I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated today (July 14th) that the domestic COVID-19 epidemic continues to escalate.
To protect their own health and the health of others, the CDC urges the public to take self-prevention measures and get vaccinated against COVID-19 this season.
It is recommended to wear masks when entering and exiting medical care facilities and in crowded places where proper social distancing cannot be maintained or ventilation is poor.
If fever or respiratory symptoms occur, it is recommended to stay home and avoid unnecessary outings.
Individuals with severe risk factors should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience suspected symptoms.
A doctor can assess and conduct a rapid test, or they can use a commercially available home rapid test.
A doctor can also assess and prescribe antiviral drugs for those with severe risk factors who test positive for COVID-19, reducing the risk of serious complications or death after infection.
The CDC stated that the domestic COVID-19 epidemic continues to rise.
In the 27th week (July 5th-July 11th), there were 2,811 outpatient and emergency room visits for COVID-19, an increase of 34.4% compared to the previous week.
Last week (July 7th-July 13th), there were 17 new local cases of severe COVID-19 complications, with no new local deaths.
Since October 2025, a total of 136 local cases of severe COVID-19 complications have been reported, with 18 deaths.
The majority of severe cases were among those aged 65 and above (72.1%) and those with a history of chronic diseases (83.8%).
94.9% of these cases were not vaccinated this season.
Globally, the COVID-19 positivity rate has recently increased, showing an upward trend in all regions except the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Neighboring countries/regions such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are also experiencing rising cases.
Currently, the predominant circulating strain globally is NB.1.8.1, followed by JN.1 and XFG.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that as of July 12, 2026, approximately 1.732 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered this season.
The vaccination rates among those aged 65 and above are 20.97% for the first dose and 0.51% for the second dose.
International research has found that receiving the current season's COVID-19 vaccine provides additional protection on top of existing immunity.
Vaccination with the current season's COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of visiting the emergency room or emergency outpatient clinic due to COVID-19 by approximately 48%–50%, and reduce the risk of hospitalization by approximately 53%–55%. This demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccination effectively reduces the severity of the disease and the medical burden caused by COVID-19, and has a significant protective effect in preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urges that, as the majority of severe local COVID-19 cases in Taiwan are still among the elderly aged 65 and above and those with a history of chronic diseases, and most of them have not yet received the current season's COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC urges high-risk individuals, such as those aged 65 and above, who have not yet been vaccinated or have received their first dose at least 6 months ago, to get vaccinated as soon as possible to enhance their immune protection and reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Furthermore, with the summer travel season in full swing, the risk of virus transmission is increased.
The nationwide rollout of publicly funded COVID-19 vaccines to those who have been vaccinated for 6 months (180 days) or more will continue until July 31, 2026.
Approximately 456,000 doses of vaccine remain in stock (including 450,000 doses of Moderna single-dose vaccine and 6,000 doses of Novavax vaccine). The public is encouraged to seize this opportunity to get vaccinated as soon as possible to enhance their immune protection.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) emphasizes that there are currently sufficient reserves of antiviral drugs in Taiwan, including 155,000 doses of Remdesivir, 113,000 doses of Belavavir, and 18,000 doses of Xocova.
Local government health bureaus in various counties and cities will continue to monitor the usage at distribution points and manage the supply in a timely manner.
The public can also purchase home rapid testing kits at convenience stores or pharmacies that sell them for self-testing to facilitate subsequent medical diagnosis.
For information regarding vaccination sites, contracted sites for publicly funded oral antiviral drugs, and the latest epidemic prevention policies, please visit the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) or call the toll-free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922).
Source:
Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/AAQZdiS2u2nFoJxcIj-DNA?typeid=9
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b virus continues to circulate in North America and has caused severe human disease. That clade includes genotype D1.1, which became dominant in birds in late 2024. Recent phylodynamic reconstructions place D1.1 emergence in mid-2024 but differ on its inferred origin and early dissemination pathways. We combined targeted surveillance of wild birds in Arizona with publicly available US clade 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin sequences to estimate when D1.1 genotype emerged and to infer its diffusion among the 4 major US flyways. Phylodynamic analyses showed transitions concentrated among adjacent flyways regions, consistent with stepwise dissemination during fall 2024 and limited support for long-distance Pacific–Atlantic exchange. The Pacific Flyway showed patterns consistent with an early source and the Central Flyway with a secondary hub linked to onward spread. Our findings support coordinated genomic surveillance across adjacent flyways to reduce detection delays and improve situational awareness during rapid viral expansion.
