#Germany - High pathogenicity avian #influenza viruses (#poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

 A turkeys-for-fattening farm in Bayern Region.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6328

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Independent and combined #effects of long-term #air #pollution #exposure and #genetic #predisposition on #COVID19 #severity: A population-based cohort study

Significance

To date, no study has investigated the relationships between air pollutants and the progression of COVID-19, nor the potential role of genetic susceptibility on the associations. This large population-based cohort study investigates the associations between air pollutants and genetic susceptibility, both individually and in combination, with the risk of COVID-19-related outcomes. It involves 458,396 participants from UK Biobank and demonstrates that air pollutants interact with host genetic susceptibility in both multiplicative and additive manners, thereby influencing the risk of COVID-19 severity. This study with cutting-edge methods provides robust evidence for the interplay between environmental and genetic factors on COVID-19 outcomes.

Abstract

The relationships between air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and COVID-19-related outcomes, as well as the potential interplays between air pollution and genetic susceptibility, remain largely unexplored. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess associations between long-term exposure to air pollutants and the risk of COVID-19 outcomes (infection, hospitalization, and death) in a COVID-19-naive cohort (n = 458,396). Additionally, associations between air pollutants and the risk of COVID-19 severity (hospitalization and death) were evaluated in a COVID-19 infection cohort (n = 110,216). Furthermore, this study investigated the role of host genetic susceptibility in the relationships between exposure to air pollutants and the development of COVID-19-related outcomes. Long-term exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related outcomes in the COVID-19 naive cohort. Similarly, in COVID-19 infection cohort, hazard ratios (HRs) for COVID-19 hospital admission were 1.23 (1.19, 1.27) for PM2.5 and 1.22 (1.17, 1.26) for PM10, whereas HRs for COVID-19 death were 1.28 (1.18, 1.39) for PM2.5 and 1.25 (1.16, 1.36) for PM10. Notably, significant interactions were found between PM2.5/PM10 and genetic susceptibility in COVID-19 death. In COVID-19 infection cohort, participants with both high genetic risk and high air pollutants exposure had 1.86- to 1.97-fold and 1.91- to 2.14-fold higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death compared to those with both low genetic risk and low air pollutants exposure. Exposure to air pollution is significantly associated with an increased burden of severe COVID-19, and air pollution–gene interactions may play a crucial role in the development of COVID-19-related outcomes.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2421513122?af=R

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#Congenital #Oropouche in #Humans: Clinical Characterization of a Possible New #Teratogenic Syndrome

Abstract

Oropouche fever is caused by the Oropouche virus (OROV; Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus), one of the most frequent arboviruses that infect humans in the Brazilian Amazon. This year, an OROV outbreak was identified in Brazil, and its vertical transmission was reported, which was associated with fetal death and microcephaly. We describe the clinical manifestations identified in three cases of congenital OROV infection with confirmed serology (OROV-IgM) in the mother-newborn binomial. One of the newborns died, and post-mortem molecular analysis using real-time RT-qPCR identified the OROV genome in several tissues. All three newborns were born in the Amazon region in Brazil, and the mothers reported fever, rash, headache, myalgia, and/or retro-orbital pain during pregnancy. The newborns presented with severe microcephaly secondary to brain damage and arthrogryposis, suggestive of an embryo/fetal disruptive process at birth. Brain and spinal images identified overlapping sutures, cerebral atrophy, brain cysts, thinning of the spinal cord, corpus callosum, and posterior fossa abnormalities. Fundoscopic findings included macular chorioretinal scars, focal pigment mottling, and vascular attenuation. The clinical presentation of vertical OROV infection resembled congenital Zika syndrome to some extent but presents some distinctive features on brain imaging and in several aspects of its neurological presentation. A recognizable syndrome with severe brain damage, neurological alterations, arthrogryposis, and fundoscopic abnormalities can be associated with in utero OROV infection.

