#Kenya Ministry of Health announced the confirmation of one additional #human case of #Bundibugyo Virus Disease, total so far: 9 Cases (Min. Health, Oct. 20 '26)

 

{Via Kenya Ministry of Health Social Media Page}

MINISTRY OF HEALTH | REPUBLIC OF KENYA | OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR  GENERAL FOR HEALTH | PRESS RELEASE

    ALL NINE (9) CASES IN ONE KNOWN CLUSTER: PATIENTS IMPROVING AS FIRST CONTACTS SET TO COMPLETE QUARANTINE

    Nairobi, Tuesday, October 20, 2026

    Kenya's Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) response continues to hold firm. 

    The Ministry of Health confirms one further case of the disease, bringing  the total to nine (9) confirmed cases, including the first case, who  died. 

    The new case is a known contact of the index case and was already in  quarantine when he fell ill. 

    All nine cases belong to one cluster, and as today there is no evidence of  transmission outside this group.

    The ninth case, a 24-year-old man is also a close family member of the  first case, was confirmed on 19th October. 

    He was isolated at the first sign of illness, tested and started on treatment  immediately upon confirmation of his positive test result.

    Our patients are improving and responding well to treatment. 

    All eight (8) patients are receiving appropriate supportive care from our dedicated clinical teams. 

    All the patients have improved markedly and are currently stable under  strict observation and treatment. 

    In addition, we have received 500 doses of medicines to support treatment of all confirmed cases. 

    We are grateful to our partners for the solidarity and collaboration in our  response and remain hopeful of good outcomes for every patient under care.

    Contact tracing continues to widen. As each new case is confirmed, their  contacts are added to the tracing list, and this explains the growing number of contacts. 

    Today, 134 of 135 contacts (99.3%) have been traced and quarantined,  far above the global benchmark of 85%. This progress reflects the dedication of  our national and county contact-tracing teams, closer cooperation with families  and communities, and the support and solidarity of our development partners. 

    We  sincerely thank all Kenyans for this collaboration, and continue to call for  your full cooperation with our response teams.

    Counties and hospitals are better equipped. The Ministry has distributed  supplies to 12 very high-risk and 16 high-risk counties, including the appropriate  personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves, face shields and boots,  sample collection and transport kits, diagnostic kits and thermometers. These  commodities enable county rapid response teams to detect, isolate and safely test  any suspected cases promptly. 

    In  addition, a dedicated laboratory has been set up at the Kenyatta  National Hospital Infectious Disease Unit to handle routine tests for patients under  Ebola care, so that the hospital's laboratory is contaminated with Ebola  positive samples or overwhelmed and can continue serving all other patients  without disruption of testing services

    Our safeguards are holding. We continue to assess and monitor the infection prevention and control measures in our quarantine and treatment  centers and continuously address any gaps as they arise to ensure the protection  of healthcare workers as they continue offering the much-needed response  services: there has been no spread of infection within quarantine facilities, and  every health worker caring for patients is fully protected.

    Kenya remains open, with no restrictions on travel, trade or public  gatherings. We ask every Kenyan to keep following the guidance of the Ministry of  Health and to cooperate fully with the response. If you or anyone you know  has fever, unusual tiredness, muscle or joint pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea  or unexplained bleeding, report it at once at the nearest health facility or on the toll-free line 719.

    A milestone is now in sight. Contacts who entered quarantine on 6th of  October and remain well will complete their 21-day monitoring period and begin  returning home from this coming weekend, 25th October, having successfully  completed quarantine. 

    We thank them and their families for their patience, their patriotism and  their contribution to protecting not only their families and communities, but also  the nation and the wider world. When they return, we appeal to communities to  welcome them home with love and open arms: having completed 21 days without  symptoms, they pose no risk of infection to anyone.

    Together, we are on course to bring this outbreak to a complete end.

Dr. Patrick Amoth, CBS | DIRECTOR GENERAL

Source: 

Link: https://www.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE

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#UK - High pathogenicity avian #influenza #H5N1 viruses (Inf. with) ( #poultry ) - Immediate notification

 

{Extract}

(...)

    {England} 

    Commercial, 32k bird laying flock (73 weeks of age). 

    Positive test for HPAI H5N1, clinical signs presented prior to testing.

(...)

Source:  

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7918

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#Albania - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 

{Extract}

(...)

