History of Mass Transportation: The Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation-type Stean Locomotive

 

By Alphageekpa at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47213787

Source: 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works

____

High pathogenicity avian #influenza in #pinniped #conservation

 

Abstract

Since 2020, H5Nx high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) have caused widespread disruptions not only to global agriculture and trade but also to the health of free-ranging wildlife. Pinnipeds have experienced greater mortality from H5Nx HPAIV than any other mammalian taxa. Emergent virus strains, persisting over long time periods and vast geographic distances, have repeatedly triggered large-scale mortality events in pinniped populations. Of particular concern is the spread of H5Nx HPAIV to the Southern Hemisphere—including the emergence of a marine mammal-adapted clade in South America and detections in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic—and to other remote locations such as the Hawaiian Islands. These developments elevate concern for the world’s endangered, isolated and endemic pinnipeds. While managing HPAIV in any animal population is a formidable task, working with free-ranging marine mammals poses unique challenges. In this review and perspective piece, we attempt to synthesize complexities at this intersection. We describe lessons learned from HPAIV investigations in marine wildlife, highlight gaps in knowledge and capacity, and discuss the incorporation of outbreak risk assessment and countermeasures into pinniped conservation. Finally, we propose ways in which pinnipeds—and marine wildlife broadly—could be better integrated into existing systems for HPAIV intelligence, control and prevention.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Managing infectious marine diseases in wild populations’.

Source: 

Link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rstb/article/381/1945/20240320/480666/High-pathogenicity-avian-influenza-in-pinniped

____

#Coronavirus Disease Research #References (by AMEDEO, March 7 '26)

 

Ann Intern Med

1. LIM SY, Lee J, Chang E, Kwon JS, et al
   Neither Metformin nor Ursodeoxycholic Acid Effectively Treats Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 : A Randomized Clinical Trial.
   Ann Intern Med. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-04883.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   Antiviral Res

2. ZUO X, Xiao X, Dong X, Wang J, et al
   Direct-acting antivirals and beyond: emerging approaches to targeting viral RNA and ribonucleoprotein complexes.
   Antiviral Res. 2026;249:106383.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
3. RUDRAMURTHY GR, Gudla CS, Harisha R, Selvam V, et al
   FNDR-11124, a broad-spectrum small molecule inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase, restricts replication of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza virus in vitro and in vivo.
   Antiviral Res. 2026 Mar 2:106382. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2026.106382.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   Clin Infect Dis

4. RIERA MT, Prato R, Perez-Rubio A, Echave-Sustaeta JM, et al
   Burden of respiratory syncytial virus among older adults with an acute respiratory infection: a prospective study in six European countries.
   Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 6:ciag146. doi: 10.1093.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
5. TAN CS, Anjan S, Ariza-Heredia EJ, Magana F, et al
   IDSA 2025 Guidelines on the use of vaccines for the prevention of seasonal RSV infections in immunocompromised patients.
   Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 2:ciag117. doi: 10.1093.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
6. NELLORE A, Goepfert P, Tan CS, Bajema K, et al
   IDSA 2025 Guidelines on the use of vaccines for the prevention of seasonal COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV infections in immunocompromised patients.
   Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 2:ciag114. doi: 10.1093.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
7. GOEPFERT P, Katz MJ, Kaul D, Sharma T, et al
   IDSA 2025 Guidelines on the use of vaccines for the prevention of seasonal Influenza infections in immunocompromised patients.
   Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Feb 28:ciag116. doi: 10.1093.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   Int J Infect Dis

8. NYGREN M, Dahlgren HM, Gustavsson L, Snygg-Martin U, et al
   Temporal association and seasonal variation of respiratory viruses and invasive group A streptococcal infections in Western Sweden, a 15-year analysis across pre- and postpandemic periods.
   Int J Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 3:108517. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108517.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
9. YEZLI S, Bonanni P, Dinleyici EC, Divyesh T, et al
   Invasive Meningococcal Disease Rebound in Older Adults Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: A Targeted Literature and Surveillance Review.
   Int J Infect Dis. 2026 Feb 27:108502. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108502.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   J Virol

10. LI S, Liu DX
    Interaction of coronavirus E protein with BRD2 plays important regulatory roles in viral replication and induction of pro-inflammatory response.
    J Virol. 2026 Mar 3:e0220125. doi: 10.1128/jvi.02201.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    

    
    N Engl J Med

11. GABET A, Bernard C, Zureik M
    Updated Evidence Base for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Immunizations.
    N Engl J Med. 2026;394:10.
    PubMed        

#Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses #Research #References (by AMEDEO, March 7 '26)

 

