ETIDIOH - NEW

  Highlights •  Concern over H5N1 bird flu testing and detection in the Netherlands is increasing. •  50 human laboratories in the Netherlands, Aruba, Bonaire , and Curacao were assessed. •  The laboratories detected animal influenza viruses with high performance. •  Few laboratories identified the animal subtype of detected influenza A viruses. •  National reference laboratory capacity to identify the animal subtype is critical. Abstract Background Since 2022, highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus clade 2.3.4.4b has caused global outbreaks among wild birds and poultry , with increasing mammalian and sporadic human infections . This elevates concerns about zoonotic transmission and pandemic risk , highlighting the need for accurate detection and identification of animal influenza A viruses by human clinical diagnostic laboratories (hCDL). Methods To evaluate routine diagnostic performance , an External Quality Assessment (EQA) panel containing inactivate...

  By Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46772024 ___ Samples were taken from dead wild animals during a research voyage to Heard Island, an Australian sub-Antarctic external territory. HPAI was detected from samples taken from two gentoo penguins . This follows initial detections in southern elephant seals on an earlier voyage in October 2025. There was no further evidence of ongoing mass mortality detected during the second voyage in January 2026. Further sequencing and phylogenetic analysis is being undertaken. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7261 ____

  Backyard poultry in Chhukha Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7263 ____

  Abstract Despite Antarcticas geographic isolation, the first incursion of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was detected in the 2023/24 austral summer . Surveillance for HPAI H5N1 in Antarctica remains patchy due to logistical, financial, and infrastructure challenges , with many suspected cases remaining unconfirmed , and few viral genomes sequences available to date. Through the 2024/25 austral summer we undertook five sampling expeditions to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula facilitated by cruise ships/operators. Across more than 500 faecal environmental samples collected from apparently healthy penguins and marine mammals , we found no detectable evidence of HPAI H5N1 . However, HPAI H5N1 was detected in all but one of the skua carcasses sampled , which, in most cases, were found within meters of penguin sub-colonies . All HPAI H5N1 viral genomes sequences from skuas on the Antarctic Peninsula fell within a single lineage, which included those ge...

{Excerpt} Avian Influenza Report - Reporting period: February 8, 2026 – February 14, 2026 (Week 7)   (...) - Date of report: 14/02/2026 - Country: Cambodia - Province / Region: Kampot province - District / City: Tuek Chhou district - Sex: M - Age: 30 - Condition at time of reporting: Recovered - Subtype of virus: H5N1 (...) Source:  Link:  https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2026_avian_influenza_report_vol22_wk07.pdf ____

  Backyard poultry in Zhemgang Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7262 ____

  Abstract FluSurvey is a participatory surveillance system used to monitor trends in influenza and other respiratory viruses through weekly symptom surveys among the UK population. We aimed to characterise the wider impact of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) among FluSurvey participants and assess correlations of ILI with other established influenza surveillance systems . We included data reported by FluSurvey participants over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 winter seasons . Using weekly symptoms surveys, we derived ILI episodes and estimated the proportion reporting healthcare service use , medication use, impact on daily life, absenteeism and use of tests. We applied existing data methods (omitting first report and weighting to the age-sex structure of England) and assessed cross-correlations of weekly FluSurvey ILI rates with the national surveillance of GP ILI consultations , influenza hospital admissions, and influenza PCR test positivity at time lags of up to +/-2 weeks. There were 3...

  By Unknown author - Schweizerische Bauzeitung, Band 119, Heft 20, Public Domain,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29931439 Source:  Link:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-turbine_locomotive#/media/File:SBB_Am_4-6.JPG ____

  Situation at a glance Recombination of monkeypox virus (MPXV) strains has been documented in recent months , with two cases of a recombinant strain comprising clade Ib and IIb MPXV reported.  Recombination is a known natural process that can occur when two related viruses infecting the same individual exchange genetic material , producing a new virus.  The first case was detected in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereafter “United Kingdom”), with travel history to a country in South-East Asia , and the second in India , with travel history to a country in the Arabian Peninsula .  Detailed analysis of the virus genomes shows that the two individuals fell ill several weeks apart with the same recombinant strain , suggesting that there may be further cases than are currently reported .  Both cases had similar clinical presentation to that observed for other clades.  Neither patient experienced severe outcomes.  Contact tracing...