Source:
Link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/32/8/26-0205_article
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has caused severe global losses, reaching South America in 2022 and Antarctica in 2024. Here, we synthesize outbreak reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health by South American countries and overseas territories in this continent, and document the virus’s unprecedented expansion into Antarctica, affecting wild birds, wild mammals, and domestic poultry. Phylogenetic and time-calibrated Bayesian analyses were performed on available genomic sequences. Over 6 million domestic birds were lost, mostly from commercial operations. Of the 11 South American countries and overseas territories that reported H5N1 to WOAH, 10 reported infections in wild birds, spanning 104 species, 59.62% of which are migratory and predominantly non-trans-equatorial. Marine mammal outbreaks followed wild bird detections, with the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) being the most reported species. Several Antarctic bird species with migratory behavior were also reported in South America. Genomic analyses revealed multiple introduction events, regional viral diversification, and patterns consistent with repeated cross-species spillover events. These findings highlight H5N1’s extensive ecological reach in the Southern Hemisphere and underscore the urgent need for a One Health approach that strengthens wildlife and backyard-poultry surveillance, alongside coordinated regional action to control and prevent further HPAI spread.
Source:
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/7/764
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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Public Domain.
Source:
Link: https://www.wikiart.org/en/tintoretto/the-pillar-of-fire-1578
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Influenza A virus hemagglutinin is a prototypical class I viral fusion protein that binds sialylated glycans and is activated by low pH in endosomes. In contrast, bat-derived IAV subtypes H17N10 and H18N11 use major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) as an entry receptor, but how this receptor contributes to membrane fusion remains unknown. We find that MHC-II-dependent hemagglutinin subtypes H17, H18, and H19 possess an increased negative net charge relative to canonical HAs. Using cryo-electron tomography, we demonstrate that H18N11 morphology remains stable and H18 is in prefusion conformation at strongly acidic pH. Remarkably, H18 undergoes fusion-relevant conformational changes only when both MHC-II binding and low pH are present. By reconstitution of H18N11 fusion with liposomes and purified MHC-II, we show that receptor engagement is required to trigger the fusion activity of H18. These findings identify MHC-II as a receptor that directly triggers membrane fusion and reveal a previously unrecognized receptor-dependent mechanism of influenza virus entry.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Funder Information Declared
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, https://ror.org/018mejw64, 240245660 – P19, 537227910
European Research Council, 882631—Bat Flu
Excellence Initiative of the German Research Foundation, GSC-4, Spemann Graduate School
Hans A. Krebs Medical Scientist Programme
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Influenza virus poses a potential risk of triggering the next global pandemic. In-depth investigation into the mechanisms underlying influenza virus replication and pathogenicity will provide robust support for controlling influenza virus infection. Although post-translational modifications are known to regulate viral infection, the role of lactylation in influenza virus replication remains elusive. In this study, influenza virus ribonucleoprotein complex subunits are found to be lactylated. Specifically, ATAT1 promotes viral polymerase acidic protein (PA) lactylation and enhances viral replication. In contrast, SIRT1 mediates de-lactylation of PA and exerts an inhibitory effect on viral replication. Further investigations reveal lactylation of PA at residues K605 and K609 is essential for viral replication and pathogenicity. Mechanistically, PA K605/609 residues are localized at the interaction interface of the ANP32-mediated polymerase asymmetric dimer; mutation at these residues inhibits polymerase asymmetric dimerization, thereby impairing RNA production during viral genome replication. Collectively, this study uncovers a novel mechanism by which influenza virus hijacks host enzymes to mediate PA lactylation, and expands the molecular regulatory network of influenza virus infection.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Source:
Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.10.737663v1
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
Wild waterfowl constitute the primary natural reservoir of influenza A viruses, and wetlands at the convergence of major migratory flyways serve as critical hubs for viral genetic exchange. Baikal Siberia, situated at the intersection of the East African–West Asian, Central Asian, and East Asian–Australasian flyways, represents a unique yet understudied region in this context. Here we report the results of long-term virological surveillance of wild birds in the Lake Baikal basin conducted between 2018 and 2024. A total of 1036 cloacal swab samples from 28 bird species were screened, yielding 42 influenza A virus isolates belonging to 12 HA/NA subtype combinations: H1N1, H3N1, H3N2, H3N5, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H6N1, H6N2, H6N3, H6N8, and H12N5. Among the detected subtypes, H6 viruses—identified with four distinct neuraminidase combinations (N1, N2, N3, N8)—are of particular public health relevance owing to their documented capacity for dual-receptor binding and potential for zoonotic transmission to mammals, including humans. Full-genome sequencing followed by cluster analysis of internal gene segments identified 16 distinct segment constellations, indicating extensive reassortment. BLAST searches against the GISAID database revealed closest genetic relatives in Mongolia, South Korea, Japan, China, and Western Siberia, with more distant links to Bangladesh, Europe, and a possible intercontinental connection via the Pacific flyway. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the HA and NA segments confirmed that all isolates belong to the Eurasian genetic lineage, yet they are distributed across multiple clades rather than forming a single monophyletic group, reflecting the role of Buryatia as a mixing zone for genetically diverse viral populations. These findings substantially expand the understanding of influenza A virus ecology in the Lake Baikal basin and underscore the importance of continued surveillance at this key migratory crossroads in Northern Asia.
