ETIDIOH - NEW

  Highlights •  IN-delivered ChAd-Texas vaccine elicits mucosal antibody and T cell responses •  IN-delivered ChAd-Texas vaccine protects against H5N1 in mice and hamsters •  IN delivery of ChAd-Texas vaccine confers greater protection than IM delivery •  ChAd-Texas induces H5N1 immunity in the setting of prior influenza immunity Summary The emergence of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses in dairy cows and humans has increased the potential for another pandemic . To address this risk, we developed chimpanzee adenoviral (ChAd)-vectored H5 hemagglutinin-targeted vaccines and tested their immunogenicity and efficacy in rodents . Immunization with ChAd-Texas (clade 2.3.4.4b) vaccine in mice elicits neutralizing antibody responses and confers protection against viral infection and mortality upon challenge with a human H5N1 isolate (A/Michigan/90/2024, clade 2.3.4.4b). Intranasal delivery of the ChAd-Texas vaccine elicits mucosal antibody and T cell respon...

  Am J Med CHENG Y, Ling Y, Scholten J, Atkins D, et al Patterns and trends in prevalent central nervous system stimulant use in US veterans with traumatic brain injury. Am J Med. 2026;139:170-180. PubMed           Abstract available BMC Pediatr AKAR A Rare disease mimicking multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. BMC Pediatr. 2025;26:56. PubMed           Abstract available Cell PEKAR JE, Crespo-Bellido A, Lemey P, Bowman AS, et al Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US? Cell. 2026 Jan 23:S0092-8674(25)01483-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025. PubMed           Abstract available J Clin Microbiol XU X, Hull W, Plunkett D, Tu ZJ, et al Emergence of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K in northeast Ohio in autumn 2025. J Clin Microbiol. 2026 Jan 27:e0181325. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01813. PubMed          J Infect Dis ZHONG...

  Abstract US retail milk monitoring during April 13–May 3, 2024 , identified influenza A(H5N1) viral RNA in 36% of retail milk samples , indicating widespread undetected infections in US dairy cows . After federal initiatives, reported infections more closely aligned with findings in retail milk during December 27, 2024–January 29, 2025 , reflecting improved detection and control. Source:  Link:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/32/2/25-1332_article ____

  {Excerpt} Time Period: January 18, 2026 - January 24, 2026 -- H5 Detection :  4 site(s) ( 0.9% ) -- No Detection :  437 site(s) ( 99.1% ) -- No samples in last week:  204 site(s) (...) Source:  Link:  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

  A Dead swan found on lake shore in Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7244 ____

  A breeding chickens farm in Śląskie Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7243 ____

  Di Jiyang Chen - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15507046 ___ This event was created to allow the recreation of outbreak ob_164520, previously reported as H5N1 subtype. Subadult unspecified seagull. In the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone.  Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7234 ____

  A foie gras goose holding in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7237 ____

  Abstract In the present study, we assessed the pathogenicity of H5N8 avian influenza viruses belongs to the clade 2.3.4.4b in chicken. Birds of three different dose groups, 10 2 , 10 4 , and 10 6 EID 50 were used in the study. No mortality was observed in 10 2 EID0 group. Percent cumulative mortality of 10 4 and 10 6 EID 50 group was 66.67 and 100 %, respectively. Varying duration of MDT of 3.2 and 2 days was observed in 10 4 and 10 6 EID 50 group, respectively. The CID 50 of virus was found to be 10 4.5 EID 50 . High no. of viral RNA copies were found both in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and in various organs of birds infected in 10 4 and 10 6 EID 50 group. Significant gross and histological changes and presence of viral antigen in various organs were observed in 10 4 and 10 6 EID 50 group. So, the study concludes that Indian HPAI, H5N8 isolates are highly pathogenic in nature to chicken by affecting most organs systemically. CID 50 of this H5N8 virus indicates poor adaption ...

  • New human cases {2}:  -- From 20 December 2025 to 22 January 2026 , based on reporting date, the detection of A(H9N2) in three humans was reported officially.  • Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals :  -- High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry animal species continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).{3}  -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.{4}  -- Additionally, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses continue to circulate in animal populations.  • Risk assessment {5}:  -- Sustained human to human transmission has not been reported associated with the above-mentioned human infection events.  -- Based on information available at the time of this risk assessment update, the overall public hea...

