Category: Flu Virus

Primary Health Medical Group said its seen a surge in influenza type B cases across the Treasure Valley.

The medical group, which has 23 clinics in the Boise area, saw over 250 cases of influenza just last week, with most of those cases being type B, it said in a news release Tuesday.

Influenza type B, along with type A, is responsible for the flu season and is often associated with increased rates for hospitalization and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu symptoms include include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.

Weve seen some pretty ill patients with this strain, so we encourage those with symptoms to get tested and receive anti-viral medication if they qualify, Dr. Ann Weiss, a physician at Primary Health, said in the news release. For healthy patients who havent received their annual flu vaccine, the CDC continues to recommend getting vaccinated as long as virus is spreading.

Primary Health has urgent-care clinics in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Garden City and Kuna. It is the largest independent medical group in the state.

Patients who feel sick and want to be evaluated for the flu can walk in or book an urgent care appointment online at Primary Health. Masks are required and provided for all patients with illness symptoms, the news release said.

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Influenza B cases are surging in Boise area, nearing holiday levels, medical group warns - Yahoo News

Feb 21, 2024 12:09 pm EST | Updated Feb 21, 2024 12:23 pm EST

CHARLES COUNTY, MD Maryland state health officials on Wednesday confirmed a case of avian influenza was detected in a backyard flock in Charles County.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads among birds through manure and nasal and eye secretions. According to health officials, the virus spreads from flock to flock by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

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The virus affects chickens, ducks, and turkeys, in addition to wild bird species such as ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

Health officials said testing determined the case in Charles County was H5N1 avian influenza. Officials with the Maryland Department of Agriculture quarantined the affected areas, officials said in a news release, and euthanized several birds to prevent the spread of the disease.

Confirmation of the case by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory is pending, state officials said. Final test results are expected in the coming days.

"The latest non-negative result should serve as a reminder for all poultry growers, operators and backyard flock owners to remain vigilant when it comes to the threat of (avian influenza), especially as the spring migratory season begins," Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said in a statement. "Regardless of flock size, biosecurity remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of this disease among poultry."

To reduce the risk of bird flu infection, owners should take the following precautions:

Possible cases of avian influenza can be reported to the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5810. Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions to MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov.

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Bird Flu Case Confirmed In MD Backyard Flock - Patch

A contagious stomach virus circulating in the Northeast has been on a steady rise since November and it's made its way to New Jersey.

While there are cases across the country of norovirus also known as the stomach flu or stomach bug the Northeast is the most affected, maintaining the highest positivity rate since the start of 2024, according to the CDC.

Earlier this month, Irving Primary School in Middlesex County closed for a day to conduct a deep cleaning because of a "gastrointestinal outbreak," the district announced on its website.

The virus might be gaining numbers in South Jersey, as doctors at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have been seeing several patients with the virus, and cases have been identified in Camden County, ABC reported.

The current norovirus outbreak doesn't seem to be more severe than any other previous outbreak, said Dr. Cristopher Freer, RWJBarnabas Health's Senior Vice President of Emergency and Hospitalist Medicine.

"We have outbreaks all the time. So it's not bad enough where I'm getting calls or it's changing any of our staffing or practices in the emergency department," Dr. Freer said. "So we are in pretty good shape, I would say. It's no different than any time of the year," he added.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that irritates the stomach and intestines.

Even though it is commonly referred to as the stomach bug or stomach flu, norovirus is not a parasite and is not related to the respiratory flu.

The virus is common, causing close to 20 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea and over 100,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Norovirus infections tend to peak seasonally during the colder months of the year.

The illness often begins suddenly. It makes people feel sick, and symptoms usually last a few days. After symptoms fade, a person can remain contagious for more than two weeks, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

You can contract norovirus mostly through our fingers, Dr. Freer said. Once the virus is attached to our hand, it finds its way to our system when touch our mouth, eyes, or anything that we put in our mouths, like food and straws.

Having contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces, increases the risk of contagion. Norovirus is also transmittable through the sharing of drinks and kissing, though wearing a mask is not necessary, Dr. Freer said.

The virus usually comes from sea animals, so eating raw seafood should be avoided to prevent contagion, Dr. Freer said. Norovirus also lives in feces, so washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers is vital to prevent contagion.

The most common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping.

To prevent a norovirus infection the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases recommends:

Washing your hands thoroughly and often, especially when using the bathroom, changing diapers, eating or handling food.

