Dual-use research is known for its double use, contributing to positive advancements and serious risks, especially in regions with political instability and low biosafety and biosecurity protocols. This paper offers background knowledge, regional challenges, and much more regarding the situation in the Middle East. Case studies highlight regional regulations' effectiveness and the consequences of not following them by comparing biosafety and biosecurity practices in the Middle East with global standards. We concluded with multiple points on how Regional and international cooperation are essential for sharing the region's information and policy alignment, with recommendations to improve the regulatory frameworks and financing lab facilities and to increase awareness of bioethics and dual-use concerns by educational and training initiatives. This review aims to help researchers and policymakers create a more secure and accountable scientific environment in the region; by filling these directed gaps, we aim to enhance the integrity of Middle East research and biosecurity.

The resurgence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region presents significant public health challenges. This study presents an in-depth phylogenetic analysis of WNV sequences collected from various MENA countries, including Israel, Iran, and Iraq, focusing on genetic variations and lineage distribution. The dominant Lineage 1a, found predominantly in Israel and Tunisia, contrasts with the emerging Lineage 2 strains from Iran and Iraq, which show higher genetic divergence. This study highlights potential influences on viral replication, immune evasion, and host interaction by identifying key amino acid substitutions in non-structural proteins. These findings provide essential insights into the evolutionary dynamics of WNV and stress the importance of cross-border genomic surveillance and vector control strategies to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks. The study underscores the necessity for enhanced regional cooperation and biosafety measures, particularly in the face of climate change, which exacerbates WNV transmission by extending mosquito activity periods.

Biomedical and technological advances are reshaping the landscape of healthcare, offering unprecedented opportunities to address previously incurable diseases and improve quality of life. However, these breakthroughs also raise complex ethical, legal, and social challenges, including disparities in access to healthcare and risks to fundamental human rights. This study focuses on the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in addressing these challenges by analysing its case law related to biomedical innovations. Specifically, the research identifies recurring patterns of human rights violations, such as breaches of privacy, informed consent, and equitable access to healthcare. By examining the ECtHR’s judgments, the study elucidates the Court's pivotal role in shaping legal norms and harmonising national legislation with international human rights standards. It further highlights how ECtHR decisions contribute to balancing medical innovation with the protection of fundamental rights. Ultimately, the article highlights the critical need for robust legal and ethical frameworks to mitigate the risks posed by biomedical advancements and ensure that these technologies benefit all individuals without discrimination.

In November 2024, a suspected methanol poisoning event in Vang Vieng, Laos, made international headlines after two Australian women had fallen ill. The two women were last seen well on 12 November before being found by concerned hotel staff at the ‘Nana Backpacker Hostel’ when they did not leave their room the following day. On the same day, two Danish females were found unconscious in their rooms and were transported to a hospital in Vientiane, where they were declared deceased. By 21 November, both the Australian women and a British female were declared deceased. Then, an American man died after being found with bottles of empty and unopened spirits by his bedside. The mass poisoning event hospitalised at least 11 other people and prompted an investigation by the Lao authorities. Police identified a factory outside Vientiane where the suspected tainted alcohol was being produced and arrested the owner on 1 December. A further three staff from the hostel were also arrested on the same day in connection with the deadly poisoning. Subsequently, Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey have been banned from sale across the country. Methanol poisoning events are not uncommon. Many deadly poisoning events have occurred across the globe in recent years. In many countries where home production or artisanal small-scale production of alcoholic beverages is traditional, this distillation process can lead to dangerous bootleg alcohol being produced. Furthermore, counterfeit alcohol is often sold around the globe and bought unknowingly. There is no public early warning surveillance system capturing global methanol poisonings and alerting public health officials to investigate and implement public health measures. Given the widespread problem, it would be timely to consider establishing such a system.

