A POSTnote on preventing zoonotic diseases will review the evidence on a One Health approach to zoonoses prevention. It will focus on the animal-environment-human interface in both wild and domestic animals, reviewing national and international policy approaches, and lessons learnt from previous epidemics. It will also summarise opportunities and challenges for the UK’s role in global health and biosecurity policy arenas post COVID-19. Provisional start date: January 2021.
Documents to download
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BSE & slow viruses (195 KB, PDF)
There are a number of rare transmissible agents in man and animals which attack the central nervous system and cause the brain’s grey matter to degenerate. Since 1985, cattle have succumbed to a bovine form of this disease (BSE) in increasing numbers, leading to a series of control measures by Government. Debate continues however, on the public health implications of BSE.
This POSTnote examines the current state of knowledge of ‘slow viruses’ such as BSE, the evidence relevant to the public health implications and uncertainties which remain.
Documents to download
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BSE & slow viruses (195 KB, PDF)
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A POSTnote on childhood obesity will summarise the latest trends in children’s diet, obesity and related health conditions and review the impacts of previous policy changes such as the tax on sugar sweetened drinks. It will also examine the factors underlying the growing gap in outcomes for children from the most and least deprived backgrounds. Provisional start date: January 2021.
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Evolving life sciences and agricultural research approaches may have a decreasing need to access physical resources in future, such as plant seeds or viral material. Information and genetic data may be all that is required for commercial exploitation of biological resources. This POSTnote summarises the challenge this creates for international discussions on the governance of genetic resources and the possible options for addressing these.
