever or tiredness, then a lack of appetite for breakfast is not a solid reason to stay home.

    It’s common for kids to feel tired, but this on its own is not a reason to skip school.
    Andrew Will/ Shutterstock

    Watch out for school refusal

    I find it helpful to let my child know if they stay home, they will need to stay in bed with no screens to rest and get well. This tends to separate the “truly feeling unwell” days from the “just hoping to have a rest” days.

    But feeling unwell in the morning – particularly in the tummy, tiredness or unexplained headaches – can be an early sign something might not be going smoothly for your child at school or home.

    School refusal is a serious problem where a child is completely overwhelmed and unable to attend school. It can come on gradually or suddenly. Talking with your child’s school is a critical first step if you are concerned about school refusal – it should be a conversation that happens promptly and your school should have procedures for helping you to manage it.



    Read more:
    Is it school reluctance or refusal? How to tell the difference and help your child

    Phone a friend

    If you’re not sure, consider giving a trusted friends or family member a quick call to talk things over.

    You can also contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (or 13 Health if you are in Queensland). This is a national phone service open 24 hours for anyone who has symptoms and needs advice on what to do next.

    Liz Sturgiss receives funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, RACGP Foundation, Diabetes Australia and VicHealth that is unrelated to this article. She is affiliated with Australian Journal of Primary Health (CSIRO), Australian Prescriber, RACGP, NAPCRG, Guidelines Development Committee for the review and update of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, Adolescents and Children in Australia and Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care.

    – ref. How can I tell if my child is too sick to go to school? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-i-tell-if-my-child-is-too-sick-to-go-to-school-252731

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission’s awareness of intelligence on the origin of COVID-19 – E-001116/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001116/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN)

    • 1.Has the Commission been informed by German or other European authorities about intelligence from the German Federal Intelligence Service or other European intelligence services indicating that COVID-19 originated in a laboratory? If so, when was the Commission informed and how much information was it given?
    • 2.What does the Commission make of the possible implications of such findings for the EU’s pandemic policy to date – particularly lockdowns, business closures, vaccine procurement and liability issues?
    • 3.In view of those findings, will the Commission consider reassessing its pandemic strategy and, if necessary, launch measures to review the policy decisions made in recent years?

    Submitted: 17.3.2025

    Last updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Denmark: IO Biotech secures up to €57.5 million EIB venture debt to advance cancer vaccine research and development.

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • Further support for Denmark’s med-tech sector as IO Biotech boost cancer vaccine research with EIB venture debt financing.
    • IO Biotech will use the financing for its innovative immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine to treat melanoma.
    • The EIB’s financing is backed under the European Commission’s InvestEU initiative.

    Danish med-tech company IO Biotech has signed a €57.5 million venture debt deal with the European Investment Bank. The debt facility includes three committed tranches totalling up to €37.5 million, which will become available if the company satisfies certain conditions, and one uncommitted accordion tranche of €20 million. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company is developing novel, immune-modulating cancer vaccine therapies based on an innovative proprietary technology platform. The company will mainly use the financing for the development and market launch of IO102-IO103, an immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine to treat melanoma, with a view to employing the vaccine more broadly against other types of cancer. The EIB financing is supported by the European Commission’s InvestEU programme.

    The EIB financing will, on the one hand, support the finalisation of the clinical development as well as the regulatory approval and market launch of the lead candidate. On the other hand, the financing will also support the development of new product candidates generated through the Company’s platform. The funding is expected to enable IO Biotech to grow from a pure R&D company into a fully-fledged pharma company with products forming the backbone of combination therapy for people with cancer.

    “Innovative European companies not only need capital but also investors willing to take risks, allowing them to scale up and reach commercialization before non-EU investors step in.” said EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “IO Biotech’s groundbreaking technology has the potential to significantly impact healthcare, particularly in oncology. Bringing new pharmaceutical products to market requires substantial investment, especially in the final stages of development. With the support of the European Commission’s InvestEU programme, the EIB is bridging this funding gap, ensuring that cutting-edge European technology can grow, thrive, and benefit patients across the EU.”