Washing fruits and vegetables.

Cooking shellfish thoroughly.

Cleaning and disinfecting after somebody vomits.

Cleaning and disinfecting your bathroom if someone with diarrhea uses it.

Norovirus can be transmitted through saliva. So kissing and sharing drinks can lead to a norovirus transmission, Dr. Freer said.

Still, unlike airborne viruses, norovirus is not commonly transmitted through the tiny saliva droplets we expel when we talk. Therefore, wearing a mask is not considered a preventative measure, Dr. Freer said.

Dr. Freer from RWJBarnabas Health, recommends adults drink four to six 12-oz cups of water. He also recommends mixing the water with Gatorade, or any other type of drink high in electrolytes.

For pediatric patients, Dr. Freer recommends giving your child 2 ounces of water periodically throughout the day, as giving more than 2 ounces of liquid at once might induce vomiting.

The intake of salt also helps with recovery. Dr. Freer recommends eating saltines, or any sort of cracker high in sodium.

He stressed, that it is very important to watch how much liquid a patient is vomiting or expelling through diarrhea versus how much liquid a patient is drinking. If a person is letting more liquid out than they are intaking and is unable to drink water without vomiting, severe dehydration might occur and medical attention should be sought.

Currently, there is no approved vaccine for norovirus. However recent research trials have shown promise.

Recently, Vaxart, a biotechnology company, has been testing an oral pill to prevent norovirus. Trials on lactating mothers were done in November, but the pill hasn't yet passed through all trials.

Norovirus infection is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms. Nevertheless, the infection can be identified through a stool sample test.

Physicians might recommend a norovirus test on those with medical complications.

Typically, norovirus symptoms last from 1 to 3 days. Once symptoms fade, a person can remain contagious for more than two weeks.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Norovirus 2024: Stomach bug makes it's way to NJ

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Norovirus outbreak: Contagious stomach flu has made its way to New Jersey - AOL

Based on scientific evidence, six Portuguese medical societies prepared a consensus document that highlights best practices to promote increased vaccination in certain groups, such as people between 60 and 65 years old, people with comorbidities, pregnant women, and health professionals.

Influenza is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates between three and five million cases of serious illness annually, with a special incidence on the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly, children under five years of age, pregnant women, and chronically ill people. The flu can result in serious health complications, leading to hospitalisations.

Annual vaccination is considered the most effective measure to prevent influenza and its complications. In this consensus, health professionals from different specialties also refer to the implications that influenza virus infection has on patients with different comorbidities, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (respiratory virus infections are the main cause of exacerbations in this disease), heart disease (causes an increased risk of myocardial infarction), and diabetes (diabetic patients have higher rates of hospitalisation, emergency room admission, and flu-related deaths).

Therefore, considering all the scientific evidence collected, medical societies present the following recommendations and conclusions:

For more information please contact Grupo HPA Saude on (+351) 282 420 400.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not of The Portugal News.

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Medical societies strengthen the importance and safety of flu vaccination - The Portugal News

This image illustrates the very beginning stages of an influenza (flu) infection in the respiratory tract. Credit: CDC

Researchers discovered that the sac around the lungs contains macrophages that fight flu infections by moving into the lungs, offering new insights into lung health and potential treatments that enhance the bodys immune response to combat drug-resistant infections.

Scientists have long thought of the fluid-filled sac around our lungs merely as a cushion from external damage. Turns out, it also houses potent virus-eating cells that rush into the lungs during flu infections.

Not to be confused with phages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, these cells are macrophages, immune cells produced in the body.

The name macrophage means big eater. They gobble up bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and dying cells. Really, anything that looks foreign, they take it up and destroy it, said UC Riverside virologist Juliet Morrison, who led the discovery team. We were surprised to find them in the lungs because nobody has seen this before, that these cells go into the lung when theres an infection.

A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details how during an influenza infection, macrophages leave the exterior cavity and cross into the lungs where they decrease inflammation and reduce levels of disease.

This study shows its not just what happens in the lung that matters, but also whats outside of the lung. Cell types not normally connected to the lung can have outsized impacts on lung disease and health, Morrison said.

There are three main cavities in the body: one around the heart, the abdominal cavity, and the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Because it contains fluid, it prevents the lungs from collapsing. However, people have not thought much about the pleural cavity being a whole organ within itself. This research may change that perception, Morrison said.

