Based on data available for the week ending February 8, 2025, this season is classified as a high severity season for all age groups (children, adults, older adults) for the first time since 2017-2018.
Infectious Diseases
Latest content
Genomic analyses of Staphylococcus aureus isolates show bacterial adaptation to COVID-19 selective pressure
Comparative genomic analysis of a collection of 339 S. aureus isolates from patients with bacteremia highlighted bacterial adaptation to COVID-19 selective pressure.
The first report of a critically ill pediatric patient with avian influenza A(H5N1) infection, respiratory and renal failure (and consistently higher viral concentrations in the lower respiratory tract) in North America
The authors from Canada reported a severe avian influenza A(H5N1) illness in a 13-year-old adolescent with respiratory failure, left lower lobe pneumonia, acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia.
Other Entries
The attachment pattern, replication, and infection of the upper and lower human respiratory tract differ between the H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b, the H5N1 virus of clade 2.1.3.2 and a seasonal H3N2 virus
Currently circulating the HPAI H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b attached better to the human respiratory tract than the H5N1 virus of clade 2.1.3.2. More abundant attachment to the human respiratory tract of the H5N12022 virus was associated with its more effective replication.
The risk of transmission of influenza A H5N1 virus through direct contact with raw milk from infected dairy cows (the mammary gland of cows abundantly displays receptors for circulating 2.3.4.4b H5 viruses)
Recent studies have investigated the ongoing risk of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus to humans through direct contact with raw milk from infected dairy cows, the binding of 2.3.4.4b H5 influenza A viruses to available receptors in the mammary gland tissue samples from cows.
14% of Texas dairy farmworkers tested had elevated levels of neutralizing antibodies against a recombinant Influenza A(H5N1) virus of clade 2.3.4.4b
Experts are warning that human cases of the H5N1 avian flu could be going undetected due to poor surveillance and a lack of diagnostic testing in at-risk groups.
SARS-CoV-2 enters human erythrocytes but does not affect the development of Plasmodium falciparum
SARS-CoV-2 enters human erythrocytes, but in a low percentage of cells (10.9%) compared to SARS-CoV-2 permissive cell lines. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in blood culture did not affect the survival or growth rate of the malaria parasite.
Immune response in people from malaria-endemic regions of Ghana, exposed to Plasmodium falciparum and positive for SARS-CoV-2
Immune modulation associated with exposure to Plasmodium falciparum may contribute to a reduced severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection among people living in malaria-endemic regions.
Rise in cryptosporidiosis cases in Australia
The Department of Health and National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System of the Australian Government reported a rise in the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in Australia.
A rise of toxic shock syndrome in Japan
The Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports a rise in the number of patients with toxic shock syndrome in Japan.
Anthrax outbreak in Zambia (The WHO announcement)
On December 8th, 2023, the World Health Organization announced that Zambia had reported its largest anthrax outbreak for a decade.
Tuberculous pericarditis with tamponade in COVID-19
These case reports presented individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and who developed tuberculous pericarditis with tamponade.
Systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide reduced the number of hippocampal GABA-ergic synapses and caused memory impairment
A short time after systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide, microglia were activated, followed by a reduced number of hippocampal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic synapses and long-lasting cognitive impairment.
Bat coronavirus TyRo-CoV-162275, found in southern China, has a furin protease cleavage site in the spike protein
Bat coronavirus TyRo-CoV-162275 has a putative furin protease cleavage site in its spike protein, and similar to MERS-CoV, likely utilizes human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (hDPP4) as a receptor for cell entry.
A diversity of intracellular microbes in immune cells of SARS-CoV-2-positive and COVID-19-recovered individuals
This study demonstrates diversity of intracellular microbes in immune cells of healthy individuals, SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, and COVID-19 recovered individuals.
Leprosy following COVID-19 vaccination
This study investigated leprosy or immune-mediated complications known as leprosy reactions diagnosed in the Leprosy Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, within 12 weeks following COVID-19 vaccination.
Concurrent infection with different intracellular pathogens can lead to accelerated T-cell exhaustion and potentially severe consequences
This paper discusses the possible interactions between the first and the second intracellular pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites, when they concurrently infect the same host cells.
The third case of HIV-1 cure after allogeneic CCR5Δ32/Δ32 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
This study reports the third case of HIV-1 cure after allogeneic CCR5Δ32/Δ32 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and provides detailed information about the virological and immunological signature before and after analytical treatment interruption.
