ETIDIOH - NEW

  Situation at a glance On 4 August 2025, Israel notified WHO of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreak .  Between February and July 2025, nine genetically linked virus isolates were found in environmental samples from seven sites, mainly in Jerusalem and the Central Region .  No human cases of paralytic polio have been reported.  Israel discontinued routine use of the bivalent oral polio vaccine in March 2025 but continues using inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as part of the country’s routine immunization schedule.  WHO and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are supporting national and subnational authorities.  WHO assesses the risk of international spread of this cVDPV1 outbreak in Israel as low, due to strong overall immunity, surveillance, and response systems.  However, the virus is circulating in under-vaccinated, vaccine-sceptic communities with ties to similar groups abroad, posing a potential risk fo...

Aug. 20 Update :   In response to several media inquiries following up on this case, DHSS regrets to confirm that the patient's death occurred on Aug. 19 in a St. Louis area hospital . We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the patient.  Source: Department of Health,  https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODHSS/bulletins/3eebf32 ____

  Abstract We describe isolation and characterization of a novel henipavirus , designated Salt Gully virus , from the urine of pteropid bats in Australia . We noted the virus to be most closely related to Angavokely virus, not reliant on ephrin receptors for cell entry, and of unknown risk for human disease. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/9/25-0470_article ____

Abstract Since late 2021, a panzootic of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus has driven significant morbidity and mortality in wild birds, domestic poultry, and mammals. In North America , infections in novel avian and mammalian species suggest the potential for changing ecology and establishment of new animal reservoirs . Outbreaks among domestic birds have persisted despite aggressive culling, necessitating a re-examination of how these outbreaks were sparked and maintained. To recover how these viruses were introduced and disseminated in North America, we analyzed 1,818 Hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences sampled from North American wild birds, domestic birds and mammals from November 2021-September 2023 using Bayesian phylodynamic approaches. Using HA, we infer that the North American panzootic was driven by ~8 independent introductions into North America via the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways, followed by rapid dissemination westward via wild, migratory birds. Transmission wa...

  ABSTRACT Bats are the reservoir hosts of emerging coronaviruses (CoVs) affecting human and livestock health . We assessed the diversity, evolution, and geographic distribution of two alphacoronaviruses (subgenus Rhinacovirus ) with considerable potential for emergence : swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus ( SADS-CoV ), which has caused large outbreaks in pigs in China and can infect primary human airway epithelial cells in vitro ; and the related Rhinolophus bat coronavirus HKU2 (HKU2-CoV). Phylogenetic analyses of 523 rhinacovirus sequences from bats in China and Southeast Asia suggest these viruses should be reclassified into at least two distinct CoV species representing two well-supported monophyletic clades. Stronger phylogenetic clustering by sampling location than by host species suggests infrequent long-distance transmission of rhinacoviruses in southern China. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis indicates that R. sinicus/thomasi and R. affinis have played an im...

  Abstract Background Bats are recognized as natural reservoir hosts for numerous viruses and are believed to be the evolutionary origin of alpha- and beta-coronaviruses (CoVs), such as SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and possibly MERS-CoV. MERS-related beta-CoVs have been identified in bat species from Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. In this study, we describe the first detection and characterization of a MERS-related beta-CoV in Danish brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus). Methods Fecal samples collected through a national surveillance program were screened using pan-CoV RT-qPCRs. Positive samples underwent ORF1b sequencing, microarray analysis and Illumina MiSeq sequencing, followed by metagenomic assembly of full-length genomes. A global phylogenetic tree was used to determine placement within the Coronaviridae family and local maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis clarified subgroup placement. The receptor-binding potential of the spike protein to human DPP4, ACE2, and bat ACE...

  Highlights -- Higher Mortality in COVID-19 ECMO Patients : COVID-19 patients on ECMO had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (52%) compared to H1N1 patients (6%) (p < 0.0001). -- Increased Complications in COVID-19 : COVID-19 patients had a higher incidence of complications, including: •  Secondary bloodstream infections (OR = 14.3; p = 0.003) •  Neurological complications •  Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) -- Longer ECMO Duration in COVID-19 : COVID-19 patients required longer durations of ECMO support compared to H1N1 patients. -- Age and Comorbidities Impact Mortality : Even after adjusting for age, BMI, gender, and ECMO duration, COVID-19 conferred a 16-fold higher risk of mortality compared to H1N1 (adjusted OR = 16.8). Abstract Background Veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (V-V ECMO) in management of refractory respiratory failure due to viral respiratory infections has increased with recent pandemic...

