ETIDIOH - NEW

Summary Background Clade I monkeypox virus is endemic in DR Congo. We aim to describe the epidemiological trends of the cocirculating subclades Ia and Ib mpox outbreaks in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Methods This retrospective observational study included suspected and laboratory-confirmed mpox cases reported between Jan 1, 2023, and Oct 31, 2024, in Kinshasa. Skin lesion swabs or blood samples were collected as part of a routine countrywide mpox surveillance programme. To confirm the diagnosis of mpox, all samples were tested at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) using real-time PCR. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted for phylogenomic analysis and assessment of APOBEC3 type mutations. Samples that remained unassigned to subclade Ia or Ib after whole-genome sequencing and real-time PCR were labelled as an unknown subclade. Findings As part of routine disease surveillance, 1479 suspected mpox cases were reported in Kinshasa. Samples were collected from 1314 suspected mpox ...

Abstract As of 20 May, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in more than 173.1 million birds since the outbreak began in January 2022. The secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr., has suggested allowing the unmitigated spread of HPAI in turkeys and chickens to identify surviving birds—a sentiment supported by Brooke Rollins, secretary of the USDA , which, along with state-level departments of agriculture, has jurisdiction over animal disease outbreaks (1). This approach would be dangerous and unethical . Allowing a highly lethal, rapidly evolving, and contagious virus to run a natural course of infection in poultry would lead to unnecessary suffering of poultry and put other susceptible animals on and near affected farms at risk . It would prolong exposure for farmworkers , which could increase viral adaptation and transmission risks for poultry, other peridomestic animals, and humans. Sou...

Abstract Background Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by the influenza A virus, which can infect a variety of domestic,wild birds and even cross the species barrier and infect humans.To understand the contamination of avian influenza virus in the external environment of poultry in Huzhou City from 2017 to 2023 and to assess the risk of human infection with avian influenza. Methods A total of 3,400 environmental specimens from five types of venues in Huzhou City were collected and tested for influenza A virus nucleic acid using fluorescent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results From 2017 to 2023, with 15.44% overall positive rate of influenza A virus . The predominant subtype of avian influenza virus was H9 (accounting for 54.67%). The peak of positive influenza virus detection rates occurred in winter and spring seasons every year. The venue with highest positive rate was poultry slaughtering and processing plants (41.83%), followed by ...