Ann Intern Med

1. SACKS HS
   In older adults, high- vs. standard-dose influenza vaccine reduced hospitalization for influenza or pneumonia in those with CKD.
   Ann Intern Med. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-26-00324.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
2. ANAND R, Glatt AE
   In healthy adults, a modified RNA vs. inactivated influenza vaccine reduced laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness at >/=14 d.
   Ann Intern Med. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-05681.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   Antiviral Res

3. RUDRAMURTHY GR, Gudla CS, Harisha R, Selvam V, et al
   FNDR-11124, a broad-spectrum small molecule inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase, restricts replication of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza virus in vitro and in vivo.
   Antiviral Res. 2026 Mar 2:106382. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2026.106382.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   Arch Virol

4. DUTTA M, Sarmah N, Siddique AI, Borah P, et al
   Temporal trends and burden of influenza B virus lineages in Dibrugarh, Assam (2014-2025): predominance of Victoria with early circulation of Yamagata.
   Arch Virol. 2026;171:110.
   PubMed        
   
   

   
   J Gen Virol

5. GROSS J, Pouget B, Sarrat M, Foret-Lucas C, et al
   In vivo inhibition of JAK-STAT signalling enhances high pathogenicity influenza virus replication in ducks.
   J Gen Virol. 2026;107:002238.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   J Immunol

6. WERNINGHAUS IC, Hinke DM, Katta K, Bogen B, et al
   A combinatorial DNA vaccine encoding APC-targeted, bivalent HA and NA antigens results in an improved influenza vaccine.
   J Immunol. 2026;215:vkaf378.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
7. SHARMA SB, Kumar K, Parchment N, Eggleston T, et al
   Viral-specific induction of cellular and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) expression.
   J Immunol. 2026;215:vkaf365.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   
8. SOUDANI N, Sidney J, Da Silva Antunes R, Case JB, et al
   Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in Syrian hamsters.
   J Immunol. 2026;215:vkaf342.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   J Infect Dis

9. WANG L, Wang J, Hossain J, Cooper HC, et al
   Development and Characterization of Candidate Vaccine Viruses against High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza A(H5) Viruses for Rapid Pandemic Response.
   J Infect Dis. 2026 Feb 28:jiag132. doi: 10.1093.
   PubMed         Abstract available
   
   

   
   N Engl J Med

10. GABET A, Bernard C, Zureik M
    Updated Evidence Base for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Immunizations.
    N Engl J Med. 2026;394:10.
    PubMed        
    
    

    
    Pediatrics

11. TSUNG S, Zeng YB, Shah K, Asch SM, et al
    Cost-Effectiveness of Nirsevimab and Maternal RSVpreF Immunization Strategies in Low-Risk Infants.
    Pediatrics. 2026 Feb 20:e2025071558. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-071558.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    

    
    PLoS Comput Biol

12. CRAIG M, Deng X, McLeod DV
    Viral evolution during primary infection in immunocompromised hosts.
    PLoS Comput Biol. 2026;22:e1013967.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    

    
    PLoS One

13. RAHIMNAHAL S, Yousefizadeh S, Mohammadi Y
    Designing a novel vaccine against COVID-19 based on spike SARS-Cov-2 notable mutations using immunoinformatics approaches.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0334662.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
14. RATREE S, Assavapokee N, Santibenchakul S, Sirisabya N, et al
    Reported adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in gynecologic cancer patients in Thailand: A descriptive study.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0342303.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
15. DEMPSEY LF, Osuka H, McGovern OL, Munita JM, et al
    Antimicrobial use and documented infection among hospitalized adults in South American acute care facilities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0343535.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
16. SHKOLNIKOV VM, Timonin S, Jdanov D, Medina-Jaudes N, et al
    Widening East-West inequality in life expectancy in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international comparative study.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0344003.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
17. MEYER F, Traidl S, Ameri M, Dreher A, et al
    Distinguishing post-COVID from long-COVID in adults: Development and validation of a biomarker signature using targeted proteomics and machine learning in a cross-sectional observational study.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0338451.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
18. FIAZ N, Basheer A, Zahoor I, Naveed S, et al
    Distinct mutational landscapes and phylogenomic insights of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in Pakistan and India: Regional evolution, novel mutations, and epidemiological implications.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0340704.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
19. GUTIERREZ-SIGUT E, Lamarche V, Rowley K, Lago EF, et al
    Access to information in deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0343904.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    
20. PAVON R, Parra S, Rubio FJ, Feliu M, et al
    Assessment of physical status and analysis of lipidomic and metabolomic alterations in patients with Post-COVID-19 condition.
    PLoS One. 2026;21:e0341192.
    PubMed         Abstract available
    
    

    
    Virology

21. BARMAN S, Iyengar R, Miller L, Turner JCM, et al
    Reverse genetic rescue and propagation of human influenza A(H3N2) master virus seed in HEK-293 suspension cells.
    Virology. 2026;618:110862.
    PubMed         Abstract available

Compartmentalized #cytokine #networks and systemic immune remodeling in #bovine mammary #H5N1 #infection.

