Backyard poultry in Niamey Region.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6259
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
We report the detection of a clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) reassortant virus with a neuraminidase surface protein derived from a North American lineage low-pathogenic avian influenza virus. This virus caused a widespread and ongoing outbreak across 45 poultry farms in British Columbia, Canada. Isolates from 8 farms reveal a mutation in the neuraminidase protein (H275Y) that is exceptionally rare among clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (present in 0.045% of publicly available clade 2.3.4.4b isolates). NA-H275Y is a well-known marker of resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir. We demonstrate that this substitution maintains its resistance phenotype on the genetic background of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses.
Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2025.2469643
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
{Excerpt}
{Avian Influenza H9N2 Human Cases in China}
-- Mainland China: 2 cases (0 death)
- Avian influenza A(H9N2):
* Guangdong Province:
- A 72-year-old woman with onset on December 26, 2024.
- A 56-year-old woman with onset on January 20, 2025.
(...)
Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2025_avian_influenza_report_vol21_wk07.pdf
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) received a notification concerning a high mortality of birds and signs consistent with high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard. The suspicion was immediately addressed and samples were taken for analysis. The samples tested positive for HPAI H5. The affected species are chickens, ducks and turkeys. The affected premises are adjacent to a body of water, so contact with wild birds is presumed. Stamping out, sanitary burial, cleaning and disinfection of all the birds in the premises will be carried out. We will update the quantitative data in subsequent follow-up reports.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6272
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Avian influenza was found in sick and dead wild birds along the shores of a lake in a bird sanctuary.
Location: Theay commune, Ba Phnum district, Prey Veng province.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6273
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
On January 24, 2025, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was notified of mortality in a non-commercial backyard layer poultry farm in Newfoundland and Labrador. The CFIA National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease has confirmed on February 12, 2025 that the virus was H5N5. The HA of the H5 virus from the samples belongs to Eurasian Gs/GD lineage HPAI H5N1 (2.3.4.4b) with cleavage site motif of “PLREKRRKR/GLF”, compatible with HPAI viruses. The sample contained AI virus similar to European like - H5N5 (2023) viruses which came to Canada via the Atlantic flyway. The viruses contained wholly Eurasian H5N5 genome segments. The CFIA has immediately quarantined the IP and is implementing strict movement controls and a stamping out policy. Primary control zone (PCZ) has been put in place around the IP. Surveillance is ongoing in the affected areas. WOAH data on poultry and non-poultry can be visualized and extracted on the AI dashboard in domestic birds available at https://cahss.ca/cahss-networks/poultry-new (select poultry categories to show data related to HPAI poultry events 4294, 5229, 6003, and 6267). Wildlife surveillance as well as the Canadian Notifiable Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) activities for poultry are ongoing in Canada.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6267
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
A total of 390 birds belonging to various individual backyard owners in a village. The birds included various species such as chickens, geese, and ducks. There are no commercial poultry operations within the village or the surrounding 10km surveillance zone.
In Hatay Region.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6270
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
During our surveillance of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in wild birds across China, H10Nx viruses were isolated from diverse migratory flyways between 2022 and 2024. We identified one wild-bird H10N5 strain that shared a common ancestor with the human H10N5 virus in multiple gene segments. Phylogenetic and molecular dating revealed the origin and evolution of H10N5, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.
Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2025.2465308
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Four Mute Swans in Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina.
Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6275?reportId=172294&fromPage=event-dashboard-url
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Background:
Highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza A has caused sporadic human infections, increasing the risk for potential human–to–human spread. In 2024, the U.S. experienced outbreaks among poultry and cattle, prompting enhanced surveillance.
Objective:
To evaluate an H5 testing algorithm in subjects with respiratory symptoms presenting for routine care during low influenza A virus circulation.
Design:
Observational study using clinical– and research–developed nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and pooled screening methods.
Setting:
Academic medical center in Boston, MA.
Participants:
5,400 symptomatic individuals contributing 6,935 respiratory specimens from June 23 to August 28, 2024.
