Lmst

Source: UKHSA, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-detects-first-case-of-clade-ib-mpox

Two cases of Clade Ib mpox have been detected in household contacts of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 3.

The 2 patients are currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low.

There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:

”Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.

”The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.

”Contacts of all 3 cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

(…)

_____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/11/05/the-uk-health-security-agency-ukhsa-confirms-2-additional-cases-of-clade-ib-mpox/

#clusterOfCases #health #monkeypox #mpox #news #orthopoxvirus #UK #updates

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/missouri-h5n1-serology-testing.html

Topline Summary of Findings

In August 2024, healthcare providers in Missouri had a patient who had gastrointestinal symptoms with a history of chronic respiratory illness.

The person was hospitalized and tested for multiple respiratory pathogens, and was positive for influenza A.

They recovered from their illness and were discharged.

Follow-up surveillance testing was conducted at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Public Health Laboratory using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that is part of routine national influenza surveillance. Testing found that the patient tested presumptive positive for avian influenza A(H5) (“H5 bird flu”). There was no history of exposure to infected animals or humans. The specimen was forwarded to CDC as part of routine protocol. CDC confirmed the specimen as H5N1 bird flu and this was reported as a case on September 6, 2024.

Missouri state and local officials performed a lengthy retrospective investigation of everyone who came into close contact with the patient and identified seven people (6 health care workers and one family member) who had symptoms that warranted additional investigation given their potential exposure to this patient.

CDC, in support of this investigation, conducted a series of tests on blood specimens from 6 of these people – and the original patient – to help identify signs of previous infection or exposure to H5N1 well after full resolution of their symptoms. This was not possible for the others, whose suggestive symptoms had completely resolved at the time of interview.

None of the results of this extensive testing and investigation support that human-to-human spread occurred.

The health care workers who were tested showed no signs of previous H5N1 infection. They were all “sero-negative.” This finding rules out person-to-person spread between the MO case patient and any of health care workers tested. The Missouri case and a household contact both had some evidence – though inconsistent – which suggested exposure to – or a previous infection with – H5N1 using these serologic tests.

To date, human-to-human spread of H5 bird flu has not been identified in the United States. CDC believes the immediate risk to the general public from H5N1 bird flu remains low, but people with exposure to infected animals are at higher risk of infection.

Following these tests, CDC continues to assess that the risk that someone who has not had contact with an infected animal will become infected with H5N1 remains low.

(…)

____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/us-cdc-report-on-missouri-h5n1-serology-testing/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #human #missouri #serology #updates #USCDC #USA

Source: CIDRAP, https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/serologic-tests-rule-out-avian-flu-missouri-health-workers-cdc-confirms-2

{Excerpt}

Officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today said serologic testing has ruled out H5 avian flu infection among five healthcare workers who had symptoms around the time they were exposed to a patient in Missouri, though results suggest a household contact was likely infected at the same time.

At a Department of Health and Human Services briefing today, CDC officials also said tests have confirmed H5 infection in two Washington poultry cullers, though the virus is the D.1.1 genotype, which is different that the B3.13 genotype circulating in US dairy cattle.

(…)

____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/serologic-tests-rule-out-avianflu-in-missouri-hcws-cdc-confirms-2-washington-infections/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #human #missouri #washington

Source: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO Regional Office for the Americas, https://reliefweb.int/report/world/epidemiological-alert-human-infections-caused-avian-influenza-ah5n1-americas-region-8-october-2024

{Excerpt}

Summary of the situation in the Americas Region

Between 2022 and epidemiological week (EW) 39 of 2024, a total of 19 countries and territories in the Americas Region reported 5,472 outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic and wild birds to WOAH: Argentina, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, , Honduras, the Falkland Islands, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States of America, Guatemala, Uruguay, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Table 1) (4).

During this period, 693 outbreaks of HPAI A(H5N1) have been reported in mammals in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay (Table 2) (4).

Between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, eight countries and territories in the Americas Region have identified 373 avian influenza outbreaks in birds and 289 outbreaks in mammals (Table 3) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5) (4).

Between 2022 and EW 39 of 2024, 19 human infections caused by avian influenza A(H5) have been reported in the Americas. Of these, 17 were reported in the United States (6); one in Ecuador, reported on 9 January 2023 (7); and one in Chile, reported on 29 March 2023 (8).

During 2024, 16 human cases were reported, of which 15 have been reported in the last five months.

The following is a summary of the situation in countries and territories in the Americas Region in alphabetical order, that reported outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) in birds and mammals during 2024, and the information on human cases reported in 2024.

In Argentina, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, an outbreak of H5 avian influenza was reported to WOAH. The outbreak was identified in the province of Chubut in January affecting a South American sea lion; no new outbreaks have been reported since then. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).

In Brazil, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 16 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5) have been confirmed in wild birds in the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. The last reported outbreak was in May 2024. To date, no outbreaks in production birds or human cases of infection with avian influenza (H5N1) have been detected (4).

