Author: Claudinne Miller
First Human Case of Bird Flu Imported in EU
European Medical Journal THE FIRST human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) infection has been reported in Italy. Notification of the infection in the Lombardy Region marks the first human case reported in Europe. Italy’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday that the infected person came from a non-European country where he contracted the low-pathogenicity avian influenza A(H9N2) virus of […]
Apr 1, 2026
H9N2 Bird Flu Hits Europe as First Human Case Confirmed in Italy
Science Alert The first human case of H9N2 influenza virus (bird flu) has been reported in Europe. A human infection was recorded by the Italian Ministry of Health on March 25, 2026. As an influenza virologist, I can explain what this means and why I am not particularly worried by it – yet. What do we know about this case? The […]
Apr 1, 2026
Valneva CEO on Pfizer-partnered Lyme vaccine: Why a phase 3 miss doesn’t tell the whole story
Fierce Biotech In the world of clinical trials, missing the primary endpoint of a pivotal trial typically spells real trouble for a drug program. But for Valneva CEO Thomas Lingelbach, the regulatory future of the company’s Pfizer-partnered Lyme disease vaccine, VLA15, is very much “a matter of negotiation.” “It’s a matter of bringing all the […]
Apr 1, 2026
Health officials warn of leptospirosis risk after Hawaii floods
Honolulu Star Advertiser The Hawaii Department of Health and Hawaiian Humane Society are urging residents and recovery workers to monitor for signs of leptospirosis in the aftermath of the “Kona low” storm floods. Leptospirosis Opens in a new tab is a potentially serious bacterial illness that can affect both people and pets. It is caused by Leptospira, […]
Apr 1, 2026
A new COVID-19 variant called “Cicada” is spreading. Here’s what to know.
CBS News “Cicada” is trending, but not because it’s the season for the noisy insects to appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are both monitoring a COVID-19 variant called BA.3.2, which is nicknamed “Cicada.” Where is it? BA.3.2 was first identified in November 2024 and has since spread to at […]
Apr 1, 2026
The Trip to the Far Side of the Moon
The Wire As soon as April 1, four people will embark on a journey that will take them farther from the Earth than anyone has ever traveled before. When NASA’s new moon rocket lifts off as soon as April 1, its immense core stage will mix 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen with 196,000 gallons of liquid […]
Mar 25, 2026
Could bird flu still spark a pandemic?
Science Friday Bird flu has flown off the national news radar, with only scattered, local reports of dead birds in parks and poultry farms. Is it simply no longer a concern, or have cuts to federal science funding disrupted monitoring for this disease? Airborne pathogens expert Seema Lakdawala gives a flyover view on where bird […]
Mar 25, 2026
Health Groups Hailed a Vaccine Ruling, but Their Relief May Be Short-Lived
NYT Lawyers for both sides in the federal lawsuit, brought by six medical organizations, are trying to understand the ramifications of the judge’s decision. When a federal judge on Monday blocked the changes in vaccine policy set in motion by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the last year, public health groups hailed the […]
Mar 25, 2026
Missouri health department reports state’s first 2 cases of clade I mpox
KMBC News The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed two cases of clade I mpox in residents who recently traveled internationally. Clade I mpox, formerly referred to as “monkeypox,” has been spreading globally since 2024. It is different from the clade II mpox outbreak in 2022. Clade I mpox is “more likely to […]
Mar 25, 2026
Trinidad: Health Ministry urges caution as monkey dies from yellow fever
Trinidad Guardian The Ministry of Health has confirmed a case of yellow fever in a deceased Red Howler monkey following laboratory testing. It is assuring the public that there are currently no reported human infections. In a statement yesterday, the ministry explained that yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, including Aedes […]
Mar 25, 2026