Source: Viruses, https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/397

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#Antiviral Susceptibility of #Influenza A(#H5N1) Clade 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4b Viruses from #Humans, 2023-2024

Abstract

During 2023-2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses from clade 2.3.2.1c caused human infections in Cambodia and from clade 2.3.4.4b caused human infections in the Americas. We assessed the susceptibility of those viruses to approved and investigational antiviral drugs. Except for 2 viruses isolated from Cambodia, all viruses were susceptible to M2 ion channel-blockers in cell culture-based assays. In the neuraminidase inhibition assay, all viruses displayed susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral drugs oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, laninamivir, and AV5080. Oseltamivir was ≈4-fold less potent at inhibiting the neuraminidase activity of clade 2.3.4.4b than clade 2.3.2.1c viruses. All viruses were susceptible to polymerase inhibitors baloxavir and tivoxavir and to polymerase basic 2 inhibitor pimodivir with 50% effective concentrations in low nanomolar ranges. Because drug-resistant viruses can emerge spontaneously or by reassortment, close monitoring of antiviral susceptibility of H5N1 viruses collected from animals and humans by using sequence-based analysis supplemented with phenotypic testing is essential.

Source: US National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40064473/

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Co-Circulation of 2 #Oropouche Virus #Lineages during #Outbreak, #Amazon Region of #Peru, 2023–2024

Abstract

We describe introduction of the 2022–2023 Oropouche virus lineage from Brazil, which has caused large-scale outbreaks throughout Brazil, into the Amazon Region of Peru. This lineage is co-circulating with another lineage that was circulating previously. Our findings highlight the need for continued surveillance to monitor Oropouche virus in Peru.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/4/24-1748_article

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Evaluation of #influenza #antiviral #prophylaxis for long-term care residents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Influenza is a pervasive respiratory infection which disproportionately burdens long-term care residents. To limit outbreaks, guidelines recommend antiviral prophylaxis, particularly oseltamivir or zanamivir, despite acknowledging the inadequate supporting evidence. Therefore, we aimed to review the literature on the efficacy of oseltamivir, zanamivir, and baloxavir prophylaxis for influenza in long-term care.

Methods

Medline, Embase, PubMed, and several other databases were searched from inception to August 16, 2023. For inclusion, observational studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had to report influenza-like illness (ILI) or infection rates amongst adult long-term care populations receiving prophylaxis. Outcome values were meta-analyzed as intervention-specific pooled proportions (PPs) and risk ratios (RRs) when applicable. Risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2.0 and Joanna Briggs Institute checklist.

Results

In total, 14 studies were included, comprising 12,672 residents. Individuals given oseltamivir or zanamivir experienced the fewest symptomatic, test-confirmed infections (oseltamivir PP: 0.7%, 95%CI: 0.1-4.7%, zanamivir PP: 3.0%, 95%CI: 0.9-9.4%) and ILIs (oseltamivir PP: 2.8%, 95%CI: 1.8-4.3%, zanamivir PP: 3.4%, 95%CI: 1.3-7.2%). However, no significant statistical differences were detected versus most other interventions (ILI PP range: 4.5-6.4%, infection PP range: 4.6-7.9%). Similarly, in studies directly comparing either antiviral to placebo, there were no associated benefits despite every RR being below 1 (0.51-0.75) due to expansive 95%CIs.

Conclusions

Oseltamivir or zanamivir could provide some benefit but low statistical power behind most estimates precluded definitive conclusions. Therefore, additional studies (RCTs) are needed to expand the evidence base and validate whether prophylaxis is beneficial in this setting.

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases, https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaf101/8064583?redirectedFrom=fulltext

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The Voyage of Life: Youth, Thomas Cole (1842)

 

Public Domain.

