ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract Background & objectives A three-year-old male child from West Bengal, India , with severe acute respiratory symptoms , was confirmed in the laboratory with LPAI H9N2 virus infection under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - Pan India Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) / Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) surveillance through the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network. Methods Common respiratory viruses were detected by real-time PCR, followed by subtyping of Influenza A for seasonal and avian viruses. The identified H9N2 virus was isolated and further characterised, including whole genome sequencing. Antibody response was performed in serum samples of the case and family members. Results Complete genome sequencing revealed a G1 lineage (Middle East B sub-lineage). Bayesian evolutionary analyses of the HA gene of Indian H9N2 poultry strains showed three clusters of multiple introductions at the estimated node age of 1999 based on the Human st...

{Excerpt} (...) Samples of a two-year-old girl from Palnadu district’s Narasaraopeta , who died of multi-organ failure at AIIMS-Mangalagiri on March 16, tested positive for H5N1 virus. The confirmation from National Institute of Virology (NIV-Pune) came on March 31. (...) Source: The Hindu,  https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-reports-first-human-death-owing-to-h5n1-virus/article69403347.ece ____

 Death was observed in Guinea Fowl in Jharkhand State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6376 ____

House Crows in Bihar State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6391 _____

Backyard and Farmed Poultry in Karnataka State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6366 ____

Highlights •  The present analysis addresses the paucity of genetic information available for the recently emerged KFDV strains. •  As the virus is classified as a highly dangerous pathogen, it is essential to expand the existing genetic information. •  Continuous surveillance of the virus is essential for the development of a vaccine. •  The present study presents new findings on the KFD virus strains that were introduced into circulation in the period 2018-2020. •  The nanopore sequencing technology is presented as a proof of concept for the provision of early warnings in the field. Abstract The future of infectious agent detection and molecular characterization lies in field-forward, on-site strategies . The lack of genomic information for recently circulating Kyasanur Forest Disease virus strains is critical. Kyasanur Forest Virus Disease virus PCR-positive samples from 2018 to 2020 were selected for sequencing. Detailed molecular phylogenetic analyses were ...

Backyard and farm-reared poultry in Andhra Pradesh State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6344 ____

A poultry farm in Telangana Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6323 ____

Highlights •  This is the first report of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus from India. •  Evidence of novel reassortment between H5N1 and low pathogenic H3N8 viruses. •  Absence of H5N1 infection among people with probable exposure. Abstract H5N1 viruses belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented outbreaks globally. Outbreaks of H5N1 virus were reported in poultry and wild birds from Kerala (India) in the year 2024. Samples from birds and the environment were collected . Real-time RT-PCR and virus isolation using embryonated chicken eggs were carried out. Eight out of 20 samples were positive for virus isolation. The virus showed avian type receptor specificity using sialidase assay. Full genome sequencing revealed markers associated with high pathogenicity and mammalian adaptation . All the viruses belonged to a single genotype with multiple reassortments , including internal gene segments from an avian influenza (AI) H3N8 virus reported from Kerala . Surveillance am...

Abstract Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis (AHC) is primarily caused by viral infections, with Coxsackievirus A-24v (CV-A24v) being a significant culprit. Enteroviruses , including CV-A24v, are responsible for global AHC outbreaks . Over time, CV-A24v has evolved, and genotype IV (GIV) has become the dominant strain. This study focused on examining the genetic features and evolutionary trends of CV-A24v responsible for the recent AHC outbreak of 2023 in India . Researchers isolated viral strains from ocular swabs and confirmed the presence of CV-A24v using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and whole-genome sequencing . Genomic comparisons between isolates of 2023 and those from a previous outbreak in 2009 were conducted. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 2023 isolates formed a distinct cluster within GIV-5 and were related to recent strains from China and Pakistan . The older Indian isolates from 2009 grouped with GIV-3. New subclades, GIV-6 and GIV-7, were also ide...

Abstract In January 2025, the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.2.1a infection was detected in domestic cats and whole-genome sequencing of two cat H5N1 isolates was performed using the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing platform. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the circulation of triple reassortant viruses in cats. Although cat viruses lacked classic mammalian adaptation markers they carried mutations associated with enhanced polymerase activity in mammalian cells and increased affinity for α2-6 sialic acid receptor suggesting their potential role in facilitating infection in cats. The identification of reassortant HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1a viruses in domestic cats in India highlights the urgent need for enhanced surveillance in domestic poultry, wild birds, and mammals, including humans, to track genomic diversity and molecular evolution of circulating strains. Source: BioRxIV,  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.23.638954v1 ____

Note 20/02/2025 : this immediate notification is linked to the avian influenza cases detected in cats and reported in event 6276. HPAI - H5N1 virus was detected in poultry droppings, poultry waste swab, meat cutting table swab, and knife swab collected from the live bird market {in Madhya Pradesh}. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6277 ____

A poultry farm in Chhattisgarh State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6261 _____

Four backyard poultry outbreaks in Maharashtra State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6250 _____

A tiger and three leopards in the Widlife Rescue Centre, Gorewada Zoo, Maharashtra State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6218 _____

Situation at a glance Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, a cumulative total of 151 Zika virus disease (ZVD) cases were reported from three states in India ( Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra states). Maharashtra State reported a cumulative total of 140 ZVD cases through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Additionally, Karnataka and Gujarat states reported ten and one cases , respectively, in 2024. As of 31 December 2024, no cases of microcephaly and/or Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) associated with this outbreak have been reported. Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito . Zika virus is also transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and possibly through organ transplantation. There is no specific treatment available for Zika virus infection or disease. Description of the situation Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, a cumulative ...

 Wild Cranes in Rajasthan State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6217 _____

Summary The 2024 Nipah outbreak in Kerala, India —its fifth in six years—and the recurring annual outbreaks in Bangladesh underscore the persistent threat posed by the Nipah virus (NiV) in the region. With a high mortality rate, human-to-human transmission potential , and the widespread presence of Pteropus bats , the natural reservoir, NiV remains a significant epidemic threat . Despite being a WHO priority pathogen , there has been no systematic effort to improve patient care for NiVD, leading to consistently poor outcomes . Current care relies on supportive measures and the ‘ compassionate use ’ of unapproved drugs like ribavirin and remdesivir . Drugs used ‘off-label’ during outbreaks can become the ‘standard of care’ without robust evidence of their safety or efficacy, complicating the testing of new therapies and perpetuating uncertainty about their true effectiveness. To improve NiVD care, we propose four key strategies: 1) Enhance early case detection , 2) optimize supportive c...

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have repeatedly occurred in two districts of Kerala state, India , over the last few years. The outbreaks in the wetland areas coincided with the arrival of migratory birds. At the time, the factors responsible for local transmission in ducks were not known. This study aimed to identify the socio-economic factors responsible for spatial variation in the occurrence of HPAI outbreaks in the two districts using Bayesian network modelling (BNM) and Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) model. Further, information was collected on the duck rearing practices in rice paddy fields to identify the risk factors for local – spread of the outbreaks. We found that the SPDE model without covariates explained variation in occurrence of outbreaks. The number of rice paddy fields used by the duck farmers was identified as risk factor. We concluded based on BNM and SPDE that the infected migratory birds were the source of infection fo...