#Finland - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 

Two wild Canada Geese in the Lounais-Suomen aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7401

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#Finland - #Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 

By USFWS Mountain-Prairie - Canada goose on Seedskadee NWR, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69188087

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A wild Canada Goose in Etelä-Suomen aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7384

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#Finland - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 

A wild mute swan in Etelä-Suomen aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7213

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#Finland - #Influenza A #H5 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification [FINAL]

 

A Whooper Swan in Lounais-Suomen aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7156

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#Influenza #H5N8 #vaccine induces humoral and cell-mediated #immunity against highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b #H5N1 viruses in at-risk individuals

 

Abstract

Finland faced an outbreak of highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) avian influenza in 2023, which spread from wild birds to fur farms. Vaccinations of at-risk individuals began in June 2024 using the MF59-adjuvanted inactivated A(H5N8) vaccine (Seqirus; A/Astrakhan/3212/2020, clade 2.3.4.4b). Here, in an observational study, we assessed vaccine-induced immune responses in occupational at-risk individuals participating in the phase IV trial, including virus-specific antibody (n = 39 individuals) and T-cell (n = 18 individuals) responses. Vaccination elicited functional antibodies against the vaccine virus and two heterologous clade 2.3.4.4b strains associated with outbreaks on Finnish fur farms and dairy cattle in the United States. Among previously unvaccinated individuals, seroprotection rates against the vaccine virus were 83% (95% CI 70–97%) by microneutralization assay (titre ≥20) and 97% (90–100%) by haemagglutination inhibition assay (titre ≥40). In those previously vaccinated against avian influenza, a single dose induced seroprotection. A(H5N8)-specific memory CD4+ T-cell responses were detectable, with ~5-fold increase in IFNγ secretion after two doses. These results demonstrate that the vaccine probably provides cross-protection against circulating H5 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. EU Clinical Trial Number 2023-509178-44-00.

Source: 

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-025-02183-5

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#Finland - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

{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

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#Finland - #Influenza A #H5N5 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

By © Giles Laurent, gileslaurent.com, License CC BY-SA, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=142133890

 A wild Golden Eagle in Lapin aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6597

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Inactivated Zoonotic #Influenza A(#H5N8) #Vaccine Induces Robust #Antibody Responses Against Recent HPAI Clade 2.3.4.4b A(#H5N1) Viruses

Abstract

In 2023, Finland faced an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses, which spread from wild birds to fur farms. Vaccinations of individuals at-risk, such as fur and poultry farm workers, veterinarians, and laboratory workers, began in June 2024 using the MF59-adjuvanted inactivated (H5N8) vaccine manufactured by Seqirus (based on clade 2.3.4.4b A/Astrakhan/3212/2020). We investigated antibody responses following a two-dose vaccination regimen in 39 subjects. Vaccination induced comparable levels of functional antibodies both against the vaccine virus and two clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, either associated with outbreaks in fur animals in Finland or cattle in the United States. Upon two doses of the vaccine for previously unvaccinated people, the seroprotection rate against the vaccine virus was 83 % (95 % CI 70-97 %, titer ≥20) and 97 % (95 % CI 90-100 %, titer ≥40) using microneutralization or hemagglutinin inhibition assays, respectively. In a subset of previously H5-vaccinated individuals, the first dose already led to seroprotective titers, indicative of immunological recall. These data show that the vaccine is expected to confer cross-protection against currently circulating H5 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses.

Source: MedRxIV, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.12.25322044v1

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#Finland - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 A wild Eurasian Jackdaw in Lounais-Suomen aluehallintovirasto Region.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6229

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Highly Pathogenic Avian #Influenza (HPAI) #H5N1 virus in #Finland in 2021-2023 – Genetic diversity of the viruses and infection kinetics in #human dendritic cells

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is known for its virulence and zoonotic potential, infecting birds and mammals, thus raising public health concerns. Since 2021 its spread among birds has led to cross-species transmission causing epizootics among mammals, eventually impacting fur animal farms in Finland in 2023. To analyze the infectivity of the Finnish H5N1 isolates in human cells, representatives of diverse H5N1 isolates were selected based on the genetic differences, host animal species, and the year of occurrence. The infection kinetics of the selected H5N1 isolates from wild pheasant and fox, and fur animals blue fox and white mink were examined in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) with H5N1 human isolate as a control. Although the isolate from pheasant (a wild bird) showed weakly reduced replication and viral protein expression in human cells compared to mammalian isolates, no discernible differences in virus replication in moDCs was observed. This study revealed similar infectivity in human moDCs for all five H5N1 isolates, regardless of the observed genetic differences. While H5N1 human infections remain rare, the virus poses a risk for widespread epizootics in mammals such as fur animal farms and, more recently, dairy cattle.

Source: Emerging Microbes & Infections, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2024.2447618

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