Source: WikiArt, https://www.wikiart.org/en/thomas-cole/the-voyage-of-life-youth-1842-1

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#Comparison of #patients presenting to #emergency departments infected with #RSV versus #influenza virus: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective

In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on adult health, especially in elderly patients. Unlike influenza infection, its presentation and patient outcomes are not well studied. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes in emergency department patients infected by RSV vs influenza.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective study in seven emergency departments (ED) in France. Patients with a laboratory-confirmed RSV or influenza infection in the ED were included between January 2017 and December 2022. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality truncated at day 28. Secondary endpoints included one year occurrence of thrombo-embolic event, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke.

Results

3397 patient charts were screened, and 3224 were analyzed. Of these, 551 (17%) patients had RSV-positive PCR, and 2673 (83%) had influenza-positive PCR. Patients with RSV were older (median age 73 vs.68; difference, -5.00 percentage points [CI, -4.0 to -6.0 percentage points])), and had more comorbidities (15.0% vs 22.0% difference, -6.92 percentage points [CI, -10.6 to -3.21 percentage points])), compared to those with influenza. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality rate at day 28: 3.82% for influenza vs. 4.72% for RSV (adjusted OR 0.93, 95%CI [0.59 to 1.46] p=0.73). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of the secondary endpoints.

Conclusions

In this large study of ED patients, although RSV patients were more fragile, no significant differences were found in in-hospital mortality or the occurrence of cardiovascular or thromboembolic events between RSV and influenza infections.

Source: Journal of Clinical Virology, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1386653225000162?dgcid=rss_sd_all

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#Sudan virus #disease - #Uganda {March 8 '25}

Situation at a glance

Since the outbreak of Sudan virus disease (SVD) was declared in Uganda on 30 January 2025, and as of 5 March 2025, a total of 14 cases (including 12 confirmed cases and two probable cases) including four deaths (two confirmed and two probable) have been reported. 

On 1 March 2025, the Ministry of Health released a press statement confirming the tenth case. The patient was a child under 5 years old who presented and died in the Mulago hospital on 23 February 2025. 

As of 5 March, two additional confirmed cases and two probable deaths have been reported that are linked to this case. Both of these cases are currently admitted to treatment facilities. 

Eight confirmed cases received care at treatment centres in the capital Kampala and in Mbale and were discharged on 18 February 2025. 

As of 5 March 2025, 192 new contacts have been identified and are under follow-up in Kampala, Ntoroko and Wakiso. In the absence of licensed vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of SVD, the risk of potential serious public health impact is high.

Description of the situation

Since the second disease outbreak news on this event published on 21 February 2025, three additional laboratory-confirmed cases and two probable deaths of SVD have been reported in Uganda. 

As of 5 March 2025, 12 confirmed and two probable cases, among these four deaths (two confirmed, two probable) have been reported with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 29%. 

The latest confirmed cases are reported to be epidemiologically linked to the two probable cases.  

The age range of confirmed cases is 1.5 years to 55 years, with a mean age of 27 years and males accounted for 55% of the total cases. 

The cases were reported from six districts in the country which include Jinja, Kampala, Kyegegwe, Mbale, Ntoroko and Wakiso (...).

On 1 March 2025, the Ministry of Health released a press statement about the confirmation of a new case. The case was an under 5-year-old child identified at the Mulago Hospital where the patient presented with signs and symptoms meeting the suspect case definition. 

A laboratory sample was collected, and the child was confirmed with SVD on 26 February by PCR. Following investigations, two probable deaths linked to this case have been reported. This includes the child’s mother who was pregnant at the time of symptom onset on 22 January and died on 6 February. Her newborn child died on 12 February. The three deaths did not have a supervised burial. On 3 March, an 11th case was confirmed, an adult female, contact of case 10, and on 4 March, a 12th case was confirmed, an adult female, contact of the probable case (the mother of case 10). Both of these cases are currently admitted to treatment facilities.

Since the start of the outbreak, eight cases have recovered and been discharged.

(...)

As of 5 March, there are 192 new contacts listed around the new cases and 299 previously listed contacts who had completed the 21-day follow-up period.  

