ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract The wildlife reservoir and spillover mechanisms of Ebola virus remain elusive despite extensive research efforts in endemic areas. This study employed a One Health approach to examine the virus’ circulation in wildlife and the associated human exposure risks in the Tshuapa province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo . We screened 1049 samples from 919 animals , predominantly small mammals , collected in 2021, and 380 samples from inhabitants of Inkanamongo village, the site of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in 2014. These samples were screened for evidence of current (RNA) or past (IgG antibodies) Ebola virus infections. We also conducted interviews with 167 individuals in the surrounding districts to assess their interactions with wildlife . While no Ebola virus RNA was detected in the wildlife samples , anti-orthoebolavirus IgG antibodies were found in 13 bats and 38 rodents . Among the human participants , 120 individuals had IgG antibodies against at least 1 or...

  Abstract Background   Infection of backyard and poultry with low pathogenicity avian influenza LPAI A(H5N2) viruses has occurred in Mexico since 1994, and the first human infection caused by this influenza virus was detected in 2024 . Since its emergence in the Americas , frequent reassortments between high pathogenicity avian influenza HPAI A(H5N1) and LPAI viruses has occurred. In September 2025 , the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias of Mexico City identified an unsubtypeable influenza A virus infection in a young adult patient later determined to be a reassortant HPAI (H5N2) virus with a clade 2.3.4.4b HA .  Methods   We analyzed clinical and epidemiologic data from this patient. Respiratory samples were tested for influenza RT-qPCR assays . Genomic sequence and phylogenetics analyses were performed to provisionally assign a new genotype to the novel HPAI A(H5N2) reassortant virus.  Results   The patient presented with fever and tachypn...

  {Summary} Confirmed Cases at National Level [National - Total Cases : 71 { +1 }{§}] [Cases -  Exposure Source] -- 41 - Dairy Herds (Cattle){*} -- 24 - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations {*} -- 3 - Other Animal Exposure {†} -- 3 - Exposure Source Unknown {‡} Probable Cases at National Level [National - Total Cases : 7 {no change} ] [Cases -  Exposure Source] -- 1 - Dairy Herds (Cattle) {*} -- 5 - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations {*} --  0 - Other Animal Exposure {†} -- 1 - Exposure Source Unknown {‡} NOTE : One additional case was previously detected in a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022. Louisiana reported the first H5 bird flu death in the U.S. {*} Exposure Associated with Commercial Agriculture and Related Operations {†} Exposure was related to other animals such as backyard flocks, wild birds, or other mammals {‡} Exposure source was not able to be identified (...) {§} A case from Washington State, see more at:  https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/grays-h...

  Abstract Three critically ill or fatal avian influenza A(H5N1) human infections have been reported in North America since November 2024 . Notably, all were infected with genotype D1.1 instead of B3.13, the dominant genotype before November 2024. Here, we demonstrated that D1.1 could replicate to higher titers in human nasal and airway organoid-derived transwell monolayers from 6 donors . D1.1 exhibited a better binding to α2,3- and α2,6-linked SA than B3.13. No significant differences in most inflammatory or antiviral cytokines/chemokines was observed. These observations suggest that D1.1 is better adapted to both the upper and lower human respiratory tract epithelium than B3.13. Source:  Link:  https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiaf598/8341570#google_vignette ____

  The person was infected with the H5N5 virus; the risk to the public remains low OLYMPIA – A Grays Harbor County resident who was undergoing treatment for H5N5 avian influenza died today .  The Washington State Department of Health offers its heartfelt condolences to the person’s family and friends. The person was an older adult with underlying health conditions .  Out of respect for the family’s privacy , we are not releasing their name, gender, or age.  The person had been hospitalized in King County since early November. Testing at the UW Medicine Clinical Virology Lab identified the virus as H5N5 , making this the first recorded infection with this variant in a person globally.  The result was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The risk to the public remains low .  No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza.  Public health officials will continue to monitor anyone who was in close contact with...