    {Durres Region} 

    As a part pf the surveillance programme implemented in high risk areas, sample were collected from {backyard reared} ducks and geese, none of the which exhibited clinical signs. 

    The reference lab confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus. 

    All the necessary measures have been implemented on farm in accordance with the CP and in line with the commission delegated regulation 2020/687.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7917

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Avian #Influenza #Report - October 11 - 17 '26 (Wk 42) (HK CHP, Oct. 20 '26): 1 New Human Case of #H5N1 Virus in the #US; 2 New #H9N2 Virus Cases in #China

 

{Excerpts}

(...)

Avian influenza A(H5N1)

    ° {USA} Washington:

        § The patient is currently isolating at home and has not experienced severe illness or required hospitalisation.

        § The case had exposure to dairy cattle infected with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus at a local dairy farm.

        § The Washington state recorded their first detection of avian influenza  A(H5N1) in two dairy farms on October 8, 2026.

Avian influenza A(H9N2)

    °{China} Guizhou Province:

        § A four-year-old boy with onset on September 20, 2026.

    ° Henan Province:

        § A 68-year-old man with onset on September 17, 2026.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2026_avian_influenza_report_vol22_wk42.pdf

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#Oropouche virus #infection in #pregnant women in #Rio de Janeiro, #Brazil: a prospective cohort study

 

Summary

Background

Although adverse maternal and infant outcomes have been reported following Oropouche virus infection, the frequencies of these outcomes have not been compared with those in uninfected pregnancies. We followed up pregnant women from areas with Oropouche virus transmission in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, to evaluate potential adverse maternal and infant outcomes following Oropouche virus exposure.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study across the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we included pregnant women receiving prenatal care in municipalities with or at high risk of Oropouche virus outbreaks. Inclusion criteria were: ongoing risk of Oropouche virus infection at the time of prenatal visit; prenatal care at one of the participating sites; and willingness and ability to consent to and participate in the study. Exclusion criteria included infection with other arboviruses and fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Maternal blood, urine, and saliva were collected and tested for Oropouche virus by RT-PCR at enrolment and pregnancy endpoints. IgG and IgM serologies from maternal blood, placental tissue PCR, and immunohistochemistry were done. Confirmed infections were defined by: positive Oropouche virus PCR in blood, urine, saliva, or placenta; positive Oropouche virus placental immunohistochemistry; or Oropouche virus-specific IgM or IgG seroconversion. Possible infection was defined as one positive IgM result without a positive PCR. Negative results ruled out infection. Adverse maternal outcomes (reported by study investigators following up participants at study sites) were maternal death or disability, fetal loss, or haemorrhage; adverse infant outcomes were neonatal death or malformations. Relative risks adjusted for maternal age, other congenital infections, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs during pregnancy for adverse maternal and infant outcomes were calculated.

Findings

Between Nov 29, 2024, and Oct 8, 2025, 544 participants were enrolled: 130 (24%) with confirmed, 143 (26%) with possible, and 271 (50%) with no Oropouche virus infection. The median cycle threshold value of RT-PCR was 29·7 (IQR 25·8–34·9). Among the 130 women with confirmed infection, 104 (80%) developed detectable IgG antibodies. Symptoms were present in 80 (62%) women with confirmed infection, not necessarily associated with adverse outcomes (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 0∙84 [95% credible interval 0∙51–1∙21]). By the end of follow-up, the pregnancies of 119 women with confirmed infection and 193 with no infection had resulted in livebirth, stillbirth, or miscarriage; 105 (88%) women with confirmed infection had livebirths and 187 (97%) women without infection had livebirths. Adverse maternal outcomes occurred in 21 (18%) women with confirmed infection and 14 (7%) women with no infection (aRR 2∙90 [1∙52–5∙35]). Fetal loss and haemorrhage risk were three times higher in women with confirmed infection than in those with no infection (aRR 3∙08 [1∙28–7∙29] for fetal loss and 2∙79 [1∙22–6∙21] for haemorrhage). The aRR for adverse infant outcomes was 9∙18 (1∙89–47∙88). CNS abnormalities occurred in eight (8%) infants of mothers with confirmed infection and in no infants of mothers with no infection.

Interpretation

Oropouche virus infection during pregnancy is associated with severe maternal and infant outcomes, including maternal haemorrhage, fetal loss, and infant CNS abnormalities.

