ETIDIOH - NEW

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is hereby transmitting the report of the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024, held on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET . Concurring with the advice unanimously expressed by the Committee during the meeting, the WHO Director-General determined that the upsurge of mpox 2024 continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and, accordingly, on 27 February 2025, issued temporary recommendations to States Parties. The WHO Director-General expresses his most sincere gratitude to the Chair, Members, and Advisors of the Committee. Proceedings of the meeting Sixteen (16) Members of, and two Advisors to, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) were convened by teleconference, via Zoom, on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET...

 A poultry farm in Centre Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6338 ____

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N9 of North American wild bird lineage was detected in a commercial broiler breeder chicken flock in Mississippi . Depopulation of the affected flock is in progress. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with State Animal Health and Wildlife Officials, are conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation and enhanced surveillance in response to the detection. A commercial broiler breeder premises {in Mississippi}. Clinical signs included increased mortality. Depopulation was completed 13 Mar 2025. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6340 ____

Abstract The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy cattle in the United States has affected nearly 900 dairy farms and resulted in at least 39 human infections, putting health authorities and the scientific community on high alert. Here we characterize the virus growth properties and host-pathogen interactions of an isolate obtained from a sick dairy cow in Texas in vitro and in vivo and compare it to an older HPAI isolate. Despite so far being associated with mild disease in human patients, the cattle H5N1 virus showed superior growth capability and rapid replication kinetics in a panel of human lung cell lines in vitro . In vivo, cattle H5N1 exhibited more intense pathogenicity in mice , with rapid lung pathology and high virus titers in the brain , accompanied by high mortality after challenge via different inoculation routes. Additionally, the cattle H5N1 demonstrated efficient antagonism of overexpressed RI...

  Am J Obstet Gynecol TAN YY, Loy EXH, Tan WZ, Tay AT, et al Long COVID-19 in pregnancy: increased risk but modest incidence following mild Omicron infection in a boosted obstetric cohort during endemicity. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Mar 10:S0002-9378(25)00147. PubMed           Abstract available BMJ IACOBUCCI G Covid-19: Gove tried to "circumvent" regulations to buy Dyson ventilators, inquiry hears. BMJ. 2025;388:r502. PubMed          Clin Infect Dis BARTOLETTI M, Mozaffari E, Amin AN, Doi Y, et al A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of remdesivir to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized patients: have the guidelines evolved with the evidence? Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Mar 11:ciaf111. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available COX SN, Roychoudhury P, Frivold C, Acker Z, et al Household Transmission and Genomic Diversity of Respiratory Syn...

  Biochemistry (Mosc) FILIPPOVA TA, Masamrekh RA, Farafonova TE, Khudoklinova YY, et al Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (M(pro)) Activity Based on Electrooxidation of Tyrosine Residue of a Model Peptide. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2025;90:120-131. PubMed           Abstract available BMC Pediatr JAYARATNE K, Illangasinghe P, Wanniarachchi S, Hettiarachchi D, et al Epidemic profile of COVID-19 child deaths in Sri Lanka: a retrospective nationwide analysis. BMC Pediatr. 2025;25:174. PubMed           Abstract available Cell XING L, Liu Z, Wang X, Liu Q, et al Early fusion intermediate of ACE2-using coronavirus spike acting as an antiviral target. Cell. 2025;188:1297-1314. PubMed           Abstract available J Epidemiol Community Health COSTE M, Prah JJ Applying the health capability profile: an analytical study of leading causes of death in the USA and of pressing...

Highlights •  H13 HAs exhibit binding specificity for fucosylate α2-3 sialosides. •  The 130-loop and K227 are critical for H13 HA binding specificity. •  Fucosylated α2-3 sialosides are widely distributed in slaty-backed gulls. Abstract Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) recognize α2-3 sialosides as receptors . Previous studies showed that the structural diversity within α2-3 sialosides is related to the host specificity of AIVs. H13 AIVs are primarily isolated from gulls , although almost all AIV subtypes have been isolated from ducks , the natural hosts of AIVs. To elucidate the molecular basis of the host specificity of H13 viruses to gulls, the receptor-binding specificity of H13 hemagglutinins (HAs) and the distribution of viral receptors in gulls were investigated. The results revealed that recombinant HA (rHA) of H13 viruses had a binding preference for fucosylated α2-3 sialosides, which were distributed widely in the respiratory tract and intestines of gulls but not ...

Abstract An exhausted antiviral immune response is observed in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-SARS-CoV-2 syndrome , also termed long COVID . In this study, potential mechanisms behind this exhaustion were investigated. First, the viral load of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human adenovirus (HAdV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was determined in sputum samples (n = 29) derived from ME/CFS patients (n = 13), healthy controls (n = 10), elderly healthy controls (n = 4), and immunosuppressed controls (n = 2). Secondly, autoantibodies (autoAbs) to type I interferon (IFN-I) in sputum were analyzed to possibly explain impaired viral immunity. We found that ME/CFS patients released EBV at a significantly higher level compared to controls (p = 0.0256). HHV6 was present in ~50% of all participants at the same level. HAdV was detected in two cases with immunosuppression an...

