ETIDIOH - NEW

  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...

  Abstract Background :  Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa, with no licensed vaccines or targeted treatments available, highlighting a critical gap in global health preparedness. T cell-mediated immunity plays a central role in viral control and survival. Synthetic DNA vaccines offer a promising strategy to induce both humoral and cellular immunity against LF. Methods :  A Phase 1b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of INO-4500 , a DNA vaccine encoding the Lassa virus (Josiah strain) glycoprotein precursor (GPC). A total of 220 healthy adults were randomized to receive either 1 mg or 2 mg of INO-4500 (intervention), or placebo, administered intradermally (ID) followed by electroporation (EP) at Day 0 and Week 4. Safety was evaluated through Week 48. Primary immunogenicity endpoints included humoral and cellular immune responses at multiple time...

  Summary Background Given the continued global circulation of monkeypox virus (MPXV), we aimed to assess the long-term clinical consequences of MPXV infection and the continued presence of the virus in saliva, semen, and the anorectum . We also aimed to compare long-term antibody dynamics after MPXV infection with modified vaccinia Ankara–Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccination. Methods In this mixed retrospective and prospective cohort study, adults with acute MPXV infection at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp, Belgium) were enrolled in a clinical registry (MPX-COHORT) from May 13, 2022, with follow-up at 1 month after infection. On Oct 3, 2022, we initiated a long-term follow-up study (POQS-FU-PLUS) to extend follow-up of people with mpox and to establish a parallel cohort of adults who received MVA-BN vaccination between Aug 3, 2022, and Jan 4, 2023. Participants were eligible for the second cohort if they received two doses of MVA-BN, unless they had previous smallpox ...

  Abstract Mucosal influenza vaccines may provide improved protection against infection and transmission , but their development is hindered by absence of immune correlates of protection . Here, we report a randomized, controlled phase I trial of a recombinant influenza A/H5 (A/Indonesia/05/2005, clade 2.1) hemagglutinin vaccine formulated with a nanoemulsion adjuvant (W805EC). The vaccine is administered intranasally in two doses 28 days apart at three antigen levels. Controls receive unadjuvanted H5 or placebo. Six months later, participants receive an intramuscular boost with unadjuvanted inactivated A/H5N1 (A/Vietnam/1203/2004, clade 1) vaccine. Primary outcomes are solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs), laboratory safety abnormalities, medically-attended AEs, potential immune-mediated conditions, new-onset chronic conditions, and serious AEs. All vaccines are well tolerated. After the intranasal series, hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization responses are...

  Situation at a glance Between 20 September and 30 October 2025, a total of 404 confirmed human cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF), including 42 deaths , were reported by national health authorities in two West African countries : Mauritania and Senegal .  RVF is a zoonotic disease , which mainly affects animals, but can also infect humans.  The majority of human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals, but human infections have also resulted from the bites of infected mosquitoes .  To date, no human-to-human transmission of RVF has been documented.  While RVF often leads to severe illness in animals, its impact in humans varies, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to severe hemorrhagic fever that can be fatal .  RVF is endemic in both countries, where recurrent outbreaks have been previously reported in both livestock and humans.  The risk of further spread remains high , especially with environmental conditions favo...

  Abstract Influenza virus is transmitted via respiratory expulsions, but detection of infectious virus in such expulsions has been challenging . Here, we describe quantification and genotyping of infectious virus in respiratory particles using a Modular Influenza Sampling Tunnel (MIST). The particles deposit on cell monolayers , enabling culture, quantification, and sequencing of viruses. Concomitantly, water-sensitive paper and fine particle samplers yield respiratory particle counts over a broad size range. Using the MIST, we captured infectious virus from humans experimentally infected with influenza virus on multiple days post-inoculation . The recovered respiratory particles varied in quantity over three orders of magnitude and contained viral genetic variation that was also detected in samples from infected individuals. Expulsion of infectious virus was associated with infectious viral load in saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs and with clinical symptoms . These data reveal the...

  Summary Kyasanur Forest disease is a neglected tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to India's Western Ghats , caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease virus , a flavivirus transmitted by Haemaphysalis spinigera ticks . The virus circulates in a sylvatic cycle among monkeys, rodents, shrews, birds, and ixodid ticks , and is transmitted to humans incidentally via tick bites . Since its discovery in 1957 in Karnataka , Kyasanur Forest disease has spread to other Indian states, driven by deforestation , forest fragmentation , and increased human incursion into wildlife habitats . Clinically, the disease manifests in a biphasic pattern , with haemorrhagic and neurotropic presentations . Although a formalin-inactivated vaccine is available , its efficacy is not promising, and no antivirals have been approved to date. Field reports indicate that mortality in monkeys might serve as an early indicator of forthcoming human outbreaks. The transmission dynamics of Kyasanur Forest diseas...

  Abstract The H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of clade 2.3.4.4b, which spreads globally via wild birds , has become a major public health concern because it can infect a variety of mammals , including humans . In 2024, infection of dairy cattle with H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b was confirmed in the United States , and subsequent human cases were reported. Although these viruses are highly pathogenic in animal models , human infections have generally been mild , revealing a striking discrepancy . Here, we characterized the cattle-derived human H5N1 isolate A/Texas/37/2024 (TX37-H5N1) using three-dimensional human respiratory organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Despite efficient replication , TX37-H5N1 induced minimal interferon and inflammatory cytokine responses . Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed reduced STAT1-mediated transcriptional activity in TX37-H5N1-infected organoids compared to the historic H5N1 human isolate A/Vietn...