Background: Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that may cause life-threatening disease, especially in children. The main approach for measles prevention and elimination is vaccination and support for strong immunity in 95% of the population. Although the mandatory measles immunisation was introduced in 1972 in Russia, the infection is still widespread in the country. We summarise the data of twelve-year (from 2012 to 2023) surveillance of the IgG levels in the North-Western Russian population. Methods: The data for anti-measles IgG levels in 28,530 samples from healthy subjects from the Northwestern Russia population which were examined from January 2012 to December 2023 were statistically analysed. Results: IgG levels and seroprevalence are higher in subjects who were born before 1967 and were not admitted to the massive vaccination programs compared to the younger population. In the adult population covered by the single-dose vaccination program (i.e., born in 1971-1990), the seroprevalence level reaches 69 % (compared to >90% in the subjects born before 1967). The gain of seroprevalence to 61,7%, accompanied by a decline of mean IgG levels, was demonstrated in subjects who were born in 1990 or later and covered by the MCV1+MCV2 vaccination according to the National vaccination schedule. Conclusion: These results reveal the necessity of vaccination coverage improvement, especially in the adult population. Also, more complex monitoring programs, including T-cell mediated immunity control, maybe more informative to estimate the actual anti-measles herd immunity.

The August 2024 outbreak of Meningococcal meningitis (Serotype B) in Peru's Loreto region presents an unusual epidemiological case worthy of detailed examination. The outbreak in San Antonio del Estrecho, Putamayo Province, affected individuals aged 13-18 years, with 20 suspected cases, 7 confirmed cases and one fatality, leading to a case fatality rate of 14.2%. The age of the infected is particularly noteworthy as Serotype B typically infects infants and young children rather than adolescents. This outbreak highlights gaps in Peru's public health infrastructure, particularly the absence of routine meningococcal vaccination programs and limited surveillance capabilities in the regions. While the Ministry of Health of Peru's rapid response effectively contained the outbreak, the incident highlights the vulnerability of Peru's population to meningococcal disease. This Watching brief demonstrates the urgent need for enhanced surveillance systems, expanded vaccination programs and improved provider training in meningococcal disease recognition. These findings are particularly relevant as the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization work towards their 2030 goals of reducing meningitis outbreaks by 50% and associated deaths by 70% in the Americas.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumonia is a significant respiratory infection that primarily affects children and young adults and is responsible for 10 to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia cases. Transmission occurs through close contact, complicating infection control in schools, families, and institute settings. The incidence rate of Mycoplasma pneumonia dropped during COVID-19; however, concerning trends emerged in mid-October 2023. This study aims to identify and summarise the timelines of AI intelligence-EPIWATCH signals for enhanced surveillance of Mycoplasma pneumonia in 2023 and early 2024. Methods: EPIWATCH® database was utilized to retrieve syndromic surveillance reports between January 1, 2023, and February 13, 2024, using syndromic keywords such as influenza-like illness, febrile syndromes, pneumonia of unknown origin, and the disease keyword Mycoplasma pneumonia. Study findings were grouped according to geographical locations, and a descriptive epidemiologic analysis of the outbreak was conducted. The top 5 countries were selected for further analysis to show the trends and patterns over the study period. Results: The syndromic surveillance included a total of 1943 reports, including 26 reports of confirmed Mycoplasma pneumonia outbreaks. China, India, Russia, the USA, and Pakistan were included in the descriptive analysis. The trend in the EPIWATCH® syndromic surveillance data between January 1, 2023, and February 11, 2024, across these 5 countries revealed increases in reporting of influenza-like illness and pneumonia of unknown origin starting around August or September 2023, with notable spikes occurring in November or December 2023. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using EPIWATCH® as a syndromic surveillance tool in providing timely early signals of outbreaks compared to traditional surveillance methods. This proactive approach helps in understanding and managing emerging infectious diseases, facilitating effective control measures to mitigate the impact of future Mycoplasma pneumonia outbreaks.