Funding

The Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency.

Translation

For the Portuguese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00493-7

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Effects of prolonged #SARS-CoV2 #spike protein #exposure in #longCOVID and a mouse model of the disease

 

ABSTRACT

We addressed the question: can the SARS-CoV2 spike protein persist in ACE2+ endothelia in the CNS/other sites and induce a prolonged microvasculature injury syndrome? People who died from COVID-19, with age-matched controls, and people with long COVID with symptoms persisting from 1-5 years, with controls of people who had recovered from COVID-19, were studied. Also compared were WT mice injected with the spike protein sacrificed at day 5 versus 1.5 months. The ACE2+ microvasculature density in the CNS increased 19-fold in the mice exposed to spike for 1.5 months. Human fatal COVID-19 cases showed an ACE2+ CNS density of 13.2/3.9 versus 2.1/0.9 for the controls. Long Covid cases showed an ACE2 microvasculature density of 11.9/3.0 versus 3.5/0.9 for the people who recovered from COVID (each p value < 0.001). Viral spike microvasculature density in the CNS was similar in the fatal COVID-19 cases (6.9/2.1) and mice (7.0/4.0) and in the skin of long-COVID cases (6.0/1.9) and less in people who recovered from COVID-19 (0.9/0.3) (each p < 0.001). Microvasculature collagen 1 deposition was only evident in fatal COVID, long COVID, and in the mice exposed to S1 for 1.5 mo. Thus, SARS-CoV2 spike (S1) protein can persist for months/years with an associated microvasculature pro-inflammatory state and a restrictive fibrosing microangiopathy; and exposure to high dose S1 markedly increases ACE2 endothelial density.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2026.09.009

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#Bat-borne #influenza A #H9N2 virus shows species-specific #replication and #transmission

 

Abstract

Bat-borne H9N2 IAV (bat H9N2), initially detected in bat feces in Egypt in 2017, has recently attracted attention because of its unexpected pre-pandemic properties, including airborne transmission between ferrets and efficient replication in human lung explant cultures. However, its host range and potential reservoir hosts remain poorly defined, particularly with respect to additional bat hosts and mammalian or avian mixing-vessel species. Here, we compare the susceptibility of two pteropodid bat species, Rousettus aegyptiacus and Eidolon helvum, and additionally assessed pigs and quails following intranasal inoculation with bat H9N2. Juvenile R. aegyptiacus showed only low-level viral replication and shedding, largely restricted to the upper respiratory tract, and did not show transmission to contact bats. In contrast, both juvenile and adult E. helvum, despite showing no clinical signs, showed high-level viral replication and shedding in the upper respiratory tract, with efficient and early transmission to contact bats. Viral RNA was most abundant in the respiratory turbinates, the nasopharyngeal meatus and the tracheal epithelium, where it was associated with moderate to severe necrotizing rhinitis and tracheitis. The lower respiratory tract was less involved, with viral RNA confined to scattered bronchioles and associated with focal necrotizing bronchiolitis. Other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, lacked histologic lesions and viral RNA labeling. In pigs and quails, intranasal inoculation did not result in detectable replication, transmission, or seroconversion. Our findings demonstrate marked differences in the susceptibility to bat H9N2 between the two fruit bat species tested and identify E. helvum as a highly susceptible host capable of rapid and efficient transmission. Conversely, pigs and quails were not susceptible, suggesting that additional viral adaptations may be required to allow for a productive infection in these species.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.15.759517

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#Taiwan, Seasonal #Influenza and #COVID19 #Epidemics - Weekly #Report (CDC, Oct. 20 '26): #H1N1pdm09 flu virus & #SARS-CoV-2 PQ.16.1.1 variant predominated

 

{Excerpts}

(...)

    According to CDC monitoring data, the domestic influenza epidemic is slowing but still high and in its peak season. 

    During week 41 (October 11-17), there were 123,820 outpatient and emergency room visits for influenza-like illnesses, a 5.4% decrease from the previous week. 

    Last week (October 13-19), 159 new cases of severe influenza were reported (151 H1N1, 7 unidentified A, and 1 B), and 44 deaths were reported (42 H1N1 and 2 unidentified A). 

    Laboratory surveillance data shows that the influenza virus currently circulating in the community is predominantly type A, with type A H1N1 accounting for 92.7%. 

