ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract Mycoplasma pneumonia pneumonia(MPP) is a common respiratory disease that often occurs in children . The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, the first outbreak after the prevalence of COVID-19 epidemic . Meanwhile, this study also analyzed the predictive value of serum protein indicators and coagulation parameters in the MPP group, as well as the correlation between these indicators. Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae admitted to the pediatric ward of Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital from May 2023 to March 2024 were selected. After screening, 411 children who met the research criteria were selected as the study subjects. All of the blood samples were tested for coagulation function , procalcitonin, serum protein and glucose among MPP group and control group. All data were processed for statistical analysis using GraphPad Prism 10.2.3. Comparison of the serum proteins and coagulation function between...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/titian/venus-anadyomene _____

Abstract The global burden of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immune-mediated neuropathy, remains poorly characterized during the COVID-19 pandemic . We analyzed age-standardized years lived with disability (YLD) for GBS from 1990 to 2021 using GBD 2021 data and COVID-19 vaccination coverage from Our World in Data, focusing on 2020–2021. During the pandemic, GBS YLD rates rose dramatically , with greater increases seen in low-SDI regions, females and individuals aged 15–29 years. Higher vaccination coverage was inversely associated with GBS disability burden , exhibiting a non-linear protective effect at moderate to high coverage levels. Causal mediation analysis indicated that 44.6% of this association was mediated by reductions in COVID-19 incidence, highlighting both direct and indirect neuroprotective benefits of vaccination programs . These results underscore the importance of sustaining and expanding the vaccine rollout to mitigate the secondary neurological burden associated w...

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 adapted to transmission in birds and some other animals tend to have a less stable hemagglutinin (HA) than seasonal influenza viruses , enabling membrane fusion at comparatively high pH levels. Here, we combine five mutations within H5 HA that dramatically increase its melting temperature and promote stable closure of the HA trimer . Structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy revealed that the stabilizing mutations create several new hydrophobic interactions , while maintaining local HA structure. We found that vaccinating mice with stabilized H5 HA immunogens resulted in higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titers than non-stabilized comparators. Epitope mapping of vaccine-elicited polyclonal antibody responses using negative stain electron mic...

  Di PetrS. - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12034659 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotiva_FS_E.636 ____

  {Excerpt} Time Period: July 20, 2025 - July 26, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  4 sites ( 1.0% ) -- No Detection :  391 sites ( 99.0% ) -- No samples in last week :  38 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

Abstract Transmission routes of highly pathogenic H5N1 between cows or to humans remain unclear due to limited data from affected dairy farms. We performed extensive air, farm wastewater, and milk sampling on 14 H5N1 positive dairy farms across two different California regions. Virus was detected in the air in milking parlors and from exhaled breath of cows . Infectious H5N1 virus was detected in the air and water streams ; sequence analysis revealed viral variants on a farm in these locations. Longitudinal analysis of milk from the individual quarters of cows revealed a high prevalence of subclinical H5N1 positive cows and a heterogeneous distribution of infected quarters that maintained a consistent pattern over time. Our data highlight potential modes of H5N1 transmission on dairy farms. Competing Interest Statement SSL and LCM receive funds from Flu Lab and NIH. ASL receives funds from Flu Lab, NIH, and CDC. ASL receives consulting fees and research support from Roche, outside of t...

Summary Background Identifying measles transmission patterns and the most susceptible populations is crucial for anticipating and preventing outbreaks . The aim of this study was to assess the current epidemiology of measles in Italy to provide key metrics to anticipate and prevent future transmission risks. Methods In this epidemiological assessment study , we analysed measles epidemiological data from the National Integrated Measles and Rubella Surveillance System coordinated by the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Italy from Jan 1, 2013, to Dec 31, 2022. We analysed individual case records to assess the proportion of transmission that occurred in different settings; we also used pairs of measles cases to estimate the generation time and the proportion of transmission episodes between population groups defined by age and vaccination status. All suspected cases meeting the measles case definition were included in our analysis. Data, complemented...

