ETIDIOH - NEW

  {Summary} • During current week (7-13 August '25), 102 new cases of human infection with West Nile Virus have been reported;  • Total Number of Confirmed Cases so far this season have risen to 275 (they were 173 in the last report);  -- among these:  - 126 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND): 6 in Piedmont, 7 Lombardy, 5 Veneto, 1 FriuliVenezia Giulia, 4 Emilia-Romagna, 47 Latium, 50 Campania, 1 Basilicata, 3 Calabria, 2 Sardinia,  - 20 asymptomatic cases among blood donors ;  - 125 West Nile Fever cases,  - 2 asymptomatic cases and  - 2 unspecified cases.  • So far, 19 fatal cases were reported: 1 in Piedmont, 1 Lombardy, 8 Latium, 8 Campania, 1 Calabria.  -- The Case-Fatality Rate of WNND cases is at 15,1% (during 2018 it was 20%, in 2024 14%).  • No confirmed cases of Usutu Virus human infection were reported during current week.  (...) Source: High Institute of Health,  https://www.epicentro.iss.it/westnile/...

Abstract Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) pose a significant pandemic threat due to their cross-species transmission potential . However, AIV surveillance at the critical “ migratory birds–poultry-exposed population ” interface remains limited. Between 2021 and 2024, we implemented a prospective One Health surveillance program around Nansi Lake , monitoring AIVs in migratory birds, poultry, and environmental samples, as well as serological investigations against representative AIVs among migratory birds or poultry-exposed subjects. AIVs were detected in 2.1% (30/1417) of migratory bird samples and 10.2% (100/978) of poultry samples . Among these, we identified ten highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 subtype viruses, one HPAI H7N9 virus, and five low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 viruses. Phylogenetic analysis revealed evidence of frequent genomic reassortment events involving H5 subtype viruses among migratory birds, poultry, and humans . Serological investigation also...

Abstract In early 2024, an unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza was detected in dairy cattle in the USA . As of mid-2025 the epidemic is ongoing, resulting in spillbacks into poultry, wild birds and other mammals including humans . Here, we present molecular and virological evidence that the cattle B3.13 genotype H5N1 viruses rapidly accumulated adaptations in polymerase genes that enabled better replication in bovine cells and tissues, as well as cells of other mammalian species including humans and pigs . We find evidence of several mammalian adaptations gained early in the evolution of these viruses in cattle including PB2 M631L , which is found in all cattle sequences, and PA K497R , which is found in the majority. Structurally, PB2 M631L maps to the polymerase-ANP32 interface, an essential host factor for viral genome replication . We show that this mutation adapts the polymerase to better interact with bovine ANP32 proteins , particularly ANP32A, and ...

  JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is announcing case of an adult Missouri resident with a laboratory-confirmed infection of Naegleria fowleri .  Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic single-celled free-living ameba that can cause a rare deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as “brain-eating” infection. Typically, fewer than 10 people a year in the United States get PAM. The Missouri patient is currently being treated for PAM in an intensive care unit of a hospital, and currently, no additional suspected cases of PAM are being investigated in Missouri. The ameba is common and naturally present in warm freshwater such as lakes , rivers and ponds; however, PAM is extremely rare. Between 1962 and 2024, there were 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States. The source of the patient’s exposure is currently being investigated by public health officials.  While not confirmed, p...

  ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected individuals with pre-existing medical conditions , such as neurocognitive disorders. Premorbid neurocognitive conditions compounded by COVID-19 can escalate into COVID-associated neurological complications , leading to severe illness or even death. As COVID-19 continues to persist and vaccines lose efficacy against emerging variants , individuals with neurocognitive disorders often experience prolonged symptoms that are further exacerbated by repeated breakthrough infections of highly diversified viral variants due to emergence of new viral mutations. Despite the significance of neurocognitive disorders as risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality and long COVID, the underlying causes remain largely unknown. In this study, we report a link between ORF3a expression and COVID-associated neuroinflammation and neurocytotoxicity in postmortem brain tissues from COVID-19 patients. These findings...

  Abstract SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are two coronaviruses that have received significant attention due to their high pathogenicity and mortality rates in human populations . In this study, we compared their evolutionary dynamics to provide a One Health perspective on their differences in terms of the results of disease control. The phylogenetic network of SARS-CoVs showed that human isolates gathered into a “super-spreader” cluster and were distinct from civet isolates . In contrast, dromedary camel- and human-isolated MERS-CoVs were clustered together. Thus, most clades of MERS-CoV can infect humans , and MERS-CoVs seem to more easily spill over the animal-to-human interface. Additionally, the civet can be easily controlled , while the intermediate host (dromedary camels) of MERS-CoV is an important livestock species , so it is impossible to eliminate all animals. This further leads to difficulties in disease control in MERS. Although MERS-CoVs are endemic to dromedary camels in both...