  Abstract Outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in humans are driven by recurring zoonotic spillover from camels , leading to demand for camel vaccination . With two vaccine candidates shown to reduce infectiousness, there is a need to better understand transmission of MERS-CoV in camels and assess the potential impact of vaccination . To help address this, we used age-stratified seroprevalence data and a combination of modelling methodologies to estimate key epidemiological quantities including MERS-CoV transmissibility in camels and to estimate vaccine impact on infection incidence. Transmissibility was higher in West Asia (R0 interquartile range 7-14) compared to Africa (3-5) and South Asia (2-3), highlighting the need for setting-specific vaccination strategies. Modelling suggested that even if the vaccine only reduced infectiousness rather than susceptibility to infection, vaccinating calves could achieve large reductions in incidence in moderat...

  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 recent outbreak in the United States (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...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/andrea-mantegna/madonna-and-child-with-cherubs-1490 ____

  Abstract Mpox poses a heightened risk of severe disease and mortality among individuals with HIV , yet the molecular mechanisms and immunopathology underlying multi-organ damage caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), particularly in the context of HIV co-infection, remain poorly understood. Here, we observe increased MPXV replication, more extensive skin lesions, and impaired humoral and cellular immune responses in SIV-MPXV co-infected rhesus macaques compared to those infected with MPXV alone. Multi-organ proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses reveals upregulation of proteins involved in immune and inflammatory pathways in skin lesions and across multiple organs, especially in immune-related tissues. Abnormal activation of DNA replication and cell cycle signaling pathways , which may contribute to enhanced viral replication, is evident in both MPXV and SIV-MPXV co-infected groups. CDK4/6 may present a potential therapeutic target to suppress MPXV replication. These comprehensive pro...

  Di Moliva - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154882109 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autotreno_TN_ATR_125 ____

  By Lars Steffens - Flickr: Baureihe 111, CC BY-SA 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28019464 Source: Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Class_111 ____

  Am J Obstet Gynecol DALRYMPLE KV, Tydeman F, Bone JN, Poston L, et al The relationship between virtual antenatal care and pregnancy outcomes in a diverse UK inner-city population; A group-based trajectory modelling approach using routine health records. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Aug 11:S0002-9378(25)00538. PubMed           Abstract available Br J Anaesth WATSON SL, Fowler AJ, Pearse RM, Abbott TEF, et al The financial cost of postoperative complications: a prospective cohort study with linked health systems data. Br J Anaesth. 2025 Aug 8:S0007-0912(25)00467-2. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025. PubMed           Abstract available Int J Infect Dis TURJEMAN A, Drozdinsky G, Leibovici L The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination: A Multi-Year Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2025 Aug 11:108015. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.108015. PubMed         ...

  Antiviral Res AL KRAD D, Stegmann KM, Dickmanns A, Kumar P, et al The protease inhibitor Nirmatrelvir synergizes with inhibitors of GRP78 to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. Antiviral Res. 2025 Jul 29:106247. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2025.106247. PubMed           Abstract available PATEL D, De R, Azadi N, Lee S, et al Discovery of broad-spectrum antivirals targeting viral proteases using in silico structural modeling and cellular analysis. Antiviral Res. 2025;241:106245. PubMed           Abstract available LEBEDIN M, Petrovsky N, Tabynov K, Tabynov K, et al SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and protection of hamsters via nasal administration of a humanized neutralizing antibody. Antiviral Res. 2025;241:106235. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol FERNANDEZ-ROJAS MA, Salazar AM, Ostrosky-Wegman P, Flisser A, et al A feedback loop between DNA damage, genomic ins...

  {Summary} Time Period: August 03, 2025 - August 09, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  2 sites ( 0.5% ) -- No Detection :  425 sites ( 99.5% ) -- No samples in last week :  33 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

Abstract The continuous evolution and widespread dissemination of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses , particularly clade 2.3.4.4b, pose critical challenges to global pandemic preparedness . In this study, we assessed a low-dose inactivated split virus vaccine derived from clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1, formulated with an Alum/CpG adjuvant , using a preclinical mouse model . This vaccine induced potent humoral and cellular immune responses , generating high titers of cross-reactive antibodies targeting both hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins across homologous and heterologous H5 clades. The Alum/CpG adjuvant enabled significant antigen dose-sparing while promoting a balanced Th1/Th2 immune profile . Functional analyses demonstrated strong virus neutralization , neuraminidase inhibition, and potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity . Additionally, the vaccine elicited robust antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and effectively con...

  Abstract A 2023 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in seabirds in Norway caused substantial environmental contamination of grazing areas frequented by local sheep . Eleven months later, 220 sheep were tested for antibodies to type A influenza and H5 subtype using ELISA, haemagglutination inhibition, and microneutralisation assays. One ewe (0.5%) tested positive by all methods, consistent with prior spillover infection . This underscores the importance of restricting livestock access to outbreak areas to mitigate cross-species transmission and zoonotic risk. Source: BioRxIV,  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.14.670265v1 ____

  {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...