Abstract Background .  Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses pose a pandemic threat , with a history of zoonotic spillovers into humans that are presumed immunologically naive. Whether the general population is currently immunologically naive to circulating A(H5) influenza viruses is unknown.  Methods .  To evaluate the presence of cross-reactive immune responses to emerging A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b influenza viruses in the general population, we conducted comprehensive immune profiling on cross-sectional samples from healthcare workers (n=107). Samples were collected in August and September 2024 in the scope of an ongoing prospective follow-up study: Surveillance of rEspiratory viruses iN healThcare and anImal workers in the NethErLands (SENTINEL).  Findings .  Low-level antibody responses directed against the A(H5) hemagglutinin (HA) head were detected in a limited number of individuals , but without hemagglutination inhibition activity. Nevertheless, we...

Abstract Seasonal respiratory viruses, such as the Influenza A virus and the respiratory syncytial virus, are responsible for over a billion infections worldwide each year resulting in a substantial burden on health care systems . Surveillance of these viruses, including their prevalence in communities and their evolution , are essential for informing public health decisions and recommending vaccine formulations and schedules. Typically, these viruses are monitored using clinical samples from patients seeking medical attention. Recently, wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has been leveraged to understand transmission dynamics and genome evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal respiratory viruses. To further the utility of WBS we developed and implemented novel tiled-amplicon sequencing assays to identify and track Influenza A virus H3N2 and respiratory syncytial virus A circulating in Southern Ontario, Canada . We also developed virus specific deconvolution tools to estimate the abundanc...

Abstract Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a significant global health risk, with highly pathogenic strains like H5N1 (CFR ~52%) causing severe disease compared to less lethal but more transmissible strains like H1N1 (CFR 0.01-0.03%). Although IAV primarily infects lung epithelial cells , causing cell death and tissue damage , the molecular basis of strain-specific pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here we show that in cell culture , H5N1 induced more rapid and extensive cell death than H1N1. Since Interferon (IFN) signaling is key to innate immunity, we examined its role in virus-induced cell death using STAT1-knockout A549 cells and JAK/STAT pathway inhibitors like Baricitinib . Both approaches reduced cell death across various IAV strains, including H1N1, H5N1, H7N9 , and H3N2 . However, inhibition increased viral titers , raising concerns about its clinical use in isolation. To overcome this, we tested a combination of Oseltamivir (antiviral) and Baricitinib (anti-inflammatory). ...

Abstract In 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 caused outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, cows, and other mammals in the United States with 61 human cases also reported by the CDC. Detection of influenza A H5 RNA in wastewater has been previously reported in sewersheds in Texas and North Carolina with nearby impacted dairy herds following the emergence of H5N1 in dairy cows. Here, we conduct retrospective testing of total influenza A and H5 hemagglutinin genes in wastewater as well as present and apply new assays for detection of H1 and H3 genes across a respiratory virus season in an urban California sewershed from September 2023 to May 2024. Total influenza A, H1, and H3 were regularly detected, while H5 was first detected in March . We developed a model that uses Monte Carlo simulations and previously published parameters to estimate the numbers of infected people, poultry, wild birds, or liters of H5-contaminated milk required to result in measured H5 concentrations in wa...

ABSTRACT The high-altitude ecosystems of Qinghai Province, China, harbor unique viral communities shaped by extreme environmental conditions and host adaptations. This study presents a comprehensive genetic characterization of the marmot gut virome , revealing novel viral strains with zoonotic potential . Using viral metagenomics, we analyzed intestinal contents from 70 marmots collected from Chengduo and Maqin counties. Sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform identified 19 viral genomes belonging to four major families : Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, Parvoviridae, and Picornaviridae , along with four novel circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS DNA) viruses. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated close relationships between marmot-derived strains and viruses from humans, bats, and other mammals , highlighting potential cross-species transmission risks . Notably, bat-associated adenoviruses showed closer phylogenetic proximity to human strains, while novel parvoviruses for...

Abstract Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses, particularly H5N1 and H7N9, have long been considered potential pandemic threats , despite the absence of sustained human-to-human transmission. However, recent outbreaks in previously unaffected regions , such as Antarctica, suggest we may be shifting from theoretical risk to a more imminent threat . These viruses are no longer limited to avian populations. Their increasing appearance in mammals , including dairy cattle and domestic animals , raises the likelihood of viral reassortment and mutations that could trigger a human pandemic. If such a scenario unfolds, the world may face a crisis marked by high transmissibility and lethality, without effective vaccines readily available. Unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccines were rapidly developed despite inequities in access, the current influenza vaccine production model , largely reliant on slow, egg-based technologies, is insufficient for a fast-moving outbreak. While newe...