Initially, the researchers set out to understand the more general question of what types of cells are present in the lungs during flu infections. They took existing data on lung-related genes from studies of mice that either died from the flu or survived. They then mined the data using an algorithm to predict cell types that change in the lungs during infections.

We took big data and broke it down to assign which potential immune cells are in the lung tissues. Thats where I got a hint that maybe we had a previously unknown external source of cells in the lung, Morrison said.

Next, using a laser-based technique, the team tracked macrophages going into the lungs of mice, and observed what happened if they took these cells out of the equation. When you take them out of the mouse you see more disease and more lung inflammation, Morrison said.

Morrison says she hopes this study will encourage other scientists to reevaluate data sets from older studies. Our approach was to take information already out there and put it to new use, and we were able to see something new, she said.

Moving forward, the research team is hoping to determine which proteins tell the macrophages to move into the lungs. Once the protein signals have been identified, it may be possible to create drugs that boost either the number of macrophages, or their activity.

The strategy of boosting human defenses to infection, rather than developing another antiviral, could offer people a flu treatment that would be more effective for much longer. Morrison became interested in host therapeutics because antibiotic and antiviral resistance to drugs is a growing problem.

This problem occurs when germs like bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. Misuse and overuse of the drugs is accelerating the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.8 million drug-resistant infections occur each year in the U.S., and more than 35,000 people die as a result.

If we can boost what resolves infection in us, we probably have a better shot. Were less likely to have resistance. The immune system is so complicated, but its our best bet in the long run to work with what we have rather than chase viruses that continue to escape our therapeutics, Morrison said.

Reference: Pleural macrophages translocate to the lung during infection to promote improved influenza outcomes by James P. Stumpff, Sang Yong Kim, Matthew I. McFadden, Andrew Nishida, Roksana Shirazi, Yael Steuerman, Irit Gat-Viks, Adriana Forero, Meera G. Nair and Juliet Morrison, 15 December 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300474120

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Unlocking the Lung's Hidden Army of Flu Fighters - SciTechDaily

As Canada's flu season collides with record strep A cases and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, a new study is shedding light on our understanding of respiratory immune responses. Scholars from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have discovered a surprising facet about a century-old vaccine for tuberculosis, Bacillus Calmette Gurin (BCG). The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that extends the vaccine's shield to combat influenza A virus-the most prevalent flu strain.

"The immune interactions involved here can 'train' the lungs, which are frequently exposed to infectious agents in the environment. If we can map out the protective immune pathways involved in the lungs, this will revolutionize our conceptual and clinical approaches in developing vaccines against infections, including emergent respiratory viruses," explains lead author Maziar Divangahi, a pulmonary immunologist, a senior scientist at the RI-MUHC, and a Professor of Medicine at McGill University. The discovery paves the way for future studies to assess whether BCG could be used to prevent other emergent viruses. Notably, research on the vaccine's protection against COVID-19 has had promising results.

About the study

"BCG immunization induces CX3CR1hieffector memory T cells to provide cross-protection via IFN--mediated trained immunity" by Kim Tran et al. was published in Nature Immunology.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. Itis a world-renownedinstitution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 12 faculties, 14 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

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Century-Old TB Vaccine: New Weapon Against Flu - Mirage News

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Doctors say it's important to get the updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine, which offers protection against the XBB.1.5 subvariant driving a current rise in cases. A pharmacist prepares to administer a Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Cypress, Texas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Phillip-Houston Chronicle via APMelissa Phillip/The Associated Press

The fall COVID-19 vaccine cut the risk of COVID-19 illness by about half overall, and by 67 per cent for those with a previous infection, according to new research from the Canadian network that has long tracked the performance of the annual flu shot.

This is the first time the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network, which is comprised of hundreds of primary care providers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, produced mid-season estimates of the effectiveness of immunization against COVID-19.

For people with hybrid immunity against COVID-19 meaning theyve had a jab and an infection the shot targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant performed slightly better against COVID-19 than the flu shot did against influenza.

The network estimated the influenza vaccine was 63 per cent effective against influenza A(H1N1), the dominant strain this season, and 40 per cent effective against the A(H3N2) subtype. Thats a decent mark by historical standards, said Danuta Skowronski, a physician epidemiologist with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and leader of the networks research.

By comparison, in 2019-20, the last winter before the pandemic, the flu shot was estimated by the end of the season to have been 43 per cent effective against A(H1N1), 50 per cent effective against A(H3N2) and 65 per cent effective against influenza B. H1N1 was the most common strain that winter.

