Background/Aims: Unregulated handling and transfer of biological samples pose biosafety and biosecurity risks, particularly in resource-constrained research environments. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, drivers, and risk implications of unregulated biological sample handling among postgraduate students in Iraq. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 172 postgraduate students and analyzed descriptively. Qualitative insights were obtained from 25 semi-structured interviews to contextualize practices, constraints, and risk perceptions. Results: Most participants reported difficulties obtaining samples (71.5%) and accessing adequately equipped university laboratories (78.5%), which contributed to reliance on commercial laboratories (65.1%) and informal peer-to-peer sample exchange (51.7%). Despite high awareness of biosafety and biosecurity risks (91.3% of survey respondents; 16/25 interviewees), these practices persisted due to structural constraints, including material shortages and inadequate laboratory infrastructure (reported in 21 interviews). Interviews further highlighted limited access to adequate, practical biosafety training (reported in 15 interviews). The absence of specialized governmental biosecurity oversight mechanisms was perceived to exacerbate risks related to loss of traceability, contamination, and potential misuse of biological materials. Conclusions: Unregulated sample handling among postgraduate students in Iraq is driven primarily by systemic constraints rather than risk ignorance. Strengthening laboratory capacity, formalizing regulated pathways for sample transfer, and implementing mandatory, practical biosafety and biosecurity training alongside clearer national oversight are essential to mitigate biosafety and biosecurity risks and protect research integrity and public health.

The Australia mainland has thus far remained free from incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b; however, the threat is escalating, particularly considering detections of the virus in Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic regions. While the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) has been the primary hypothesised route for potential introduction, the emergence of cases in southern polar regions also highlights the need to consider the Southern Ocean Flyway as a credible transmission pathway.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of integrating Nepali language search terms into EPIWATCH®, an AI-based open-source epidemic surveillance system. The data was then compared to the Early Warning and Reporting System (EWARS) Nepal and HealthMap. Methods: EPIWATCH® can detect early signals of disease outbreaks in 51 languages, including English. In August 2021, Nepali language search terms were added to EPIWATCH®, and by October 2021, the system began scanning local Nepali news articles. The study analysed EPIWATCH® outbreaks reports from Nepal before and after adding the Nepali search terms. Results: Of the 517 reports EPIWATCH® identified between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2023, 43.1% (223) came from Nepali-language articles, mostly detected after adding Nepali search terms. EPIWATCH® identified three times more outbreak reports from Nepal than HealthMap in the year after adding Nepali search terms (271 from October 2021 to September 2022, compared to 42 from October 2020 to September 2021). EPIWATCH® sometimes reported more infectious cases than EWARS Nepal, especially for Dengue (>28,000 vs 8,923) and Cholera (961 vs 58) from October 2021 to September 2022. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the increased efficiency of EPIWATCH® following the integration of Nepali language search terms, which enhanced its ability to scan local news articles. This research underscores the importance of language-specific Open-source intelligence (OSINT) in detecting infectious disease outbreaks and highlights the need for incorporating local languages into surveillance systems for more effective grassroots-level monitoring.

Feedback from operational stakeholders who manage or respond to outbreaks is that they are often too busy to review literature or obtain relevant background information to assist them with acute response.Unlike a traditional analytical outbreak investigation report, Watching Briefs are intended as a rapid resource for public health or other first responders in the field on topical, serious or current outbreaks, and provide a digest of relevant information including key features of an outbreak, comparison with past outbreaks and a literature review.They can be completed by responders to an outbreak, or by anyone interested in or following an outbreak using public or open source data, including news reports.

Veterinary laboratories are necessary to maintain animal health and store these zoonotic infections safely, but they can present challenges for biosafety and biosecurity. Historical evidence shows that veterinary laboratory accidents have affected thousands of people. The lack of geolocation data on these laboratories and the pathogens they handle is a bottleneck in zoonotic disease surveillance and detection of veterinary laboratory accidents. Therefore, mapping the locations of veterinary laboratories will enhance the ability to detect outbreaks or potential laboratory leaks of veterinary pathogens.

