ETIDIOH - NEW

  Radiation levels in the Gulf region remain normal following the 12-day conflict that severely damaged several nuclear facilities in Iran , Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today. Citing regional data reported regularly to the IAEA through the International Radiation Monitoring System (IRMIS), Director General Grossi noted that this 48-nation network would have detected an important radioactive release from any damaged nuclear power reactor. “From a nuclear safety perspective, Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor represented our main concern as any strike affecting those facilities – including their off-site power lines – could have caused a radiological accident with potential consequences in Iran as well as beyond its borders in the case of the Bushehr plant. It did not happen, and the worst nuclear safety scenario was thereby avoided,” Director General Grossi said. Stressing again that nuc...

Abstract Background/Objectives : H5N1 influenza viruses are spreading worldwide and threaten global public health. Preparedness is necessary to mitigate the worst-case scenario should an H5N1 influenza pandemic occur and justify the development of vaccines against circulating H5N1 viruses of concern.  Methods :  The production and characterization of egg-based split and inactivated H5Nx of three distinct monovalent antigens from clades 2.3.4.4b, 2.3.2.1c, and 2.3.4 were performed at an industrial scale. These antigens were formulated and their immune responses, when combined or not with IB160 squalene-based oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant in a rat model, were evaluated in a one- or two-dose immunization schedule. IgG antibodies, hemagglutination inhibitions, and microneutralization titers were measured for vaccine-induced immunity and cross-reactivity.  Results :  Three monovalent vaccines from clades 2.3.4.4b, 2.3.2.1c, and 2.3.4 were produced at an industrial scale ...

{Summary) KEY FIGURES   {Area - Number of reported confirmed cases - Number of deaths among confirmed cases - Number of reporting countries} -- Global (1 Jan – 31 May 2025)* - 24 672 - 82 - 75  Key countries (01 Jan – 22 June 2025) - Democratic Republic of the Congo - 12 208 - 22 - ... - Uganda - 5636 - 31  - ... - Sierra Leone - 4294 - 28 - ... - Burundi - 1079 - 0 - ... {*} Most recent global surveillance data available. Highlights • In May 2025, a total of 6823 confirmed mpox cases and 16 deaths (Case Fatality Ratio: 0.2%) were reported from 49 countries across all WHO regions. • The majority of mpox cases continue to be reported from the WHO African Region , with 18 countries currently experiencing active ongoing transmission. • Since the last report, Ethiopia and Italy have reported their first cases of mpox due to clade Ib monkeypox virus (MPXV). In addition, North Macedonia, the Republic of the Congo, and Togo have reported their first cases of mpox clade IIb MPXV ...

Abstract The ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus in animals and occasional spillover to humans have raised concerns about a potential H5N1 pandemic. Although recent studies have shown that pre-existing human antibodies can recognize H5N1 neuraminidase , there is a lack of molecular understanding of how this cross-reactivity develops. Using a phage display antibody library derived from 245 healthy donors , this study isolates an antibody, known as HB420 , that cross-reacts with the neuraminidases of human H3N2 and avian H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses and confers protection in vivo. Cryo-EM analysis shows that HB420 targets the neuraminidase active site by mimicking sialic acid binding through a single Asp residue. Additionally, the inferred germline of HB420 is N2-specific but acquires cross-reactivity to H5N1 neuraminidase through somatic hypermutations . Overall, our findings provide insights into how neuraminidase antibody evolves breadth, which...

  {Excerpts} Time Period: June 15, 2025 - June 21, 2025 - H5 Detection :  3 sites ( 0.8% ) - No Detection :  367 sites ( 99.2% ) - No samples in last week :  55 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html ____

Highlights •  Antiviral susceptibility to NA inhibitors and PA inhibitor baloxavir was determined for seasonal and zoonotic influenza viruses circulating globally during 2020–2023. •  Low global frequencies (0.1-0.2%) of seasonal influenza viruses with reduced or highly reduced inhibition by NAI inhibitors were observed as in previous years. •  Low global frequencies of seasonal influenza viruses (∼ 0.1%) with reduced susceptibility to baloxavir were observed, with the rate in Japan elevated (3.3%) in 2022–2023, as has been seen previously. •  For zoonotic viruses, 2.7% contained genetic markers associated with reduced or highly reduced inhibition to NA inhibitors and none contained markers associated with reduced susceptibility for baloxavir. •  For the treatment of influenza , NA inhibitors and baloxavir remain suitable. ABSTRACT Antiviral susceptibility of influenza viruses is monitored by the World Health Organization Global Influenza Surveillance and Respon...