Source:
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/7/761
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Abstract
WHO's efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness—grounded in what the world learned during COVID-19 and what today's outbreaks of avian influenza, Hantavirus and Ebola are teaching us.
Source:
Link: https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/13/7/ofag348/8728458
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
{Excerpts}
Key Figures at a Glance
° 3 Countries Affected
° 1 645 Confirmed Cases
° 523 Confirmed Deaths
° 31.8% CFR Confirmed
° 12 417 Contacts to follow
Summary
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Event description
° The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to intensify, driven by sustained transmission in hotspot health zones of Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
° The outbreak is marked by growing numbers of community deaths, and the continued spread of infection into previously unaffected health zones.
° While Uganda has not reported any new confirmed cases during the past week, and the imported case reported in France has fully recovered without evidence of secondary transmission among identified contacts, the ongoing epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to pose a significant regional and global public health threat.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
° Compared with the previous update issued on 28 June 2026 (Situation Report #7), the epidemiological situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has deteriorated further.
° An additional 317 confirmed cases and 144 confirmed deaths have been reported, representing increases of 24.3% and 38.2%, in cumulative cases and deaths respectively.
° The crude case fatality ratio (CFR) rose from 28.8% to 32.1%.
° Geographic spread continues as the first confirmed case was detected in Lolwa health zone in Ituri Province, increasing the total number of affected health zones to 36.
Figure 1. Weekly trends of confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by epidemiological week of report, epidemiological weeks 18 – 27, 2026
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° Mabalako and Vuhovi health zones have now completed 21 consecutive days, without reporting a confirmed case and have been added to the list of areas with no recent transmission.
° However, Rimba Health Zone, which had previously gone 25 days without reporting a case, has now reported a new confirmed case.
° This brings the total number of previously affected health zones that have surpassed the 21-day threshold to eight.
° These include MitiMurhesa in South Kivu Province (46 days); Gety (45 days), Mambasa (33 days), and Aru (31 days) in Ituri Province; and Kalunguta (42 days), Goma (41 days), Vuhovi (24 days), and Mabalako (22 days) in North Kivu Province.
° The outbreak remains active in 28 health zones across Ituri and North Kivu provinces that have reported confirmed cases within the past 21 days.
° During this period, 787 confirmed cases and 325 confirmed deaths were reported.
° Ituri Province continues to bear the overwhelming burden of the outbreak, accounting for 710 cases (90.2%) and 282 deaths (86.8%) across 21 active health zones.
° The remaining seven active health zones in North Kivu reported 77 cases (9.8%) and 43 deaths (13.2%).
° The highest transmission was recorded in Bunia (237 cases), Rwampara (190 cases), Mongbwalu (103 cases), Nizi (62 cases), Nyankunde (51 cases), and Lita (24 cases) in Ituri Province.
° In North Kivu Province, Katwa (27 cases) and Butembo (21 cases) remained the main areas of transmission.
° Collectively, these health zones accounted for 90.9% of all confirmed cases reported during the past 21 days.
° A similar pattern was observed for mortality. Bunia reported the highest number of deaths (101), followed by Mongbwalu (66), Rwampara (45), Katwa (22), Nizi (18), Nyankunde (15), Lita (12), Mangala (11), and Butembo (11).
° Together, these health zones accounted for 92.6% of all confirmed deaths reported during the same period.
° The crude CFR of the outbreak also increased over recent weeks. In Ituri Province, the CFR rose from 20.5% on 15 June to 29.7% on 05 July 2026, while North Kivu continued to record the highest provincial CFR, remaining above 56% throughout the reporting period.
° The largest increase in CFR was observed in Lita Health Zone (+36.4 percentage points), followed by Komanda (+22.1 percentage points), Nizi (+18.1 percentage points), and Bunia (+17.6 percentage points).
° These elevated CFRs likely reflect continued delays in case detection and healthcare-seeking behaviour, compounded by the persistently high proportion of deaths occurring in the community.
(...)