Significance An intranasal vaccine offers many unique advantages over traditional intramuscular-delivered vaccines . Here, we developed SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.5 spike-based monovalent and trivalent vaccines using the live attenuated measles virus (MeV) and mumps viruses (MuV) as vectors . Intranasal immunization of hamsters and mice with monovalent and trivalent vaccines induces robust and broadly neutralizing antibodies , mucosal IgA antibodies , and lung-resident memory T cells , providing complete protection of the lung and nasal turbinate against challenges with SARS-CoV-2 WA1 and Omicron subvariants XBB.1.5, EG.5, and JN.1 . In addition, intranasal immunization efficiently blocks transmission of SARS-CoV-2 WA1 and Omicron XBB.1.5 among the hamsters by direct contact. Therefore, MeV- and MuV-based intranasal vaccines are highly promising next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates that can prevent virus infection and transmission. Abstract The emergence of immune-evasive SARS-CoV...

  Abstract The ongoing panzootic of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has caused the deaths of over half a billion wild birds and poultry, and has led to spillover events in both wild and domestic mammals , alongside sporadic human infections . A key driver of this panzootic is the apparent high viral fitness across diverse avian species , which facilitates an increased interface between wild and domestic species. Columbiformes (pigeons and doves) are commonly found on poultry premises , yet little is known about their potential role in contemporary HPAIV disease ecology. Here we investigated the epidemiological role of pigeons (Columba livia) by determining their susceptibility using decreasing doses of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV (genotype AB). We investigated infection outcomes and transmission potential between pigeons and to chickens. Following direct inoculation , pigeons did not develop clinical signs, and only those inoculated with the highest dose shed vi...

Abstract An extensive survey for the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAIV) H5 in seabird species is reported here . It was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 , in thirteen breeding sites spanning from the northeastern sector of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea , including the coasts of the Bellingshausen Sea and the Amundsen Sea . Nine individuals from Pygoscelis adeliae and Leucocarbo bransfieldensis tested positive for RT-PCR amplification of a H5 segment of HPAIV in two different locations on the Antarctic Peninsula . This study suggests the possibility of the first cases of HPAIV H5 in the Antarctic continent, potentially adding two new species to the list of infected species. It also highlights the southernmost suspected cases identified to date of surveillance, and notably, no cases were detected between the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea. Source: Scientific Reports,  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-14651-3 ____

  ABSTRACT Influenza A virus (IAV) infection of the respiratory tract can cause both respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms . Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain can occur in persons with seasonal influenza A or novel IAV infections , but the extent to which IAVs can infect and replicate in GI tissues is understudied. The ongoing outbreak of A( H5N1 ) IAV in US dairy cattle associated with sporadic human infections has highlighted the potential public health threat posed by the introduction of infectious virus into materials that may be consumed by humans , such as milk. Here, we review epidemiologic reports documenting the frequency of GI complications in humans infected with seasonal and novel IAVs and present laboratory studies supporting the capacity of IAV to replicate in mammalian GI tissues , with an emphasis on A(H5N1) viruses. Studies assessing the ability of IAV to cause mammalian infection following consumption of virus-contain...

  ABSTRACT The mammary gland is an essential organ for milk production, providing essential immune and nutritional support to offspring and supplying dairy products for human consumption. In both humans and animals , the lactating mammary gland is susceptible to bacterial and viral infections , which can lead to mastitis and, in some cases, vertical transmission to offspring , with potential adverse effects on infant health. However, until recently, the role of respiratory viruses in mammary gland infection has been relatively understudied, particularly their ability to infect mammary epithelial cells and transmit through lactation. The recent emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy cattle has demonstrated the virus’s capacity to replicate in the mammary gland, cause mastitis, and produce high viral loads in milk . This raises significant concerns about the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans and other animals in contact with infected d...

  Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and adoption of wastewater-based epidemiology . Wastewater samples can provide genomic information for detecting and assessing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants in communities and for estimating important epidemiological parameters such as the selection advantage of a viral variant . However, despite demonstrated successes, epidemiological data derived from wastewater suffers from potential biases . Of particular concern are shedding profiles , which can affect the relationship between true viral incidence and viral loads in wastewater. Changes in shedding between variants may decouple the established relationship between wastewater loads and clinical test data. Using mathematical modeling, simulations, and Swiss surveillance data , we demonstrate that estimates of the selection advantage of a variant are not biased by shedding profiles. We show that they are robust to differences in shedding between variants under a ...