Summary - What is already known about this topic? -- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in school-aged children . In the United States, M. pneumoniae infection prevalence decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained low through 2023. - What is added by this report? -- The number of hospital discharges of children with M. pneumoniae –associated CAP from U.S. pediatric hospitals increased sharply in 2024, accounting for approximately one half of hospitalized children with CAP. This number included children aged <5 years , a group in which M. pneumoniae infections have historically been less commonly reported. Data on length of hospitalization and intensive care unit admissions indicate that M. pneumoniae infections in 2024 were not more severe than 2018–2023 infections. - What are the implications for public health practice? -- Increased awareness among health care providers might improve diagnosis and could guide treatment of M. pneum...

{Pembrokeshire, Wales} A backyard flock of 120 laying hens . Increased mortality and other clinical signs consistent with avian influenza (AI) were reported. Samples were collected and tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6579 ____

Simple Summary The present commentary deals with the pandemic risk brought about by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus . Such a pandemic alarm is justified, among others, by the progressively and rapidly expanding range of virus-susceptible hosts , including humans alongside a significant number of domestic and wild avian and mammalian species , several of which appear to be geographically and phylogenetically distant from each other. Despite its well-established zoonotic potential , no clear-cut evidence of a sustained and efficient HPAI A(H5N1) virus interhuman transmission has thus far been reported. Should this happen in a more or less near future, it could pave the way for a new pandemic. Based upon the above, a “ One Health, One Earth, One Ocean ”-focused, holistic approach would be the necessary prerequisite to deal in an appropriate way with the HPAI A(H5N1) virus-associated zoonotic and pandemic risk. Abstract The focus of this commentary is represented...

Credit: Wikipedia. By Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden - Larus canus 2203, CC BY 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49877446 ___ On the 16th of January 2025, a herring gull was found dead near a wildlife care station. The gull was received at National Reference Laboratory on the 13th of May 2025, and samples from the bird tested positive for HPAI H5N1 on the 20th of June 2025. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6574 ____

Highlights •  The characteristics of plasma metabolome in H7N9 patients were first revealed. •  It was discovered that lipid-like molecules were downregulated in death group. •  Metabolites of the tryptophan metabolic pathway were elevated in death group. •  The metabolite-based machine learning achieved an AUC of 0.929 on the test set. Abstract Objectives Avian influenza such as H7N9 is currently a major global public health risk, and at present, there is a lack of relevant diagnostic and treatment markers. Methods We collected plasma samples from 104 confirmed H7N9 patients , 31 of whom died. Plasma metabolites were detected by UHPLC-HRMS, and a survival prediction model based on metabolites was constructed by machine learning models. Results A total of 1536 metabolites were identified in the plasma samples of H7N9 patients, of which 64 metabolites were up-regulated and 35 metabolites were down-regulated in the death group. The enrichment analysis of Tryptophan met...

Abstract Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of microorganisms, including many notable zoonotic pathogens. However, the composition of the infectome (i.e., the collection of viral, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms) within bat kidneys remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we performed meta-transcriptomic sequencing on kidney tissues from 142 bats , spanning ten species sampled at five locations in Yunnan province, China . This analysis identified 22 viral species , including 20 novel viruses , two of which represented newly discovered henipaviruses closely related to the highly pathogenic Hendra and Nipah viruses . These henipaviruses were found in the kidneys of bats inhabiting an orchard near villages, raising concerns about potential fruit contamination via bat urine and transmission risks to livestock or humans. Additionally, we identified a novel protozoan parasite, tentatively named Klossiella yunnanensis , along with two highly abundant bacterial species...