 

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 has recently expanded its mammalian host range; in 2024, genotype B3.13 emerged in U.S. dairy cattle with pronounced mammary tropism. In the past, Influenza A virus immunology has been characterized primarily in respiratory infection models, whereas this study delineates immune responses after intramammary infection. An intramammary H5N1 challenge in Jersey cows in the early dry-off period enabled integration of dose- and compartment-resolved (alveoli versus teat cistern) cytokine and chemokine profiles with peripheral leukocyte dynamics and H5/N1-specific antibody responses. Infection-induced quarter-restricted, monophasic inflammatory networks peaking at 3 to 7 days post-infection, coordinated peripheral myeloid expansion and IFN gamma competent lymphocyte activation, and rising antibody titers across quarters.

Competing Interest Statement

The J.A.R. laboratory received support from Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Xing Technologies, Genus plc and Zoetis, outside of the reported work. J.A.R. is an inventor of patents and patent applications on the use of antivirals and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of virus infections, owned by Kansas State University.

Funder Information Declared

Funding for this study was partially provided through grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Emerging Pathogens Initiative (NCW), the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Transition Fund from the State of Kansas, the BRI Endowed Professorship in Animal Infectious Diseases (JAR), the AMP Core of the Center of Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under award number P20GM130448 (JAR, IM), and the NIAID supported Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR, contract number 75N93021C00016 to JAR).

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.06.710145v1

____

Association of avian #biodiversity and #WNV circulation in #Culex mosquitoes in Emilia-Romagna, #Italy

 

Abstract

Background

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic arbovirus maintained in a transmission cycle between Culex mosquitoes and birds, occasionally spilling over into humans. The impact of avian biodiversity on WNV circulation remains debated, with studies reporting both negative and positive correlations (dilution and amplification effects respectively) across different settings. In Europe, this relationship remains largely unexplored, particularly in regions with high WNV transmission, such as Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy.

Methods

We explored the association between avian biodiversity and WNV circulation in Culex mosquitoes in Emilia-Romagna using 11 years (2013–2023) of entomological surveillance data paired with two avian data sources. We calculated avian biodiversity indices (Shannon’s, Simpson’s, and Chao2) from observation records from the Farmland Bird Index project and applied linear regression models to assess their relationship with WNV detection frequency. Moreover, we used Bayesian spatiotemporal regression models and gridded weekly avian abundance estimates from the eBird project to analyse the associations between avian species richness indices and WNV transmission risk quantified by vector index (VI) at 68 geolocated mosquito traps across the region.

Results

We observed consistent negative associations between WNV detection frequency in the Culex population and avian biodiversity indices, supporting the dilution effect hypothesis (DEH). We found that non-passerine species richness was negatively associated with VI while passerine species richness showed a positive association after adjusting for covariates and spatial random effects. These findings suggest that passerines may amplify WNV transmission, whereas the presence of non-passerine species is associated with reductions in WNV circulation.

Significance

This study provides the first empirical evidence supporting the DEH for WNV in Europe. These findings have important implications for biodiversity conservation and integrated public health surveillance activities across Europe.

Source: 

Link: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014076

____

Rapid #Risk #Assessment, Acute Event of Potential Public Health Concern: #Nipah Virus #Infection - Global (#WHO, Mar. 6 '26, summary)

 

{Summary}

Risk Statement  

-- This Rapid Risk Assessment (RRA) evaluates the global public health risk posed by Nipah virus (NiV), considering the distinct epidemiological profiles of 

- i) enzootic countries, where recurrent zoonotic spillover and limited human‑to‑human transmission continue to occur, and 

- ii) non‑enzootic regions, where the risk remains primarily associated with infected travellers or importation of infected livestock. 

-- The assessment considers the ecological and seasonal drivers of spillover, the constrained efficiency of human‑to‑human transmission, and the capacity of health and community systems to detect, confirm, and rapidly contain outbreaks. 

-- Given that NiV has not demonstrated sustained transmission beyond outbreak settings and no human cases have ever been reported outside Asia, the global risk is largely determined by localized outbreaks in endemic areas and the very low likelihood of onward transmission following importation. 

-- NiV activity remains geographically limited, with human cases occurring primarily in the South-East Asia Region with limited outbreaks in the Western Pacific Region. 

-- The epidemiological profile of NiV is characterized by low frequency, localized outbreaks, occurring predominantly in Bangladesh and India, with additional historical events reported in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. 

-- Bangladesh has reported sporadic cases almost annually since 2001, largely associated with consumption of raw date palm sap, following a well‑defined seasonal pattern between December and April. 

