ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract In April 2024, Vietnam confirmed its first human case of influenza A( H9N2 ) in a 37-year-old man, marking a critical point in regional infectious disease monitoring and response. This case underscores the importance of robust surveillance systems and One Health collaboration in managing emerging zoonotic threats. Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-1146_article _____

Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to clinicians and laboratories due to sporadic human infections with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity .  CDC is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza .  Clinicians and laboratorians are reminded to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and, going forward, to now expedite the subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit (ICU). This approach can help prevent delays in identifying human infections with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses, supporting optimal patient care and timely infection control and case investigation. Background A panzootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1...

ABSTRACT Respiratory and encephalitic virus infections represent a significant risk to public health globally . Detailed investigations of immunological responses and disease outcomes during sequential virus infections are rare. Here, we define the impact of influenza virus infection on a subsequent virus encephalitis . We used a model system in which mice were given influenza A virus (IAV) infection 8 days prior to Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infection (IAV→SFV). IAV infection clearly attenuated the subsequent SFV infection with reduced titers of infectious SFV and lower levels of cytokines and chemokines in the central nervous system ( CNS ). In contrast, the SFV viremia in both IAV→SFV and SFV-only mice was comparable. Increased type I interferon (IFN) levels in the CNS after IAV infection might have contributed to some level of protection towards SFV infection in the CNS, suggesting that early control of SFV replication in the CNS during IAV→SFV infection led to reduced adaptive res...

Abstract The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis , family Flaviviridae ) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species . Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) with encephalitis and attached ticks , present over a wide area in the Alps . Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria , and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy . The virus strains exhibit 94.8–97.3% nucleotide identities to each other and are more closely related to Louping ill viruses (LIV; Orthoflavivirus loupingi ; 90–92% identities) than to TBEV-Eur (less than 88%). The chamois-derived virus strains, tentatively termed “ Alpine chamois encephalitis virus ”, form a well-supported independent genetic clade with Spanish goat encephalitis virus , clearly separated from other LIV. This supports its designation a...

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtype H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) have spread worldwide and caused the death of hundreds of millions of wild birds and domestic poultry . Moreover, spill over of H5N1 HPAIV from infected birds to more than 50 different mammalian species including humans has been recorded. While, licensed vaccines for protection of avian or mammalian species are not yet available, a few candidate vaccines are being trialled . Here, we report on the experimental vaccination of chickens and captive wild birds using a propagation-defective vesicular stomatitis virus ( VSV ), in which the essential envelope glycoprotein (G) protein gene was replaced by a modified hemagglutinin gene derived from a clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 isolated in 2022 in the animal park of Bern, Switzerland. VSV∆G(H5mb) was produced on helper cells providing the VSV G protein in trans. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens that were immunized twice via the intramuscular route with adju...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was confirmed on one poultry premises in Culebra Municipality, Puerto Rico . This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in poultry from Puerto Rico. Full genotyping confirms the virus as a reassortant of the A3 genotype with North American wild bird lineage viruses ( AM PB2, PA, NP ). Comparisons of the virus to other recent detections from wild birds and North America reports are in progress. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with State Animal Health and Wildlife Officials, are conducting comprehensive epidemiological investigations and enhanced surveillance in response to the HPAI H5N1 related events. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6185 _____

{Excerpt} HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division has detected H5 avian influenza (bird flu) at very low levels in wastewater samples collected at the Līhuʻe Wastewater Treatment Plant on Kauaʻi. The first detection was from a sample collected on Dec. 11, 2024 , that was so low that it was not considered a positive result.  Samples collected on Dec. 18, 2024 and Jan. 8, 2025 had similar detections.  While none is considered a positive result , the consistent very low-level detections indicate a high likelihood that H5 bird flu virus is on Kauaʻi.  No H5 virus infections of birds, dairy cows, or humans have been detected on Kauaʻi to date.  Detection of infected birds in the state has so far been limited to Oʻahu. The H5 bird flu viruses include the H5N1 subtype of bird flu virus that has spread globally in birds since its initial discovery in 1996 and recently has been detected in several mammal species including dairy cows. Wast...

