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#Influenza at the #human - #animal #interface #summary and #assessment, 12 December 2024

 {Excerpt}

Influenza at the human-animal interface 

Summary and risk assessment, from 2 November to 12 December 2024 

New human cases: From 2 November to 12 December 2024, the detection of influenza A(H5) virus in 16 humans and influenza A(H9N2) virus in nine humans were reported officially.  

Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals: High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.  

Risk assessment: Based on information available at the time of the risk assessment, the overall public health risk from currently known influenza viruses at the human-animal interface has not changed remains low. Sustained human to human transmission has not been reported from these events and the occurrence of sustained human-to-human transmission of these viruses is currently considered unlikely. Although human infections with viruses of animal origin are infrequent, they are not unexpected at the human-animal interface.  

IHR compliance: All human infections caused by a new influenza subtype are required to be reported under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). This includes any influenza A virus that has demonstrated the capacity to infect a human and its haemagglutinin gene (or protein) is not a mutated form of those, i.e. A(H1) or A(H3), circulating widely in the human population. Information from these notifications is critical to inform risk assessments for influenza at the human-animal interface.  

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Source: World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/influenza-at-the-human-animal-interface-summary-and-assessment--12-december-2024

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