-- India reported its first outbreak in 2001 and has documented near-annual cases in Kerala since 2018 with sporadic cases reported in West Bengal. 

-- In 2025, eight laboratory‑confirmed cases were detected across Bangladesh (four) and India (four). 

-- As of March 2026, three sporadic cases have been reported in the two countries, two in India and one in Bangladesh. 

-- Malaysia (1998–1999), Singapore (1999), and the Philippines (2014) experienced outbreaks previously but have not reported any additional NiV events recently. 

-- Although NiV has a high case‑fatality ratio (40–75%), transmission remains limited in scale, typically arising from isolated spillover events linked to fruit bats, contaminated fruits or fruit products, or occasionally infected livestock. 

-- Human‑to‑human transmission has been documented, particularly in Bangladesh and India. However, sustained community transmission or multi‑country spread has never been observed. 

KEY RISK FACTORS 

{1.} Risk to Enzootic Countries  

• Sporadic zoonotic spillover events occur due to contact with infected bats or consumption of contaminated fruits or fruit products.  

• Serological evidence of NiV circulation beyond affected areas in Bangladesh and India (Kerala and West Bengal), suggest that spillover could potentially occur in other areas where infected bats are present. 

• Human‑to‑human transmission, although documented, is limited to close contacts and has not resulted in widespread community transmission. 

• The case‑fatality ratio is high; however, the total number of reported cases remains low. 

• Health care settings may amplify transmission when infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are insufficient.  

• Spillover from other susceptible animal hosts (pigs, horses) cannot be ruled out, nor the risk of importation through infected livestock, though probably very low.  

{2.} Risk to Non‑Enzootic Regions (reservoirs may be present; no human cases to date) 

• Risk is primarily associated with an infected traveller. 

• No human NiV transmission has ever been reported outside affected Asian countries. 

• In settings without established animal reservoirs or intermediate hosts, onward transmission following importation is unlikely and would require close, prolonged contact. 

• Historical spread via movement of infected animals (e.g., pigs exported from Malaysia to Singapore in 1999) demonstrates that animal trade–related spillover is possible, however current evidence suggests that the risk under present animal‑health and trade practices is likely very low.  

{3.} Risk to Countries Without Known Bat Reservoirs (reservoirs absent; no human cases) 

• Importation via travellers (and, exceptionally, livestock) may occur and while secondary transmission is possible it is unlikely, given the absence of established animal reservoirs and the need for close contact for human‑to‑human spread. 

{4.} Risk to Travellers 

• Travellers to affected areas face a very low but non‑zero risk, particularly if they have direct exposure to fruit bats, consume contaminated food products, or come into contact with other infected animals, including pigs or horses. 

• Returning infected travellers pose a limited risk of onward transmission due to low NiV transmissibility. 

{5.} Risk Determinants 

• Ecological presence of Pteropodidae bats in enzootic countries.  

• Presence of potential intermediary hosts that could transmit to humans (e.g., pigs, horses).  

• Cultural and dietary practices (e.g., consumption of raw date palm sap). 

• Exposure in health care settings with inadequate IPC measures. 

• Limited awareness among communities and health workers. 

• Close, unprotected contact with sick/deceased individuals, including local practice traditions. 

{6.} Response Capacity 

• Countries with recurring outbreaks have strengthened their surveillance systems, diagnostics, and clinical management capacity. 

• No licensed vaccines or specific antiviral treatments are currently available; however, several vaccine and therapeutics candidates are in development, supported by CEPI and WHO‑aligned research priorities.  

• Rapid case isolation and contact tracing remain effective measures in preventing wider spread. 

{7.} Confidence in Available Information 

-- Overall confidence is moderate, due to: 

• Under‑detection of sporadic spillover events in rural areas. 

• Ongoing uncertainty about the full geographic distribution of bat reservoirs and potential intermediate hosts.  

-- Based on current evidence, characterized by rare outbreaks, limited human‑to‑human transmission, no sustained global spread, and improving response capacity, the overall global public health risk posed by NiV is assessed as Low with a Moderate level of confidence in the available information.  

-- This rapid risk assessment will be updated as new epidemiological, clinical, or virological information becomes available. 