  {Excerpt} Novel Influenza A Virus Infections Two confirmed human infections with novel influenza A viruses were reported to CDC this week .  One infection with an influenza A(H5N5) virus was reported by the Washington State Department of Health and one infection with an influenza A(H1N2) variant (A(H1N2)v) virus was reported by the Vermont Department of Health. One infection with an influenza A(H5N5) virus was reported by the Washington State Department of Public Health .  -- The case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years .  -- This individual developed symptoms during the week ending October 25 , 2025 (Week 43) and was hospitalized with their illness during the week ending November 8, 2025 (Week 45).  -- Respiratory specimens collected at the healthcare facility tested positive for influenza A and were presumptive positive for influenza A(H5) at the University of Washington.  -- The specimens were sent to the Washington State Public Health Laboratory ...

  Abstract The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a highly significant threat to global public health . Dromedary camels are the zoonotic source of human infection. All cases of zoonotic Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) have occurred in Middle Eastern countries despite MERS-CoV infection of camels being widespread in Africa . This disparity in the geographic burden of the disease may be due to genomic differences between MERS-CoV circulating in Middle Eastern countries (clades A and B) versus those infecting camels in Africa ( clade C ), although the precise genetic determinants of virulence remain to be elucidated. The objective of the studies reported here was to evaluate differences in the magnitude of virus shedding and in transmissibility of clades A/B and C viruses using alpacas as a surrogate for dromedary camels. We found that two of three African-origin, clade C strains of MERS-CoV induced very reduced levels of virus shedding and were t...

  • New human cases {1,2}:  -- From 30 September to 5 November 2025 , based on reporting date, the detection of influenza A(H5N1) in one human , A( H5N2 ) in one human and A( H9N2 ) in two humans were 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}  • Risk assessment {5}:  -- Sustained human to human transmission has not been reported in the above human infection events.  -- Based on information available at the time of this risk assessment update , the overall public health risk from currently known influenza A viruses detected at the human-animal interface has not changed...

  Phnom Penh, November 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health confirmed on the 16th that a young man residing in Phnom Penh had died from avian influenza (H5N1). Authorities urged the public to be vigilant and take effective preventative measures. According to the report, the 22-year-old man experienced severe symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing . Despite the medical team's best efforts, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and he died on the 15th of this month . This is the first reported human death from avian influenza in the country's capital this year. Following the incident, the Cambodian Ministry of Health immediately activated its emergency response mechanism . Local professional teams are conducting a comprehensive and detailed epidemiological investigation to trace the source of infection and identify close contacts . To prevent further spread of the epidemic in the community, authorities have urgently allocated and ...

  A 22-year-old Cambodian man died of H5N1 bird flu , the Ministry of Health said in a statement released Sunday, November 16, 2025, as reported by Xinhua and quoted by Antara. "Laboratory results from the Cambodian National Institute of Public Health on November 15, 2025 , showed that the man was positive for H5N1 virus infection," the Cambodian Ministry of Health said in a statement. (...) Source: Tempo,  https://www.tempo.co/internasional/pria-kamboja-tewas-akibat-flu-burung-h5n1-2090146 ____

  Abstract We describe the clinical symptoms and epidemiologic characteristics of a patient infected with avian influenza A(H10N3) virus in Guangxi Province , China, in December 2024. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the virus was highly homologous to a virus from Yunnan Province . H10 subtype viruses should be monitored for potential zoonotic or reassortant events. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/11/25-0847_article ____

  For immediate release: November 14, 2025   (25-138) First detection of this strain in a human, risk to the public remains low Contact: DOH Communications A Grays Harbor resident who was hospitalized with influenza symptoms in early November has been confirmed to have influenza A H5 , a type of avian influenza.  Additional testing shows the virus to be H5N5, an avian influenza virus that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans .  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH currently consider the risk to the public from avian influenza to be low. The person is an older adult with underlying health conditions and remains hospitalized.  The affected person has a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at home that had exposure to wild birds .  The domestic poultry or wild birds are the most likely source of virus exposure; however, public health investigation is ongoing .  The Washington State Department ...