SVD alert levels reported from the community and the health facilities have been low and efforts are ongoing to improve this. Mortality surveillance has also been set up since the declaration of the outbreak and will continue in Jinja, Kampala, Mbale, Ntoroko and Wakiso districts.

Retrospective epidemiological and laboratory investigations are ongoing to find the source of the outbreak while active case search in and around the community and health facilities linked to the case movements have been intensified. 

Epidemiology

Sudan virus disease is a severe disease, belonging to the same family as Ebola virus disease. It is caused by Sudan virus (SUDV) and can result in high case fatality. It is typically characterized by acute onset of fever with non-specific symptoms/signs (e.g., abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, sore throat) usually followed several days later by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and occasionally a variable rash. Hiccups may occur. 

Severe illness may include haemorrhagic manifestations (e.g., bleeding from puncture sites, ecchymoses, petechiae, visceral effusions), encephalopathy, shock/hypotension, multi-organ failure, and spontaneous abortion in infected pregnant women. 

Individuals who recover may experience prolonged sequelae (e.g., arthralgia, neurocognitive dysfunction, uveitis sometimes followed by cataract formation), and clinical and subclinical persistent infection may occur in immune-privileged compartments (e.g., central nervous system (CNS), eyes, testes). 

Person-to-person transmission occurs by direct contact with blood, other bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces and materials with risk beginning at the onset of clinical signs and increasing with disease severity. 

Family members, healthcare providers, and participants in burial ceremonies with direct contact with the deceased are at particular risk. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, but typically is 7–11 days. 

Public health response

Health authorities are implementing public health measures, including but not limited to the following:

-- Coordination:

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has activated the coordination structures at national and subnational levels, including the Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to the affected districts. Regional Emergency Operation Centers have been activated in Fort Portal, Ntoroko, Kampala, and Mbale districts.

The country developed a National Response Plan (February-April 2025). The response plan has been updated to reflect current response priorities and builds on lessons learned from previous outbreaks. It deploys the basic minimum packages of activities across the districts according to risk.

-- Surveillance and contract tracing:

MoH with support from WHO and partners, is conducting alert management including the setup of an alert desk with toll-free numbers to detect and verify alerts from all over the country that meet the case definition. Since 30 January, over 1300 signals have been reported from all over the country and 112 alerts have been verified as suspected cases.

MoH with support from partners has allocated teams to conduct detailed case investigations around all confirmed and probable cases to identify and stop the chains of transmission.

MoH has allocated teams to conduct contact listing of cases and perform daily follow-up of contacts.

Following the declaration of the outbreak, MoH, with support from WHO, has established mortality surveillance. Over 770 non-trauma deaths were tested in communities and health facilities located in the affected districts, and one tested positive (case 10).

MoH set up a hotline for notification of suspected cases.

MoH is conducting exit screening of SVD signs and symptoms among travellers at Uganda’s 13 high volume points of entry (POE) including Entebbe International Airport

-- Case Management:

MoH with support from WHO and partners has set up four designated isolation and treatment units in Jinja, Kampala, Mbale and now Fort Portal, where confirmed cases receive optimized supportive care. Plans are underway to conduct therapeutic clinical trials. 

Patients who recovered from the disease are included in the survivor care programme for support and care.

MoH has scaled up its case management strategy to ensure sufficient capacities to provide care for all suspected and confirmed cases in all hot spots

-- Laboratory:

MoH and partners have strengthened laboratory capacities and deployed a mobile laboratory to Mbale to reduce turnaround time for laboratory results.

MoH has performed a full genome sequencing on the sample of the first confirmed case and findings indicate the outbreak is most likely the result of a spillover event. Sequencing was also performed on samples of subsequent confirmed cases,

-- Infection prevention and control:

MoH has activated their IPC response coordination mechanism.

MoH has activated the IPC ring around cases, which includes cleaning and disinfection of sites where confirmed cases passed through.

In their official press statement, the MoH provided recommendations to health workers, district leaders, and the public to strengthen detection of suspected cases and implement appropriate infection, prevention and control measures.