  {Excerpt} Time Period: February 01, 2026 - February 07, 2026 -- H5 Detection :  8 site(s) (1.7%) -- No Detection :  475 site(s) (98.3%) -- No samples in last week :  166 site(s) The H5 detections at sewershed IDs 809 and 912 in Michigan are false detections resulting from a data error. These will be corrected in the next update . (...) Source:  Link:  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

  Abstract After rebounding from near extirpation during the organochlorine era, breeding Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in California are again facing adversity, this time consistent with an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza . Following the first detection of the H5N1 variant clade 2.3.4.4b virus in California wild birds in July 2022, we assembled data from long-term monitoring (2000-2025) of peregrine breeding territory occupancy in the broad vicinity of San Francisco Bay to examine possible impacts on falcon populations. Prior to the outbreak, 47 focal breeding territories had shown nearly complete occupancy by pairs (98.5% of 390 site-years), with very few vacancies, single birds in attendance, or subadult pair members. Within 8 mo of the outbreak, occupancy had dropped to 65.1%, and 2 yrs later (2025), only 36.2% of sites remained occupied . An uptick in site-occupancy by single birds also occurred after the outbreak, but it is unclear whether these were su...

  Abstract Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses continue to expand geographically and across mammalian hosts, raising concern about pandemic potential. The degree and specificity of pre-existing immunity in humans are key determinants of this risk. We analyzed hemagglutinin (HA)- and neuraminidase (NA)-specific antibody responses in 300 sera collected from adults in New York City. While HA directed binding antibodies to clade 2.3.4.4b H5 were low and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies were absent, we detected widespread binding and functional NA antibodies against N1 neuraminidases from clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses. Neuraminidase inhibition (NI) titers were highest against North American D1.1 genotype N1 viruses and correlated strongly with neutralizing activity, whereas HA-binding antibodies did not. An additional N-linked glycosylation site, as found in the NA of a human D1.1 isolate from British Columbia, reduced susceptibility to NI antibodies. An...

  Highlights •  A swine influenza virus H3N2 subtype was isolated during epidemiological survey. •  It is a complex and novel reassortant , and acquired accumulation of adaptive mutations. •  Both rescue and parent strains demonstrated efficient replication in mammalian cells. •  Key residues of the H3N2 HA collectively enhance the binding preference for human-type receptor. •  The rescued H3N2 cause significant pulmonary pathological damage in mice. Abstract Pigs serve as key "mixing vessels" for influenza A viruses, playing a critical role in cross-species transmission , while the H3N2 subtype represents an important lineage within the swine influenza virus (SIV) family. In this study, a novel reassortant H3N2 SIV strain , designated A/Swine/Jiangsu/YZ07/2024 , was isolated from pigs exhibiting clinical symptoms in Northern Jiangsu , China during epidemiological survey . Genetic analysis revealed that the virus is a complex reassortant, with the internal ...

  Abstract Nipah virus is a highly pathogenic virus in the family Paramyxoviridae that utilizes two distinct surface glycoproteins to infect cells . The receptor-binding protein (RBP) binds host receptors whereas the fusion protein (F) merges viral and host membranes . Here, we use nonreplicative pseudoviruses to safely measure the effects of all F single amino acid residue mutations on its cell entry function and neutralization by monoclonal antibodies . We compare mutational tolerance in F with previous experimental measurements for RBP and show that F is much more functionally constrained than the RBP . We also identify mutationally intolerant sites on the F trimer surface and core that are critical for proper function, and describe mutations that are candidates for stabilizing F in the prefusion conformation for vaccine design . We quantify how F mutations affect neutralization by six monoclonal antibodies, and show that the magnitude of mutational effects on neutralization var...