    Amy Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer of IO Biotech, commented, “We appreciate the support we have received from the EIB with this transaction. This debt facility will help fund the continued development and pre-commercialization of our therapeutic cancer vaccine candidates generated from our T-Win® platform. This funding comes at a critical time for our company as we approach the results from the phase 3 pivotal study of our lead investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine, IO102-IO103, in the third quarter of 2025.”

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, contribute to peace and security, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality. The Group’s AAA rating allows it to borrow at favourable conditions on the global markets, benefiting its clients within the European Union and beyond. The Group has the highest ESG standards and a tier one capital ratio of 32%.

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable economy. It helps generate additional investments in line with EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal, the digital transition and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient, and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. This guarantee increases their risk-bearing capacity, thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    IO Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win® platform. The T-win platform is based on a novel approach to cancer vaccines designed to activate T cells to target the immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. IO Biotech is advancing its lead cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, in clinical trials, and additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development. IO Biotech is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has US headquarters in New York, New York.High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Massive boost to innovation in South East Queensland

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    Over $200 million in funding contributed by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments and industry partners will help South East Queensland become a leading innovator in health and biotech, through the South East Queensland Innovation Economy Fund.

    The Fund has awarded eight successful projects $94 million in joint Government funding, with industry leaders across critical sectors co-contributing over $122 million. This partnership between governments and industry will unlock $217 million worth of investments across South East Queensland.

    Successful projects include:

    • A $25 million grant to establish the Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC) at the Gold Coast will build on the region’s leadership in biomedicine, biotechnology and additive manufacturing.
    • Bringing together Griffith University, neighbouring hospitals and medical institutes, the project will leverage another $75 million from partners to expand the cutting-edge Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. It already employs more than 14,000 people, and is home to innovation such as the world’s first artificial rotary heart.
    • An Australian-first biomedical scale-up and manufacturing facility will be established at the Bogo Road Innovation Precinct, thanks to $3 million in funding. The new Hub will support start-ups to develop innovative medical products, manufacture them on site and undertake clinical trials, positioning Brisbane to become leaders in bio-manufacturing. 
    • A $25 million grant awarded to the AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) to bring together start-ups and industry leaders to establish Australia’s first vertically-integrated biotechnological facility to support the rapid design, building and testing of new solutions for the agriculture sector.
    • The University of Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre will be upgraded with five new specialist innovation labs to boost jobs and accelerate the local economy, thanks to a nearly $3 million investment. It includes a new Digital Health Productivity Lab, which will harness technology to advance innovation in the aged care sector and improve patient experience.

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Cities Jenny McAllister:

    “The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future by backing Queensland innovation.

    “By bringing together the expertise of universities, research institutes and industry, we can boost innovation, and create local jobs.

    “It’s terrific to see investment in biotech that will not just improve health outcomes but also provide opportunities to build our economic future by leveraging world class research.

    Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell:

    “Queensland Government is dedicated to investing in a thriving innovation ecosystem in South East Queensland.

    “Strategic investment in world-class innovation precincts will drive the creation of high value knowledge-intensive jobs that will propel South East Queensland into a new era of prosperity.

    “These precincts are the incubators for solutions to the region’s most pressing social and economic challenges.”

    Further information:

    SEQ Innovation Economy Fund successful applicants:

    Applicant Location Joint Commonwealth and Queensland Funding Project description
    Therapeutic Innovation Australia Limited Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Brisbane $3 million Establishing the Bioproduction Hub (PM1) for multi modal therapeutics Phase 1 manufacturing at TRI. This Australian-first facility will enable production of biologics, vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals and mRNA therapeutics to support first-in-human clinical trials. The integration of specialist therapeutic manufacturing capability, quality control and regulatory expertise aims to streamline and fast-track the pathway from discovery science to clinical evaluation.
    Translational 
    Research Institute    		 Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Dutton Park $6,807,251

    This project will supercharge the Translational Manufacturing (TM@TRI) project and in turn supercharge the Boggo Road Innovation

    Precinct, accelerating the impact of this critical infrastructure.
    Southern RNA LNP-mRNA-Enable Project (LEAP): Driving LNP-mRNA Therapeutics to Clinical Trials $2,777,667

    The LNP-mRNA-Enable project aims to supercharge Queensland’s biomedical sector by building infrastructure and capacity that will unlock Queensland’s ability to locally translate and produce mRNA therapeutics. Led by Southern RNA and supported by research and industry partners in the field, the project will specifically develop capability around the development and manufacturing of Lipid

    Nanoparticle-mRNA, a vital step in the production and delivery of mRNA.
    Witmack Industrial AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC), Toowoomba $25,000,000

    The AATLIS Innovation Precinct Industry Biotechnology Centre (IBC) is a groundbreaking $50m initiative to establish Australia’s first vertically integrated biotechnological facility for distribution, sales, logistics, R&D, and toll manufacturing.

