H5N1 Bird Flu continues to take its toll in the United States, also affecting British Columbia
Clade 2.3.4.4b of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus causing outbreaks in wild and domestic birds around the world, continues to spread in dairy cows, poultry and other animals across the United States.
Many human infections with ‘cow flu’ are going undetected
Scientists find evidence of past H5N1 infection in 7% of workers exposed at dairy farms—but no signs of human-to-human transmission
Consistent H5N1 control needed for farm animals
Consistent H5N1 control needed for farm animals
Disease surveillance in England and Wales, October 2024
Highlights from the scanning surveillance network
Protective effects of an mRNA vaccine candidate encoding H5HA clade 2.3.4.4b against the newly emerged dairy cattle H5N1 virus
In April 2024, an unprecedented outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, which belongs to HA clade 2.3.4.4 b, was reported in dairy cattle and related milk products in the US.
Transmission of a human isolate of clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) virus in ferrets
Since 2020, there has been unprecedented global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in wild bird populations with spillover into a variety of mammalian species and sporadically humans.
A human isolate of bovine H5N1 is transmissible and lethal in animal models
The outbreak of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype (HPAI H5N1) in dairy cows in the US has so far resulted in spillover infections of at least thirteen farm workers.
Human vaccination for highly pathogenic avian influenza
The case of avian influenza A (H5) confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Missouri, USA.
News
Policy & Recommendations
ESWI Science Policy Interface Roundtable
Hosted by the Parliament of the Czech Republic in Prague and ESWI Board Member Roman Prymula, the event brought together key stakeholders in the Czech Republic to discuss and address the critical issues surrounding vaccine uptake.
Respiratory infections: how does a virus spread inside a body and through the population?
Four Joint Research Centre (JRC) designed epidemiological and viral kinetics models will enhance understanding of respiratory disease dynamics, contributing to a better preparedness of future infectious disease outbreaks.
Flu shots play an important role in protecting against bird flu. But not for the reason you might think
A current strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has become a global problem. The virus has affected many millions of birds, some other animal species, and a small number of people.
Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programmes in the WHO European Region from December, 2020, to March, 2023: a retrospective surveillance study
By March, 2023, 54 countries, areas, and territories (hereafter CAT) in the WHO European Region had reported more than 2·2 million COVID-19-related deaths to the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