In Canada, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, multiple HPAI A(H5N1) outbreaks in poultry and wild birds have been reported to WOAH in nine Canadian provinces. The provinces of Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec have reported ten outbreaks in wild mammals. The last identified outbreak was reported in July 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).

In Ecuador, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in backyard poultry was reported to WOAH. The outbreak was identified in Pastaza province in February; no new outbreaks have been reported since. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).

In the Falkland Islands, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, WOAH was notified of eight outbreaks of avian influenza in birds, all related to wild birds (4). The last outbreak was reported in September 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (9).

In Mexico, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 15 outbreaks of avian influenza in wild and domestic birds were reported to WOAH. The outbreaks occurred in the states of Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla and San Luis Potosí. The last outbreak was reported in July 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).

In Peru, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 57 outbreaks of HPAI A(H5) were reported to WOAH, mostly in backyard domestic poultry in the departments of Ancash, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, and Moquegua. The last outbreak was reported in September 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).

In the United States of America, detections of HPAI A(H5) virus in wild birds, commercial poultry, and/or backyard poultry have been reported to WOAH since early 2024 in 26 states2 in the country (4). Outbreaks in wild mammals have also been reported in a variety of species, including bobcats, raccoons, cougars, minks, skunks and foxes in seven states (California, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New York, Vermont and Washington) (4). The first detection of influenza A(H5N1) in goats was reported in Minnesota on March 18. On 25 March 2024, the first detection of influenza A(H5N1) was reported in dairy cattle and in samples of unpasteurized milk obtained from dairy cattle in the states of Texas and Kansas (3). Since then, detections of A(H5N1) have been reported in 254 herds of dairy cattle across 14 states, as of 4 October; 82% of the herds were in Colorado (n=64), California (n=56), Idaho (n=33), Michigan (n=29), and Texas (n=26) (10). In the last 30 days, 82 affected herds were reported in the states of California (n=79) and Idaho (n=3) (11). Fatalities have also been observed among wild cats and birds within some affected farms (12).

During 2024, as of 4 October, 16 human cases of influenza A(H5N1) were confirmed in the United States, nine of which followed exposure to poultry (6). Of the 16 reported cases, 15 have been reported in the past 5 months. The 16 human cases were reported in California (n=2), Colorado (n=10), Michigan (n=2), Missouri (n=1), and Texas (n=1) (6). On 1 April 2024, the United States reported the first human case of influenza A(H5N1) in a farm worker, being related to an event in dairy cattle in the State of Texas (13). This case represents the first instance of probable transmission of the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from mammals to humans. Since then, and as of 4 October 2024, six human cases of influenza A(H5N1) involving cattle have been reported in the states of California (n=2), Colorado (n=1), Michigan (n=2), and Texas (n=1) (14, 15).

On 6 September 2024, the United States reported the first confirmed case of influenza A(H5N1) in which there is no known recent exposure to animals. The case was identified through the Missouri state seasonal influenza surveillance system (16). As of 27 September, five health care professionals who were exposed to the case and had presented mild symptoms were detected. As the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique would not be reliable in identifying these exposures, blood samples were collected for serology. As of 4 October, the results of the serological tests performed following the Missouri case are pending (17).

(…)

References

1. World Health Organization. Press release: Los brotes actuales de gripe aviar en animales suponen un riesgo para los seres humanos Análisis de situación y asesoramiento a los países por parte de la FAO, la OMS y la OMSA. 12 July 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Available in Spanish from: https://www.who.int/es/news/item/12-07-2023-ongoing-avianinfluenza-outbreaks-in-animals-pose-risk-to-humans.

2. A. M. P. Byrne, J. James, B. C. Mollett, S. M. Meyer, T. Lewis, M. Czepiel, et al. Investigating the Genetic Diversity of H5 Avian Influenza Viruses in the United Kingdom from 2020-2022. Microbiol Spectr 11, e0477622 http://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04776-22. (2023). Available from:

3. World Health Organization. Disease outbreak news: Avian influenza A(H5N1) – United States of America. 9 April 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON512.

4. World Organization for Animal Health. World Animal Health Information System. Animal health data: Avian influenza. Paris: WOAH; 2024 [cited 3 October 2024]. Available from: https://wahis.woah.org/#/event-management

5. World Health Organization. Cumulative number of confirmed human cases for avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO, 2003-2024, 19 July 2024. Geneva: WHO; Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/cumulative-number-of-confirmedhuman-cases-for-avian-influenza-a(h5n1)-reported-to-who-2003-2024.

6. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How CDC is monitoring influenza data among people to better understand the current avian influenza A (H5N1) situation. Atlanta: CDC; 2024 [cited 2024 Oct 4]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5monitoring/index.html.

7. Ministerio de Salud Pública de Ecuador. Entidades sanitarias mantienen activa vigilancia ante caso de gripe aviar. 10 de enero del 2022. Quito: MSP; 2022. Available in Spanish from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=555571356609961&set=a.253584503475316

8. Ministerio de Salud de Chile. MINSAL informa primer caso humano de gripe aviar en Chile. 29 de marzo del 2023. Santiago: MINSAL; 2023. Available in Spanish from: https://www.minsal.cl/minsal-informa-primer-caso-humano-de-gripe-aviar-en-chile/.