    This “One Stop Shop” will integrate AI-driven research and world-class technology with best-practice manufacturing capabilities and global end-users to strengthen supply chain security, advance environmentally conscious practices like reducing synthetic chemical use, and boost economic growth and export opportunities.

     
    University of Queensland

    Queensland Animal Science Precinct, Lockyer Valley

     

    		 $21,807,000 Queensland Animal Science Innovation Hub – a place animal producers, farmers and industry can test and trial, scale and commercialise new farming and biosecurity innovations which enhances food security and the supply of affordable and reliable meat and animal products to Queensland and the world.

    University of the Sunshine Coast

     

    		 Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast $2,724,431 Future Skills Lab – five future skills specialist innovation labs, delivered in partnership with industry, and equipped with the latest tools and resources that accelerate the design, prototyping and testing of cutting-edge digital innovations.
    Urban Utilities Luggage Point Innovation Precinct, Brisbane

    $7,670,811

    		 Luggage Point Innovation Precinct Expansion: Pioneering Sustainable Water Solutions for Green Industries. Creating new spaces for pilot projects, sampling and research; and innovation-enabling infrastructure that will drive development and commercialisation of innovative water-related products and technologies including accelerating recycled water innovation; encouraging the adoption of recycled water; addressing persistent contaminants; and enabling hydrogen production to develop novel products from biogas, biosolids and organic waste.
    Griffith University Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Gold Coast $25 million Health and Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Centre (HATRIC), a partnership between Griffith University (GU) and Economic Development Queensland is a new building that will significantly boost and synthesise the precinct’s capabilities, creating a seamless interface between university R&D and commercialisation with industry partners. Innovations enabled through HATRIC may include spinal injury repair, new vaccines, rehabilitation equipment, artificial ligaments, customised bionics for limb loss, quantum technologies for sportstech and circular economy technologies in recycling medical waste and lithium-ion batteries.

    More information on the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund can be found at SEQ Innovation Economy Fund | Advance Queensland.

    MIL OSI News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

    Keir Starmer aboard one of the UK’s Vanguard class submarines. CC BY-NC-ND

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently boarded one of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines for a photo call as part of his attempts to demonstrate the UK’s defence capabilities as tensions with Russia continue.

    However, Starmer faces a problem. The submarine, and the rest of the UK’s nuclear fleet, is heavily reliant on the US as an operating partner. And at a time when the US becomes an increasingly unreliable partner under the leadership of an entirely transactional president, this is not ideal. The US can, if it chooses, effectively switch off the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

    British and US nuclear history is irrevocably interwoven. The US and UK cooperated on the Manhattan project, under the 1943 Quebec agreements and the 1944 Hyde Park aide memoire. This work generated the world’s first nuclear weapons, which were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

    It also led to the first rupture. In 1946, the US classified UK citizens as “foreign” and prevented them from engaging in secret nuclear work. Collaboration with the UK immediately ceased.

    The UK decided to develop its own arsenal of nuclear weapons. The successful detonation of the “Grapple Y” hydrogen bomb in April 1958 cemented its position as a thermonuclear power.

    In the meantime, however, Russia’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 had demonstrated the lethal reach of Soviet nuclear technology. This brought the US and UK back together as nuclear partners.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    Talks on how to counter the Russian threat became the foundation of an atomic partnership that endures to the present day. This mutual defence agreement, signed in 1958, has provided the UK with affordable access to the latest nuclear technology and a reliable western ally. The treaty has been amended and adapted over time to reflect changes in the US-UK working relationship and the two are now so entangled that it is very hard to leave the co-dependent relationship.