Measurements:
Specimens underwent initial respiratory pathogen testing per clinical protocols, which did not routinely include influenza due to low summer–month prevalence. Influenza A–positive specimens were subtyped using a clinical assay for H5 assessment. SARS–CoV–2–negative specimens not tested for influenza were screened in pooled batches. Positive pools were deconvoluted to individual specimens and screened for H5 using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Influenza A was detected in 40 of 6,935 specimens (0.6%), comprising 35 of 5,400 unique subjects (0.7%). No H5 infections were identified. Of the 35 influenza–positive individuals, 10 cases (29%) were found through research–specific screening of SARS–CoV–2–negative specimens. No deaths attributed to influenza were recorded.
Limitations:
Single center design, convenience sampling, absence of ocular specimens, and minimal sampling in high–risk areas may limit generalizability.
Conclusion:
Expanded influenza testing using pooled NAATs successfully identified low–prevalence influenza A and ruled out H5 in this cohort. These data support targeted influenza screening to enhance surveillance for emerging subtypes rather than a broad–based clinical testing strategy for influenza A testing.
Source: MedRxIV, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.12.25321810v1
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) non-canonical replication products can be bound by host pathogen sensors, such as retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). However, innate immune activation is infrequent in cell culture infection, in particular by adapted strains. Moreover, it is not understood why non-canonical IAV RNAs activate RIG-I in a sequence- or RNA structure-dependent manner. We therefore hypothesized that multiple errors need to occur before influenza virus RNA synthesis activates innate immune signaling. To test this idea, we investigated whether RIG-I activation is stimulated by the non-canonical or aberrant transcription of mini viral RNAs (mvRNA), a <125 nt long RNA that is overexpressed in pandemic and highly pathogenic IAV infections. Using mvRNA sequences identified in tissue culture and ferret infections, we find that mvRNAs can cause non-canonical transcription termination through a truncated 5ʹ polyadenylation signal or a 5ʹ transient RNA structure that interrupts polyadenylation. The resulting capped complementary RNAs (ccRNA) can stimulate the release of a template mvRNA in vitro. Finally, we find that both mvRNA and ccRNA sequences can be bound by RIG-I in cell culture and that blocking mvRNA transcription with baloxavir reduces IFN promoter activity. Overall, our findings indicate that sequential rounds of non-canonical or aberrant viral replication and transcription are needed before mvRNAs trigger innate immune signaling in a sequence-dependent manner.
Source: BioRxIV, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.04.630666v2
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Public Domain.
Source: WikiArt, https://www.wikiart.org/en/william-morris/the-adoration-of-the-magi-1890
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Am J Obstet Gynecol
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Am J Med
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state’s first probable human case of influenza A(H5), also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu.
An adult male Mercer County farm worker who was in contact with deceased commercial poultry was infected with the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the current risk of bird flu for the general public to be low. However, people with close and prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds are at greater risk.
Guidance for the General Public
The risk of acquiring bird flu to the general U.S. population is low. The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals.
Contact your local health department or local veterinarian for further guidance before you approach sick or dead poultry or wild birds.
*** REVISED ***
Guidance for Those Who Work With Poultry
Commercial poultry owners should practice good biosecurity and prevent contact between their poultry and wild birds, specifically migratory waterfowl.
Avoid handling sick birds or other animals and immediately report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths to Ohio Poultry Association at (614) 882-6111 or the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6220 or after hours at (888) 456-3405.
According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, best biosecurity practices for commercial poultry owners include:
• Prevent Contact with wild birds and waterfowl. Keep birds indoors when possible. Add wildlife management practices around your farm. hpaifactsheet_wildlife-biosecurity.pdf (usda.gov)
• Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those who care for your poultry to have contact with them and make sure they follow biosecurity principles.
• Wash your hands before and after contact with live poultry. Use soap and water. If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands.
• Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock. If using a footbath, remove all droppings, mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled brush BEFORE stepping in. Always keep it clean.
• Establish a rodent and pest control program. Deliver, store, and maintain feed, ingredients, bedding and litter to limit exposure to and contamination from wild animals.