MOH is surging and strengthening IPC activities, with the support of partners, notably to improve screening, isolation and notification at health facilities in order to better detect suspected cases.

MoH is orienting health workers on IPC measures in the context of Ebola disease outbreak response.

Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE)

An integrated community engagement approach has been adopted whereby the RCCE team facilitate access to communities for other response pillars. This helps to build trust and enhance contact tracing, case investigation, surveillance, referral to isolation units and provision of psychosocial support.

Anthropological investigation is used to identify community concerns, risk behaviours, reduce hesitancy from communities and to enhance evidence-informed decisions across pillars.

Development and dissemination of public health messages to promote protective and health seeking behaviours, community engagement to build trust and provide psychosocial support.

Research and development

-- Research priorities: The Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for the Filoviridae Family held two global consultations to deliberate and identify the research priorities for Sudan ebolavirus in general and this outbreak in particular. Over 200 scientists from around the world participated in each of the two consultations.

-- Ring vaccination trial: After the outbreak was confirmed on 30 January, researchers from the Uganda Makerere University and the Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with support from WHO, swiftly mobilised to launch the vaccination trial. The trial was initiated only four days following the outbreak, reflecting the urgency of the response while maintaining rigorous ethical and regulatory standards. The trial follows the ring vaccination model, in which primary and secondary contacts of confirmed cases receive the vaccine, to create a protective barrier and help break chains of transmission.

The development of the protocols and research priorities has been done via the MARVAC Consortium and the Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for the Filoviridae Family, European Union (EU) Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supported the development of these crucial trial protocols during the inter-epidemic, preparedness phase

EU HERA and IDRC also provided financial support for the trial, alongside WHO. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is also providing support with additional support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The vaccine itself was donated by IAVI, with additional support from the Africa CDC.

-- Therapeutics trial: While several promising candidate therapeutics are currently advancing through clinical development, no licensed treatment is yet available to effectively address potential future outbreaks of Ebola virus disease caused by the Sudan virus species. If successful, this trial could play a critical role in enhancing outbreak control measures and supporting the future regulatory approval of the candidate vaccine. Numerous developers facilitated the availability of the candidate vaccine and treatments: MappBio provided their candidate Sudan monoclonal, Gilead provided remdesivir, an antiviral.

WHO is supporting the national authorities through:

- Risk assessment and investigation.

- Providing operational, financial and technical support to the Ministry of Health to ensure swift response. A total of US$ 3.4 million was released from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies for the three levels of WHO to support the government-led response

- Supporting the national laboratory system to implement sample collection, transport and diagnostic testing.

- Providing strategic, technical and operational support to strengthen infection. prevention and control response measures and standards within health facilities and Ebola treatment units in Kampala, Mbale, Luwero districts. This includes supporting IPC ring activation activities, rapid assessments of health facilities, capacity building of health workers, mentorship and supportive supervision at designed health facilities and supporting development of key guidance, SOPs and tools.   

- Facilitating access to candidate vaccines and therapeutics and supporting the launch of the vaccine trial. Rings have been defined around all confirmed cases and their contacts have been invited to consent in the trial.  As part of this support, the "TOKEMEZA SVD" vaccine trial was launched on 3 February 2025 and the TOKOMEZA immuno (an add-on study) was launched on 1 March 2025.

- Providing technical and operation assistance for the setup of isolation centers for suspected cases and two Ebola treatment units in Kampala and Mbale.

- Mobilizing logistics to complement government supplies, including IPC supplies, drugs, resuscitation and monitoring equipment, admission packages, and mattresses.

- Deploying a team of 47 experts to Mbale, Kampala, Wakiso and Jinja districts to support across different response pillars including coordination, surveillance, laboratory, logistics, IPC, RCCE, and case management pillars.

- Supporting RCCE efforts to counter misinformation and enhance community engagement through the deployment of two anthropologists.