    Both sides have benefited from security and protection, especially during the cold war. However, Trump’s new “special relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin has reconfigured the global order of geopolitics.

    Serious concerns are now being raised about the UK’s nuclear capacity, given the unpredictability and potential unreliability of the new US administration. Trump could ignore or threaten to terminate the agreement in a show of power or contempt.

    The UK’s nuclear subs

    The UK’s Trident nuclear deterrence programme consists of four Vanguard nuclear-powered and armed submarines. The UK has some autonomy, as it is operationally independent and controls the decision to launch.

    However, it remains dependent on the US because the nuclear technologies at the heart of the Trident system are US designed and leased by Lockheed Martin – and there is no suitable alternative. The Trident system therefore relies on the US for support and maintenance.

    The UK is currently in the process of upgrading the current system. But its options seem limited. If the US were to renege on its commitments, the UK would either have to produce its own weapons domestically, collaborate with France or Europe or disarm. Each scenario creates new issues for the UK. Manufacturing nuclear weapons from scratch in the UK, for example, would be a costly and protracted activity.

    Technical collaboration with France seems the most plausible back-up option at the moment. The two countries already have a nuclear collaboration treaty in place. France has taken a similar submarine-based approach to deterrence as the UK and French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested its deterrent could be used to protect other European countries. Another alternative would be to spread the cost across Europe and create a European deterrence – but both strategies just re-embed the UK’s current nuclear reliance.

    The UK is reliant on others for its nuclear deterrent.
    Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    While these weapons may deter a hostile nuclear strike, they have failed to prevent broader acts of aggression. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for 80 years. Perhaps it is time to completely and permanently unshackle the UK from nuclear deterrence, and consider alternative forms of defence.

    The UK’s nuclear arsenal is expensive to maintain. The cost of replacing Trident is £205 billion. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence reported that the anticipated costs for supporting the nuclear deterrent would exceed its budget by £7.9 billion over the next ten years. This funding could be channelled into more pressing security threats, such as cybersecurity, terrorism or climate change.

    Nuclear weapons will become strategically redundant if the UK cannot act independently. As Nato and the US dominate the global nuclear stage, the UK’s capacity to respond has become contested. The time has come to decide whether the US is really our friend – or a new foe.

    Becky Alexis-Martin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The US has the power to switch off the UK’s nuclear subs – a big problem as Donald Trump becomes an unreliable partner – https://theconversation.com/the-us-has-the-power-to-switch-off-the-uks-nuclear-subs-a-big-problem-as-donald-trump-becomes-an-unreliable-partner-252674

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why it’s a critical time for Canada to renew its commitment to global health co-operation

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kelley Lee, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Health Governance; Scientific Director, Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, Simon Fraser University

    As the United States moves to end longstanding commitments to global health co-operation — punctuated by its withdrawal from World Health Organization (WHO) — a new report by the joint Expert Panel of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, which we co-chaired, offers guidance on how Canada can strategically position itself in this fast-changing context.

    Traditionally, Canada has taken pride in being a good global health citizen through distinct contributions as a middle power. Active participation in multilateral institutions such as the WHO, close co-operation with like-minded states and research partnerships led by low- and middle-income countries have defined Canada’s global health brand.

    Since the early 2000s, Canada has also initiated and funded major initiatives on reproductive, maternal and child health, nutrition and the control of infectious diseases. The International Development Research Centre and Grand Challenges Canada, alongside researchers and civil society organizations, have generated further tangible benefits for the health and well-being of populations worldwide, while also elevating Canada’s standing on the world stage.

    Pandemic stress test

    However, the COVID-19 pandemic has since triggered seismic changes in the global health landscape. The pandemic itself stress-tested Canada’s global health role, earning the country mixed reviews.

    While the federal government provided billions of dollars to collectively fight SARS-CoV-2, through initiatives such as the COVAX Facility and ACT-Accelerator (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator), these important contributions were overshadowed by Canada’s failure to champion global vaccine equity. Rather than bringing countries together, the pandemic prompted many to prioritize national interests.

    Since the end of the emergency phase, governments have struggled to agree to a pandemic treaty and there has been a shift in attention to other pressing needs. Calls to decolonize global health have instead been met with a decline in financial commitments by the U.S. and other donor countries.