° Since the beginning of the outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 1624 confirmed cases, including 521 confirmed deaths (CFR 32.1%].
° Ituri Province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for 90.9% (1477) of all confirmed cases and 84.3% (439) of all reported deaths nationwide.
° The most affected health zones are Bunia (452 cases, 121 deaths), Rwampara (349 cases, 72 deaths), Mongbwalu (288 cases, 149 deaths), Nyankunde (96 cases, 19 deaths), Nizi (78 cases, 19 deaths), Lita (33 cases, 12 deaths), and Mangala (33 cases, 14 deaths), all located in Ituri Province, as well as Katwa (52 cases, 38 deaths), Butembo (40 cases, 18 deaths), and Beni (29 cases, 17 deaths) in North Kivu Province. Together, these health zones account for nearly 89.3% of all confirmed cases and 91.9% of confirmed deaths reported nationally.
(...)
° Investigation of 430 confirmed deaths as of 05 July 2026, showed that 397 (92.3%) occurred in the community or before admission to a treatment facility, highlighting persistent delays in case detection, referral, isolation, and access to clinical care.
° Only 33 deaths (7.7%) occurred after patients had been admitted to treatment centres or healthcare facilities.
As of 05 July 2026, a total of 12412 contacts were under follow-up of whom 9624 (77.5%) were successfully seen within the previous 24 hours.
° Ituri Province accounted for the majority of contacts under follow-up, with 9757 contacts, including 7574 (77.6%) seen during the reporting period.
° In North Kivu, 2050 out of 2655 contacts (77.2%) were followed up, while all contacts in South Kivu had completed the required 21-day monitoring period.
° Although contact tracing performance has improved overall, follow-up remains below optimal levels, leaving a significant proportion of contacts unreached and increasing the likelihood of undetected infections and continued transmission.
° The proportion of new confirmed cases identified among registered contacts increased steadily as the outbreak progressed, exceeding 40% by late June 2026.
° Overall, 32.4% of confirmed cases were detected through contact follow-up. However, a substantial number of infections continued to occur outside known contact lists, indicating ongoing gaps in surveillance. These gaps are likely driven by insecurity in affected areas, population displacement and mobility, delayed case detection, community resistance, incomplete epidemiological investigations, and the movement of suspected cases and deceased individuals across affected areas.
(...)
Uganda
° Uganda has not reported any new cases during the past two weeks.
° The latest confirmed case was reported on 21 June 2026 and involved a truck driver travelling along the Democratic Republic of the Congo–Uganda international route.
° The case became symptomatic on 15 June 2026, crossed into Uganda on 19 June, and was admitted to the treatment unit for isolation on 20 June 2026.
° As of 5 July 2026, the outbreak had resulted in a total of 21 cases (20 confirmed and one probable).
° Three deaths, including two confirmed and one probable, had been reported, while 16 patients had recovered and been discharged from care.
° Two patients remained hospitalised.
° Since the onset of the outbreak, health authorities had identified 831 contacts.
° All contacts placed under follow-up have now completed the required 21-day monitoring period without any new linked cases being detected.
Figure 5. Weekly trends of confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease in Uganda by epidemiological week of report, epidemiological weeks 18 – 27, 2026
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France
° The imported laboratory-confirmed case of BVD, notified to WHO by the French authorities on 24 June 2026, has recovered and was discharged from hospital on 4 July after obtaining two consecutive negative laboratory test results.
° The patient, a middle-aged male physician, had recently returned from a five-week deployment in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he provided clinical care to patients with BVD.
° Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on 23 June 2026, he voluntarily reported experiencing symptoms to airport health officials, prompting his immediate isolation and transfer to a designated high-containment treatment facility.
° Contact tracing identified five passengers who had travelled on the same flight as the patient. These individuals were placed under quarantine in France and continue to be monitored.
° None had become symptomatic as of 5 July 2026.
Risk Assessment
° The overall public health risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains very high, driven by sustained and widespread transmission that continues to outpace the current response capacity.
° The outbreak remains concentrated in the Bunia–Rwampara–Mongbwalu corridor, although transmission persists across multiple affected health zones.
° The persistently elevated case fatality ratio in North Kivu suggests ongoing delays in case detection, diagnosis, and access to clinical care, while treatment capacity in Ituri Province is becoming increasingly strained.
° Although contact follow-up and alert investigation have improved, performance remains insufficient to rapidly interrupt transmission.
° In addition, reports of threatened strike action among frontline response workers have emerged in affected areas, reportedly linked to delays in payment and other operational constraints.
° If not rapidly addressed by health authorities and partners, these challenges could further disrupt critical response activities and undermine ongoing outbreak control efforts.