  A wild Greylag Goose in Lubelskie Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7227 ____

  Poultry farms in Békés Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7228 ____

  Abstract Comparably few lineages of influenza A virus (IAV) have evolved long-term sustained transmission in mammals . The reasons remain largely unknown , and the possibility of avian IAVs evolving sustained mammalian transmission is an ongoing concern . Here we measured the GC content and frequency of GC dinucleotides in 115,520 whole genomes of IAVs using bioinformatic analyses . We found that persistent mammalian lineages showed declining trends in GC-related content and could be reliably separated from IAVs circulating only in birds and those sporadically infecting mammals. Similarly, the earliest viruses of persistent mammalian lineages showed reduced GC-related content , suggesting that this trait might in part contribute to their eventual persistence . Recent highly pathogenic 2.3.4.4b H5 viruses that spread in mink, foxes and humans were also characterized by reduced GC-related content . While not sufficient, reduced GC-related content may be a necessary condition for su...

  Abstract The Caucasus region, including Georgia, is an important intersection for migratory waterbirds , offering potential for avian influenza virus (AIV) transmission between populations from different geographic areas. In 2022 and 2023, wild ducks were sampled during autumn migration events in Georgia to study the genetic relationships and molecular characteristics of influenza strains. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were used to compare the sampled strains to reference sequences from Africa, Asia, and Europe , allowing assessment of genetic relationships and virus transmission between migratory birds. Protein language modeling identified potential co-infections. Of 225 duck samples, 128 tested positive for the influenza M gene . 55 influenza-positive samples underwent whole-genome sequencing, revealing significant diversity. Analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) segment showed notable differences among subtypes. Most samples were H6N1 and H6N6 , but co-infections with comb...

  Abstract Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) and cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitors (CENIs) represent two classes of antiviral drugs recommended for early treatment of patients with seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections. However, only limited human data , particularly on combination antiviral treatment , are available to inform optimal dosing regimens against novel IAVs, including highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus , associated with severe disease . Clade 2.3.4.4b A( H5N1 ) viruses have caused outbreaks in avian and mammalian species worldwide , highlighting the need to assess antiviral drug efficacy against these strains. We challenged ferrets with a D1.1 genotype A(H5N1) virus and treated infected animals with the NAI oseltamivir phosphate (OST) and the CENI baloxavir acid (BXA), alone or in combination , with treatment onset commencing pre- or post-symptom onset (24- or 48-hours post-inoculation (p.i.), respectively). When administered pre- or post-illness on...

  A wild Greylag Goose in Świętokrzyskie Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7224 ____

  Backyard birds in Chernihiv Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7223 ____

  Ann Intern Med SACKS HS In older adults, RSV prefusion F vaccine reduced hospitalization for RSV-related respiratory tract disease vs. no vaccine. Ann Intern Med. 2026 Jan 6. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-05113. PubMed           Abstract available SOUMARE A, Kapfer T, Botrel T, Adda L, et al Systemic Corticosteroids, Mortality, and Infections in Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-03055. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol LAI QR, Chen W, Yu GF, Guo YJ, et al Molecular epidemiology and clinical characteristics of human adenovirus in children in Hangzhou (2022-2023). Arch Virol. 2026;171:60. PubMed           Abstract available Biochem Biophys Res Commun WU X, Bhatt V, Liu JJ, Hong L, et al Single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis reveals differential expr...

{Automatic translation from Dutch to English} Date : January 23, 2026  Regarding : Dairy cow with antibodies against bird flu  Dear Chair , Through this letter, I am informing the House, also on behalf of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, about the situation surrounding a dairy cow with antibodies against bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI).  No evidence has been found of active virus circulation of bird flu among the dairy cows on this farm in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân (province of Friesland).  There are also no signs of bird flu spreading at other dairy farms .  I am currently conducting follow-up investigations and have asked all involved parties to be alert to any potential signs.  Situation :  The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) received a report on December 24, 2025 , about two sick cats .  One of these cats tested positive for bird flu.  The cat in question died on Decem...