ETIDIOH - NEW

  ABSTRACT An increase in the number of human cases of influenza A/H5N1 infection in the USA has raised concerns about the pandemic potential of the virus. Pre-existing population immunity is a key determinant for risk assessment and pandemic potential for any virus. Antibody responses against the bovine A/H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins were measured among a population of influenza-vaccinated or influenza-infected individuals. Modest titers of bovine A/H5N1 HA-binding antibodies and low to undetectable neutralizing antibody titers were detected in a cohort of 73 individuals . Conversely, bovine A/H5N1 NA-binding and neuraminidase-inhibiting antibody titers were comparable to those against a human A/H1N1 NA at baseline . Seasonal influenza vaccination failed to significantly increase antibody titers against both HA and NA glycoproteins of bovine A/H5N1. Recent infection with human A/H1N1 but not A/H3N2 viruses induced significant increases in bovine A/H5N1-n...

  September 2025   The development of influenza candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs), coordinated by WHO, remains an essential component of the overall global strategy for influenza pandemic preparedness . Selection and development of CVVs are the first steps towards timely vaccine production and do not imply a recommendation for initiating manufacture . National authorities may consider the use of one or more of these CVVs for pilot lot vaccine production , clinical trials and other pandemic preparedness purposes based on their assessment of public health risk and need.  Zoonotic influenza viruses continue to be identified and evolve both antigenically and genetically, leading to the need for additional CVVs for pandemic preparedness purposes.  Changes in the antigenic and genetic characteristics of these viruses relative to existing CVVs and their potential risks to public health justify the need to develop new CVVs. This document summarizes the antigenic and genetic c...

  {By Subramanya CK - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17954283 } Two Western Marsh Harrier wild birds in Burgas Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6955 ____

  A fattening duck holding in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6959 ____

A wild Mute Swan in Savinjska Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6964 ____

{By  https://www.flickr.com/photos/sbern/ - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sbern/13471929904/ , CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36391956 } A wild bird belonging to the Common Goldeneye Species. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6956 ____

  Highlights     • This Situation report will now be published monthly.  • All clades of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate. When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, there is a risk of sustained community transmission.   • In September 2025, 42 countries , across all WHO regions, reported a total of 3135 confirmed cases , including 12 deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR] 0.4%). More than 80% of these cases were reported in the African Region . Four regions (African Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, Region of the Americas, and the Western Pacific) observed a declining trend in confirmed cases reported per month, while the European and South-East Asian regions observed an increase in cases in September 2025. • Seventeen countries in Africa have experienced ongoing active transmission of mpox in the last six weeks (14 Sep – 19 Oct 2025), with 2862 confirmed cases, including 17 deaths (CFR ...

  Abstract Recently, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses have caused mass mortality events in seabirds worldwide, raising concern for long-lived species with low reproductive rates. Using individual-level data from the 2022 mass mortality event in northwestern European Sandwich terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis), we show that older individuals were disproportionately more affected , while no sex bias was observed. This age-specific mortality likely removed the most experienced individuals from the population. Our findings highlight a previously underappreciated mechanism through which HPAI outbreaks may impair the resilience of long-lived avian populations . Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Funder Information Declared German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) Source: BioRxIV,  https://www.b...

  Abstract Background :  Monitoring antigenic drift in human influenza A viruses is essential for vaccine strain selection and ensuring protection against circulating strains. Antigenic drift is traditionally assessed using ferret antisera , which provide monospecific responses , and human vaccinee sera , which reflect exposure to multiple antigens. In this study we evaluated the pig as an alternative source of antisera to study antigenic drift compared to immune responses in ferrets and humans. We included seasonal influenza A(H1N1pdm09) human viruses that had shown different antigenic characteristics when using ferret or human antisera.  Methods :  Pairs of pigs were inoculated with six human A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses circulating between 2019 and 2023, a period of marked antigenic drift. Pig and ferret antisera were analysed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and virus neutralization (VN) assays.  Results :  Pigs were successfully infected with all strains, s...