Current Bird Flu Situation Updated January 15, 2025​ --  ​​​​The current risk to the public remains low.  ​​ -- No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California.  -- People rarely get bird flu , but those who interact​ with infected dairy cows, poultry, or wildlife ​have a greater risk of infection.​​ -- Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume. Pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus.​​ -- CDPH is working to protect public health related to bird flu. We monitor infection data, evolving science, and the people affected. Our knowledge will change as we learn more. We are committed to reducing the impact to those at highest risk. Human Cases in Califo​rnia​ -- ​​​​​​​Confirmed Human Cases​ :  38 {+1} ​These numbers were last updated on January 15, 2025. California has 1 additional probable case with dairy cow exposure that meets the  Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) ​probable case definiti...

{Edited} Current H5N1 bird flu risk People who are at increased risk include : -- Farmers and workers who work with infected animals or their byproducts -- Backyard bird flock owners -- Animal care workers (e.g., veterinarians, wild animal facility workers) -- Animal health and public health responders. But what factors would influence a change to CDC’s current risk assessment for the general public? What follows is a description of the epidemiological and virologic characteristics of the avian influenza situation that CDC scientists are tracking to formulate the agency’s immediate avian flu risk assessment and further calibrating the avian flu response to protect the public’s health: -- Virus transmission : How is virus spreading and how efficiently does it spread? -- Disease severity : How ill do people with H5N1 bird flu infections become? -- Case distribution: How widespread are cases? -- Effects of genetic changes in the virus : What is the impact of genetic changes to the virus o...

{Excerpt} Exposure Source [ State -  Exposure Associated with Commercial Agriculture and Related Operations: Dairy Herds (Cattle) - Poultry Farms and Culling Operations -- Other Animal Exposure† - Exposure Source Unknown‡ - State Total ] 1) California -  36 - 0 - 0 - 2 -  38 {+1} 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) Oregon -  0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -  1 8) Texas -  1  - 0 - 0 - 0 -  1 9) Washington -  0 - 11 - 0 - 0 -  11 10) Wisconsin -  0 - 1 - 0 - 0 -  1 --  Source Total -  40 - 23 - 1 - 3 -  67 {+1} NOTE : One additional case was previously detected in a poultry w...

Abstract Since early 2022 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus infections have been reported in wild aquatic birds and poultry throughout the United States (US) with spillover into several mammalian species 1-6. In March 2024, HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was first detected in dairy cows in Texas , US and continues to circulate on dairy farms in multiple states7,8. Milk production and quality are diminished in infected dairy cows, with high virus titers in milk raising concerns of exposure to mammals including humans through consumption9-12. Here we investigated routes of infection with bovine HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in cynomolgus macaques , a surrogate model for human infection13. We show that intranasal or intratracheal inoculation of macaques could cause systemic infection resulting in mild and severe respiratory disease , respectively. In contrast, infection by the orogastric route resulted in limited infection and seroconversion of macaques which remained subclinical...

Abstract Neurological manifestations associated with human parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections are rare and varied. Acute encephalitis and encephalopathy are the most common, accounting for 38.8% of all neurological manifestations associated with human B19V. Herein, we report on the clinical features of 13 laboratory-confirmed human cases of B19V-associated encephalitis in Senegal in the framework of a hospital-based surveillance of acute viral encephalitis conducted from 2021 to 2023. Overall, B19V was detected from 13 cerebrospinal fluid samples using specific real time PCR. The mean age was 16.7 years among B19V-positive patients, with a higher prevalence in 0–5-year-old children and the sex ratio (male/female) was 2.25. The B19V-positive patients mainly exhibited hypoleukocytosis, normal glycorrhachia, and normal proteinorrachia in the cerebrospinal fluid. While the main neurological symptoms included meningeal and infectious syndromes . Furthermore, three complete B19V genome sequenc...