- Intensified and integrated risk communication and community engagement, including sensitization and training of Village Health Teams, traditional healers, religious leaders and teachers. 

- Collecting social and behavioural data and using evidence to respond to communities’ anxieties and concern, rumours, misinformation and disinformation

WHO risk assessment

Sudan virus disease (SVD) is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans. Sudan virus (SUDV) was first identified in southern Sudan in June 1976. Since then, the virus has emerged periodically and up to now and prior to this current one, eight outbreaks caused by SUDV have been reported, five in Uganda and three in Sudan. The case fatality rates of SVD have varied from 41% to 70% in past outbreaks.

SUDV is enzootic and present in animal reservoirs in the region. Uganda reported five SVD outbreaks (one in 2000, one in 2011, two in 2012, and one in 2022).  The current outbreak is the sixth SVD outbreak in Uganda. Uganda also reported a Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in 2007 and an Ebola virus disease outbreak exported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2019. The latest SVD outbreak in Uganda was declared over on 11 January 2023. A total of 164 cases with 55 deaths were reported in nine districts.

Uganda has experience in responding to Ebola disease outbreaks including SVD. In the ongoing outbreak, cases have been reported from several districts including the capital city, Kampala, with high population movement. Cases have sought care in several health facilities, including traditional healers, and some cases have been detected at a late stage of the disease or death. The government, with support from partners is implementing several public health actions for effective control.

In the absence of licensed vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of SVD, the risk of potential serious public health impact is high. Community deaths, care of patients in private facilities and hospitals and other community health services as well as at traditional healers with limited protection and infection prevention and control measures entail a high risk of many transmission chains. An investigation is ongoing to determine the source and the scope of the outbreak and the possibility of spread from the capital city, Kampala, to other districts. Exit screening has been set up at different points of entry to reduce the risk of potential exportation of cases to neighbouring countries.

WHO advice

Effective Ebola disease outbreak, including SVD, control relies on applying a package of interventions, including case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a strong laboratory system, implementation of infection prevention and control measures in health care and community settings, safe and dignified burials and community engagement and social mobilization.

Risk communication and community engagement is crucial to successfully controlling SVD outbreaks. This includes raising awareness of symptoms, risk factors for infection, protective measures and the importance of seeking immediate care at a health facility. Sensitive and supportive information about safe and dignified burials is also crucial. Awareness should be built through targeted campaigns and direct work with affected and proximate communities, with special attention to engage with traditional healers, clergy, ‘boda boda’ drivers and community leaders, who are important sources of information for the community. Findings from rapid qualitative assessments should continue to be implemented to collect socio-behavioural data, which can then be used to inform response pillars. Priority areas to strengthen, based on recent evidence are mortality surveillance, contact tracing and safe and dignified burials.  Misinformation and rumours should be addressed to foster trust and promote early symptom reporting.

Early initiation of intensive supportive treatment increases the chances of survival. All above-mentioned interventions need to be thoroughly implemented in affected areas to stop chains of transmission and decrease disease mortality. Cases, contacts and individuals in affected areas who present signs and symptoms compatible with case definitions should be advised not to travel and seek early care at designated facilities to improve their chances of survival and limit transmission.

WHO encourages countries to implement a comprehensive care programme to support people who recovered from Ebola disease with any subsequent sequelae and to enable them to access body fluid testing and to mitigate the risk of transmission through infected body fluids by adequate practices.

Collaboration with neighbouring countries should be enhanced to harmonize reporting mechanisms, conduct joint investigations, and share critical data in real-time. Surrounding countries should enhance readiness activities to enable early case detection, isolation and treatment.

A range of candidate vaccines and therapeutics are under different stage of development. Since 2020, WHO has convened scientific deliberations and set up an independent process to review candidate medical countermeasures (MCMs) prioritization and clinical trial designs. One candidate vaccine and two candidate therapeutics (a monoclonal antibody and an antiviral) have been recommended and are available in country and are being assessed (clinical efficacy and safety) through randomized clinical trial protocols.