9. Falkland Islands Department of Agriculture. Avian Influenza Information. Stanley: IFAD; 2024 [cited 3 October 2024]. Available from: https://falklands.gov.fk/agriculture/avianinfluenza.

10. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current H5N1 Bird Flu Situation in Dairy Cows. Atlanta: CDC; 2024 [cited 4 October 2024]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html.

11. United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services. HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock. Riverdale: USDA; 2024 [cited 4 October 2024]. Available from: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avianinfluenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock.

12. Burrough ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, Timmermans SJ, Gauger PC, Zhang J, et al. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4.4b virus infection in domestic dairy cattle and cats, United States, 2024. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30(7), 1335-1343. 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3007.240508.

13. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S. Atlanta: CDC; 1 April 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0401-avian-flu.html.

14. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC reports fourth human case of H5 Bird Flu Tied to Dairy Cow Outbreak. Atlanta: CDC; 3 July 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p-0703-4th-human-case-h5.html.

15. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Confirms New Human Cases of H5 Bird Flu in California. Atlanta: CDC; 4 October 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1003-birdflu-case-california.html. Missouri.

16. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Confirms Human Case of H5 Bird Flu in Atlanta: CDC; 6 Septembe 2024. Available https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0906-birdflu-case-missouri.html. from:

17. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update September 27, 2024. Atlanta: CDC; 27 September 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-09272024.html.

(…)

____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/10/epidemiological-alert-human-infections-caused-by-avian-influenza-ah5n1-in-americas-region-8-october-2024/

#aH5n1 #americanRegion #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #dairyCow #goats #poultry #updates #USA #WHO #wildBirds

Source: SriwijaiaTV {in Bahasa Indonesian}, https://sriwijayatv.com/potensi-penularan-flu-burung-pada-manusia-semakin-meningkat-di-missouri/

{Excerpt}

(…)

Experts have criticized the slow flow of information and the lack of important epidemiological details, including the time of symptom onset in early patients and close contacts.

“Epidemiologists can glean a lot of information from the date, time and nature of the contact,” Dr. Rivers said.

Dr Lawler said the tone of official communications was also overly optimistic.

“The message that came out was probably a little more confident and conciliatory than it needed to be,” he said. “That doesn’t help rebuild the credibility of the public health sector.”

Ideally, the first case would prompt a full investigation, but Missouri health officials did not receive confirmation of the H5N1 virus until the patient was discharged from the hospital.

So far, a comprehensive recount of the investigation and chronology of infections will help clarify how the virus spread, experts say.

(…)

____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/09/28/usa-potential-for-human-transmission-of-birdflu-increases-in-missouri/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #missouri #USA

Source: BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd1v3vn6ero

{Excerpt}

Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, told the health publication STAT that he was concerned about how long Missouri was taking to figure out who else may have been infected by the original patient. “Public health credibility is really on the line here,” Mr Osterholm said.

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/09/28/usa-missouri-four-healthcare-workers-show-symptoms-after-h5n1-birdflu-exposure/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #missouri #USA

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-09272024.html

Missouri Case Update

Missouri continues to lead the investigation into that state’s only reported H5 case with technical assistance from CDC in Atlanta.

As CDC learns new information from Missouri about its investigation, we are sharing it as quickly as possible in this space to help keep the public up to date.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has not, to date, identified ongoing transmission among close contacts of the case, first reported on September 6, 2024. Missouri identified two health care workers who were exposed to the hospitalized case before droplet precautions were instituted (i.e., higher risk exposure) and subsequently developed mild respiratory symptoms (among 18 workers with this higher risk exposure); one tested negative for influenza by PCR, as previously reported, and the second provided a blood specimen for testing by CDC for potential influenza A(H5N1) antibodies.

Missouri has since identified four additional health care workers who later developed mild respiratory symptoms.

One of these workers was in the higher risk category and provided a blood specimen for H5 antibody testing.

Three of these workers are among 94 workers who were exposed to the hospitalized case of avian influenza A(H5) after droplet precautions were instituted (i.e., lower risk exposure); blood specimens for those who became symptomatic have been collected for H5 antibody testing at CDC.

Aside from the one health care worker reported to have tested negative for influenza by PCR, the five remaining exposed health care workers had only mild symptoms and were not tested by PCR for respiratory infections.

PCR testing would have been unreliable at the time of discovery of these individuals’ prior symptoms.

The health care worker monitoring effort has been part of the ongoing investigation as previously reported.

Results of serology testing at CDC on the positive case and their previously identified household contact are still pending.

To date, only one case of influenza A(H5N1) has been detected in Missouri.

No contacts of that case have tested positive for influenza A(H5N1).

CDC continues to closely monitor available data from influenza surveillance systems, particularly in affected states, and there has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including in Missouri.

(…)

_____

https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/09/27/us-cdc-ah5n1-birdflu-response-update-september-27-2024/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #clusterOfCases #healthCareWorkers #human #missouri #updates #USCDC #USA