 A fattening turkeys farm in Baden-Württemberg Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6188 _____

Abstract The ongoing circulation of influenza A H5N1 in the United States has raised concerns of a pandemic caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza. Although the United States has stockpiled and is prepared to produce millions of vaccine doses to address an H5N1 pandemic, currently circulating H5N1 viruses contain multiple mutations within the immunodominant head domain of hemagglutinin (HA) compared to the antigens used in stockpiled vaccines . It is unclear if these stockpiled vaccines will need to be updated to match the contemporary H5N1 strains. Here we show that a replicating RNA vaccine expressing the HA of an H5N1 isolated from a US dairy cow confers complete protection against homologous lethal challenge in mice. A repRNA encoding the HA of a clade 1 H5 from 2004 (A/Vietnam/1203/2004) as utilized by some stockpiled vaccines, confers only partial protection . Our data highlight the utility of nucleic acid vaccines to be rapidly updated to match emergent viruses of concern w...

Abstract The Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 swine influenza virus (SIV) possesses the capacity to instigate the next influenza pandemic , owing to its heightened affinity for the human-type α-2,6 sialic acid (SA) receptor . Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the switch in receptor binding preferences of EA H1N1 SIV remain elusive. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen utilizing EA H1N1 SIV in porcine kidney cells. Knocking out the enzyme gamma glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) reduces virus replication in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the carboxylation modification of viral haemagglutinin (HA) and the adhesion of progeny viruses, ultimately impeding the replication of EA H1N1 SIV. Furthermore, GGCX is revealed to be the determinant of the D225E substitution of EA H1N1 SIV, and GGCX-medicated carboxylation modification of HA 225E contributes to the receptor binding adaption of EA H1N1 SIV to the α-2,6 SA receptor. Taken together, our...

Description of the situation Introduction On 13 January 2025, WHO informed its Member States and IHR State Parties of an outbreak of suspected Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region of the United Republic of Tanzania using our secure web-based platform—the Event Information Site (EIS). Under the International Health Regulations, the EIS is used to issue rapid alerts to Member States of acute and rapidly developing public health risks and events with possible international implications. Summary of the situation On 10 January 2025, WHO received reliable reports from in-country sources regarding suspected cases of MVD in the Kagera region of the United Republic of Tanzania. Six people were reported to have been affected , five of whom had died . The cases presented with similar symptoms of headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhoea, haematemesis (vomiting with blood), malaise (body weakness) and, at a later stage of disease, external haemorrhage (bleeding from orifices). As of 1...

Abstract Influenza, a major “One Health” threat , has gained heightened attention following recent reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle and cow-to-human transmission in the USA. This review explores general aspects of influenza A virus (IAV) biology, its interactions with mammalian hosts, and discusses the key considerations for developing vaccines to prevent or curtail IAV infection in the bovine mammary gland and its spread through milk. Source: npj Vaccines,  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-025-01063-7 _____

WASHINGTON, January 13, 2025 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard poultry flock in Puerto Rico .   This is the first case of HPAI in domestic birds in Puerto Rico during this outbreak, which began in February 2022. Samples from the flock were tested and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS is working closely with animal health officials in Puerto Rico on a joint incident response and will provide appropriate support as requested.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the public health risk associated with these avian influenza detections in birds remains low.  As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution. As part of existi...

{Scotland} Backyard flock with 6 hens, approximately 5 months old. Increased mortality and other clinical signs reported. Official samples were H5N1 HPAI positive. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6186 _____

 {Excerpt} -- Avian influenza A(H9N2) : -- 1) Chongqing Municipality : An one-year-old girl with onset on December 13, 2024.  -- 2) Hubei  An eight-year-old girl with onset on November 27, 2024.  -- Avian influenza A(H10N3) :  -- 1) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region : A 23-year-old woman with onset on December 12, 2024.  Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR,  https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2025_avian_influenza_report_vol21_wk02.pdf _____