Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy? BY IDSE NEWS STAFF
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n organism travels on a returning space craft and spreads around the world causing a widespread and deadly pandemic. Sound like something from a sci-fi movie? It might not be, if good biosecurity measures are not taken— especially now that private companies are in the space program. Scientiss are calling for greater recognition of the biosecurity risks ahead of the private space industry (BioScience 2021 Nov 17. doi:10.1093/biosci/biab115 https:// bit.ly/31TgweG-idse). “In addition to government-led space missions, the arrival of private companies such as SpaceX has meant there are now more players in space exploration than ever before,” said Phill Cassey, an associate professor and the head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Adelaide, in Australia. “We need to take action now to mitigate those risks.” Space biosecurity concerns itself with both the transfer of organisms from Earth to space (forward contamination) and vice versa (backward contamination). While the
research points out that the risk for alien organisms surviving the journey is low, it’s not impossible. (See the Infectious Disease Special Edition article “The Final ID Frontier” about NASA’s infectious disease concerns and studies in space. https://bit.ly/30g31Fw-IDSE). “Risks that have low probability of occurrence, but have the potential for extreme consequences, are at the heart of biosecurity management, because when things go wrong, they go really wrong,” Dr. Cassey said. The research provides clear evidence of how humans have spread organisms to the most remote regions of the Earth and sea, and even into space. To address the risks for invasive species from space travel, the scientists suggest the emerging field of “invasion science,” which deals with the causes and consequences of introducing organisms into new environments, could offer valuable knowledge. This includes the fact that insular systems, such as islands, lakes and remote habitats, are most vulnerable to invasion threats. Further insights that could be applied include protocols for early detection,
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than 50 (Clin Infect Dis 2020;71[7]:e125-e134). “The risk of herpes zoster and … complications is generally higher in immunocompromised populations, although there is variability across and within these groups,” she said. The workgroup found the desired anticipated effects of RZV in immunocompromised adults were substantial and unfavorable anticipated effects were small. “Given the burden of [herpes zoster] and its complications in these patients, it is anticipated that more immunocompromised patients would pursue vaccination with RZV if recommended by ACIP and their provider,” Dr. Anderson said. “Despite lack of a recommendation from ACIP, many physicians are already recommending RZV to patients with these
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hazard assessment, rapid response and containment procedures currently used in response to threats of invasive species. “It is far cheaper to prevent biological contamination by implementing protocols on Earth than it is on Mars, for example.” Despite the value to space biosecurity, the authors stated that invasion biologists have yet to be involved in Committee on Space Research Planetary Protection planning. In the research they argue this should change because “greater collaboration between invasion biologists and astrobiologists would enhance existing international protocols for planetary biosecurity—both for Earth and for extraterrestrial bodies that ■ could contain life.” The sources reported no relevant financial disclosures.
conditions. Physicians need more direction on which patients are eligible for RZV.” ACIP Committee member Katherine Poehling, MD, a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology and prevention and the director of pediatric population health in the Department of Pediatrics at Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, N.C., noted the importance of pharmacy communication as this recommendation is rolled out. “The data presented today show that 60% to 65% of recombinant zoster vaccine is distributed through pharmacies,” she said. “This highlights the importance of making sure that information flows between pharmacies and providers so that all are clearly aware of what the patient’s vaccination status is, and highlights the importance of having a ■ universal adult immunization registry that all can see.” The sources reported no relevant financial disclosures.