  {Excerpt} Highlights -- All clades of monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate in several countries.  - When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, they continue to pose a risk of sustained community transmission .   -- Since the last edition of this report, one new country, the Gambia , has reported an mpox case for the first time.  - Genomic sequencing analysis has identified clade IIb MPXV.  -- Furthermore, Mozambique, has reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV for the first time.   -- Twenty-one countries in Africa have reported ongoing mpox transmission in the past six weeks.  - Clade IIb MPXV continues to be reported in West Africa, while Central African countries report both clade Ia and clade Ib MPXV, and East African countries report clade Ib MPXV.  -- The recent overall downward trend of confirmed cases across the continent is driven by the decline in cases in Sie...

{Excerpts} During the epidemiological week comprised between 24 and 30 July 2025, there were fifty-seven new confirmed cases of human infection with West Nile Virus . -- Since the start of the epidemic season, eighty-nine cases have been reported (there were thirty-two cases in the last week report), of which: -- forty were WNND (West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease): - 2 cases in Piedmont, 1 Lombardy, 3 Veneto, 1 Emilia-Romagna, twenty-three Latium, ten Campania); -- two cases of asymptomatic infection were detected among blood donors (one in Veneto and one in Campania); -- forty-six cases of West Nile Fever have been confirmed:  - one in Lombardy, five in Veneto, thirty-five in Latium, four in Campania, one in Sardinia; -- one asymptomatic case is from Campania; -- Among confirmed cases, eight fatalities have been recorded: one in Piedmont, two in Latium and five in Campania. The case-fatality rate among WNND so far is at 20% (during epidemic seasons 2018 it was 20% and in 2024, 14%)....

Abstract The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 is a severe viral disease which continues to pose a significant threat to public health and a rigorous understanding of its transmission dynamics across its major pathways is essential for developing effective control strategies . Phylogenetic analysis suggests that H5N1 spillover occurs primarily between wild and domestic birds . However, increasing contact between these species and humans increases the risk of zoonotic transmission . In this work, we develop a mathematical model to examine the transmission dynamics of H5N1 and evaluate the effectiveness of proposed control measures. The model employs a compartmental framework that includes human, domestic, and wild bird populations. We then use this model to estimate the basic reproduction number for each population group and perform a sensitivity analysis to assess the contribution of the parameters to the spread of the disease. Numerical simulations are also conduct...

Key Points -- Question: What were the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and outcomes among children with influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in the US during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 influenza seasons? -- Findings:   In this multicenter case series of 41 children from 23 US hospitals , influenza-associated ANE carried a 27% mortality rate despite multimodal therapy. Most patients (76%) had no significant medical history , despite 15 of 32 tested (47%) having genetic risk alleles potentially related to risk of ANE identified during diagnostic evaluation. The H1 2009 influenza A strain predominated (34% of cases), and only 16% had received seasonal influenza vaccination . Among survivors, 63% had moderate to severe disability at 90-day follow-up. -- Meaning:  Influenza-associated ANE represents a rare but devastating neurologic complication primarily affecting previously healthy children. The high morbidity and mortality emphasize t...

By gary noon - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4077294 {England, Somerset} A game rearing site with approx. 2.500 9-week-old pheasants. Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples were taken and were tested positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6679 ____

Summary Background Little epidemiological evidence exists on the protective effects of the JN.1 -adapted mRNA vaccines against COVD-19 hospitalisation and death. In this study, we estimated vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death. Methods This nationwide, register-based, cohort study included all Danish residents older than 65 years on Oct 1, 2024 . We used Denmark's national COVID-19 surveillance system and comprehensive population-based registers, which are updated daily and linked via the unique civil registration number assigned to all residents. To minimise differences between the comparison groups with regard to vaccination history, participants were required to have completed a primary vaccination course in 2021 and have received the 2023–24 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine between Oct 1, 2023, and Jan 15, 2024. Participants with a recent recorded infection, or a vaccine dose since the previous season and prior to study start, were excluded. COVID-19 hospital...