• Use drinking water sourced from a contained supply (well or municipal system). Do not use surface water for drinking or cleaning.
• Clean and disinfect tools and equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility. Trucks, tractors, tools and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected prior to exiting the property. Do not move or reuse anything that cannot be cleaned.
• Look for signs of illness. Monitor egg production and death loss, discoloration and/or swelling of legs, wattles and combs, labored breathing, reduced feed/water consumption.
More information about best biosecurity practices can be found on both the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) websites.
Background on Bird Flu Cases in Humans
Nationally, there have been 68 confirmed human cases of HPAI in 11 states since the beginning of 2024, which included one death in Louisiana. All but three of these cases involved exposures related to commercial agriculture and related operations or wild birds. In Ohio, one dairy herd and numerous poultry flocks have been infected since the outbreak began in 2022.
There are no known cases of human-to-human transmission.
“While the risk to Ohioans is low, the best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead birds or to their environment,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “People should avoid direct contact with poultry or wild birds and take proper precautions, including reaching out for guidance regarding personal protection and safe handling, if you must be around sick or dead birds.”
Additional Information
It is safe to eat properly cooked poultry and pasteurized dairy products. Generally, people should follow food safety practices – poultry, eggs, and beef should be cooked to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses. The CDC's safer foods table contains a complete list of safe internal temperatures.
If people have been exposed to a sick or dead bird, they should monitor themselves for any new respiratory symptoms and contact their healthcare provider or local health department should they develop symptoms. Ohioans can report sick or dead wild birds to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) at 1-800-WILDLIFE and sick or dead poultry to the ODA at 614-728-6220.
More information on HPAI can be found on both the ODH and ODA websites.
Source: Department of Health, https://odh.ohio.gov/media-center/odh-news-releases/ohio-reports-first-human-case-of-bird-flu-021225
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Wyoming’s First Human Bird Flu Case Confirmed
February 14, 2025
Wyoming’s First Human Bird Flu Case Confirmed
Wyoming’s first case of H5N1 avian influenza in a human has been confirmed in a Platte County older adult, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).
The woman represents the third confirmed hospitalization related to H5N1 in the United States.
“While this is a significant development as bird flu activity is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health.
Harrist said the woman is hospitalized in another state, has health conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness, and was likely exposed to the virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her home.
H5N1 has been known to be infecting wild birds in Wyoming for some time now with the currently circulating virus spreading nationally since 2022. Infections among poultry and dairy cattle have also occurred previously in Wyoming.
“Experts continue to track the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the country. A small number of people have also been infected. Most of those confirmed cases involved on-the-job close contact with poultry or cattle and mild symptoms,” Harrist said. “Unfortunately, this patient’s experience has been much more serious.”
“We want to remind people there has been no documented human-to-human virus transmission of this virus in the United States so far,” Harrist said. “Our staff has followed up with other people who had contact with the flock and the patient, and will continue working with state and national experts to monitor the situation carefully for Wyoming.”
Harrist noted the current public health risk is low, but there are some common-sense steps people may consider to help protect themselves and their families:
-- Do not eat uncooked or undercooked food; cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
-- Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
-- Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died. If symptoms are observed in birds, immediately contact a veterinarian, or report sick domestic birds to the Wyoming Livestock Board at 307-777-8270. If contact with the sick or dead birds is necessary, use of personal protection clothing and items is strongly recommended.
-- Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected or confirmed to be infected with bird flu.
-- Do not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk.
-- Sick or dead wild birds may be reported to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) by calling 307-745-5865, reporting online at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/7d0c547b8fa54eaca73f7eb37d06315a or contacting the nearest WGFD regional office.
The test result was confirmed this afternoon by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory.
More information about bird flu is available from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html. More specific recommendations for people who have poultry are available from CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/groups/index.html.