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-rapid-risk-assessment---nipah-virus---global---version-1

____

Deep untargeted #wastewater #metagenomic #sequencing from #sewersheds across the #USA

 

Abstract

Wastewater monitoring enables non-invasive, population-scale tracking of community infections independent of healthcare-seeking behavior and clinical diagnosis. Metagenomic sequencing extends this capability by enabling broad, pathogen-agnostic detection, genomic characterization, and identification of novel or unexpected threats. Here, we present data from CASPER (the Coalition for Agnostic Sequencing of Pathogens from Environmental Reservoirs), a U.S.-based wastewater metagenomic sequencing network designed for deep, untargeted pathogen monitoring at national scale. This release includes 1,206 samples collected between December 2023 and December 2025 from 27 sites across nine states, covering 13 million people. Deep sequencing (~1 billion read pairs per sample) generated 1.2 trillion read pairs (347 terabases), enabling detection of even rare taxa, with CASPER representing 66% of all untargeted wastewater sequencing data currently available on the NCBI Sequence Read Archive. Virus abundance trends correlate with nationwide wastewater PCR and clinical data for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and respiratory syncytial virus, while the pathogen-agnostic approach captures emerging threats, including avian influenza H5N1 during initial dairy cattle outbreaks, West Nile virus, and measles, among hundreds of viral taxa. As the largest publicly available untargeted wastewater sequencing dataset to date, CASPER provides a shared and growing resource for pathogen surveillance and microbial ecology.

Competing Interest Statement

D.H.O. received support for this project from Inkfish and Heart of Racing. D.H.O. is a managing partner of Pathogenuity LLC, a consultancy that advises on topics including environmental monitoring for pathogens. P.C.S. hold several patents related to diagnostic and surveillance technologies and is a co-founder and equity holder in Delve Biosciences and Lyra Labs, a board member and equity holder in Polaris Genomics, and an equity holder of NextGenJane. P.C.S was formerly a co-founder of Sherlock Biosciences and board member of Danaher Corporation, until December 2024. All potential conflicts are managed in accordance with institutional policy.

Funding Statement

L.J.J. was supported by the Draper Scholar program at The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. J.K., O.S.H., R.F-O., S.L.G., W.J.B., H.B., D.P.R., K.S., J.D.F., and M.R.M. received support for this work from Coefficient Giving via a gift to SecureBio. C.R., A.T-M., E.E.C., M.C.J., and D.H.O. were supported by Inkfish and Heart of Racing. L.J.J., J.P., and P.C.S. were supported by the CDC Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence (contract INTF5104H78W22195346) and a CDC Broad Agency Announcement (contract 75D30123C17983). J.E.L. and G.A. were supported by a subcontract under CDC Broad Agency Announcement contract 75D30123C17983. H.M.S-G. and A.A. were supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U01DA053941, and by the University of Miami Initiative on Virology and Infectious Disease and SecureBio. R.P. was supported by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health. This work used Expanse at the San Diego Supercomputer Center through allocation BIO240238 to J.A.R. from the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) program, which is supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants #2138259, #2138286, #2138307, #2137603, and #2138296.

Source: 

Link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.05.26345726v1

____

#Report of the 49th meeting of #WHO Global Advisory #Committee on #Vaccine #Safety 27–28 November 2025 (Excerpt, Mar. 6 '26)

 

{Excerpt}

(...)

COVID-19 current vaccine safety status and insights 

-- Since 2021, GACVS has regularly reviewed the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including through global pharmacovigilance data and dedicated reviews of myocarditis, pregnancy outcomes and other adverse events of special interest (AESI). 

-- The most recent updates reaffirmed that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks across all groups and advised continued monitoring for younger males and follow-up of persons who have reported vaccine-associated myocarditis. 

-- Many individuals have received three or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine. 

-- Some adverse events – such as myocarditis – seem to occur mainly after the second dose of mRNA COVID- 19 vaccines. 

-- However, the outcomes were less severe in persons who developed myocarditis after vaccination compared to those unvaccinated and following infections, including SARS- CoV-2. 

-- Also, children under six months of age seem to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection along with people over the age of 65 years. 

-- WHO has recommended continued vaccination for high-priority groups while acknowledging that gaps remain in the evidence on the safety of repeated dosing, long-term outcomes, and in subgroups such as children and pregnant women. 

-- As of October 2025, for all COVID-19 vaccines, there were only 32 cases of perturbation of fetal development in EudraVigilance, of which most were reported with the original vaccine strains. 

-- An analysis of safety of protein-based COVID-19 vaccines by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) showed that as of November 2025 there were almost 6 million reports for all COVID-19 vaccines in UMC’s VigiBase. 

-- Of these, 16 548 reports concerned updated COVID-19 vaccine variants; among these were 5085 reports for updated protein-subunit vaccines. 

-- Around 17.4% of these were serious, and 50 reported a fatal outcome. 

-- Most reports were for the variant NVX CoV 2373 and most deaths were older vaccinees aged 75 years or more. 

-- GACVS reviewed findings from the Scandinavian collaboration called SCOPE (Scandinavian studies of COvid-19 in PrEgnancy). 