Over all, the message is theres good protection for those who received the autumn 2023-2024 influenza vaccine, Dr. Skowronski said.

The Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Networks decision to track the effectiveness of both shots in tandem is another sign that physicians and epidemiologists are treating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as a regular feature of winter virus season.

Both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 are highly changeable viruses. Theyre unique in that way, compared to other vaccine-preventable diseases, Dr. Skowronski said. The networks leaders felt a duty to gauge the effectiveness of both vaccines, given that public-health officials urged Canadians to receive them at the same time, she added.

The networks leaders measure flu shot effectiveness by having several hundred family doctors and nurse practitioners in Canadas four largest provinces test patients who come in with flu-like symptoms to determine if they have a lab-confirmed case of influenza. Researchers then look to see what share of each group positive or negative for flu was vaccinated, and compare the results to estimate vaccine effectiveness. The network used the same method to judge the COVID-19 shot.

The surveillance effort doesnt capture mild cases of either virus that dont require medical attention, nor does it measure how well the shots perform against severe illness that puts people to hospital.

The Canadian networks estimates of flu shot effectiveness jibe with those published earlier in the season in Alberta, where researchers were able to link data on immunizations, lab tests for influenza, and visits to clinics and hospitals to produce estimates of flu-shot effectiveness in near real time.

That group estimated the flu shot in Alberta to be 61 per cent effective against the widely circulating A(H1N1), 49 per cent effective against the less-common A(H3N2) and 75 per cent effective against influenza B, which typically peaks later in the season.

Real-time estimates are useful because theres a lot of people who are just not sold on flu shots, said Jeff Kwong, associate director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto. He is one of the authors of a study based on the Alberta data.

Dr. Kwong hopes more people will get the flu shot if they hear early in the season that it provides solid protection. In seasons like 2014-15, when the overall effectiveness of the shot was an abysmal 9 per cent, early data would allow hospitals and public health to prepare, he added.

The 2023-24 influenza season has unfolded more typically than any season since COVID-19 struck, said Allison McGeer, an infectious disease consultant at Torontos Mount Sinai Hospital. On balance, its doing what you would expect it to do, which is getting back to normal postpandemic.

Last season, pediatric hospitals were overwhelmed as several viruses rebounded after COVID-19-control measures were lifted. In the fall and winter of 2022-23, there were 2,444 hospital admissions linked to influenza for children younger than 4, up from 33 such admissions the season before, according to a report the Canadian Institute for Health Information released Thursday. That figure was a return to prepandemic levels.

The institute also found that, among children younger than 4, hospital admissions doubled for lower respiratory infections last season, while hospital stays for COVID-19 reached 3,310, a 43-per-cent increase over the season before.

Editors note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the fall COVID-19 vaccine cut the risk of COVID-19 illness by half for people who had not caught the virus before. The fall vaccine cut the risk of COVID-19 illness by half overall. This version has been updated.

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Fall COVID-19 vaccine cut illness risk by half overall - The Globe and Mail

Over 48 mammal species infected with virus since 2020;threat of mutation that sustains human-to-human transmission

A bird flu outbreak in poultry in Andhra Pradeshs Nellore district was reported on February 7, 2024. Laboratory tests by the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed that it was caused by the type A strain of the H5N1 variant of the avian influenza virus.

The bird flu cases were discovered in the villages of Chatagutla in Podalakur and Gummaladibba in Kovur district sub-divisions after several chicken deaths were reported on poultry farms. The disease did not emerge in commercial operations but was found in backyard poultry farms.

Hundreds of birds and eggs were culled on February 17, 2024 as per policy. A three-day ban was imposed on shops selling chicken within a 10-kilometre radius of the epicentre and a three-month ban on shops within a 1-km radius.

Read more:Bird flu decimates seabird populations in UK over two years

The poultry likely caught the virus from migratory birds in Pulicat lake in nearby Tirupati district, according to officials. Migratory wild aquatic birds, particularly waterfowl, are the primary natural reservoirs for most subtypes of influenza A viruses, infecting poultry and other bird or animal species, according to the World Health Organization for Animal Health.