Source: Department of Health, https://health.wyo.gov/wyomings-first-human-bird-flu-case-confirmed/
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
{Excerpt}
National Total Cases: 68
{Confirmed Cases}
Exposure source: Dairy Herds (Cattle)* - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations* - Other Animal Exposure† - Exposure Source Unknown‡
1) California - 36 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 38
2) Colorado - 1 - 9 - 0 - 0 - 10
3) Iowa - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
4) Louisiana - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1
5) Michigan - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2
6) Missouri - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1
7) Nevada - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1
8) Oregon - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
9) Texas - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1
10)) Washington - 0 - 11 - 0 - 0 - 11
11) Wisconsin - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
{Probable Cases}
Exposure source: Dairy Herds (Cattle)* - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations* - Other Animal Exposure† - Exposure Source Unknown‡
1) Arizona - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 2
2) California - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1
3) Delaware - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1
4) Ohio - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1 {+1}
5) Washington - 0 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 3
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
ABSTRACT
Influenza A viruses with fewer amino acids in the neuraminidase (NA) stalk domain are primarily isolated from chickens rather than wild ducks, indicating that a shortened NA stalk is considered an adaptation marker of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) to chickens. Experimental passages of an H7N7 nonpathogenic AIV (rgVac2-P0) in chickens resulted in a highly pathogenic variant (Vac2-P3L4) with a 34-amino-acid deletion in the NA stalk, encompassing five potential N-glycosylation sites. To investigate how amino acid truncation and deglycosylation in the NA stalk contribute to increased pathogenicity, a virus with glycosylation-deficient mutations at these sites (rgVac2-P3L4/P0NAΔGlyco) was constructed. Contrary to expectations, chickens inoculated with rgVac2-P3L4/P0NAΔGlyco exhibited variable clinical outcomes, attributed to the genetic instability of the virus. A single mutation stabilized the virus, and the mutant (rgVac2-P3L4/P0NAΔGlyco-Y65H) resulted in higher pathogenicity compared with a virus with restored glycosylation (rgVac2-P3L4/P0NA-Y65H). Glycan occupancy analysis revealed 3–4 glycans at the five potential sites. In functional analysis, glycosylation-deficient mutants, similar to the short-stalk NA virus, showed significantly reduced erythrocyte elution activity. Additionally, mutational analysis indicated variable contributions of N-glycans to elution activity across the sites. Moreover, the functionally most contributing sites of the five potential N-glycosylation motifs were consistently included in the amino acid deletions of the stalk-truncated NA in N7-subtyped field isolates, despite the varying truncation position or length. These findings suggest that the loss of glycosylation is functionally equivalent to a reduction in amino acids, and it plays a crucial role in enhancing pathogenicity in chickens and affecting NA function.
Source: Journal of Virology, https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/jvi.01478-24?af=R
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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Situation at a glance
Since the declaration of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak on 20 January 2025 in the United Republic of Tanzania, one additional confirmed death was reported by the Ministry of Health from the epicentre of the outbreak in Biharamulo district in Kagera region.
As of 10 February 2025, a cumulative of two confirmed and eight probable cases were reported by the Ministry of Health.
All 10 cases have died, including eight who died before the confirmation of the outbreak.
As of 10 February 2025, all 281 contacts that were listed and under monitoring have completed the 21-day follow-up.
The Ministry of Health developed a national response plan to guide activities. Additionally, a national rapid response team was deployed to the affected region to enhance outbreak investigation and response, with technical and operational support from WHO and health partners.
Description of the situation
Since the previous Disease Outbreak News on this outbreak was published on 14 January 2025, two confirmed cases have been reported, and efforts are ongoing to ascertain the source of infection.
As of 10 February 2025, a cumulative of 10 cases have been reported including two confirmed and eight probable cases. All cases resulted in death, including eight who died before the confirmation of the outbreak.
The two cases confirmed since the outbreak declaration died while in isolation at a designated MVD treatment centre.
On 28 January, a safe and dignified burial was performed for the last confirmed case. No new confirmed or probable cases have been reported following this burial.
The presumptive index case, an adult female, had symptom onset on 9 December and died on 16 December 2024.
All 10 cases were reported from Biharamulo district in Kagera region; the median age of cases was 30 years (range: 1 to 75 years) and the majority of cases (70%, 7) were females.