-- Findings showed no increased risk of adverse pregnancy, maternal or neonatal outcomes after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. 

-- As of September 2025, the recommendation for vaccination in pregnancy was revised to apply only to specific high-risk groups. 

-- A case-control study by SCOPE of all women with a miscarriage before 14 weeks and all women with a primary care-based confirmation of an ongoing pregnancy in the first trimester revealed no evidence of increased risk of early pregnancy loss after COVID-19 vaccination. 

-- A further investigation of COVID-19 infection and vaccination with mRNA vaccines during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of congenital anomalies, in a population-based cohort of 150 000 live-born infants in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, showed no increased risk of major congenital anomalies among infants whose mothers were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first trimester. 

-- A SCOPE investigation of the association between COVID-19 vaccination and several pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of almost 160 000 singleton pregnancies between January 2021 and 2022 in Norway and Sweden showed that vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy was not associated with any of the studied adverse pregnancy outcomes. 

-- In another SCOPE study of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and the risk of severe postpartum haemorrhage, including more than 300 000 single-term deliveries in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, no evidence was found of an association between COVID-19 vaccination at any time during pregnancy and severe postpartum hemorrhage. 

-- Finally, SCOPE investigated neonatal outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination with mRNA vaccine during pregnancy in a cohort of almost 200 000 infants in Norway and Sweden. 

-- Again, no increased odds were found of any adverse neonatal outcomes and neonatal mortality. 

-- In consideration of the evidence presented, GACVS members agreed the following: 

- Repeated-dose safety (including boosters with variant-containing vaccines): 

* Current evidence remains reassuring, with no new safety signals recently identified. 

- Safety of protein-based vaccines: 

* While generally well tolerated, reported adverse events include a proportion of serious individual case safety reports (ICSRs) in the global database. Several potential signals (e.g. tinnitus, antibody-dependent enhancement, thrombosis) require further evaluation. Additional data collection and analysis are therefore recommended to strengthen the evidence base for these vaccines. 

- Long-term outcomes of known risks (e.g. myocarditis, pregnancy outcomes): 

* Myocarditis continues to occur predominantly in younger adults, typically with mild-to- moderate severity and most frequently after the second dose. Longer follow-up studies are needed to define the long-term prognosis and risks of revaccination in affected individuals. 

- Subgroup-specific safety (children, young males, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women): 

* Evidence to date shows no harmful effects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, including no increase in congenital anomalies, adverse perinatal outcomes, or some post-natal complications. Some studies even suggest lower odds of intracranial haemorrhage, cerebral ischaemia and neonatal mortality among infants of vaccinated mothers. 

- Safety monitoring during the transition to endemic COVID-19 vaccination: 

* Continued vigilance is required, particularly regarding more recent variant-adapted vaccines which remain safe on the basis of current data. Enhanced monitoring of protein-based vaccines is important given the comparatively limited evidence and the presence of identified risks that warrant further investigation.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/publications/journals/weekly-epidemiological-record

____

#USA, #Wastewater Data for Avian #Influenza #H5 (CDC, Mar. 6 '26)

 

{Excerpt}

Time Period: February 22, 2026 - February 28, 2026

-- H5 Detection: 9 site(s) (2.0%)

-- No Detection: 443 site(s) (98.0%)

-- No samples in last week: 147 site(s)

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html

____

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

 

Backyard poultry in the Bijelo Polje Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7334

____

Optimizing an avian #influenza #vaccine using a novel Bacterial Enzymatic Combinatorial Chemistry (BECC) TLR4 #adjuvant

 

Abstract

The development of broadly protective and dose-sparing influenza vaccines remains a critical challenge, particularly for zoonotic H5N1 strains with pandemic potential. This study evaluates BECC470s, a synthetic TLR4 adjuvant, for its ability to enhance the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant H5 hemagglutinin (rHA) vaccination in murine models. BECC470s-adjuvanted rHA elicited robust IgG1/IgG2a antibody responses and complete survival following homologous 2004 H5N1 challenge in a prime–boost model. Although BECC470s broadened antibody binding to both variable HA head and conserved stalk domains by ELISA, functional neutralizing antibody responses were restricted to the matched 2004 H5N1 isolate, with no detectable neutralization of H5N1 viruses isolated in 2022 or 2024. These data indicate that BECC470s enhances the magnitude and apparent breadth of binding antibody responses while maintaining strain-specific neutralizing activity, supporting its potential as an adjuvant for next-generation influenza vaccines while underscoring the need for further optimization to achieve true cross-neutralizing protection.