    This flu season (2026-2027) has seen a cumulative total of 307 severe cases (298 H1N1, 7 unidentified A, and 2 B) and 42 deaths (40 H1N1 and 2 unidentified A). 

    Furthermore, the domestic COVID-19 epidemic has remained below the epidemic threshold for two consecutive weeks, indicating that the epidemic period has ended. 

    In week 41 (October 11-17), there were 3,873 outpatient and emergency room visits for COVID-19, a 27.7% decrease compared to the previous week (October 4-10). 

    In the past seven days (October 13-19), there were 25 new severe cases and 5 deaths. 

    This season (October 1, 2026-September 30, 2027), there have been a cumulative total of 56 severe cases, including 6 deaths. 

    In the past four weeks, the most common local variant strain has been PQ.16.1.1, followed by NB.1.8.1.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/NmSGjiosphPs1mla9qRq6Q?typeid=9

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#Australia, #H5 avian #influenza events in #wildlife (Dept. of Agriculture, Oct. 20 '26)

 

{Extracts}

(...)

Event data

    ° 713 Positive events

    ° 65,906 Hotline reports

    As of 4pm AEST, 19 October 2026, Australia has 713 confirmed events of H5 bird flu in wildlife.

        § 10 in Western Australia (WA)

        § 331 in South Australia (SA)

        § 71 in New South Wales (NSW)

        § 2 in Queensland (QLD)

        § 245 in Victoria (VIC)

        § 53 in Tasmania (TAS)*

        § 1 in Other Territories#

    {*} Includes events on Macquarie Island

    {#} Jervis Bay Territory (Commonwealth jurisdiction)

    As H5 bird flu is confirmed in more locations and species in Australia it will not be necessary to continue testing all species in known areas of transmission, or to test every animal involved in an investigation. 

    Reporting will be targeted to provide a clear picture of the national H5 bird flu situation in wildlife in Australia and key developments.

Data disclaimer

    Data reflects information provided by state and territory governments to the Australian Government since 20 June 2026. The Australian Government publishes this information for national reporting purposes. Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and currency of the data remains with the jurisdiction. Due to differences in reporting timing, information on the national dashboard may differ from information published on state or territory government websites.

{Click on Image to Enlarge}

___

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu/latest-data#h1_bird_flu

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Emergence of #Shamonda #Orthobunyavirus, Central #Europe, 2026

 

Abstract

Since mid-June 2026, an acute, nonfatal syndrome characterized by high herd illness rate, reduced milk yield, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy has affected dairy cattle in southern Germany and Switzerland. After major viral pathogens were excluded, pan-Simbuvirus reverse transcription PCR detected an orthobunyavirus, confirmed by metagenomic sequencing, enabling recovery of a complete Shamonda virus genome.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3212.261496

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#Kenya, Ministry of Health confirmed one additional case of #Bundibugyo Virus Disease raising the total number to eight (Oct. 18 '26)

{via Social Media Page}

    Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth has confirmed one additional Ebola case, bringing Kenya’s total to eight.

    “Today, 38 people were tested, and one tested positive. He is a 49-year-old man who is not a healthcare worker and developed fever, headache and muscle pain,” Dr Amoth said.

Source: 

Link: https://www.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE

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Assessing evidence of immune #imprinting in serological #patterns of #influenza immune response

 

Abstract

The subtype of the first influenza infection shapes infection risk, illness and mortality associated with subsequent infection subtypes, as well as vaccine efficacy. This phenomenon, termed 'immune imprinting', may result from immune recognition rooted in structural similarity of the hemagglutinin protein within subtypes of influenza viruses. However, it is difficult to isolate from cohort effects resulting from the annual dominance of specific influenza subtypes. We used a long-term cohort study in southern China to examine whether hemagglutination inhibition responses show evidence of imprinting, and explore whether such patterns could emerge in the absence of imprinting using simulations. Our statistical analysis reveals patterns consistent with immune imprinting. However, simulations showed that similar patterns can emerge without an imprinting mechanism, meaning these may partly be due to age-related variations in immune responses driven by other factors. This work lays the foundations for further research into immune imprinting while accounting for cohort effects.