    This concerning shift in the global health landscape signals an important need for Canada to reflect on its role in global health. Key findings of our panel’s report directly challenge the outdated notion that global health is simply about development assistance.

    Instead, we identify where domestic and global health needs intersect in an interconnected world of shared risks and opportunities. We conclude that domestic health and well-being cannot be advanced without a robust commitment to global health co-operation. The key is to urgently identify these win-wins as points of navigation in an era of what’s known as polycrisis.

    Priority issues

    To renew Canada’s global health role, the panel identifies four priority issue areas that bring together domestic and global health needs:

    • Champion an accelerated and equity-focused universal health coverage strategy with particular emphasis on primary care and the rights of women and girls;

    • Advance a One Health security approach to pandemic readiness that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life, need for primary prevention and central importance of sustainability and equity; spans upstream risks as well as downstream preparedness and response measures; and builds core capacities such as a standing emergency workforce;

    • Renew Canadian leadership in health promotion and protection by advancing a well-being economy focused on serving people and the planet, rather than the generation of wealth as an end goal; and prevents the harms and promotes the benefits from for-profit businesses, their activities and the economic systems that sustain them, known as the commercial determinants of health;

    • Initiate a Canadian Emergency Workforce for Health Innovation Program to urgently tackle the domestic and global health workforce crisis including a commitment to zero poaching of international health-care workers by 2035.

    Taking action

    Microscopic view of H5N1 avian influenza particles. The growing threat from highly pathogenic avian flu offers a clear example of how a retreat from global health co-operation directly weakens the capacity of all countries to protect domestic populations.
    (CDC and NIAID), CC BY

    The panel recommends that three strategic actions are needed to take forward these priority issue areas:

    • A Canadian Global Health Strategy that sets out a renewed rationale for global health engagement, key priorities for federal, provincial/territorial and local levels of government, targeted investments and clear metrics to monitor progress;

    • A coherent and targeted plan to bolster public and private investments in science and innovation for critical priorities such as the health workforce, One Health Security, along with research capacity in Indigenous communities and the developing world; and

    • A commitment to ensuring Canadian capacity to engage in global health decision-making, diplomacy and partnerships through the appointment of a Global Health Ambassador; establishment of a Canadian Global Health Hub (CG2H) that brings together available expertise, talent and resources; and a training program for our next-generation of leaders.

    The growing threat from highly pathogenic avian influenza and the health impacts of climate change are looming examples of how a retreat from global health co-operation at this time would directly weaken Canada’s capacity to protect health and well-being at home.

    From the World Health Organization’s tracking of the ever-changing influenza virus to the rapid development and deployment of medical countermeasures and the joint tackling of the causes of global warming, a retreat behind national borders makes little sense. Building on a storied history of engagement that supersedes partisan politics, there is no time to lose for Canada to strategically renew its role in global health.

    Kelley Lee receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, New Frontiers in Research Fund, Canadian Biomedical Research Fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

    Tim Evans is a Board member of the not-for-profit group CanWaCH.

    – ref. Why it’s a critical time for Canada to renew its commitment to global health co-operation – https://theconversation.com/why-its-a-critical-time-for-canada-to-renew-its-commitment-to-global-health-co-operation-251894