  ABSTRACT Mpox, caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection, has emerged as a significant global health threat . The World Health Organization (WHO) has twice declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for mpox: first for the 2022–2023 global outbreak and subsequently for concurrent outbreaks in Africa. Beyond MPXV, other members of the Orthopoxvirus genus also pose growing risks of zoonotic spillover , with the potential to jump from animal reservoirs to humans . Clinically, mpox is distinguished from other Orthopoxvirus infections by its propensity to cause severe systemic manifestations alongside localized skin lesions , disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals . Although vaccines are available, effective therapeutics are equally essential in combating the mpox crisis. Current antiviral agents , including tecovirimat and brincidofovir , have demonstrated uncertain or disappointing efficacy...

  Abstract In an effort to avert future pandemics, surveillance studies aimed at identifying zoonotic viruses at high risk of spilling over into humans act to monitor the "viral chatter" at the animal-human interface. These studies are hampered, however, by the diversity of zoonotic viruses and the limited tools available to assess pandemic risk. Methods currently in use include the characterization of candidate viruses using in vitro laboratory assays and experimental transmission studies in animal models. However, transmission experiments yield relatively low-resolution outputs that are not immediately translatable to projections of viral dynamics at the level of a host population. To address this gap, we present an analytical framework to extend the use of measurements from experimental transmission studies to generate more quantitative risk assessments. Specifically, we use within-host viral titer data from index and contact animals to estimate parameters relevant to tran...

  {By gary noon - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4077294 } __ {England, Devon} Premises with 5200 pheasants. Increased mortality, reduced water consumption and other clinical signs were reported. Samples were taken and were tested positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6716 ____

ABSTRACT The 2.3.4.4b clade highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 infected diverse non-human mammalian species , gained mammal-to-mammal transmission potential , and caused sporadic human infections . However, whether non-human mammals enable the human adaptation of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 to establish human infections is unclear. Gain-of-function research restrictions may hinder the assessment of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 human adaptations. Here, we tracked the evolution of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 that infected non-human mammals and evaluated their ability to gain human adaptations. The non-human mammal 2.3.4.4b H5N1 partly acquired classical human-adapting mutations , which are identical to the residues of H1N1pdm09 and seasonal human H3N2 viruses, while showing a few species-specific adaptations that might be potential barriers for successful human infections. The polymerase complex proteins , PA and PB2, acquired human adaptations in non-human mammals, with fox-infected viruses showing more positive selection in...

Abstract The study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer diagnosis, tumor characteristics, and staging in an Eastern-European country . This retrospective study included 11,635 breast cancer patients and clients presenting between March 2019 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic groups . Data included age, sex, pathology, tumor characteristics (histologic type, grade, ER/PR/HER2 status), and TNM staging . Statistical analysis compared these parameters across the three-time intervals. During the pandemic, breast cancer diagnosis decreased significantly compared to the pre-pandemic period (9.1% vs. 13.17%, p < 0.001) but increased post-pandemic (11%, p = 0.013). Invasive ductal carcinoma of non-special type (IDC-NST) was predominant in all three-time periods. Aggressive tumors (Nottingham grade 3, ER negative) increased during the pandemic and post-pandemic times . Molecular subtypes showed variations ac...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/caspar-david-friedrich/the-abbey-in-the-oakwood _____

  By Benedikt Dohmen (User:Benedictus), Archiv-Nr. 92/39 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=496875 Source: Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_VT_11.5 ____

Abstract The first known human infection with a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus appeared in China in 1997 . Between 2003 and 2017, the WHO documented an additional 862 human cases, mainly from southeast Asia and Egypt , with a mean annual case fatality rate of 56%. By 2006, the susceptibility of cats to severe respiratory and neurologic disease became apparent. Scientists raised concerns regarding the potential for domestic cats to transmit novel pathogenic strains to humans. But after 2006, reports of new H5N1 infections in companion animals dwindled, and human cases fell after 2016. In 2021, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses suddenly appeared in Europe and spread rapidly to the Americas , wreaking havoc on wildlife and crippling the poultry and dairy industries . Between 2022 and 2025, dozens of domestic cats died , most often following raw food consumption . Unease regarding the transmission potential of pets resurfaced. Although most human infections in the Americas were mild an...