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.03.709477v1

____

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

{England, North Yorkshire}

22.7k commercial pheasant rearing premises. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7337

____

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

 

Fourteen Coscoroba Swans in the Región de Valparaíso, Comuna Santo Domingo.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7336

____

Stabilization of the #H5 clade 2.3.4.4b #hemagglutinin improves #vaccine-elicited neutralizing #antibody responses in mice

 

Abstract

Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza from H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has expanded in recent years to infect large populations of birds and mammals, heightening the risk of a human pandemic. Influenza viruses that are adapted to transmission in birds and a variety of mammals tend to have a less stable hemagglutinin (HA) than seasonal influenza viruses, enabling membrane fusion at comparatively higher pH levels. Here, we combined five mutations in the H5 HA that increased its melting temperature and promoted stable closure of the HA trimer. Structural analysis by cryo–electron microscopy revealed that the stabilizing mutations create several new hydrophobic interactions while maintaining the local HA structure. We found that vaccinating mice with stabilized H5 HA immunogens resulted in higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titers than nonstabilized comparators. Epitope mapping of vaccine-elicited polyclonal antibody responses using negative-stain electron microscopy and deep mutational scanning showed that site E on the side of the HA receptor binding domain was immunodominant across all groups; however, the stabilized immunogens shifted responses toward the receptor binding site, which elicited a higher proportion of neutralizing antibodies. Consistent with these findings, stabilized H5 HA immunogens delivered as messenger RNA–lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccines protected mice against H5N1 challenge. These findings highlight that H5 HA–stabilizing mutations enhance the quality of antibody responses across different vaccine formats, underscoring their potential to improve pandemic preparedness vaccines targeting viruses from this widely circulating clade.

Source: 

Link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aea8770

____

#Dairy Sites with #Milk Exposure Are Most Likely to Have #Detection of #Influenza A Virus

 

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of the H5N1 subtype has been infecting U.S. dairy cattle and spreading among dairy operations since March 2024. H5N1 surveillance systems for dairies are needed, but information on whether environmental sampling can inform these systems is lacking. To guide a surveillance framework, we determined the environmental sites with Influenza A virus (IAV) detection on H5N1-affected dairies (n = 25) in four states (California, Colorado, Michigan, and Ohio) and explored sample characteristics that may have influenced detection. A total of 581 samples from dairy environmental sites were characterized for IAV RNA via rRT-PCR, and classified into six categories. A total of 94 samples (16.2%) had IAV detected, and the Ct values measured from these samples were typically higher than those measured in bulk tank milk from a subset of sampled herds. A majority of IAV detections were made from the following site categories: milking equipment/personal protective equipment, parlor surfaces, and wastewater/lagoons/manure. These results suggest that environmental sites most likely to be contaminated with IAV on dairies are those with exposure to milk. Meanwhile, mixed effect logistic modeling showed that days into an outbreak that samples were collected was associated with IAV detection. These results provide a framework within which to continue the assessment of environmental sampling as a surveillance tool for dairy H5N1. This framework can be strengthened by studies that perform further IAV viral characterization and collect samples from sites prior to, during, and after H5N1 outbreak periods.

Source: 

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/14/3/584

____

Evaluation of an #H5 #influenza virus #mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) #vaccine in lactating dairy #cows

 

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus has recently emerged in dairy cattle in the United States. The virus replicates primarily in the mammary gland of infected cattle, leading to dramatic reductions in milk production. It is thought that the virus transmits from animal to animal through viral shedding in milk, and therefore, vaccines that decrease the amount of virus in milk can potentially limit the current outbreak and reduce the risk of H5N1 spillover into humans. Here, we assess the immunogenicity and efficacy of a clade 2.3.4.4b H5 mRNA-LNP vaccine in lactating dairy cows. We found that the H5 mRNA-LNP vaccine elicited robust antibody responses in sera and milk and significantly reduced viral replication and disease caused by clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 intramammary infection.

Competing Interest Statement

S.E.H. and D.W. are co-inventors on patents that describe the use of nucleoside-modified mRNA as a platform to deliver therapeutic proteins and as a vaccine platform. D.W. is also named on patents describing the use of lipid nanoparticles and lipid compositions for nucleic acid delivery. S.E.H. reports receiving consulting fees from Sanofi, Pfizer, Lumen, Novavax, and Merck. JDB consults for Apriori Bio, Invivyd, GSK, Pfizer, and the Vaccine Company. JDB and BD are inventors on Fred Hutch licensed patents related to viral deep mutational scanning.

