THE TRANSMISSION

Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS

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Featured Headlines

• Crossing Species: The Rising Threat of H5N1 Bird Flu in the U.S.April 17, 2024
  NY Academy of Sciences The CDC recently confirmed a human case of HPAI A (H5N1) in Texas. Renowned epidemiologist Syra Madad and distinguished virologist Jason Kindrachuk offer tips to farmers, animal caretakers, and the general public on how to avoid contracting and spreading this strain of avian influenza. Avian influenza H5N1, commonly known as bird… Read more: Crossing Species: The Rising Threat of H5N1 Bird Flu in the U.S.
• UCalgary vet med researchers closely monitoring reports of avian influenza virus spilloverApril 16, 2024
  University of Calgary Number of cases negligible but continued diagnostic testing and collaboration with producers are keys to ensuring community health, experts say. ecent reports coming out of the U.S. of avian influenza virus (H5N1) being found in cattle has been garnering attention. First noted in mid-March as a “mystery illness” when a handful of… Read more: UCalgary vet med researchers closely monitoring reports of avian influenza virus spillover
• What’s Surprising and Scary About Avian Influenza Right Now?April 16, 2024
  One Health Trust Bird flu – aka avian influenza – is doing what it does best yet again – surprising scientists, public health officials, farmers, and wildlife experts. It’s been spreading among dairy cattle in the United States, something that startles even long-term observers of the virus. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was first noticed in the late… Read more: What’s Surprising and Scary About Avian Influenza Right Now?
• White House expands its global pandemic prevention effortsApril 16, 2024
  ABC The U.S. will work with other countries to improve infectious disease testing and surveillance before outbreaks can threaten to become pandemics. The White House plans to expand coordination and support to 50 countries in a new worldwide effort to spot and stop pandemic risks. The Biden administration will work with other countries on a… Read more: White House expands its global pandemic prevention efforts
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  From Poultry to Wildlife, UC Davis Tracks ‘Unprecedented’ Avian Influenza ImpactsApril 16, 2024
  UC Davis Avian influenza continues to spread worldwide. UC Davis scientists are helping to monitor its expansion among wildlife, poultry and other species.  Wildlife and avian flu In early April, Marcela Uhart, director of the Latin America Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, addressed the current state of avian flu at a webinar… Read more: From Poultry to Wildlife, UC Davis Tracks ‘Unprecedented’ Avian Influenza Impacts
• What’s Happening with Dairy Cows and Bird Flu?April 16, 2024
  Bloomberg School of Public Health The H5N1 strain of avian influenza—commonly known as bird flu—has been circulating among wild migratory birds for the past two years, with substantial spillover into poultry farms. But what’s sparking concern among scientists and public health officials alike is the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows and the… Read more: What’s Happening with Dairy Cows and Bird Flu?
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Three New Michigan Dairy HerdsApril 16, 2024
  Michigan Agriculture and Rural Development Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring announced the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds in three additional counties—Ionia, Isabella, and Ottawa—bringing the total number of affected counties to four. On March 29, MDARD announced the state’s first HPAI-positive dairy herd located… Read more: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Three New Michigan Dairy Herds
• The H5N1 Outbreak Is Not a Test Run, It’s a Warning ShotApril 16, 2024
  Medpage Today A true public health success would be preventing the virus from further adapting to humans. The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) (H5N1) in dairy herds across the U.S. appears to be expanding, with over two dozen farms being affected in eight states. Although only one mild human case in a… Read more: The H5N1 Outbreak Is Not a Test Run, It’s a Warning Shot
• Why the spread of bird flu to a Texas dairy worker is so alarming (Opinion)April 16, 2024
  Washington Post Since early 2022, a highly pathogenic strain of avian flu, H5N1, has been infecting wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry in the United States. More than 85 million birds in 48 states have died as a result of the virus or have been culled after exposure to infected birds. This same strain has now spread… Read more: Why the spread of bird flu to a Texas dairy worker is so alarming (Opinion)
• Dr. Lawler’s Weekly Update: HPAI H5N1April 16, 2024
  Link to Video
• Bird flu spreads to 3 more Michigan commercial dairy farmsApril 16, 2024
  Michigan Live The highly pathogenic avian flu has infected more Michigan dairy farms only three weeksafter it first spread to cattle. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Friday, April 12 the bird flu was detected in three commercial farms in Ionia, Isabella and Ottawa counties. This brings the total number of infected… Read more: Bird flu spreads to 3 more Michigan commercial dairy farms

Updates on ongoing disease outbreaks

• Mpox cases rise in the U.S.April 16, 2024
  MSN The CDC is reporting an uptick in mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, cases across the United States. So far this year, they’ve reported almost 600 positive cases of mpox, which is nearly double the amount of cases reported in 2023. Dr. Wes Stubblefield with the Alabama Department of Public Health said mpox is a… Read more: Mpox cases rise in the U.S.
• 4 Years In, a Sobering Look at Long COVID ProgressApril 16, 2024
  Medscape Four years ago in the spring of 2020, physicians and patients coined the term “long COVID” to describe a form of the viral infection from which recovery seemed impossible. (And the old nickname “long-haulers” seems so quaint now.) What started as a pandemic that killed nearly 3 million people globally in 2020 alone would turn into a… Read more: 4 Years In, a Sobering Look at Long COVID Progress
• Nigeria: Accelerated research against Lassa fever, which killed 20 people in one weekApril 16, 2024
  Actual News Magazine Lassa fever looks a bit like Ebola fever, with fairly severe symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bleeding. It can kill up to 20% of patients and becomes fatal 10 days after the first symptoms appear, especially if it is not treated. It is found in Africa, in Nigeria… Read more: Nigeria: Accelerated research against Lassa fever, which killed 20 people in one week
• Avian flu infects another commercial poultry farm in MichiganApril 16, 2024
  MI Live As Michigan grapples with the bird flu spreading to cows, it has infected another commercial poultry farm. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Tuesday, April 16 the highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected at a commercial facility in Newaygo County. This is the seventh time the deadly flu has infected… Read more: Avian flu infects another commercial poultry farm in Michigan
• Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in a Dog Infected by a Highly Pathogenic Avian A/H5N1 VirusApril 16, 2024
  Emerging Viral Zoonoses In summer 2023, during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cats in Poland, a 16-year-old dog was presented to the veterinary clinic with persistent, debilitating, dry cough, submandibular lymphadenomegaly, mild serous nasal discharge, and left apical heart murmur. A preliminary diagnosis of kennel cough was made and the treatment… Read more: Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in a Dog Infected by a Highly Pathogenic Avian A/H5N1 Virus

Interesting and Sometimes Funny

• Zoom Meetings
  by Claudinne Miller
  April 16, 2024