  Time Period: March 02 - March 08, 2025 - H5 Detection :  29 sites ( 6.2% ) - No Detection :  438 sites ( 93.8% ) - No samples in last week :  152 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html ____

{Summary} Pandemic influenza remains a significant global health threat, as signalled by the circulation and cross-species transmission of avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses from the clade 2.3.4.4b, including among dairy cattle in the USA since 2024. Although most of the reported human infections from the USA so far1,2 have been mild, the virus can change its profile rapidly. To reduce mortality and morbidity from influenza in humans, vaccines remain the most important intervention. (...) Source: Lancet Respiratory Medicine,  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(25)00052-9/fulltext?rss=yes ____

Abstract Background The direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy (LE) and years of life lost with and without disability remain unclear. Accounting for pre-pandemic trends in morbidity and mortality, we assessed these impacts in 18 European countries, for the years 2020–2022. Methods and Findings We used multi-state Markov modeling based on several data sources to track transitions of the population aged 35 or older between eight health states from disease-free, combinations of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, dementia, and disability, through to death . We quantified separately numbers and rates of deaths attributable to COVID-19 from those related to mortality from other causes during 2020–2022, and estimated the proportion of loss of life expectancy and years of life with and without disability that could have been avoided if the pandemic had not occurred. Estimates were disaggregated by COVID-19 versus non-COVID causes of deaths, calendar...

Captive birds: 39 chickens, 23 ducks, 17 pheasants, 4 swans, 3 guinea fowls, 3 geese, 2 pigeons, 1 jay, 1 falcon in Kharkiv Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6329 ____

Summary -- What is already known about this topic? -  Persons with occupational exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus–infected dairy cattle are at increased risk for infection. -- What is added by this report? -  During September 30–December 24, 2024, a total of 38 persons received a positive test result for HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in California ; 37 were dairy farm workers with occupational exposure to sick cows. One, a person aged <18 years with an undetermined exposure , was the first pediatric patient detected with influenza A(H5) infection in the United States. -- What are the implications for public health practice? -  Public health agencies should investigate influenza-like illness or conjunctivitis in workers with occupational exposure to animals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) virus. Thorough investigations of all human HPAI A(H5N1) virus infections are necessary to identify potential exposure sources, including monitoring the virus for co...

Abstract The novel H10N3 avian influenza virus (AIV) has infected four individuals since 2021 and caused severe respiratory damage , posing a significant threat to public health . However, its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our findings revealed that H10N3 infection induces severe lung damage and causes death in mice , even at low doses. The elevated levels of multiple pro-inflammatory factors in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly increased during infection, displaying hallmarks of a cytokine storm . Transcriptome sequencing further revealed systematic activation of inflammation-related pathways, predicting that viral infection induces multiple forms of programmed cell death , including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis . Protein-level validation showed that the activation of key cell death markers, including Caspase-3, GSDMD, and MLKL , significantly increased as the infection progressed, with their dynamic changes correlating strongly with the e...

Highlights •  Scientific question :  Cross-species transmission of influenza A viruses from swine to humans occurs occasionally because their tracheal epitheliums possess both sialic acid α-2,6-Gal and α-2,3-Gal receptors . In 2011, the first human case of swine influenza virus infection in the mainland of China was detected in Jiangsu Province . Subsequently, the Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus (EAH1N1 SIV) had sporadically crossed the host barrier and infected humans, raising public concern for its pandemic potential. •  Evidence before this study :  A/Jiangsu/1/2011 (H1N1v) was first discovered in 2011 and belongs to the G1 genotype. The G4 and G5 genotypes that appeared successively in 2013 are recombinant H1N1 swine influenza viruses. The EAH1N1 SIVs from 2016 to the present are dominated by the G4 genotype, with hemagglutination (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes derived from the EAH1N1 SIVs, non-structural protein (NS) genes derived from the trip...

Situation at a glance This is the bi-annual update on the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).  From 6 September 2024 to 28 February 2025, four laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection , including two deaths, were reported to WHO by the Ministry of Health of the KSA.  One of the four cases was a secondary case exposed to the virus in a healthcare facility (nosocomial transmission).  Close contacts of the four cases were followed up by the Ministry of Health.  No additional secondary cases have been detected.  The notification of these four cases does not alter the overall risk assessment, which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels.  The reporting of these cases shows that the virus continues to pose a threat in countries where it is circulating in dromedary camels, particularly those in the Middle East. Description...

Situation at a glance On 13 March 2025, the Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania declared the end of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak.  This declaration came after two consecutive incubation periods (a total of 42 days) since the last person confirmed with MVD died on 28 January 2025 and was given a safe and dignified burial, in accordance with WHO recommendations.  No new confirmed cases were reported since then.  The outbreak was declared on 20 January 2025 . As of 12 March 2025, two confirmed and eight probable cases were reported by the Ministry of Health from Biharamulo district in Kagera region. All 10 cases died (case fatality ratio 100%), including eight who died before the confirmation of the outbreak. A total of 272 contacts that were listed for monitoring completed their 21-day follow-up as of 10 February 2025. WHO, through its country office, and partners provided technical, operational and financial support to the government to contai...