Funder Information Declared

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 75N93021C00015

United States Department of Agriculture, https://ror.org/01na82s61, 5030-32000-231-000-D, 3200-231-112-I

United States Department of Energy, https://ror.org/01bj3aw27, DE-AC05-06OR23100

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.03.709308v1

____

#Pathogenesis of #H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b in dry Jersey #cows following intramammary inoculation shows within-host compartmentalization

 

Abstract

Dairy cattle have emerged as a prolific amplifying host for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b and a new source for cross-species and zoonotic transmission. Independent introductions of H5N1 with unclear exposure routes have been reported in several dairy herds across the U.S. These events escalate the pandemic potential of HPAIV H5N1 as transmission within and between mammalian species present opportunities for mammalian adapted H5N1 viruses to emerge. Although more than 1000 herds have been infected, bovine H5N1 influenza virus pathogenesis, transmission, and evolution in dairy cattle remains not well characterized. Working with H5N1-infected lactating cattle in high containment has been a major challenge due to the required infrastructure and logistics associated with housing, husbandry, and waste management for this model. Thus, developing alternative bovine models that maintain biological relevance while reducing operational complexity is warranted. Here, we evaluate the susceptibility of lactating Jersey cattle in the dry-off period, and characterize the effect of inoculation dose on the mammary pathogenicity of HPAIV H5N1 genotype B3.13. The results of this study demonstrate that dairy cows 21 days into the dry-off period are highly susceptible to HPAIV H5N1, recapitulating the severe clinical and pathological outcomes observed in infected lactating cows under experimental conditions and in field cases. We also observed an association between virus dose and the onset and severity of mastitis in individual udder-quarters and compartmentalized clonal expansion of variant populations. Overall, this study demonstrates that dry cows can provide a feasible model to study H5N1 virology, pathology, and humoral immunology in dairy cows.

Competing Interest Statement

The J.A.R. laboratory received support from Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Genus plc, Xing Technologies and Zoetis outside of the reported work. J.A.R. is inventor on patents and patent applications, owned by Kansas State University, on the use of antivirals and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of virus infections. The other authors declare no competing interests.

Funder Information Declared

This work was supported by the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Transition Fund from the State of Kansas, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service’s NBAF Scientist Training Program, the AMP and MCB Cores of the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID) , and the NIAID supported Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR, contract number 75N93021C00016 and subcontract A21-0702-S001). NIGMS. The sequencing infrastructure used in the study was funded by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (AP20VSD&B000C086), while sequencing methodology development was funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (award no. 2021-68014-33635). H.M.M. was supported in part by NIAID T32055397.

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.04.709389v1

____

#Panzootic #H5 #influenza viruses acquired #resistance to human head interface #antibodies

 

Abstract

Antibodies to the influenza hemagglutinin protein (HA) confer the strongest protection against infection. Immunity elicited by endemic, seasonal, human viruses is correlated with diminished disease severity and death caused by antigenically novel viruses. Antibodies to the HA head interface are broadly protective and abundant in human serologic and memory repertoires. Notably, few head interface antibodies from H5 naive donors are reported to bind H5 HAs. We find head interface antibodies engage a wide range of H5 isolates but fail to engage most isolates from the goose Guangdong (GsGd) lineage. We identify a single substitution, P221S, largely dictates antibody binding. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that P221S arose in a Chinese avian reservoir by the year 2000. Descendants of these viruses have caused the current global panzootic and have achieved sustained mammal-mammal transmission in farmed and wild mammals. Our findings demonstrate that viral evolution in non-mammalian species can, by chance, produce viruses that resist broadly protective human antibody responses.

Source: 

Link: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1014005

____

#Statement of the 44th #Meeting of the #Polio #IHR #Emergency Committee (#WHO, summary)

 

{4 March 2026, excerpts}

The 44th meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR or Regulations) on the international spread of poliovirus was convened by the WHO Director-General on 14 January 2026 with eight out of nine Committee members and the adviser meeting via video conference with affected countries, supported by the WHO Secretariat. 

The Emergency Committee reviewed the latest epidemiological data on wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in the context of the global targets to interrupt endemic WPV1 transmission in 2026 and to stop cVDPV2 outbreaks by 2028 with subsequent certification of WPV1 eradication and cVDPV2 elimination. 

Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: 

- Afghanistan, 

- Angola, 

- Germany, 

- Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 

- Namibia, 

- Pakistan and 

- Papua New Guinea.

Amendments to the IHR, adopted by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, through resolution WHA77.17 in June 2024, entered into force, generally, on 19 September 2025.

Key amendments to the IHR include, inter alia, broader poliovirus notification requirements; the introduction of the determination of “pandemic emergency” , a higher level of global public health alert with respect to a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC); measures to strengthen equitable access to relevant health products; and recognition of health documents in non-digital and digital formats.

(...)

Conclusion

The Committee unanimously concluded that the risk of international spread of polioviruses continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended extending the Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.

The Committee, after a thorough review of the epidemiological and programmatic situation, unanimously concluded that the event does not constitute a pandemic emergency.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-03-2026-statement-of-the-forty-fourth-meeting-of-the-polio-ihr-emergency-committee

____