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Plans to Hollow Out HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), responded to President Trump’s plans announced today to push out roughly 20,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and hollow out the Department, which is responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services.
    “In the middle of worsening nationwide outbreaks of bird flu and measles, not to mention a fentanyl epidemic, Trump is wrecking vital health agencies with the precision of a bull in a china shop. RFK Jr.’s absurd suggestion that hollowing out the Department will somehow allow it to better protect Americans’ health defies common sense—and everything we have witnessed with our own eyes over the last two months. 
    “Looking for new ways to make government more efficient is important, but it does not take a genius to understand that pushing out 20,000 workers at our preeminent health agencies won’t make Americans healthier—it’ll just mean fewer health services for our communities, more opportunities for disease to spread, and longer waits for lifesaving treatments and cures. Importantly, Congress just provided funding for specific agencies to administer the very programs and functions that Trump has unilaterally decided should no longer exist—this flies in the face of the law and congressional intent, and will leave our most vulnerable populations at risk.
    “When our health agencies are unprepared for a deadly pandemic or our hospitals are overwhelmed with sick kids because our local public health officials can’t track a worsening measles outbreak, the American people should remember it was thanks to the Measles President, Donald Trump, callously hollowing out HHS. People will suffer because this administration is hell-bent on cutting essential services—that keep Americans safe and healthy—down to the bone for no reason. These cuts will not reduce the deficit in any appreciable way and threaten to incur massive costs down the road when we are caught flat-footed by the next health crisis.
    “Over the last few weeks, Trump and Musk have chaotically fired cancer researchers and food safety inspectors, single-handedly choked off lifesaving medical research, ripped away resources for our communities to address public health threats, and empowered anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists at every level of government. I have never seen an administration so determined to tear down public health and biomedical research. and make no mistake: the consequences will be deadly.”
    Today’s announcement follows weeks of mass firings across HHS, creating chaos at the Department that has prevented it from executing its mission to protect people’s health, and an onslaught of detrimental policies that are halting lifesaving biomedical research and more. HHS announced that it plans to cut its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 (a 25% reduction) through a combination of mass firings and buy-outs and remake HHS without thoughtful consideration and partnership with Congress. 
    Among others, Trump, RFK Jr., and Musk plan to cut:
    3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is charged with protecting Americans’ health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines, biologics (including vaccines), and medical devices–and regulating food safety, cosmetics, and tobacco products.
    2,400 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is charged with protecting the American people from health threats, including infectious diseases. 
    1,200 employees at NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency, which propels biomedical research that produces life-changing and, in many cases, lifesaving treatments and cures. These cuts come as the Trump administration has already systematically decimated ongoing work at NIH to advance new cures and treatments.
    300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which has long been understaffed and is charged with helping to ensure over 100 million Americans have access to health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont: Trump Administration Cuts Will Have Sweeping Impact on Public Health, Mental Health, and Addiction Services in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration was notified this week by the Trump administration through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that it is immediately terminating a number of grants estimated to total more than $150 million that had been allocated to Connecticut for a wide range of essential public health, mental health, and addiction services, such as disease outbreak surveillance, newborn screenings, childhood immunizations, and testing for viruses and other pathogens.

    The grants were largely committed to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The agencies are analyzing the impact of these cuts and as more information becomes available will notify providers in Connecticut that were expecting this funding.

    These cuts are part of more than $11.4 billion in public health grants that the Trump administration announced this week it is rescinding from states nationwide. Congress has long recognized that public health begins at the state and local level and appropriated these funds to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

    “These abrupt and unexpected cuts to our health system are going to have a devastating impact on our ability to fight disease, protect the health of newborns, provide mental health and addiction treatment services, and keep people safe,” Governor Lamont said. “We should be making it easier and cheaper for people to access critical health care, including mental health services. I am urging the Trump administration to recognize that these cuts go beyond what is reasonable and reverse this rash and impulsive decision. I will do everything I can to support the health and safety of the residents of Connecticut.”

    Some of the hardest impacts will be felt by DPH’s Infectious Disease Branch and the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory. On Wednesday, dozens of projects and all work being done by vendors and consultants funded by these grants were ordered to stop. Grants are also being eliminated that fund immunization activities and address health disparities. DPH is also being forced to cancel 48 contracts with local health departments and other providers for immunization services.

    “This is a dark day for public health,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D., said. “These grants fund many of our core public health functions. While we are still assessing the impact to our agency, we know that these cuts will severely hamper our ability to respond to any future infectious disease outbreaks, childhood immunization programs that we fund must now end, and critical work we have done to strengthen and increase our capacity to protect the public health of Connecticut’s residents must stop. COVID-19 may have been the catalyst for these grants but, as Congress intended, these funds were being used to modernize our systems, strengthen our workforce, educate the public, protect our children all to prevent or mitigate the damage to human lives caused by future disease outbreaks. I hope that the administration will reconsider its decision once they realize the full scope of the critical work funded by these grants.”