  {Summary} -- During current epidemiological week (from  23 to 29 Oct. 2025) , two new human cases of infection with West Nile Virus have been reported.  -- The cumulative number of confirmed cases this season so far rose to 773 (they were 771 last week), of these:  - 367 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND): 17 in Piedmont, 56 Lombardy, 35 Veneto, 4 Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 1 Liguria, 30 Emilia-Romagna, 11 Tuscany, 1 Marche, 87 Latium, 2 Molise, 83 Campania, 2 Apulia, 2 Basilicata, 5 Calabria, 3 Sicily, 28 Sardinia,  - 56 were asymptomatic cases detected in blood donors ,  - 339 were West Nile Fever cases (of which: 1 imported from Kenya , 1  from Egypt and 1 from Maldives),  - 3 asymptomatic cases ,  - 8 unspecified cases.  -- Among confirmed cases, 72 fatalities have been recorded: 7 in Piedmont, 9 Lombardy, 1 Veneto, 2 Emilia-Romagna, 1 Marche, 19 Latium, 29 Campania, 2 Calabria, 1 Sicily, 1 Sardinia.  - The Case-Fatality ...

  Key Points -- Question :  Have asymptomatic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus been reported in humans? -- Findings:  This scoping review of published reports through August 25, 2025, identified 10 reports of 18 cases of asymptomatic infection with A( H5N1 ) virus, including 2 cases with molecular and serologic confirmation and 16 cases with molecular confirmation alone. Symptom ascertainment methods varied among reported cases. -- Meaning:   Asymptomatic human avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infections have been infrequently reported , with most lacking serologic confirmation; prospective surveillance studies with serial respiratory and serum sampling and detailed symptom monitoring for persons with high-risk exposures could provide data to inform future public health responses. Abstract Importance    Since 1997, more than 1000 infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus among humans have been reported globa...

  {Excerpt} Risk statement This risk assessment is based on the current epidemiological and epizootic situation of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Senegal and Mauritania , from 20 September through 8 October 2025. The risk assessment was conducted separately for each country . However, the findings indicate that the level of risk is the same for both countries across all levels, for both human and animal health .   During this period , Senegal reported 119 confirmed human RVF cases , including 16 deaths , resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 13.4% . Cases were recorded across eight health districts in three regions of Senegal, with the majority in Saint-Louis Region with 110 cases (92%) followed by Louga (four cases) and Matam (one case).  The affected districts in Saint-Louis Region : Podor, Richard-Toll, Dagana, and Saint-Louis are located along the northern border with Mauritania along the Senegal River.   The most affected age groups were 15- 35 years ...

  {Excerpts} To the Editor : After a decade of no reported human cases, Cambodia faces a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus infections , with an overall mortality of 38%. Cases have occurred primarily in children and adolescents who were exposed to infected poultry (...). From February 2023 through August 2024, a total of 16 infections were detected through the long-standing national influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection surveillance systems, both of which were strengthened by expanded laboratory-testing capacity that was developed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. All 16 patients reported exposure to sick or dead poultry , and outbreak investigations identified contemporary, genetically similar viruses in poultry collected in or around case households or from active, longitudinal surveillance of live-bird markets . Genomic sequencing revealed an avian origin for all the human infections , and sequences have been...

  Abstract The H7N9 influenza viruses, which are capable of causing severe respiratory syndrome in humans , were first discovered to infect humans in 2013 and continue to pose a persistent public health threat . Quail has been proposed as a potential intermediate host that may facilitate the emergence of novel reassorted influenza A viruses with the capacity to infect humans across species barriers; however, information on the biological characterization of quail H7N9 remains limited. In this study, we isolated and identified an avian H7N9 influenza virus from quails , designated as A/quail/Hebei/CH06-07/2018 (H7N9) and abbreviated as CH06-07, in Hebei, China . Phylogenetic analyses revealed that both the HA gene and the NA gene of CH06-07 were clustered in the Eurasian lineage . Furthermore, CH06-07 exhibited binding affinity for both α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialic acid receptors and demonstrated high pathogenicity in both quails and mice . Notably, transmission studies reveal...

  {Summary} -- New human cases of West Nile Virus infection continue to be reported albeit with reduced intensity.  -- During current epidemiological week (from  9 to 15 October 2025)  26 new confirmed cases have been reported.  -- The total number of cases so far is 767 (they were 740 last week), of these:  - 366 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND): 17 in Piedmont, 56 Lombardy, 34 Veneto, 4 Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 1 Liguria, 32 Emilia-Romagna, 10 Tuscany, 1 Marche, 86 Latium, 2 Molise, 83 Campania, 2 Apulia, 2 Basilicata, 5 Calabria, 3 Sicily, 28 Sardinia,  - 57 were asymptomatic cases among blood donors ,  - 333 were West Nile Fever cases (of which 1 imported from Kenya, 1 from Egypt and 1 from Maldive),  - 3 asymptomatic cases,  - eight unspecified cases.  -- Among confirmed cases, 69 fatalities  have been reported: 7 in Piedmont, 9 Lombardy, 2 Emilia-Romagna, 18 Latium, 29 Campania, 2 Calabria, 1 Sicily, 1 Sardinia....