Author: Claudinne Miller
Ecology and spread of the North American H5N1 epizootic
Nature Since late 2021, a panzootic of highly pathogenic H5N1 has devastated wild birds, agriculture and mammals. Here an analysis of 1,818 haemagglutinin sequences from wild birds, domestic birds and mammals reveals that the North American panzootic was driven by around nine introductions into the Atlantic and Pacific flyways, followed by rapid dissemination through wild, […]
Nov 12, 2025
The Americas have lost their measles elimination status
CBC We’re wrapping up our live updates for the moment on Canada’s loss of its measles elimination status. The announcement didn’t come as a surprise to many, but health officials and experts say it is a setback in terms of Canada’s reputation and standing for public health globally. It also shows how there are gaps […]
Nov 12, 2025
Clinicians Test ‘Butt Breathing’ in Early Study
MedPage Small trial suggests blood oxygenation via the gut may be feasible in humans, but will it work? Young men tolerated the anal administration of a liquid with a high capacity for oxygenation in a phase Ia trial from Japan — a dose of good news for researchers who are developing a rectal ventilation system […]
Nov 5, 2025
MIT study finds targets for a new tuberculosis vaccine
MIT Using these antigens, researchers plan to develop vaccine candidates that they hope would stimulate a strong immune response against the world’s deadliest pathogen. A large-scale screen of tuberculosis proteins has revealed several possible antigens that could be developed as a new vaccine for TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease. In the new study, a […]
Nov 5, 2025
Do mRNA vaccines hold the key to stopping cancer in its tracks? Northeastern University vaccine experts talk recent developments.
Northwestern University There’s a budding scientific literature supporting the idea that so-called messenger RNA vaccines, in prompting a robust immune response inside the body, can help cancer patients. The COVID-19 vaccines could be doing a lot more than just warding off viral infection: they may be teaching our immune systems how to fight cancer more […]
Nov 5, 2025
Drug-resistant infections in Europe set to rise as populations age, study suggests
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Biggest rise in drug-resistant bloodstream infections are expected in the over-65s and among men. A new study led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and published in PLOS Medicine finds that ageing populations could lead to a rise in bloodstream infections caused by drug-resistant […]
Nov 5, 2025
Unexpected Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in bovine semen from a bull used for natural breeding on an affected dairy farm
Univ Wisconsin (PrePub) Abstract Since March 2024, HPAI H5N1 virus has infected dairy cattle in the U.S., prompting concern about novel transmission routes. During an outbreak in California, HPAI H5N1 RNA was detected in an asymptomatic bull’s semen. Although infectious virus was not isolated, questions remain about semen-associated transmission risks and biosecurity practices. Main Text […]
Nov 5, 2025
FDA testing aged raw cow’s milk cheese for bird flu
MSN The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin collecting samples of raw cow’s milk cheese from across the U.S. to test for the presence of bird flu, spurred on by the ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 in multiple states. In the announcement published Monday, the FDA said the goal of testing will be two-fold: detecting the […]
Nov 5, 2025
Beyond the Barnyard: How H5N1 Is Crossing Species—and Borders
Infection Control Today During the August 2025 Health Watch USA(sm) webinar entitled “Combating Infectious Disease Challenges,” several lectures were devoted to the then-outdated topic of H5N1 or the bird flu. Many people in the public, including those on social media, attributed the disappearance of the bird flu over the summer months to the implementation of […]
Nov 5, 2025
Indiana: Bird flu spreads to total of 15 farms
WISHTV Two more duck operations in northern Indiana and a hobby flock of mixed species in the Indianapolis metropolitan area are the latest to be quarantined with bird flu, the state’s Board of Animal Health said Tuesday night. A commercial meat duck operation with 20,772 birds in Elkhart County and another with 4,837 birds in […]
Nov 5, 2025