These findings demonstrate that the Syrian hamster model complements existing animal models for influenza A virus research and expands the resources available for investigating the pathogenicity, transmissibility, and efficacy of countermeasures.

High-pathogenicity influenza viruses have not only been devastating the planet’s wild and domestic bird populations, but they also represent a persistent threat of initiating a fatal human influenza pandemic.

According to the latest quarterly monitoring report from EFSA, ECDC and the EURL, the number of recorded outbreaks is higher overall than recent years for the same period. The risk for the general public remains low.

These findings highlight that H5 HA–stabilizing mutations enhance the quality of antibody responses across different vaccine formats, underscoring their potential to improve pandemic preparedness vaccines.

These findings identify FUT1 and GAL3ST2 as host restriction factors and suggest that their therapeutic dysregulation may represent a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy.

This study suggests that this zoonotic H3N8 strain has moderate pandemic potential and emphasizes the continued need for avian influenza surveillance.

These findings support FNI9 broad protection and underscore the NA role in future influenza vaccine design.

The first episode features Commissioner Hadja Lahbib discussing how the EU can move from crisis response to sustained preparedness.