Thanks to preparedness measures that the government took after the previous outbreak in 2022, and a global research collaboration led by WHO (first MARVAC now FILOVIRUS CORC), a trial of a candidate vaccine was launched just four days after the outbreak was declared. A therapeutics trial will start as soon as national authorities provide approval.

The two vaccines licensed against Ebola virus disease (from the Zaire species) will not provide cross-protection against SVD and cannot be used in this outbreak.

WHO advises against any restrictions on travel and/or trade to Uganda based on available information for the current outbreak. 

(...)

Source: World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON558

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17. STAR J, Han X, Smith RA, Schafer EJ, et al
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    PubMed        
    
    

    
    Lancet Infect Dis

18. ZHANG L, Kempf A, Nehlmeier I, Chen N, et al
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    Life Sci

19. DUERR GD, Hamiko M, Beer J, Nattermann J, et al
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    Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi

23. ZHENG YJ, Hou JY, Zhong J, Ye XW, et al
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Neutralizing #Antibody #Response to #Influenza A(#H5N1) Virus in Dairy #Farm #Workers, #Michigan, #USA

Abstract

Since March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have caused outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry in the United States, and they continue to spill over into humans. However, data on human immune response to those viruses is limited. We report neutralizing antibody responses in 2 dairy farm worker H5N1 cases.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/4/25-0007_article

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#USA, Monitoring for Avian #Influenza A(#H5) Virus In #Wastewater {March 7 '25}

{Excerpt}

Time Period: February 23 - March 01, 2025

- H5 Detection: 8 sites (1.8%)

- No Detection: 445 sites (98.2%)

- No samples in last week: 100 sites

(...)

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html

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#UK, #England: #Lassa #fever contact #tracing underway

The UK Health Security Agency has been informed under the International Health Regulations that an individual travelled to England from Nigeria while they were unwell with Lassa fever at the end of February. The individual returned to Nigeria where they were diagnosed.

We are now working to identify people who were in contact with the affected individual while they were in the country.

Lassa fever does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the public is very low. If you have not been contacted by UKHSA then you are very unlikely to have had any exposure to Lassa fever and do not need to take action.

Lassa fever causes acute infections which can range from very mild symptoms through to a severe viral haemorrhagic fever. People usually become infected with Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected rats – present in some West African countries where the disease is endemic. The virus can also be spread between people through contact with infectious bodily fluids.

Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at the UK Health Security Agency, said:

''Our Health Protection Teams are working at pace to get in touch with people who were in contact with this individual while they were in England, to ensure they seek appropriate medical care and testing should they develop any symptoms. The infection does not spread easily between people, and the overall risk to the UK population is very low.''

Source: UK Health Security Agency, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lassa-fever-contact-tracing-underway

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#Russia - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 A wild Carrion Crow in Khabarovsk Region.

Source: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6304

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#UK - High pathogenicity avian #influenza #H5N1 viruses (#poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

{England} Commercial turkey fattening unit with 27,658 turkeys. Increased mortality and other clinical signs of HPAI reported. The samples were positive for HPAI H5N1.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6314

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#Spain - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 This event will collect the detections made by sampling carried out in 2025. Peregrine falcon, adult male, transmitted to a Centre for the protection of endangered species on 05/02/2025 with nervous symptoms, that died on 06/02/2025. The necropsy was performed at the Wildlife Center for Analysis and Diagnosis.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6316

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Variable #DPP4 #expression in multiciliated cells of the #human #nasal #epithelium as a determinant for #MERS-CoV tropism

Significance

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic coronavirus that continues to cause periodic outbreaks in humans with a case-fatality rate of approximately 35%. MERS-CoV generally transmits poorly, but superspreading events are well documented. Efficient human-to-human transmission of respiratory viruses generally correlates with a tropism for the upper respiratory tract, but this tropism for MERS-CoV remains poorly understood. Characterizing the MERS-CoV tropism in the human upper respiratory tract is of critical importance to understand its epidemiology and pandemic potential of future MERS-CoV variants and other dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4)-utilizing coronaviruses present in animal reservoirs.