Abstract Objective :  The objective is to examine the epidemiology and clinical features of human cases infected with H5N6 avian influenza in Sichuan Province from 2014 to 2024, and to offer guidance for the prevention and management of human infections with H5N6 avian influenza. Methods :  Epidemiological survey reports of H5N6 avian influenza cases in Sichuan Province from 2014 to 2024 were compiled, and the epidemiological context and characteristics of 16 human cases infected with H5N6 avian influenza in the province were summarized and analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods. Results :  From 2014, when the initial human case of H5N6 infection was documented in Sichuan Province, to 2024, there have been 16 human cases of H5N6 avian influenza in the region, resulting in 12 fatalities and a case fatality rate of 75%. The instances were predominantly located in the Chengdu Plain, eastern Sichuan, and southern Sichuan. Conclusion :  Human instances of H5N6...

  Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has welcomed today’s announcements regarding the situation in Iran and stressed the need for a resumption of the IAEA’s indispensable safeguards verification work in the country following a 12-day military conflict that severely damaged several of its nuclear sites . In a letter to Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Abbas Araghchi , Director General Grossi also proposed that they meet soon. “Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities. I’ve written to Foreign Minister Araghchi stressing the importance of us working together and proposing to meet soon,” he said. IAEA inspectors have remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, going back to the country’s nuclear sites and verifying the inventories of nuclear material – including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% - which they last verified a few da...

{Excerpt} Epi-Week 25 2025 Avian influenza A(H9N2) :  - Henan Province :  -- 1) A 52-year-old woman with onset on May 10, 2025.  - Hunan Province :  -- 2) A 72-year-old woman with onset on May 14, 2025.  - Sichuan Province :  --3) A six-year-old boy with onset on May 14, 2025. Avian influenza A(H10N3) :  - Shaanxi Province :  -- 1) A 70-year-old woman with onset on April 21, 2025.  (...) Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR,  https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2025_avian_influenza_report_vol21_wk25.pdf ____

Abstract The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 in the U.S. poses a significant public health threat. To date, 70 human cases have been confirmed in the United States , including two severe cases and one fatality. While suitable animal models are crucial for predicting the potential pandemic risk of newly emerging pathogens in humans, studies investigating contemporary HPAIV H5N1 transmission dynamics remain limited. Here, we investigated the pathogenicity and transmission efficiency of three recent clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses isolated from a bovine, mountain lion, and a human case using Syrian hamsters . Intranasal inoculation with 104 TCID50 resulted in productive virus replication in the respiratory tract and shedding for all three isolates. Transmission studies showed limited efficiency via direct contact and airborne routes for all three isolates. Although overall transmission was inefficient , the human H5N1 isolate demonstrated relat...

  PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A 41-year-old woman from northwestern Cambodia's Siem Reap province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, raising the number of cases to seven so far this year , the Ministry of Health said in a statement Monday night. "A laboratory result from the National Institute of Public Health showed on June 23 that the woman was positive for H5N1 virus," the statement said. "The patient has the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea , and she is currently in critical condition ," it added. According to queries, there were sick and dead chickens at the patient's home and her neighbor's homes, and the patient had been in contact with sick and dead chickens and cooked them for food five days before she felt ill. Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community. Tamiflu (...

Abstract Previous studies have identified various pathogens in seabirds, notably coronaviruses (CoVs) and influenza A viruses (IAVs), due to their potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality . The Cagarras Island Archipelago Natural Monument , located near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , serves as nesting site for two species, the magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and the brown booby (Sula leucogaster). Despite its ecological importance, no prior studies have investigated viral infections in these species, which share habitat interfaces with densely populated human areas . To address this gap, we sampled and tested seabirds for CoVs and IAVs from January 2022 to April 2024. Birds were captured and identified by species, age, and sex. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs , as well as blood samples , were collected. Viral RNA was extracted using the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit, and the presence of IAVs was screened via real-time RT-PCR, while CoVs were screened using semi-nested...

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can confirm that the Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan have been hit, following U.S. aerial attacks overnight, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today . Based on an analysis of the information available to it , the IAEA assessed that there has been extensive additional damage at the sprawling Esfahan site , which had already been struck several times by Israel since it began targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on 13 June, Director General Grossi said. The IAEA had previously reported that several buildings at the Esfahan complex were damaged, some of which may have contained nuclear material. “The latest attacks early this morning damaged other buildings in Esfahan . In addition, we have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted,” Director General Grossi said. The extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility – built deep inside a mountain in central Iran – was...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/raphael/solly-madonna ____