Анотація Дана наукова стаття присвячена дослідженню правових аспектів проведення епідемічних заходів на державному кордоні. Він досліджує загальні норми міжнародного права, які регулюють вільне пересування осіб і відповідальність держави за безпеку громадян під час епідемії. Автор надає огляд міжнародних конвенцій, угод та національного законодавства, що регулюють впровадження заходів з профілактики епідемії, зосереджуючи увагу на ролі міжнародних організацій, таких як ВООЗ, МОМ та Європейський центр профілактики та контролю захворювань. Особлива увага приділяється міжнародному співробітництву та координації між державами у здійсненні заходів на кордоні під час епідемій. Аналізуючи стратегії боротьби з поширенням інфекційних захворювань, досліджуючи ефективність різних підходів та їх переваги. Встановлено, що тимчасові прикордонні обмеження можуть значно зменшити кількість випадків зараження, хоча їх ефективність може залежати від внутрішніх стратегій контролю за хворобою в шкірній країні. За результатами перевірки висунуто рекомендації щодо посилення правового регулювання та підвищення ефективності заходів із запобігання поширенню епідемії через державні кордони. також, пропонується сприяти міжнародному співробітництву та координації зусиль держави для встановлення єдиних стандартів і стратегій. Крім того, є рекомендація посилити законодавство для підтримки використання інноваційних технологій та забезпечення прозорості та справедливості у вирішенні питань обмежень на кордоні. Ці заходи спрямовані на забезпечення ефективного контролю за пересуванням людей через національні кордони під час епідемії, зберігаючи при цьому баланс між громадським здоров’ям і правами людини. Посилення глобальної координації та визначення визначено як вирішальна перспектива підвищення готовності до майбутніх пандемій та епідемій.

On 2 April 2024, Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court judges in Pakistan received threatening letters laced with an unknown substance, which was later alleged to be bacillus anthracis. This event marked the third possible occasion where bacillus anthracis has been weaponised in Pakistan. Worldwide, bacillus anthracis has been weaponised at least ten times prior to this suspected event. Whilst anthrax is endemic in parts of Pakistan and there are biosafety level 3 laboratories in the country there is the possibility that bacillus anthracis spores could have been harvested or acquired in the country. However, with limited information and no official confirmation from international sources, significant uncertainty remains around the unknown substance being anthrax. Determining the true nature of the attack will require unfettered access to the country for a thorough examination of whether it was anthrax and, if so, how anthrax was weaponised. This attack with a potentially lethal substance underscores the critical importance of robust biosecurity measures.

Background: On February 13, 2023, Equatorial Guinea identified the Marburg virus for the first time, leading to the declaration of a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak, characterized by a high fatality rate. EPIWATCH® is a rapid surveillance tool that employs artificial intelligence (AI) to detect early signals of outbreaks and the emergence of infectious diseases in real time.Aims: This study aimed to use EPIWATCH® to identify early warning indicators of MVD in Equatorial Guinea during the three months before its official declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities. Additionally, it sought to examine reported syndromes across regional Africa during the same period to explore potential signals of MVD from the neighboring countries.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using EPIWATCH® to collect syndromic surveillance data from November 2022 to February 2023 in Equatorial Guinea and across Sub-Saharan Africa.Results: There was a notable absence of EPIWATCH® reports regarding Equatorial Guinea in the three months preceding the official declaration of the MVD outbreak, from November 2022 to early February 2023. Additionally, EPIWATCH® reports from neighboring countries did not reveal any syndromic signals of MVD across other regions of Africa during this timeframe. However, a report documenting the syndrome “hemorrhagic fever” in Equatorial Guinea was identified on February 10, 2023, before the diagnosis of the first case on February 12, 2023, serving as the early signal of the 2023 MVD outbreak.Conclusion: The absence of early warning indicators in Equatorial Guinea and across Sub-Saharan Africa in the three months leading up to the official declaration of the outbreak remained unknown. Additional investigations, such as genome analysis or phylogenetic studies, may be required to investigate the outbreak's emergence. AI-based surveillance tools like EPIWATCH® could supplement traditional public health surveillance methods in detecting a wide range of infectious diseases worldwide.