John Lowe

📣 Dr. Shawn Gibbs, PhD, MBA, CIH, dean and professor at Texas A&M University School of Public Health, was named to the CDC NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors. Dr. Gibbs contributes to NETEC’s PPE and IPC workgroups & advises on Category A waste management. Congrats, Dr. Gibbs!
🔗 ow.ly/5qcK50UZJ1x

CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the United States December 18, 2024-- A patient has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1)

December 18, 2024
CDC Confirms First Severe Case of H5N1 Bird Flu in the United States www.cdc.gov/media/releas...

Association between in situ ventilation and human-generated aerosol exposure in meatpacking plants during the COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, meatpacking workers were disproportionately affected by disease. Large outbreaks at meatpacking facilities resulted in loss of life and threatened the well-being of worke...

New study published: Association between in situ ventilation and human-generated aerosol exposure in meatpacking plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggests greatest risk likely areas such as cafeterias and locker rooms, poorer ventilation, reduced masking & congregation.

doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Person hospitalized in Louisiana with bird flu, health officials report — Ars Technica This is the first human case of bird flu in Louisiana.

apple.news/A322wAVf9Qfe...

A great Thanksgiving week conference - Emerging Infectious Diseases Summit Seoul 2024 - w ASEAN leaders and experts. Great to hear US NETEC experts Vikram Mukherjee and Jocelyn Herstein present on special pathogen readiness and response.

as well as 53 specimens from harbor seals and arial images. incredible effort by the research team. image in supplemental materials.

Bird flu decimated tern colony in northwest Washington • Washington State Standard More than half a colony of Caspian terns on a small island near Port Townsend died last year amid an outbreak of the disease.

and here is a local media piece detailing the 2023 H5N1 HPAI impact on Caspian terns if you aren't into reading the scientific journal article washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/11/18/b...

Frontiers | A comprehensive epidemiological approach documenting an outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus clade 2.3.4.4b among gulls, terns, and harbor seals in the Northeastern Pac...

Fascinating Nov 31 study detailing 2023 H5N1 outbreak among gulls, terns, and harbor seals in Northeastern U.S. Provides insights to H5N1 impact on wildlife and may provide key details as H5N1 transmission evolves.

www.frontiersin.org/journals/vet...

First U.S. case of deadlier mpox virus strain reported in California The individual is recovering after traveling from Africa, where an outbreak that has killed hundreds is spreading.

Though likelihood of increased spread in the US of the latest strain of mpox remains low due to lack of DRC-to-US direct flights, many experts felt some spread was inevitable via travel, CEID affiliate faculty @lsauer.bsky.social tells @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/...

Fight or Flight — Facing the Marburg Outbreak in Rwanda | NEJM Having diagnosed two ICU patients with the first known cases of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, a physician must prioritize limiting spread, despite pleas for transfer from the patients’ families.

Poignant frontline perspective of a #Rwandan physician responding to the recent #marburg outbreak. It is well worth a read. We are are two weeks into the 42 day countdown to declaring the outbreak over🤞🏾. These brave HCPs kept us safe. #medsky #idsky 🧪
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Welcome to bluesky Dr Kalil!

Agreed Krutika. CDC did state on a call public meeting today that as a result of the serosurvey H5N1 testing is now being offered to dairy workers at facilities w impacted herds.

Serologic Evidence of Recent Infection with Highly .. This report describes serologic testing to identify ..

Helpful 11/7 MMWR on H5N1 serological survey conducted for dairy workers in Michigan and Colorado.

- infections going undiagnosed
- 7% seropositive
- value of targeted active monitoring and testing of workers

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...

CDC panel backs proposed mask guidance

@linseymarr.bsky.social

CDC HICPAC voted last week to finalize:

N95 respiratory masks should not be universally recommended for all airborne pathogens.

Surgical masks are sufficient for common respiratory pathogens that spread over short distances

www.beckershospitalreview.com/infection-co...

First U.S. case of new mpox strain detected in California California has detected the country’s first case of a new mpox strain in a person who recently traveled from Eastern Africa

The US joins the list of countries that has detected clade Ib #mpox. A person who recently traveled from eastern Africa was diagnosed with the disease in San Mateo County, California. Sounds like a mild case. My story: www.statnews.com/2024/11/16/m...

Good news, Rwanda declares end of Marburg outbreak. www.barrons.com/news/marburg...

The Canada H5N1 sequence from hospitalized teenager shows two important mutations that improve the virus's ability to bind to human sialic acid receptors.

This adaptation is crucial for the virus's potential to spread between humans.

Statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada: Update on Avian Influenza and Risk to Canadians The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) today confirmed a human case of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) caused by influenza A(H5N1) virus in Canada.

H5N1 avian influenza human case confirmed, initially reported November 9 that a hospitalized teenager in British Columbia tested presumptive positive. Virus sequence data shared.
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...

U.S. health officials report 1st case of new form of mpox in a traveler The person had traveled to eastern Africa and was treated in Northern California upon return, according to the California Department of Public Health.

1st MPOX clade 1b case in the U.S. detected in California

www.cbsnews.com/news/us-heal...

Mpox clade 1b spreads to more African countries

Since the first of the year, African countries have reported 53,903 cases, 1,109 deaths.

Vaccination under way in DRC and Rwanda, with a campaign expected to launch in Nigeria on November 18.

Children making up about 36% of cases

www.cidrap.umn.edu/mpox/mpox-cl...

B.C. teen with avian flu is in critical condition, provincial health officer says
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #H5N1HumanCanada

U.S. death from Lassa fever, an Ebola-like virus, is reported in Iowa A person from Iowa who recently returned to the United States from West Africa has died after contracting Lassa fever, a virus that can cause Ebola-like illness in some patients.

BREAKING: Rare imported case of #Lassa fever diagnosed in Iowa; person died from the infection, state health authorities reported Monday. www.statnews.com/2024/10/28/l...