ETIDIOH - NEW

ABSTRACT The H5N1 avian panzootic has resulted in cross-species transmission to birds and mammals, causing outbreaks in wildlife, poultry, and US dairy cattle with a range of host-dependent pathogenic outcomes . Although no human-to-human transmission has been observed, the rising number of zoonotic human cases creates opportunities for adaptive mutation or reassortment . This Gem explores the history, evolution, virology, and epidemiology of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 relative to its pandemic potential. Pandemic risk reduction measures are urgently required. Source: Journal of Virology,  https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/jvi.02209-24?af=R ____

Abstract H5N1 influenza has been circulating in birds from Eurasia and Africa for more than 146 years , but human infection has been sporadic. H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) has recently infected hundreds of species of wild and domestic birds and mammals in North America . Furthermore, as of February 26, 2025, H5N1 has infected 70 humans in the United States , and one infection proved lethal . Furthermore, in attempts to control H5N1 in the United States, 10s of millions of egg-laying chickens have died or been culled . These efforts have led to very high egg prices in the United States. We have developed an analytical bioinformatics and genomics workflow to understand better how H5N1 is circulating in North America and adapting to new host species . Our workflow consists of: 1) Phylogenetic analyses of large viral sequence datasets to identify subclades of viral lineages causing the current outbreaks in humans and farm animals and closely related viral background lineages. 2) Next, we transfer...

According to CCTV News, on December 18 local time, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California to deal with the increasingly serious avian influenza epidemic . Although there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission in California , 61 people have been infected with avian influenza in the United States, 34 of which are from California . Newsom emphasized that although the risk is low, the government will continue to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus and open funds to support the emergency response of relevant agencies. According to Xinhua News Agency, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement on the 18th saying that the United States reported the first severe case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus . The patient was hospitalized and his infection may be related to contact with sick and dead poultry raised in private backyard farms. The CDC said in a statement that the pati...

In an update on the mutating virus - known as H5N1 – Dr. Madhur Dhingra from the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, said that it had “spilled over into wildlife”.  More than 500 bird species have been infected along with at least 70 mammalian species , including the endangered California condor and polar bears .  In regions that are heavily reliant on poultry as a primary source of protein, the FAO medic insisted that avian influenza “poses a serious threat to food and nutrition security”. Economic damage Dr Dhingra warned that hundreds of millions of people’s livelihoods have been affected by the virus – an economic burden on farmers that could prevent them from investing in adequate biosafety measures. Following the emergence of H5N1 influenza virus in dairy cattle , the WHO has joined calls for strengthened surveillance and biosecurity on farms, to keep animals and people safe. The UN health agency said that in 2024, 76 people have been infected with the H5 avian influ...