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The Doge on the Bucintoro near the Riva di Sant'Elena, Francesco Guardi (1766 - 1770)

  Public Domain. Source:  Link:  https://www.wikiart.org/en/francesco-guardi/the-doge-on-the-bucintoro-near-the-riva-di-sant-elena-1770 ____

#UK, #England: Notified cases of invasive #meningococcal disease (UKHSA, Updated 22 March 2026)

{Excerpt} (...) Table 1. Cases of invasive meningococcal disease linked to Canterbury, Kent by day from 16 March 2026 [Date - Total confirmed cases - Confirmed MenB cases (subset of total confirmed cases) - Probable cases - Total cases] * 21 March 2026 - 20 [note 2] - 19 - 9 - 29 {-5}  * 20 March 2026 - 23 - 18 - 11 - 34 {+5}  * 19 March 2026 - 18 - 13 - 11 - 29 {+2} * 18 March 2026 - 15 - 9 - 12 - 27 {+7} * 17 March 2026 - 9 - 6 - 11 - 20 {+5} * 16 March 2026 - [note 1] - 4 - [note 1] - 15 __ Note 1 : The distinction between a confirmed case and a probable case was not reported Note 2 : A case initially classified as a confirmed case may be reclassified or discarded when further laboratory results and clinical information is available, that is: -  where there are other negative results, for example, reference unit results  and  -  where there is an alternative diagnosis or where the clinical picture is no longer consistent with meningococcal infection The ...

#Dispersal, #adaptation and #persistence of #H5N1 in the sub-Antarctic and #Antarctica

  Abstract High pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 reached the sub-Antarctic and Antarctica in 2023 , subsequently spreading to remote locations within this region where it had devastating impacts on seal, penguin and albatross populations . The threat to marine wildlife over this broad area exemplifies the need to understand H5N1 long-distance dispersal and evolution . We obtained 104 novel viral genomic sequences from samples that we collected at South Georgia, Kerguelen, Crozet, Prince Edward, Falklands/Malvinas Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula in a region spanning 8,000 kilometers . Using recent phylogeographic modeling advances we show that H5N1 spread encompassed numerous transmission events between distant locations, accumulating mammalian-adaptive mutations in the process. Seals are the most affected species, but we reveal that the long-distance eastward virus dispersal better aligns with the long-distance movements of large petrels and albatrosses . The ri...

#UK, #England: Notified cases of invasive #meningococcal #disease - Updated 21 March 2026 (UKHSA)

  Overview -- The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been investigating an invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) outbreak first detected in March 2026. -- This release provides an up-to-date count of confirmed or probable notified cases connected to the incident, and will be updated regularly. -- Case numbers will be recorded at 12:30pm each day, and will include only those defined as either confirmed or probable. These figures will be published the following day at 9:30am. -- As this is a live incident, there will be additional suspected cases notified to UKHSA , which need to be actively investigated. These will not be reported until the investigation determines that they should be included as either confirmed or probable cases, or discarded as not related to the incident. -- Case counts attached to the incident are provisional and subject to change (upwards or downwards) as intelligence about their connection to the incident improves, clinical assessment changes, or further mi...

#Coronavirus Disease Research #References (by AMEDEO, March 21 '26)

  Am J Obstet Gynecol REGAN AK, Rowe SL, Birchfield J, Liu J, et al Adherence to Recommended Antiviral Treatment Guidelines for COVID-19 and Influenza during Pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2026 Mar 16:S0002-9378(26)00155. PubMed          BONIFACE ER, Alvergne A, Darney BG, Benhar E, et al Menstrual cycle patterns during acute and long COVID-19 infection among a cohort of individuals with regular menstrual cycles. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2026 Mar 11:S0002-9378(26)00132. PubMed          BMJ SCANDRETT K, Sitch AJ, Barratt J, Brettell EA, et al Accuracy of glomerular filtration rate estimation based on creatinine and cystatin C for monitoring moderate chronic kidney disease in adults: prospective, longitudinal cohort study. BMJ. 2026;392:e085005. PubMed           Abstract available LANG K How does covid-19 affect the skin? BMJ. 2026;392:s264. PubMed      ...

#Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Research #References (by AMEDEO, March 21 '26)

  Cell VARGAS-MALDONADO N, Shetty N, Ferreri LM, Pauly MD, et al Controlled human influenza infection reveals heterogeneous expulsion of infectious virus into air. Cell. 2026 Mar 19:S0092-8674(26)00232-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2026. PubMed           Abstract available J Immunol VAHED H, Chentoufi AA, Prakash S, Quadiri A, et al CXCL13/CXCR5 chemokine axis promotes antiviral CXCR5+CD19+ B Cells and follicular/effector CXCR5+CD4+ T Cells in the lungs associated with protection from severe and fatal COVID-19 following infection with pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. J Immunol. 2026;215:vkag017. PubMed           Abstract available HANSEN MR, Sedney CJ, Xiao S, Prasad DBR, et al Adult mice with neonatal-like T cell subsets exhibit increased susceptibility to Bordetella pertussis and influenza infection. J Immunol. 2026;215:vkaf361. PubMed           Abstract available ...

History of Mass Transportation: The CZ/CD Diesel Railcar class 680 (1974)

  By Václav Vyskočil (Upload: Jagro) - www.vlaky.net : [1], CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5776155 Source:  Link:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Czech_locomotive_classes ____

Rapid #risk #assessment, acute event of potential public health concern: #Diphtheria, #Africa Region (#WHO, March 20 '26)

{Summary) Risk statement -- This WHO Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA, v2) aims to assess the risk of diphtheria at the regional level , considering the public health impact , the risk of geographical spread and the risk of insufficient control capacities with available resources.  -- Diphtheria is a major public health problem in the WHO African Region (AFR) despite significant efforts on immunization in the past decades (e.g. introduction of DTP vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunisation in 1974).  -- Between 2000 and 2024, 75 789 diphtheria suspected cases were reported across the Region with an average 3 500 cases per year .     -- Between the beginning of 2025 and as of 1 March 2026 , over 29 000 suspected diphtheria cases with 1 420 deaths ( CFR 4.9% ) have been reported across these eight countries: Algeria, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania , Niger, Nigeria and South.  -- This represents a 67% increase in the number of suspected cases (11 749 additional...

14th Meeting of #WHO #Expert Working Group of the Global #Influenza #Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) for Surveillance of #Antiviral Susceptibility (March 20 '26)

Weekly epidemiological record   20 MARCH 2026, 101th YEAR, No 12, 2026, 101, 53–56 http://www.who.int/wer   Executive Summary   The WHO Expert Working Group on Surveillance of Influenza Antiviral Susceptibility (AVWG) supports the WHO GISRS by providing practical guidance for monitoring antiviral susceptibility of seasonal and emerging influenza viruses through global surveillance efforts .  The 14th WHO-AVWG meeting was held in virtual format on 10-12 June 2025 .  Update on susceptibility of seasonal influenza viruses to approved antiviral agents   From approximately May 2024 to May 2025 , five WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) and two National Influenza Centres (NICs) reported co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09, A(H3N2), and B/Victoria viruses.  A(H1N1)pdm09 dominated in Eastern Asia {1}. Elevated frequency of influenza neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor (NAI) reduced inhibition/ highly reduced inhibition (RI/HRI) was identified among A(H1N1)pdm09 vir...