° Uganda continues to face a high risk of importation due to frequent population movement from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, including commercial trucking routes and possible informal cross-border crossings linked to border closures.
° The imported case reported in France further demonstrates the continued risk of international spread and highlights the need to sustain enhanced surveillance, strengthen traveller awareness, and reinforce cross-border coordination and preparedness measures.
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Source:
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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By Stefan Puscasu - [1]., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8459414
Source:
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
BMC Pediatr
I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
ABSTRACT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) (HPAI H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b have recently been detected in U.S. dairy cattle following multiple spillover events from avian reservoirs. In December 2025, HPAI H5N1 virus was identified in a dairy herd in Wisconsin through the National Milk Testing Strategy. Here, we report the isolation of a clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 H5N1 virus, A/dairy cow/Wisconsin/25G05743-001/2025 (WI5743-H5N1), from bulk milk associated with the affected herd, describe its phylogenetic relationships, and assess its pathogenicity in mice. Infectious virus was recovered following blind passage in embryonated chicken eggs. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that WI5743-H5N1 is distinct from previously reported D1.1 viruses detected in dairy cattle in Nevada and Arizona, supporting an independent introduction into cattle, and indicating a likely local avian source. Compared with closely related avian viruses, WI5743-H5N1 encoded the mammalian-adapting substitution PB2-E627K and additional amino acid differences in HA, PB1-F2, and NS1. In mice, WI5743-H5N1 replicated efficiently in respiratory tissues and was detectable in the brain but exhibited lower lethality relative to other recent clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13 viruses. Together, these findings highlight the genetic and phenotypic diversity of HPAI H5N1 viruses infecting dairy cattle and underscore the importance of continued surveillance and functional characterization of emerging strains.
IMPORTANCE
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have recently entered U.S. dairy cattle through multiple spillover events from avian reservoirs, creating new opportunities for viral adaptation in mammals. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 H5N1 virus from bulk milk collected during a spillover event in Wisconsin in December 2025. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that this virus represents an independent introduction into dairy cattle distinct from previously reported D1.1 viruses identified in Nevada and Arizona. Although the virus encoded the mammalian-adapting PB2-E627K substitution, it exhibited comparatively low lethality in mice, highlighting the complexity of mammalian adaptation and pathogenicity in H5N1 viruses. These findings expand current understanding of the genetic and phenotypic diversity of H5N1 viruses infecting dairy cattle and emphasize the importance of continued surveillance and functional characterization of emerging strains.
Source:
Link: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00761-26
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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Time Period: June 28, 2026 - July 04, 2026
-- A(H5) Detection: 4 site(s) (0.9%)
-- No Detection: 439 site(s) (99.1%)
-- No samples: 49 site(s)
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Source:
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/wastewater/emerging-viruses/h5.html?
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
Week 28, 2026 | Produced on 9 July 2026 at 08:45, based on data submitted up to 8 July 2026.
Current situation
° Since the beginning of the 2026 transmission season, and as of 8 July, 11 areas affected by West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in five countries across Europe {1}.
° These areas are located in:
- Italy (five),
- North Macedonia (two),
- Romania (two),
- Greece (one) and
- Spain (one).
° The five countries have reported 12 locally acquired {2} human cases of WNV infection:
- Italy has reported six,
- North Macedonia two,
- Romania two,
- Greece one and
- Spain one case.
° This week, five areas are reported as affected for the first time this season.
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Table 1. Areas affected by West Nile virus during the 2026 transmission season as of 8 July, by country and NUTS3 or GAUL1 area
{Click on Image to Enlarge}
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{*} ‘First reported this week’ indicates that the affected area was not included in the previous weekly overview.
{1} European Union/European Economic Area countries and selected EU-neighbouring countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo**, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye).
{**} This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.↩︎
{2} Cases acquired within the reporting country.↩︎
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Source:
Link: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/west-nile-fever/surveillance-and-disease-data/disease-data-ecdc
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I am an Italian blogger, active since 2005 with main focus on emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, antibiotics resistance, and many other global Health issues. Other fields of interest are: climate change, global warming, geological and biological sciences. My activity consists mainly in collection and analysis of news, public services updates, confronting sources and making decision about what are the 'signals' of an impending crisis (an outbreak, for example). When a signal is detected, I follow traces during the entire course of an event. I started in 2005 my blog ''A TIME'S MEMORY'', now with more than 40,000 posts and 3 millions of web interactions. Subsequently I added an Italian Language blog, then discontinued because of very low traffic and interest. I contributed for seven years to a public forum (FluTrackers.com) in the midst of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, I left the site to continue alone my data tracking job.
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