The virus is endemic in poultry populations in Asia, Europe and Africa. Rare cases of avian influenza with type A (H5N1) viruses have been identified in humans across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. In 1997, an outbreak of human infections with the same strain was found in Hong Kong, China. Since 2003, 868 human cases and 457 deaths have occurred globally, indicating a 52 per cent death rate, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The emergence of influenza A viruses with the ability to infect people could potentially lead to a pandemic when the virus mutates to sustain human-to-human transmission that evades immunity, according to the global health body. How and when it will spread will be difficult to predict, WHO added.

Read more:First penguin deaths in sub-Antarctic region attributed to bird flu strain

A recent study published in the latest edition of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases said the avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 has already been in a significant panzootic phase between 2020 and 2023, the equivalent of a pandemic in the animal kingdom. The researchers reviewed information on infected mammals from 59 scientific articles published between 20202023 and between 2003-2019, across two periods of infections

The paper underscored the risk that mammalian adaptation could pose for human health, emphasising that information is scarce on the current panzootic (2020-2023) event.

The virus that originally infected birds crossed over to several mammal species in 2003, affecting tigers, leopards, lions, pigs, minks, donkeys, foxes, domestic dogs and cats, bears and seals. Since 2020, the number of infected species has increased and has affected more than 48 mammal species, substantially larger than previous waves.

It is therefore of some conservation concern, however, large populations of animals have so far not been identified. The paper highlighted the incident of 20,000 South American sea lions who suddenly died, with several testing positive for H5N1, underlining the potential effect of this virus on some threatened mammal populations.

Read more:We should only worry about bird flu making us sick when we see human-to-human transmission

In the current period of infection (2020-2023), excluding humans, mammals in 26 countries have been infected by this virus: Europe (17 countries), South America (5 countries), North America (2 countries), and Asia (2 countries). The new geographic areas identified were Peru, Chile, and Argentina, where 13 marine mammal species, up to thousands, reported deaths.

There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, however, mutations of the H5N1 virus could increase the risk of a pandemic, the paper warns. A case in point is the Spanish influenza (1918-1919) pandemic that developed from an avian influenza virus.

For instance, the T271A mutation reported in minks in Spain is also present in the H1N1 that produced a pandemic in 2009. Similarly, the PB2-E627K mutation found in this virus in diverse geographic areas could indicate an adaptation for replication in mammals, the report said.

Mutations and infections with H5N1 in potential mixing-vessel species (for example, minks and wild and domestic pigs) should be followed closely because of the potential risk to human health, the report added.

Read more:French bird flu vaccine for ducks may be launched soon

Since 2018, the WHO has been bracing itself for a pandemic from an unknown illness termed Disease X. The unknown set of pathogens from which Disease X can emerge is large and beyond the influenza virus, but the origin is likely going to be zoonotic, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

It could be arising right now, from any part of the world, according to scientists.

There could be the first jumps of a virus into a human population somewhere and maybe 90 per cent of the people who get it have a common cold like illness, or what appears to be garden variety pneumonia, and nobody tests for that. Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said in an interview.

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Bird flu outbreak in Andhra: Could H5N1 spark next pandemic? New paper warns of risks - Down To Earth Magazine

Local avian influenza outbreak in two villages in Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh has come to the fore. "Police personnel closed chicken shops in a three-km radius of the 10-km surveillance area for three days in these two epicentres. We are taking all measures to control the disease," Nellore district Animal Husbandry joint director B Maheshwarudu told news agency PTI. He noted that there is a temporary ban on rearing poultry in these two epicentres for three months and subsequently they will be allowed in smaller numbers of 10 or 20 birds. What is avian influenza or bird flu? Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a viral infection that primarily affects birds but can occasionally spread to humans and other animals. It is caused by influenza viruses that naturally occur in wild birds. Transmission to humans typically occurs through direct contact with infected birds or their droppings, though rare instances of human-to-human transmission have occurred. Symptoms in humans can range from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia and, in some cases, death. Prevention efforts include strict biosecurity measures in poultry farms, surveillance of wild bird populations, and vaccination of poultry workers in high-risk areas to minimize the spread of the virus. Avian influenza virus H5N1 H5N1 virus was identified in Chatagutla and Gummaladibba on February 7. H5N1 is a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza virus that poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. It primarily affects birds, causing severe illness and high mortality rates in poultry populations. In humans, H5N1 infection is rare but can lead to severe respiratory illness, with a high risk of complications and death. Transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected birds or their environments. Key symptoms to pay attention to Avian influenza symptoms in humans may include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure can occur, leading to hospitalization or death. Direct contact with infected birds or their environments, such as handling sick or dead birds, is the primary mode of transmission. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt medical care are crucial for managing avian influenza infections and preventing complications. Preventive measures Preventive measures for bird flu include strict biosecurity protocols in poultry farms, such as controlling access to facilities, disinfecting equipment, and limiting contact with wild birds. Regular surveillance of poultry populations is essential to detect and contain outbreaks promptly. Vaccination of poultry against avian influenza viruses can help reduce transmission and minimize the risk of infection. Additionally, educating poultry workers and the public about the importance of proper hygiene, including handwashing and avoiding contact with sick birds, is crucial for preventing the spread of bird flu to humans.