    DMHAS, which oversees Connecticut’s behavioral health needs in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment, cautions that the cuts could impact services related to housing and employment supports, regional suicide advisory boards, harm reduction, perinatal screening, early-stage treatments, and increased access to medication assisted treatment.

    “Let there be no doubt that this unanticipated and sudden cessation of these block grants will be immediately and consequentially disruptive to the behavioral health system in Connecticut,” DMHAS Commissioner Nancy Navarretta said. “These resources were deployed by DMHAS in a contemplative and rigorous fashion to assist providers in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and its latent impacts based on a timeline that was clearly established and articulated by Congress and the United States Treasury. Now, our clients and providers are put at risk due to an unwarranted and uninformed decision. The services at risk include housing and employment supports, regional suicide advisory boards, harm reduction, perinatal screening, early-stage treatments, and increased access to medication assisted treatment. These are lifesaving and life-changing services for our state’s residents who are asking for help at a vulnerable time in their life – all of which was exacerbated by the pandemic. In the hours and days ahead, there will be uncertainty in the system, and we will be working closely with our providers and clients to ensure they know we continue to seek solutions to continue these programs for as long as possible.”

    Funding cuts will also extend beyond DPH and DMHAS. Funding is being eliminated for the Family Bridge Program, which is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and provides up to three at-home visits from registered nurses and community health workers for families of newborns to help with the transition from hospital to home.

    The following table provides a preliminary analysis of the cuts and their impact on services provided by DPH. Additional analysis of these cuts and their impact on other agencies are underway.

    Major Impacts of DPH Grant Fund Cuts

    Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (Grants 1-4)
     Estimated Funding Loss: $118,897,449

    • DPH no longer able to know when a new syndrome or a known disease (like flu) is showing up in emergency departments.
    • DPH will face staffing shortages in areas responsible for key public health functions like disease outbreak response, response to outbreaks in nursing homes, providing data and recommendations to healthcare providers and the public on disease spread in their communities.
    • No information on emergency department trends in the state, limiting DPH’s ability to respond to and alert partners and the public to emergencies.
    • Newborn screening impacted: will remain a paper process, slowing critical information and potentially impacting care in critical first days/weeks of life.
    • Providers will now be forced to fax reportable diseases to DPH, rather than transmitting electronically, preventing DPH from sharing real-time reports on disease spread or healthcare capacity.
    • Inability to complete upgrades to key information systems, wasting 10s of millions of dollars already put into the upgrades.
    • Lab tests will not be completed or reported timely, including for newborn screening, and the Lab’s ability to provide testing support in emergency outbreak situations will be severely degraded.
    • Installation of equipment to enhance the state’s ability to process and analyze genomic data scrapped, which will impact the detection of new and existing diseases and pathogens, like H5N1, Ebola, and resistant healthcare associated infections including Candida auris.
    • Cannot implement an electronic birth registry or combine birth and death registries, making it more difficult for people to obtain these vital records.
    • Elimination of 24/7 help desk to assist funeral directors, doctors, healthcare organizations and local registrars to navigate the state’s relatively new death registry.
    • Projects to improve data exchanges with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and with CDC halted.

    Immunization Activities (Grant 5)
     Estimated Funding Loss: $26,267,097

    • 43 contracts (nearly $3.5 million) with local health departments to enhance vaccination rates, access, equity, and vaccine confidence cancelled.
    • Loss of vaccination clinics and mobile outreach in underserved neighborhoods.
    • Development and distribution of vaccine educational materials stopped.
    • Automated reports for overdue vaccines no longer sent to providers, potentially decreasing vaccination rates and creating challenges for sticking to vaccine schedules.
    • All of the above will impact Connecticut’s high vaccination rates (third highest in the nation), which can lead to increased disease spread throughout the state.
    • Work will stop on enhancements to improve access to timely, accurate, and valid patient and vaccination records and the real-time public facing dashboard on vaccination rates in the state.

    Health Disparities (Grant 6)
     Estimated Funding Loss: $4,465,606

    • Loss of DPH funding for Family Bridge Program (home visits for newborns) currently active in Bridgeport and Norwich.
    • Loss of Mobile Vaccine Clinics for Homebound and Rural Residents.
    • Loss of rural health department support.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 28, 2025
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