We need to keep an eye on avian influenza
H5N1 avian influenza viruses of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/96 lineage have been circulating in wild birds for many years, have inflicted significant economic losses on the poultry industry and have caused zoonotic infections since 1997.
Genetic evidence of susceptible wildlife in SARS-CoV-2 positive samples at the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market
Analysis and interpretation of data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control
Subclass-switched anti-spike IgG3 oligoclonal cocktails strongly enhance Fc-mediated opsonization
Is it possible to improve the antibodies that the body produces to fight SARS-CoV2? In a study led by researchers from Lund University in Sweden, this was investigated by redesigning antibodies and combining them against the virus.
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Policy & Recommendations
EU Ministers of Health expressed their full support for the EU Global Health Strategy
The strategy, presented by the European Commission on 30 November 2022, puts global health forward as an essential pillar of EU external policy
Estimation of the number of RSV-associated hospitalisations in adults in the European Union
RSV is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in older adults. Estimating RSV- associated hospitalisation is critical for planning RSV-related healthcare needs for the ageing population across Europe.
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Policy priorities for protecting adults at risk of severe illness from RSV
IFA participated in the generation of a new report by the Health Policy Partnership to build awareness of the impact of RSV in adults and highlight opportunities to reduce its burden on society through appropriate prevention, diagnosis, and care.
Influenza A(H5N1) detection in two asymptomatic poultry farm workers in Spain, September to October 2022: suspected environmental contamination
In autumn 2022, the Spanish Influenza National Reference Laboratory (NRL) confirmed the detection of influenza A(H5N1) in samples from two asymptomatic workers linked to an outbreak in a poultry farm in Spain.
When to update COVID-19 vaccine composition
Vaccines against different SARS-CoV-2 variants have been approved, but continued surveillance is needed to determine when the antigen composition of vaccines should be updated, together with clinical studies to assess vaccine efficacy.
WHO Webinar Series on Trust and Pandemic Preparedness. The shifting landscape of trust: history, leadership & communities
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted trust as an important determinant of successful pandemic response. The second webinar in the series examines historical trust infrastructures that build and maintain trust within communities.
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The European public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for future cross-border health threats
The early lessons from the pandemic underlined that challenges to health systems and economies, including supply chain problems and vaccine hesitancy, could no longer be overcome by European Union Member States acting alone.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prefusion F Protein Vaccine in Older Adults
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of acute respiratory infection, lower respiratory tract disease, clinical complications, and death in older adults.
The Journey to RSV Vaccines — Heralding an Era of Structure-Based Design
After a 1960s RSV vaccine was found to enhance disease in previously unexposed infants, development was put on hold. But structure-based design has led to effective RSV vaccines that now await approval.