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Bird flu in Andhra Pradesh: Know the symptoms, preventive measures - The Times of India

Recent research demonstrates that blocking the attachment of virus particles to cell surface molecules in infant mice can significantly reduce the transmission of influenza A. This finding opens the door to new preventative strategies against seasonal flu, potentially supplementing existing vaccines and treatments with methods that target the hosts ability to spread the virus.

Researchers have long understood that certain viruses and bacteria initiate infections by initially attaching to sugar molecules present on the cell surfaces lining the sinuses and throats of mammals, including humans. For example, viral particles can bind to these molecules, known as sialic acids, or SAs, in a manner similar to keys fitting into locks.

Now, a new study in infant mice shows that keeping virus particles from attaching to SAs limits more than just the entry of influenza A viral infections, but also hinders their exit (shedding) and transmission from mouse to mouse. Such infections are the main cause of the seasonal flu that kills more than 36,000 Americans annually. While vaccines to guard against infection and symptom treatments exist, they are not foolproof, scientists say, and more strategies are needed to prevent infection from spreading.

Led by researchers from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the study team stripped away, or desialylated, SA receptors by placing directly into mouse nasal cavities a neuraminidase enzyme known to loosen the acids ability to remain attached to cell surfaces. The infant mice were then infected with influenza A. Results showed treatment with the neuraminidase enzyme dramatically cut mouse-to-mouse transmission rates by more than half (from 51% to 100% ) in a half-dozen influenza strains tested.

Publishing in the American Society for Microbiology journal mBio, the work was conducted in infant mice, which unlike those even a few months older or adult mice, were found by the research team to have many sialic acids in the upper portion of their respiratory tract. Specifically, the team blocked two SAs, technically called alpha-2,3 SA and alpha-2,6 SA receptors (the locks). These are known to be widely present in the human respiratory tract, which researchers say makes infant mice a strong comparable model for studying the spread of the infectious disease in children, who are also recognized as important drivers of flu transmission among people.

If further experiments in humans prove successful, desialylating neuraminidase enzymes may prevent the flu from spreading, said Ortigoza, said lead study investigator and infectious disease specialist Mila Ortigoza, MD, PhD.

While current approaches with vaccines and treatments target the virus, ours is the first study to demonstrate that treating the host, either infected mice or potentially infected humans, to prevent them from transmitting the virus to another host could be another effective strategy for combating pervasive infectious diseases, said Ortigoza, who is also an assistant professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology at NYU Langone.

Ortigoza cautions that extensive clinical research is needed before neuraminidases can be considered for approval as a treatment in humans. She says the team already has plans for more experiments to examine why infants are more susceptible to infection from respiratory viruses and whether blocking sialic acids in children can also prevent the spread of influenza.

Reference: Inhibiting influenza virus transmission using a broadly acting neuraminidase that targets host sialic acids in the upper respiratory tract by Mila B. Ortigoza, Catherina L. Mobini, Hedy L. Rocha, Stacey Bartlett, Cynthia A. Loomis and Jeffrey N. Weiser, 11 January 2024, mBio. DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02203-23

Funding support for this study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants P30CA016087, S10OD021747, K08AI141759, and R01AI150893. Ansun Biopharma of San Diego, Calif., provided the experimental neuraminidase drug used in these experiments but was otherwise not involved in the study.

In addition to Ortigoza, other NYU Langone researchers involved in this study are Catherina Mobini; Hedy Rocha; Stacey Bartlett, PhD; Cynthia Loomis, MD, PhD; and Jeffrey Weiser, MD. Weiser is the Jan T. Vilcek Professor of Molecular Pathogenesis in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Langone Health and chair of the department.

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Scientists Propose New Way To Prevent Spread of Flu - SciTechDaily