  Abstract Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV; Orthopoxvirus monkeypox), is on the rise in West and Central Africa . African rodents , especially squirrels , are suspected to be involved in MPXV emergence , but no evidence of a direct transmission to humans or non-human primates has been established. Here we describe an outbreak of MPXV in a group of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park (Côte d’Ivoire). The outbreak affected one-third of the group, killing four infants . To track its origin, we analysed rodents and wildlife carcasses from the region. We identified a MPXV-infected fire-footed rope squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus), found dead 3 km from the mangabey territory 12 weeks before the outbreak. MPXV genomes from the squirrel and the mangabey were nearly identical. A video record from 2014 showed a mangabey from this group eating the same squirrel species and diet metabarcoding of faecal samples collected from mangabeys before the outbreak identi...

  Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infections in children occasionally manifest with severe neurologic signs . We report a case series of life-threatening encephalopathy associated with SARS-CoV-2 in 25 children in Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan during February 2022–January 2024. All children had severe encephalopathy develop, characterized by rapidly progressive cerebral edema , conditions known as acute shock with encephalopathy and multiorgan failure or acute fulminant cerebral edema . Among the 25 patients, 22 (88%) eventually died ; 11 (44%) children died within 24 hours of hospitalization. In addition, 18 (72%) had illness manifest with shock, and 14 (56%) had multiorgan failure develop within 6 hours of neurologic onset. Serum concentrations of cytokines/chemokines including interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly higher within 24 hours of onset than for controls. SARS-CoV-2–associated encephalopathy cases such as those described here represent an emerging n...

  A slaughter turkeys operation in Dolnośląskie Region. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7258 ____

  Abstract Background   Seasonal human influenza viruses can escape from antibody-mediated neutralization when amino acid changes occur in the hemagglutinin protein . Routine surveillance identified circulation of an A(H3N2) virus variant in the Netherlands with amino acid substitutions at hemagglutinin positions 158 and 189 . These amino acid positions were previously responsible for antigenic change of influenza A(H3N2) viruses and potentially lead to escape of this variant from vaccine-mediated immunity .  Aim   To characterize the emergence and antigenic properties of N158K and K189R double substitution virus variants .  Methods   We analyzed the geographical and temporal dynamics of the double-substitution variant using a phylogeographic approach and used hemagglutination inhibition assays and antigenic cartography methods to map its antigenic properties.  Results   A(H3N2) viruses carrying K189R were first detected in Guatemala in June 2024,...

  A horse in Jönköping County and one in Norrbotten County , both of which had blisters and sores on the skin on their legs, were found to be infected with a smallpox virus called equine parapoxvirus or horse parapoxvirus . It is an infection that has not previously been detected in the country . The equine parapoxvirus was detected in our neighboring country Finland for the first time in 2021 . The State Veterinary Institute, SVA, has performed DNA analysis of the virus in the Swedish cases and it turned out to be the same type as in Finland. The virus has caused outbreaks in several Finnish stables with severe skin inflammation on the horses' legs, so-called mug or rasp. The typical symptom of parapoxvirus is small blisters (pox) that burst into round sores. The virus is transmitted by direct contact but also via equipment, clothing, hands and objects. Sick horses should be kept isolated from other horses. Use disposable gloves and special clothing when handling.    – T...

  Summary Background Adult obesity has been linked to specific infections, but evidence across the full spectrum of infectious diseases remains scarce . In this multicohort study with impact modelling, we examined the association between this preventable risk factor and the incidence, hospitalisations, and mortality of 925 bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infectious diseases, and estimated their global and regional attributable impact. Methods We used pooled data from two Finnish cohort studies and repeated analyses in an independent population from the UK Biobank . BMI was assessed at baseline (1998–2002 in the Finnish studies; 2006–10 in UK Biobank), and participants were categorised as having healthy weight (18·5–24·9 kg/m2), overweight (25·0–29·9 kg/m2) or obesity, classified as class I (30·0–34·9 kg/m2), class II (35·0–39·9 kg/m2), or class III (≥40·0 kg/m2). Participants were followed up through national hospitalisation and mortality registries for hospital admissions ...