Competing Interest Statement

B.G.-C., M.D.T.H., and D.A.T.C. received financial research support through their institution from Merck for unrelated work; D.A.T.C. receives financial research support through a grant to his institution from Pfizer for unrelated work; J.L. receives research support from CDC and NIH-NIGMS for unrelated work; S.R. receives grants from the Wellcome Trust; The other authors declare no competing interests.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.28.25338971

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Mary Magdalen in Ecstasy, Caravaggio (1606)

 

{Click on Image to Enlarge}

___

Public Domain.

Source: 

Link: https://www.wikiart.org/en/caravaggio/mary-magdalen-in-ecstasy

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#Kenya, #Ebola Bundibugyo Virus #Outbreak Response #Update (Min. Health, Oct. 17 '26): 4 new confirmed cases, total so far 7

{Social Media Post}

MINISTRY OF HEALTH | REPUBLIC OF KENYA | EBOLA RESPONSE UPDATE, KENYA . 17 OCTOBER 2026

    ° 7 CONFIRMED CASES

        § 4 NEW CASES TODAY

        § 1 DEATH  

        § 6 RECEIVING SUPPORTIVE CARE

    ° 130 CONTACTS LISTED: 128 (98.5%) traced and in quarantine, 2 remain to be traced

    ° NO EVIDENCE of community transmission

    ° Risk to the general public remains low

    ° ALL NEW CASES were already in quarantine when symptoms developed. They were promptly  isolated, tested and placed under care.

    ° FOR GUIDANCE, CALL 719

    ° Stay vigilant. Follow official Ministry of Health updates.

Source: 

Link: https://www.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE/?ref=embed_page#

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#Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Research #References (AMEDEO, Oct. 17 '26)

 

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The #Risk of an #H5N1 #Influenza #Pandemic

 

Abstract

The last 110 years have seen four influenza A pandemics, where viruses have emerged from mammals or birds with the ability to transmit and cause disease in human populations. Since 2021, a high-pathogenicity strain of avian influenza, H5N1, has caused a panzootic (pandemic of animals), with global spread in wild birds, resulting in frequent spillovers into farmed poultry and into mammals, including mammal species not previously known to be affected by influenza A. This has created increased opportunity for reassortment, mutation, human infection, and potential adaptation to transmit. The risk to humans and the impact are difficult to quantify but of mounting concern to public health bodies. Here, we examine the risk of an H5N1 pandemic emerging and spreading in humans and the potential impact of an H5N1 pandemic.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-med-042525-092552

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#Australia, #H5 avian #influenza events in #wildlife (Dept. of Agriculture, Oct. 17 '26)

 

{Extracts}

(...)

Event data

    ° 713 Positive events

    ° 64,437 Hotline reports

    As of 4pm AEST, 16 October 2026, Australia has 713 confirmed events of H5 bird flu in wildlife.

        § 10 in Western Australia (WA)

        § 331 in South Australia (SA)

        § 71 in New South Wales (NSW)

        § 2 in Queensland (QLD)

        § 245 in Victoria (VIC)

        § 53 in Tasmania (TAS)*

        § 1 in Other Territories#

    {*} Includes events on Macquarie Island

    {#} Jervis Bay Territory (Commonwealth jurisdiction)

    As H5 bird flu is confirmed in more locations and species in Australia it will not be necessary to continue testing all species in known areas of transmission, or to test every animal involved in an investigation. 

    Reporting will be targeted to provide a clear picture of the national H5 bird flu situation in wildlife in Australia and key developments.

Data disclaimer

    Data reflects information provided by state and territory governments to the Australian Government as at 17:00 AEST daily. The Australian Government publishes this information for national reporting purposes. Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and currency of the data remains with the relevant state or territory government. Due to differences in reporting timing, information on the national dashboard may differ from information published on state or territory government websites.

{Click on Image to Enlarge}

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(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu/latest-data#h1_bird_flu

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History of Mass Transportation: The EMU100 Tzu-Chiang Express of Taiwan Railways at Badu station

 

{Click on Image to Enlarge}

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By Rsa - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30545621

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMU100_series#/media/File:TRA_EMU100_across_Badu_Railway_Bridge_20140105.jpg

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#MERS #Coronavirus in #Camels, #Kazakhstan, 2025

 

Abstract

In 2025, a respiratory disease outbreak occurred among camels in Kazakhstan. We detected Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR in 38 symptomatic camels, demonstrating active circulation in Central Asia. Our findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance to assess zoonotic transmission risk.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3211.260394

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