ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract Pigeons (Columba livia) are usually kept as free-ranging or racing birds, and they have direct contact with livestock, poultry, and humans . Therefore, they may have an important role in the ecology of influenza virus among various species. In the present study, we bring together all available sequence data of pigeon avian influenza virus (AIV) from public databases to address the current understanding of the genomic characteristics and emergence of each subtype of AIV in pigeons. Collectively, we identified 658 pigeon AIV strains in 21 countries across the world, which were mainly distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America. H1 (2), H2 (1), H3 (8), H5 (71), H6 (16), H7 (16), H9 (543), and H11 (1) AIV subtypes have been identified in pigeons. In addition, we interrogate features of the H5, H6, H7, and H9 subtypes of pigeon AIV, which are relatively common in pigeons. It is particularly noteworthy that the H5 AIV strains identified in pigeons are all classified as HPAIV. For...

  A poultry farm in Totota, right behind the Lutheran football field in Bong County. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6432 ____

{Excerpt} Time Period: April 06, 2025 - April 12, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  3 sites ( 0.9% ) -- No Detection :  348 sites ( 99.1% ) -- No samples in last week :  243 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html?cove-tab=0 ____

Summary Background Adults older than 65 years are at increased risk for atypical presentations of chikungunya disease, as well as for severe outcomes including death. Methods In this phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial, adults aged 65 years and older received a single intramuscular dose of Vimkunya (previously chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine) or placebo at ten sites in the USA. Participants, clinical site personnel, and the sponsor were masked to individual treatment assignments until all participants had completed their involvement in the trial and the database was cleaned and locked. Baseline and postvaccination chikungunya virus serum neutralising antibody (SNA) titres (NT80) were assessed at selected timepoints. Safety was assessed up to 183 days after dose administration in all participants from the exposed population who provided safety assessment data. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05349617, and is comp...

Abstract Background   The ongoing H5N1 panzootic in mammals has amplified zoonotic pathways to facilitate human infection . Characterising key epidemiological parameters for H5N1 is critical should it become widespread.  Aim   To identify and estimate critical epidemiological parameters for H5N1 from past and current outbreaks, and to compare their characteristics with human influenza subtypes and the 2003 Netherlands H7N7 outbreak .  Methods   We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews reporting parameter estimates from primary data or meta-analyses. To address gaps, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar for studies of any design providing relevant estimates. We estimated the basic reproduction number for the outbreak in the US and the 2003 Netherlands H7N7 outbreak. In addition we estimated the serial interval for H5N1 using data from previous household clusters in Indonesia . We also applied a branching process model to simulate t...

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b was first detected in birds in the United States in 2021 and an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle began in early 2024. At least 70 U.S. cases have been identified in humans with exposure to infected cattle, poultry, and wild birds. No human-to-human transmission has been documented . However, as part of diagnostic preparedness, we evaluated the ability of currently available influenza tests to detect 2024 U.S. H5N1 strains. Contrived nasal swab samples were prepared using live or inactivated 2024 H5N1 and used to test twelve rapid antigen tests (lateral flow assays, or LFA), including 10 commercially-available influenza A LFAs and two H5-specific LFAs. Five point-of-care (POC) molecular assays were also tested. An inclusivity testing protocol was used, wherein a predetermined dilution series is used to evaluate each assay, enabling head-to-head comparison of assay performance. All lateral flow assays and POC molecu...

Key points   -- At the present time , based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5) viruses to be low , while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation measures in place and the local avian influenza epidemiological situation.  -- Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a growing yet still limited number of human infections are being reported. Although additional human infections associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur, the overall public health impact of such infections at a global level, at the present time, is considered minor .  -- The assessment could change if and when additional epidemiological or virological information becomes available.  -- This risk assessment from FAO, WHO and WOAH updates the assessment of the risk of zoonotic transmission (for example, ani...

  Situation at a glance On 2 April 2025, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) for Mexico notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the country’s first laboratory-confirmed human infection with an avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in the state of Durango .  In response, local and national health authorities have implemented a range of measures to monitor, prevent, and control the situation.  There have been reports of A(H5N1) outbreaks in birds in Durango , although the exact source of infection in this case remains under investigation .  To date, no further cases of human infection with influenza A(H5N1) linked to this case have been identified.  In accordance with the IHR (2005), any human infection caused by a new influenza A virus subtype is considered a potentially significant public health event and is subject to mandatory notification to WHO.  Based on the information currently available on this and previous cases, W...