ETIDIOH - NEW

  Summary -- What is already known about this topic? - As of January 1, 2025, 37 human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A( H5N1 ) had been detected in California , none of which occurred in San Francisco. -- What is added by this report? - On January 9, 2025, a case of HPAI A(H5N1) infection was identified in a school-aged child in San Francisco through enhanced surveillance (influenza A virus subtyping of a sample of specimens weekly). No source of exposure was identified, and investigations found no laboratory evidence of human-to-human transmission among close contacts. -- What are the implications for public health practice? - Enhanced surveillance and timely subtyping of a subset of influenza A–positive specimens, including specimens from persons without known A(H5N1) exposure, are important to detect avian influenza A virus infections. Public health investigations are critical to monitoring for human-to-human transmission. Abstract In response to a highly pat...

  Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths , including four health workers, have been reported as of 4 September 2025. The outbreak has affected Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province where health officials have been carrying out investigations after the cases and the deaths reported presented with symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage . Samples tested on 3 September at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as Ebola Zaire caused by Ebola virus disease.    A national Rapid Response Team joined by World Health Organization (WHO) experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory and case management has been deployed to Kasai Province to rapidly strengthen disease surveillance, treatment and infection prevention an...

{Summary} -- During current surveillance week (28 August - 3 September 2025):  - 72 new confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been confirmed;  -- The total number of cases since the beginning of epidemic season has risen to 502 (they were 430 in the last bulletin); of these:  - 226 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND):  11 in Piedmont, 16 in Lombardy, 17 Veneto, 1 Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 1 Liguria, 15 Emilia-Romagna, 3 Tuscany, 71 Latium, 2 Molise, 72 Campania, 1 Apulia, 2 Basilicata, 5 Calabria, 1 Sicily, 8 Sardinia,  - 40 were asymptomatic cases detected in blood donors ,  - 226 were West Nile Fever cases (one of them imported from Kenya ), - 5 asymptomatic cases,  - 5 unspecified.  -- So far there have been 33 fatal cases : 3 in Piedmont, 1 Lombardy, 1 Emilia-Romagna, 14 Latium, 12 Campania, 2 Calabria.  - The Case-Fatality rate among WNND cases is thus far at 14.6% (in 2018 it was 20%, in 2024 14%).  -- During...

  Abstract Avian influenza A(H9N2) has been circulating in poultry across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, posing human health risks . In Ghana , it has co-circulated among poultry with influenza A ( H5N1 ). This report describes Ghana’s first confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection in a two-year-old boy from Upper East Region , identified through active respiratory surveillance . Molecular and genomic analyses confirmed the virus was of the G1 lineage , closely related to other West African strains , with mammalian adaptive mutations known to increase human infection potential. The child experienced mild symptoms , received outpatient care, and recovered. Health authorities conducted epidemiological investigations . No source was identified for the child’s infection; no additional human infections were detected. This case highlights the importance of robust avian influenza surveillance in animals and humans, particularly in regions with human-animal inter...

  Neurological-respiratory disease in backyard domestic birds raised in a farm with partial laboratory results of H5 avian influenza virus . Zoning was implemented for the control of the outbreak with stamping out measures for all affected and contact birds on the farm, and surveillance will be carried out in the perifocal and protection areas. A body of water representing a possible place of contact between domestic and wild birds is located on the premises. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6755 ____

  A poultry farm in Santarém Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6759 ____

  A poultry farm in Schleswig-Holstein State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6760 ____

  Abstract Mosquito-borne diseases are deeply embedded within ecological communities, with environmental changes—particularly climate change—shaping their dynamics . Increasingly intense droughts across the globe have profound implications for the transmission of these diseases , as drought conditions can alter mosquito breeding habitats , host-seeking behaviours and mosquito–host contact rates . To quantify the effect of drought on disease transmission, we use West Nile virus as a model system and leverage a robust mosquito and virus dataset consisting of over 500 000 trap nights collected from 2010 to 2023, spanning a historic drought period followed by atmospheric rivers. We pair this surveillance dataset with a novel modelling approach that incorporates monthly changes in bird host community competence , along with drought conditions , to estimate the effect of drought severity on West Nile virus risk using panel regression models. Our results show that while drought decreases ...

  Key Points -- Question:  Is regular application of azelastine nasal spray associated with reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections? - Findings:  In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial that included 450 participants , the incidence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections was significantly lower with application of azelastine nasal spray compared with placebo treatment. -- Meaning:  The use of azelastine nasal spray may help to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Abstract Importance    Limited pharmaceutical options exist for preexposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 beyond vaccination. Azelastine, an antihistamine nasal spray used for decades to treat allergic rhinitis, has in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Objective    To determine the efficacy and safety of azelastine nasal spray for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections in healthy adults. Design, Setting, and Participants   ...

  {A Great White Pelican, one of the affected species in the outbreak.} By Charles J. Sharp - Own work, from Sharp Photography, sharpphotography.co.uk, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66151818 Wild birds of different species in Western Cape Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6732 ____

  Abstract Objectives There have been few studies in pregnant women of medications that are used to reduce severe complications from COVID-19 infection. Currently, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is recommended by the National Institutes for Health to treat non-hospitalized pregnant patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 illness. The aim of this study was to determine the transplacental passage of molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and favipiravir utilizing an ex vivo placental perfusion model. Methods Human placental cotyledons were continuously perfused in a double open circuit. The study molecules and antipyrine, a marker of placental viability, were dissolved in the maternal solution. The experiment was conducted over 90 minutes, and every 5 minutes, samples of the maternal solution and fetal exchange solutions were collected for analysis. We calculated the concentrations of study molecules, fetal transfer ratios and the clearance indexes to determine placental transfer. R...

