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Showing posts from July 30, 2025

#Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing #Encephalopathy in #US #Children

Key Points -- Question: What were the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and outcomes among children with influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in the US during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 influenza seasons? -- Findings:   In this multicenter case series of 41 children from 23 US hospitals , influenza-associated ANE carried a 27% mortality rate despite multimodal therapy. Most patients (76%) had no significant medical history , despite 15 of 32 tested (47%) having genetic risk alleles potentially related to risk of ANE identified during diagnostic evaluation. The H1 2009 influenza A strain predominated (34% of cases), and only 16% had received seasonal influenza vaccination . Among survivors, 63% had moderate to severe disability at 90-day follow-up. -- Meaning:  Influenza-associated ANE represents a rare but devastating neurologic complication primarily affecting previously healthy children. The high morbidity and mortality emphasize t...

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

By gary noon - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4077294 {England, Somerset} A game rearing site with approx. 2.500 9-week-old pheasants. Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples were taken and were tested positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6679 ____

Effectiveness of #BNT162b2 and #mRNA-1273 #JN1-adapted #vaccines against #COVID19-associated #hospitalisation and #death ...

Summary Background Little epidemiological evidence exists on the protective effects of the JN.1 -adapted mRNA vaccines against COVD-19 hospitalisation and death. In this study, we estimated vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death. Methods This nationwide, register-based, cohort study included all Danish residents older than 65 years on Oct 1, 2024 . We used Denmark's national COVID-19 surveillance system and comprehensive population-based registers, which are updated daily and linked via the unique civil registration number assigned to all residents. To minimise differences between the comparison groups with regard to vaccination history, participants were required to have completed a primary vaccination course in 2021 and have received the 2023–24 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine between Oct 1, 2023, and Jan 15, 2024. Participants with a recent recorded infection, or a vaccine dose since the previous season and prior to study start, were excluded. COVID-19 hospital...

The combinatorial activities of #oseltamivir and #molnupiravir against #influenza virus infections in vitro and in vivo

Highlights •  Mol shows greater antiviral effects against IAV and IBV in cell cultures. •  Mol and Ose together showed a synergistic effect against IAV. •  In mice, Mol alone or with Ose reduced lung injury and viral load. Abstract Oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor, is widely used in the clinic for treating influenza virus infections . However, suboptimal efficacy and risk of drug resistance development remain major challenges. Molnupiravir , a ribonucleoside analog, was originally developed to treat influenza, but was repurposed and first approved for treating COVID-19 in 2021. Considering their complementary mode-of-actions, this study aimed to investigate the combinatorial activities of oseltamivir and molnupiravir against influenza virus infections . In cell culture models, we found that β-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), the active form of molnupiravir, exerted more potent antiviral activities against influenza A and B viruses , when compared to oseltamivir treatment...

#Biosecurity uptake and perceived #risk of avian #influenza among people in contact with #birds

Abstract Introduction :  Recent intercontinental spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A( H5N1 ) among kept and wild birds, and transmission to mammalian hosts , including cattle and humans , has heightened the need to review public health risk assessments . Biosecurity is essential for limiting disease spread, but how widely practices are implemented is not fully known.  Methods :  Here, we report on uptake of biosecurity measures and risk perception of avian influenza virus (AIV) in the context of preventing zoonotic transmission to persons potentially at high risk of exposure. Questionnaire data from 225 people in contact with birds in the UK (Avian Contact Study, May to July 2024) was analysed.  Results :  We found hand washing after contact with birds was the most common biosecurity measure implemented (89%, 196/218), followed by using disinfecting footwear dips (78%, 170/218). Individuals in contact with a higher number of birds were more like...