ETIDIOH - NEW

{Excerpt} Situation at a glance As of 18 April 2025, a total of 2318 measles cases , including three deaths , have been confirmed in six countries in the WHO Region of the Americas , an 11-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024 .  The majority of cases have occurred among people between 1 to 29 years , who are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status .  Additionally, most cases are imported or linked to importation.  Measles is a highly contagious, airborne viral disease that can lead to severe complications and death.  Although it is preventable with two doses of the vaccine, over 22 million children worldwide did not receive their first dose of the vaccine in 2023. This has contributed to a global rise in measles cases in 2024, which heightens the risk of imported infections, particularly from unvaccinated travellers arriving from areas where the virus is actively circulating.  WHO is working closely with countries in the WHO Region...

 A Red Fox in Tromso Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6450 ____

Abstract Educational farms provide students with hands-on experience in agricultural and animal practices . However, the close contact between humans and farm animals creates a significant interface for zoonotic disease transmission , yet research on infectious diseases in such settings remains limited. This study investigates the ongoing spillovers of human-origin influenza A virus (IAV) into swine at an educational farm in central Chile , describing IAV prevalence, outbreak dynamics, and the genomic characterization of detected strains. The Menesianos educational farm, located in Melipilla, central Chile, houses approximately 40 swine alongside other domestic animals , such as horses and cows . As part of an active IAV surveillance project, monthly nasal swab samples were collected from pigs between June 2019 and September 2023 for IAV detection via RT-qPCR targeting the M gene, with positive samples subsequently sequenced. During the study period, monthly IAV prevalence ranged from ...

Abstract Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A/H5N1 Virus has been found in multiple US states since 2024. While human infection risk is currently low, children are a high-risk group for severe infection as the virus evolves. Preventive efforts should prioritize children in vaccine and therapeutic clinical trials and vaccine implementation strategies. Source: Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society,  https://academic.oup.com/jpids/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jpids/piaf035/8120791?redirectedFrom=fulltext ____

Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAVs) evolve rapidly, exhibit zoonotic potential , and frequently adapt to new hosts , often establishing long-term reservoirs. Despite advancements in genetic sequencing and phylogenetic classification , current influenza nomenclature systems remain static, failing to capture evolving epidemiological patterns . This rigidity has led to delays or misinterpretations in public health responses , economic disruptions, and confusion in scientific communication. The existing nomenclature does not adequately reflect real-time transmission dynamics or host adaptations, limiting its usefulness for public health management. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic exemplified these limitations, as it was mischaracterized as “swine flu” despite sustained human-to-human transmission and no direct pig-to-human transmission reported. This review proposes a real-time, transmission-informed nomenclature system that prioritizes host adaptation and sustained transmissibility (R0 > 1) to ...