Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
H5N1 outbreaks surge across the Americas – PAHO
The Poultry Site The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that avian influenza A(H5N1) continues to circulate in the Americas, with new outbreaks detected in birds, mammals, and sporadic human infections linked to exposure to the virus. Clade 2.3.4.4b—the region’s predominant strain since 2021—continues to drive the activity recorded in recent years. Recent data indicates that […]
Dec 3, 2025
Virginia: Avian influenza suspected in Rocky Mount vulture deaths
WFXR Wildlife officials suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused the deaths of numerous vultures found deceased in a wooded area in Rocky Mount. The birds were discovered on Tuesday, December 3, in a wooded lot on the corner of Dent Street and Franklin Street. Some of the deceased vultures were found in a creek […]
Dec 3, 2025
Work Performance May Be Impaired Years After COVID
MedScape Individuals with post-COVID condition reported lower work ability than those without the condition, with no meaningful change over the 3 years following infection; a higher proportion of those with post‑COVID condition experienced worsening physical and mental work performance. METHODOLOGY: Physical and mental work performance and COVID-related sick leave were assessed at 36 months post-infection. […]
Dec 3, 2025
Gilead Donates Remdesivir to Aid Ethiopia’s Marburg Virus Response
Gilead Gilead Sciences has provided its antiviral therapy, remdesivir, to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia to help combat the country’s first outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). The contribution underscores Gilead’s commitment to global health and rapid action during public health crises. “At Gilead, we believe access to life-saving medicines should not be limited […]
Dec 3, 2025
Ethiopia Marburg Outbreak 2025
Relief Web On 14 November 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), in collaboration with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), issued a press release declaring an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Region of Ethiopia. As of 26 November 2025, 78 laboratory tests have been conducted, of which twelve confirmed cases, including […]
Dec 3, 2025
Death toll climbs in Ethiopia’s Marburg outbreak
CIDRAP Three new deaths have been confirmed in Ethiopia’s Marburg virus outbreak, bringing the death toll to eight, according to the latest update from Ethiopian health officials. There are now 12 confirmed cases in the outbreak, which was first reported in mid-November and is occurring in the southern part of the country. Last week, the Ministry of […]
Dec 3, 2025
Bird flu hits 18,000 turkeys in north central Iowa
Des Moines Register Bird flu has struck a commercial turkey operation with 18,000 birds in north central Iowa’s Hamilton County, the Iowa Department of Agriculture says. The outbreak reported Tuesday, Dec. 2, is the first in Iowa since October, when highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected at a Calhoun County turkey operation with 42,000 birds. This […]
Dec 3, 2025
Bird flu has a heat-proof gene that protects it from our fever defenses
NewAtlas Scientists have discovered that avian influenza viruses have a gene that makes them incredibly resistant to heat, rendering our body’s natural defense system – fever – powerless in fighting infection. In fact, higher temperatures actually help the viruses replicate. Reserchers from the University of Cambridge and University of Glasgow have furthered our understanding of […]
Dec 3, 2025
Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals
NYT After the virus returned to Hawaii this fall, testing the shots in the endangered seal species became urgent. Two wild Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species, have become the first of their kind to receive vaccines for bird flu, part of a new effort to protect the animals from a virus that has been ravaging […]
Dec 3, 2025
Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir Significantly Lowers Risk for COVID-19-Related Hospitalization
Infectious Disease Advisor Real-world use of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was associated with substantially lower rates of COVID-19-related hospitalization among high-risk outpatients during the Omicron BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 surges, according to study findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. With earlier evidence for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir largely generated in unvaccinated populations infected with the Delta variant, updated data have been needed to evaluate its […]
Dec 3, 2025