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Showing posts from October 9, 2025

#Assessment of #malnutrition in preschool-aged #children by mid-upper arm circumference in the #Gaza Strip (January, 2024–August, 2025): a longitudinal, cross-sectional, surveillance study

  Summary Background Since October, 2023, Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have suffered war-induced displacement, food insecurity, malnutrition, and elevated risks of famine and mortality. In this study, we aimed to document the extent of, and patterns in, wasting malnutrition in children aged 6–59 months across the Gaza Strip between January, 2024, and August, 2025. Methods This longitudinal, cross-sectional, surveillance study was conducted across a total of 16 UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East health centres and 78 medical points established within school shelters and tent encampments across the five governorates of Gaza . Children aged 6–59 months were screened for wasting malnutrition by mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement. Children with a MUAC of less than 125 mm were enrolled into therapeutic feeding regimens. MUAC Z scores were derived from published WHO age-specific and sex-specific arm circumferential growth curves. Month...

#Italy, Integrated #WNV & #USUV #Surveillance - Weekly Bulletin No. 13, 9 October 2025 (Summary): 22 new confirmed cases

{Summary} -- During current epidemiological week , a rise in the West Nile Virus human cases has been observed although with reduced intensity compared most recent weeks.  -- Twenty-two new confirmed human cases have been reported during surveillance week from 2 to 8 October 2025.  -- The cumulative number of cases rose to 740  (they were 718 last week), of these:  - 354 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND): 16 in Piedmont, 53 Lombardy, 33 Veneto, 4 Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 1 Liguria, 30 Emilia-Romagna, 11 Tuscany, 1 Marche, 84 Latium, 2 Molise, 81 Campania, 2 Apulia, 2 Basilicata, 5 Calabria, 3 Sicily, 26 Sardinia, - 57 were asymptomatic cases in blood donors ,  - 318 were West Nile Fever cases , of which 1 imported from Kenya , 1 from Egypt and 1 from Maldives ,  - 4 asymptomatic cases,  - 7 unspecified cases.  -- Among confirmed cases there were 68 fatalities : 7 in Piedmont, 9 Lombardy, 2 Emilia-Romagna, 18 Latium, 28 Campania, 2 Cal...

#Bulgaria - High pathogenicity avian #influenza #H5 viruses (#poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

  A poultry farm in Haskovo Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6861 ____

#Netherlands - High pathogenicity avian #influenza #H5 viruses (#poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

  On 6 October 2025, an outbreak of H5 was confirmed on a breeding poultry farm in Gasselternijveenschemond, a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have been established. In the 3 km zone there are 6 other poultry premises. The poultry farms in the 3 km zone have been screened (examined, sampled and tested) and results coming in next follow up report. The subtype HPAI H5 is confirmed by the national reference laboratory (NRL). All susceptible animals on the infected premise have been killed. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6856 ____

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

  The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has established a 3 km and 10 km zone around the poultry holding and is implementing the necessary measures in accordance with the European Union Animal Health Law. On 6 October 2025 a clinical suspicion was reported to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The affected poultry holding consists of 150000 laying hens. On 7 October 2025 highly pathogenic avian influenza sub. H5N1 was confirmed by the national reference laboratory. A 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone has been established. The culling is planned to be initiated on 8 October 2025. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6858 ____

Molecular divergence and #convergence of mammalian #antibody responses to the #influenza virus #hemagglutinin stem

  Significance Since pigs serve as intermediate hosts between humans and the natural reservoir of influenza viruses in wild birds, they play a key role in the emergence of influenza strains with pandemic potential , as demonstrated by the 2009 pandemic. Therefore, influenza pandemic preparedness will benefit from the development of vaccines that broadly protect pigs against diverse influenza A strains. However, progress is limited by our poor molecular understanding of porcine antibody responses to influenza virus. This study isolates and characterizes a panel of broadly neutralizing influenza antibodies from pigs . Our findings not only have significant implications for the development of broadly protective influenza vaccines for pigs, but also reveal the molecular differences in the antibody responses between pigs and humans. Abstract Antibody responses to the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stem, a major target for broadly protective vaccine development , have been extensivel...

Molecular basis of #SARS-CoV-2 proofreading enzyme–mediated #resistance to #remdesivir

  Abstract SARS-CoV-2’s remarkable resistance to nucleotide analog antivirals such as remdesivir , which thwarts RNA synthesis by inhibiting viral polymerase (RdRp), challenges available therapies . We reveal that remdesivir incorporation destabilizes RdRp–RNA complex while enhancing RNA binding to the proofreading exoribonuclease (ExoN), facilitating remdesivir excision. Conserved ExoN determinants for remdesivir recognition and excision underpin ExoN-mediated resistance across all coronaviruses . These findings inform the design of next-generation antivirals and combination therapies capable of overcoming ExoN-mediated resistance. Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,  https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2519755122 ____

Association of 2024–2025 #Covid19 #Vaccine with Covid-19 #Outcomes in #US #Veterans

  Abstract Background Amid the declining clinical severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and diminishing public uptake of annual coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, contemporary evidence on vaccine effectiveness against clinically relevant outcomes is needed. Methods We conducted an observational study that used the electronic health records of the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine among veterans who received the Covid-19 and influenza vaccines on the same day (164,132 participants) and in an active-comparator group of veterans who received the influenza vaccine only (131,839 participants), between September 3 and December 31, 2024. Participants were followed for 180 days or until the occurrence of an outcome, whichever came first. We used inverse-probability–weighted models to estimate vaccine effectiveness (calculated as 1 minus the risk ratio) against Covid-19–assoc...