Abstract

Transmissibility of respiratory viruses is a complex viral trait that is intricately linked to tropism. Several highly transmissible viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Influenza viruses, specifically target multiciliated cells in the upper respiratory tract to facilitate efficient human-to-human transmission. In contrast, the zoonotic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) generally transmits poorly between humans, which is largely attributed to the absence of its receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) in the upper respiratory tract. At the same time, MERS-CoV epidemiology is characterized by occasional superspreading events, suggesting that some individuals can disseminate this virus effectively. Here, we utilized well-differentiated human pulmonary and nasal airway organoid-derived cultures to further delineate the respiratory tropism of MERS-CoV. We find that MERS-CoV replicated to high titers in both pulmonary and nasal airway cultures. Using single-cell messenger-RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry, we show that MERS-CoV preferentially targeted multiciliated cells, leading to loss of ciliary coverage. MERS-CoV cellular tropism was dependent on the differentiation of the organoid-derived cultures, and replication efficiency varied considerably between donors. Similarly, variable and focal expression of DPP4 was revealed in human nose tissues. This study indicates that the upper respiratory tract tropism of MERS-CoV may vary between individuals due to differences in DPP4 expression, providing an explanation for the unpredictable transmission pattern of MERS-CoV.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410630122

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A #human-infecting #H10N5 avian #influenza virus: #clinical features, virus #reassortment, #receptor-binding affinity, and possible #transmission routes

Abstract

Background

In late 2023, the first human case caused by an H10N5 avian influenza virus (AIV) was diagnosed in China. H10Ny AIVs have been identified in various poultry and wild birds in Eurasia, the Americas, and Oceania.

Methods

We analyzed the clinical data of the H10N5 AIV-infected patient, isolated the virus, and evaluated the virus receptor-binding properties together with the H10N8 and H10N3 AIVs identified in humans and poultry. The genomic data of the human-infecting H10N5 strain and avian H10Ny AIVs (n = 48, including 16 strains of H10N3 and 2 strains of H10N8) from live poultry markets in China, during 2019–2021, were sequenced. We inferred the genetic origin and spread pattern of the H10N5 AIV using the phylodynamic methods. In addition, given all available nucleotide sequences, the spatial-temporal dynamics, host distribution, and the maximum-likelihood phylogenies of global H10 AIVs were reconstructed.

Findings

The first H10N5 AIV-infected human case co-infected with seasonal influenza H3N2 virus was identified. Unfortunately, the patient died after systematic treatments. The H10N5 virus predominantly bound avian-type receptor, without any known mammalian-adapted mutations. Phylodynamic inference indicated that the H10N5 AIV was generated by multiple reassortments among viruses from Korea and Japan, central Asia, and China in late 2022, acquiring the seven gene segments from H10N7 or other low pathogenic AIVs in wild Anseriformes, except for the PA gene from H5N2 AIVs in Domestic Anseriformes. The HA gene of the H10N5 virus belongs to the North American lineage, which was probably introduced into Asia by migratory birds, subsequently forming local circulation.

Interpretation

Unlike the human-infecting H10N3 and H10N8 AIVs acquiring six internal protein-coding genes from H9N2 AIVs in domestic poultry, the human-infecting H10N5 AIV was generated through multiple reassortments among viruses mainly carried by wild Anseriformes. Furthermore, worldwide distribution, inter-continental transmission, and genetic exchanges between Eurasian and North American lineages call for more concerns about influenza surveillance on H10Ny AIVs, especially in the flyway overlapping areas.

Source: Journal of Infection, https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(25)00050-7/fulltext

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#Belgium - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Follow up report 8

Two wild cats, two European Polecats, Forty-four Domestic Mustelidae, Twenty-two foxes in various Regions.

Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4971?reportId=172740&fromPage=event-dashboard-url

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