#USA, Novel #Influenza A #H5N1 Virus: Five New Cases reported in Week 51/2024 {3 in #California, 1 in #Wisconsin, 1 in #Iowa}

{Excerpts}

-- Five confirmed cases of influenza A(H5) were reported to CDC this week.

-- To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States.

Three of these cases were reported by the California Department of Public Health. The cases occurred in workers aged ≥18 years at commercial dairy cattle farms in an area where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses had been detected in cows. The individuals had mild symptoms, which they reported to local health department officials. There have now been 37 total confirmed cases and one probable case in California during the 2024-2025 influenza season.

One case was reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health. This case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years who worked at a poultry facility where HPAI A(H5N1) virus had been identified in birds. This individual developed respiratory symptoms during Week 50. Specimens were collected from the individual and initially tested at the state public health laboratories using the CDC influenza A(H5) assay before being sent to CDC for further testing. Influenza A(H5) virus was confirmed at CDC. This is the first influenza A(H5) case in Wisconsin.

One case was reported by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. This case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years who worked at a poultry facility where HPAI A(H5N1) virus had been identified in birds. This individual developed conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms during Week 50. Specimens were collected from the individual and initially tested at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa using the CDC influenza A(H5) assay before being sent to CDC for further testing. Influenza A(H5) virus was confirmed at CDC. This is the first influenza A(H5) case in Iowa.

Notification to WHO of the cases reported by the Wisconsin and Iowa departments of health was initiated per International Health Regulations (IHR). More information regarding IHR can be found at http://www.who.int/topics/international_health_regulations/en/.

No additional notification to WHO of the cases exposed to dairy cows in California is required per International Health Regulations (IHR).

The CSTE position statement, which includes updated case definitions for confirmed, probable, and suspected cases is available at http://www.cste.org/resource/resmgr/position_statements_files_2023/24-ID-09_Novel_Influenza_A.pdf

An up-to-date human case summary during the 2024 outbreak by state and exposure source is available at www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

Information about avian influenza is available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htm.

Interim recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations are available at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html.

The latest case reports on avian influenza outbreaks in wild birds, commercial poultry, backyard or hobbyist flocks, and mammals in the United States are available from the USDA at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.

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Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2024-week-51.html

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#Neuroinvasive #Oropouche virus in a patient with #HIV from extra-Amazonian #Brazil

{Excerpt} A novel reassortant Oropouche virus (OROV) lineage (with medium [M], large [L], and small [S] RNA segments : M1L2S2) has driven Brazil's largest and most geographically widespread OROV epidemic , expanding beyond the endemic Amazon basin to establish local transmission across multiple Brazilian states and other previously unaffected Latin American countries . The rapid spread of this lineage underscores its evolutionary potential and reinforces its significance as a public health threat .1 Similar to chikungunya and Zika viruses, expanding arboviruses can exhibit unexpected clinical and epidemiological shifts , including vertical transmissions , neuroinvasive effects, and potentially fatal outcomes.2–4 Although OROV typically causes self-limited febrile illness, accumulating clinical and experimental evidence suggests neurotropic potential .5 This Correspondence describes the first confirmed case of neuroinvasive OROV infection caused by the emergent M1L2S2 lineage in ext...

No evidence of immune #exhaustion after repeated #SARS-CoV-2 #vaccination in vulnerable and healthy populations

Abstract Frequent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in vulnerable populations has raised concerns that this may contribute to T cell exhaustion , which could negatively affect the quality of immune protection. Herein, we examined the impact of repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on T cell phenotypic and functional exhaustion in frail older adults in long-term care (n = 23), individuals on immunosuppressive drugs (n = 10), and healthy adults (n = 43), in Canada . Spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell levels did not decline in any cohort following repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, nor did the expression of exhaustion markers on spike-specific or total T cells increase. T cell production of multiple cytokines (i.e. polyfunctionality) in response to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 did not decline in any cohort following repeated vaccination. None of the cohorts displayed elevated levels of terminally differentiated T cells following multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. Thus, repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was...

Chimeric #hemagglutinin and #M2 #mRNA #vaccine for broad #influenza subtype protection

Abstract Since multiple and unpredicted influenza viruses cause seasonal epidemics and even high-risk pandemics , developing a universal influenza vaccine is essential to provide broad protection against various influenza subtypes. Combined with the mRNA lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated (mRNA-LNP) vaccine platform and chimeric immunogen strategy , we developed a novel cocktail mRNA vaccine encoding chimeric HAs (cH5/1-BV, cH7/3) and intact M2 (termed Fluaxe), which confers broad protection against major circulating IAVs and IBVs , as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza . Two-dose intramuscular immunization of Fluaxe in mice elicited cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies , T cell responses, and long-lived immunity, resulting in robust protection against multiple lethal influenza virus infections and severe acute lung injuries . In particular, intramuscular administration stimulated systemic immunity together with a prominent lung tropism of memory cells . Moreover, Fluaxe immuniza...

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