Cumulatively, 90 suspected cases were reported between 20 January and 10 February, all of which tested negative for MVD.
As of 10 February 2025, all 281 contacts that were listed have completed 21 days of follow-up.
The first MVD outbreak in Tanzania was reported in March 2023 in Bukoba district in Kagera region, and zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, remain endemic to the area. The outbreak in March 2023 lasted for nearly two months with nine cases including six deaths.
Epidemiology
MVD is a highly virulent disease that can cause severe disease and is clinically similar to Ebola disease (EBOD).
EBOD and MVD are caused by orthoebolaviruses and orthomarburgviruses respectively; both are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus).
People become infected after prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus fruit bat colonies, a type of fruit bat, that can carry the Marburg virus.
Marburg virus then spreads between people via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
Health workers have previously been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed MVD.
Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute to the transmission of Marburg virus.
The incubation period varies from two to 21 days. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting can begin on the third day. Although not all cases present with haemorrhagic signs, severe haemorrhagic manifestations may appear between five and seven days from symptoms onset, and fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas of the body. In fatal cases, death occurs most often between eight and nine days after symptom onset, usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock.
There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for MVD. Some candidate vaccines and therapeutics are currently under investigation.
Eighteen outbreaks of MVD have previously been reported globally. The most recent outbreak was reported from Rwanda between September and December 2024. Additional countries that previously reported outbreaks of MVD in the African Region include Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda.
Public health response
The Ministry of Health developed a national response plan to guide response activities.
A National Incident Management System was activated to coordinate the response to the event and a national task force was activated, and meetings are held weekly. At the sub-national level, regular coordination meetings are being held in Kagera Region.
A national rapid response team was deployed to the affected region to enhance outbreak investigation and response, with technical and operational support from WHO and health partners.
WHO has deployed experts to support the MoH with partner coordination and other response activities in different pillars.
Surveillance activities continue with active case finding and contact tracing across affected areas.
The mobile laboratory deployed in Kabaile continues to support the testing of suspect cases for rapid turnaround time, and samples are referred to the central public health laboratory in Dar es Salaam for additional tests. Additionally, genomic sequencing was conducted on the two positive samples.
Screening of travellers departing from Kagera Region continues at key points of entry and exit, including Bukoba airport.
Healthcare worker sensitization sessions on infection prevention and control are ongoing across Kagera and other regions.
The Marburg Treatment Unit has been upgraded with enhanced triage, patient wards, and donning and doffing areas. Public awareness campaigns, including health education, door-to-door outreach by community health workers, and public announcements in high-risk areas, are ongoing.
Cross border meetings have been convened between Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
WHO has procured and delivered four VHF kits to Kagera region to support the response.
WHO risk assessment
The risk of this MVD outbreak is assessed as high at the national level due to several concerning factors. The outbreak thus far involves 10 cases (eight probable and two confirmed), including 10 deaths, resulting in a CFR of 100%. One case was a healthcare worker, highlighting the risk of nosocomial transmission. The source of the outbreak is still unknown. The delayed detection and isolation of cases could lead to a missed chain of transmission.
The regional risk is considered high due to Kagera's strategic location as a transit hub, with significant cross-border movement of the population to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This highlights the potential for spread into neighbouring countries. MVD is not easily transmissible (i.e. in most instances, it requires contact with the body fluids of a sick patient presenting with symptoms or with surfaces contaminated with these fluids). However, it cannot be excluded that a person exposed to the virus may travel.
The global risk is currently assessed as low. There is no confirmed international spread at this stage, although there are concerns about potential risks. Kagera region of Tanzania, while not close to the country’s capital or major international airports, is well-connected through transportation networks, and has an airport that connects to Dar es Salaam for onward travel outside Tanzania by air. This highlights the need for enhanced surveillance and case management capacities at relevant points of entry and along borders, as well as close coordination with neighbouring countries to strengthen readiness capacities.
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Source: World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON554
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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Time Period: February 02 - February 08, 2025
-- H5 Detection: 15 sites (3.9%)
-- No Detection: 372 sites (96.1%)
-- No samples in last week: 63 sites
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Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.