Indonesia is increasingly vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, driven by regional geopolitical tensions, natural hazards, and the rapid evolution of biological technologies. While the country has developed various laws and sectoral regulations to manage these risks, its current policy landscape remains fragmented and lacks systematic alignment with global standards. The absence of an integrated national strategy limits Indonesia’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to CBRN emergencies. This study investigates the extent to which Indonesia’s existing CBRN policies align with two critical international frameworks: the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the guiding principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in biosecurity and disarmament. Using a qualitative document-based approach, this research analysed national legislation, ministerial decrees, strategic plans, and relevant international conventions. Thematic content analysis was applied to evaluate policy alignment with IHR core capacities, such as surveillance, legal frameworks, coordination, and emergency response, as well as WHO–UNODA principles, including dual-use oversight, biological disarmament, and research governance. The analysis reveals major policy and institutional gaps. CBRN governance in Indonesia is dispersed among multiple agencies, BNPB, BAPETEN, Kementerian Kesehatan, BNPT, and TNI, each operating within its own silo. There is no overarching coordinating body or comprehensive legal framework to unify efforts. Moreover, critical areas such as dual-use research oversight, bio-threat intelligence sharing, and international reporting obligations remain poorly developed. Integration with IHR and WHO–UNODA protocols is limited and largely ad hoc. To improve national preparedness and resilience, Indonesia must pursue comprehensive legal reform and establish a national CBRN coordination body. Embedding international norms, such as the IHR and WHO–UNODA guidance, into domestic policy frameworks will enhance inter-agency coherence and align Indonesia’s biosecurity governance with global best practices.

Nipah virus (NiV), a deadly zoonotic pathogen with a fatality rate of 40-75%, continues to pose a significant pandemic threat, as evidenced by recent outbreaks in Kerala, India (2023 and 2024). These events highlight NiV's potential for human-to-human transmission, particularly in healthcare settings, and its ability to cause severe respiratory and neurological disease. Given the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics, this review explores the implementation of CBRNE strategies for outbreak containment. We analyze how military-developed protocols - including high-level biocontainment units, aerosolized disinfectant systems, and controlled movement zones - could be adapted to manage NiV's unique challenges. The discussion focuses on practical applications: rapid deployment of mobile isolation pods for patients, strict corpse management procedures to prevent environmental contamination, and specialized equipment requirements for healthcare workers. Recent outbreak responses in India demonstrate the critical need for such approaches, particularly given NiV's potential for airborne transmission and environmental persistence. We suggest how the integrating CBRNE principles into public health preparedness plans could significantly reduce transmission risks during NiV outbreaks while maintaining essential societal functions. This review provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of pre-outbreak training, interagency coordination, and targeted resource allocation to address this growing biological threat.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the analysis of accumulated data could provide new insights to overcome further challenges for the healthcare system. The present study aimed to characterize the seropositivity levels in the context of COVID-19 morbidity in 2020–2022 and diagnostic, screening, and vaccination programs realization. For this purpose, retrospective analysis of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels in 41,295 serum samples harvested from the northwestern Russian population in 2020–2024 was performed. We revealed that seroprevalence gradually increased until the autumn of 2021, when vaccination became mandatory for certain groups and restrictions were placed on unvaccinated persons. In the following winter, the seroprevalence growth was accompanied by a massive Omicron spread that also impacted the herd immunity level. The proportion of seropositive subjects in the Northwestern Russia population reached the suggested herd immunity threshold, i.e., 80% seropositivity, only in 2022. Till the beginning of massive vaccination, the identified IgG levels in patients who reported suffering a non-COVID upper respiratory tract infection were significantly lower than in COVID-positive subjects. That suggests that the available diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 provided patients and healthcare specialists with reliable information on the etiology of respiratory infections.