  {Excerpt} National situation summary Person-to-person spread :  None -- There is no known person-to-person spread at this time. Current public health risk :  Low -- The current public health risk is Low. Cases in the U.S. :  71 cases Deaths in U.S. :  1 death (...) Situation summary of confirmed and probable human cases since 2024 {Confirmed Cases}:  -- National: Total Cases: 71 {+1} [Cases - Exposure Source] -- 41 - Dairy Herds (Cattle){*} -- 24 - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations{*} -- 3 - Other Animal Exposure{†} -- 3 - Exposure Source Unknown{‡} {Probable Cases}:  -- National: Total Cases: 7 [Cases - Exposure Source] -- 1 - Dairy Herds (Cattle){*} -- 5 - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations{*} -- 0 - Other Animal Exposure{†} -- 1 - Exposure Source Unknown{‡} NOTE : One additional case was previously detected in a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022. Louisiana reported the first H5 bird flu death in the U.S. {*} Exposure Associated with Comm...

Human Avian Influenza Cases in Washington State Residents {*} [Exposure - Probable - Confirmed - Total human cases (H5)] -- Poultry - 3 - 11 - 14 -- Unknown - 1{^} - 0 - 1 -- Total - 15 {*} Washington residency could not be confirmed for one case with exposure to poultry in Washington. {^} Currently under investigation; case classification and source of infection may be updated. Note : Updates to national public health reporting and notification of novel influenza A infections were approved by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) in June 2024 and enacted in September 2024. Whether a case is counted as confirmed or probable is determined after completion of a public health case investigation and takes into account a person's exposure to avian influenza virus, whether confirmatory testing at the CDC was negative or positive, and whether a person experienced symptoms of illness. The specific criteria used to determine if a case is confirmed, or probable is based...

For immediate release: November 13, 2025   (25-136) Contact: DOH Communications If confirmed, this would be the first human case of avian influenza reported in Washington in 2025 OLYMPIA – A Grays Harbor County resident has tested preliminarily positive for avian influenza, also known as bird flu . Confirmatory testing through the Washington State Public Health Laboratories is pending. Health officials are working to determine the potential sources of the infection , including contact with wild or domestic birds .  The person, who is an older adult with underlying health conditions, developed a high fever, confusion, and respiratory distress and was hospitalized in early November.  They are currently receiving treatment in King County after previously being treated in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties. Public health disease experts have not identified any risk to the public . The Washington State Department of Health is working with the local health departments and ...

  Highlights •  Human antibody HB420 cross-reacts with neuraminidases from H3N2 and H5N1 •  HB420 engages the neuraminidase active site via a single Asp residue •  Germline HB420 is N2 specific but gains reactivity to N1 through somatic mutation •  HB420 provides in vivo protection against both H3N2 and H5N1 Summary The ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus in animals and its occasional spillover to humans have raised concerns about a potential H5N1 pandemic . Although recent studies have shown that pre-existing human antibodies can recognize H5N1 neuraminidase , the molecular basis of how this cross-reactivity develops remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a phage display antibody library derived from 245 healthy donors to isolate an antibody, HB420, that cross-reacts with neuraminidases of human H3N2 and avian H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses and confers protection in vivo. Cryogenic electron microscopy analysis r...

  Summary -- What is already known about this topic? - A total of 117 H9N2 cases of human infection of Chinese origin had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by May 9, 2025, with 22 of them originating in Hunan Province. -- What is added by this report? - This article reported on the investigation of three new H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) infections detected in Changsha, Hunan Province , in April 2025. No epidemiological link was found among them. Exposure to live poultry was identified as the primary risk factor for infection. Sequence analysis of the three H9N2 AIVs showed a similarity of 99.71%–99.82% between hemagglutinin (HA), and the homology of the neuraminidase (NA) genes was 98.41%–99.83%. Although the tests showed that the HA had enhanced binding ability to upper respiratory tract cells’ receptors , no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission has been found so far. -- What are the implications for public health practice? - This study indicate...