  Abstract The incursion of high pathogenicity avian influenza A virus (IAV) into US dairy cows is unprecedented in the era of molecular diagnosis and pathogen sequencing. This raises questions over the likelihood of further outbreaks and whether dairy cattle could be a mixing vessel for novel strains of IAV. Using a panel of BSL2-safe reassortant viruses representing clade 2.3.4.4b H5 epizootic lineages circulating since 2020, we found that a cow B3.13 isolate displayed enhanced replication in cow mammary gland cells , along with increased viral polymerase activity and stronger interferon antagonism in cow cells compared to an earlier EA-2020-C genotype virus. However, multiple avian and mammalian IAV strains , including other clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity genotypes, were replication competent in bovine cells, particularly those of the mammary gland , suggesting that there is a diverse circulating IAV pool with the potential to infect cows. Moreover, we show that cow mammary c...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/camille-corot/the-augustan-bridge-at-narni-1826 ____

  Abstract Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major driver of emerging infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne diseases (VBDs), which are expanding in range and intensity worldwide. Europe , traditionally considered low-risk for many arboviral infections , is now experiencing autochthonous transmission of pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, and leishmaniasis . Rising temperatures , altered precipitation patterns , and milder winters have facilitated the establishment and spread of competent vectors , including Aedes, Anopheles, Phlebotomus, and Culex species , in previously non-endemic areas. These climatic shifts not only impact vector survival and distribution but also influence vector competence and pathogen development , ultimately increasing transmission potential. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between climate change and VBDs, with a particular focus on pediatric populations . It highlights h...

  ABSTRACT Influenza viruses utilize host proteases to activate the viral fusion protein, hemagglutinin (HA), into its fusion-competent form. Although proteolytic activation of HA is essential for virus replication, the cell-type dependence of HA activation within the airway epithelium and the subcellular location(s) in which it occurs are not well established. To address these questions, we investigated the proteolytic activation of HA in differentiated human airway epithelial cells using contemporary and historical H1N1 and H3N2 strains . We find that activation is efficient across viral strains and subtypes but depends on cellular tropism , with ciliated cells activating HA more effectively than non-ciliated cells. Similar to prior observations in immortalized cell lines, we find that HA activation occurs intracellularly, constraining the antiviral activity of host-directed protease inhibitors . These results establish that HA activation within the airway epithelium depends on c...

  Abstract Monkeypox virus (MPXV) experienced an unprecedented global outbreak in 2022, characterized by a significant departure from historical patterns: a rapid spread of the epidemic to more than 110 non-traditional endemic countries , with more than 90,000 confirmed cases; a fundamental shift in the mode of transmission , with human-to-human transmission (especially among men who have sex with men (MSM)) becoming the dominant route (95.2%); and genetic sequencing revealing a key adaptive mutation in a novel evolutionary branch ( Clade IIb ) that triggered the outbreak. These features highlight the significant evolution of MPXV in terms of host adaptation, transmission efficiency, and immune escape ability . The aim of this paper is to provide insights into the viral adaptive evolutionary mechanisms driving this global outbreak, with a particular focus on the role of immune escape (e.g., novel mechanisms of M2 proteins targeting the T cell co-stimulatory pathway) in enhancing vi...

  Abstract Stabilizing the pre-fusion structures of antigenic proteins can enhance the effectiveness of antiviral vaccines . The pre-fusion form of hemagglutinin (HA) from the influenza virus typically adopts a stable trimeric structure . However, the recombinant ectodomain of HA from the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) influenza virus formed a monomer in solution rather than the expected trimer. To promote trimer formation in the pre-fusion conformation, we redesigned five amino acid residues in the stem region of HA that are involved in trimerization. The engineered HA protein formed a stable trimer at both pH 8.0 and pH 5.5. Additionally, the thermal stability of the modified protein improved, as indicated by an approximately ten-degree increase in its denaturation temperature. Cryo-EM analysis at 2.2 angstrom resolution confirmed that the mutant HA protein adopted the pre-fusion structure. Furthermore, the stabilized mutant exhibited enhanced immunogenicity in mice . We applied the...

  By Florian Pépellin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36916592 Source: Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNCF_Class_X_4500 ____

  Br J Anaesth STEPHENS JR, Iki Y, Yasuda T, Brown E, et al Human neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles induce renal endothelial inflammation in critical illness: an ex vivo investigation. Br J Anaesth. 2025 Aug 27:S0007-0912(25)00448-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis YONG MK, Thursky K, Crane M, Spelman T, et al Interferon-alpha Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Aug 28:ciaf409. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available Emerg Infect Dis DRATCH AH, Le M, Zahn M Increased Incidence of Candida auris Colonization in Early COVID-19 Pandemic, Orange County, California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:1747-1754. PubMed           Abstract available J Med Virol CHAUVEL C, Casalegno JS, Visseaux B, Vieillefond V, e...

  Arch Virol HU Y, Hu C, Su J, Zhu B, et al Two cross-neutralizing antibodies isolated from a COVID-19 convalescent via single B cell sorting. Arch Virol. 2025;170:199. PubMed           Abstract available Biochemistry ADEWOYE A, Ezeigbo E, Vo QH, Legleiter J, et al Amyloidogenic SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Derived Peptides Form Oligomers and Selectively Damage Lipid Membranes. Biochemistry. 2025;64:3610-3622. PubMed           Abstract available Epidemiol Infect PARRADO R, Cuba-Grandy CX, Fuentes-Luppichini E, Torrico Villarroel NG, et al Multiplex RT-qPCR strategy for SARS-CoV-2 variants detection in developing countries without ngs: The Bolivian experience. Epidemiol Infect. 2025;153:e94. PubMed           Abstract available BUBAR K, Middleton C, Larremore D, Gostic K, et al A fundamental limit to the effectiveness of traveller screening with molecular tests. Epidemi...