Daniele de Rigo

On very uncertain #BirdFlu #risk, where also perceived values and stakes may be in dispute, a commentary by @HelenBranswell [1]

https://scicomm.xyz/@HelenBranswell/109829483393885168

(Still on the theme: https://hostux.social/@dderigo/109803051842911460 )

"Veteran #influenza epidemiologist Keiji Fukuda remembers vividly when he first became fearful that a virulent bird flu #virus, #H5N1, might be on the verge of triggering a devastating #pandemic. The virus, seemingly out of nowhere, did something bird flu viruses were thought not to be able to do"

Helen Branswell (@[email protected])

The latest developments with #H5N1 #birdflu are unsettling. But humans & this virus, we have history. I asked a number of people who've been studying it, some for a quarter century, on their thoughts about where things stand now. https://www.statnews.com/2023/02/08/tracking-the-bird-flu-experts-see-a-familiar-threat-and-a-virus-whose-course-is-hard-to-predict/

A science community for science communication.
Feb 10, 2023 at 6:59amWeb
Show threadDaniele de RigoFeb 10, 2023

Fukuda [1]:“Anyone who tries to predict anything about #influenza is a bit foolish and hasn’t been in the field very long” “What has become clear to me over time is that the big challenge is not the viruses [...but rather] whether people, [...] governments, [...] #policymakers have the ability to actually address the challenge”

[1] Branswell, H., 2023. Tracking the bird flu, experts see a familiar threat - and a virus whose course is hard to predict. STAT. https://purl.org/INRMM-MiD/z-8WL7QGC3

#preparedness

Tracking the bird flu, experts see a familiar threat — and a virus whose course is hard to predict

While scientists who have been studying H5N1 bird flu for a couple of decades have a very healthy respect for it, a number are hedging their bets about what the virus's future path will look like.

STAT
Show threadDaniele de RigoMar 2, 2023

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#WHO on "confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (#H5N1)" in Cambodia:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON445

"Based on evidence so far, the virus does not infect humans easily and spreads from person-to-person appears to be unusual"

#ECDC:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/cluster-avian-influenza-cambodia

(https://respublicae.eu/@ECDC_EU/109948452816576746)

A commentary by @saimamaysidik in Nature [2]

(https://mstdn.science/@saimamaysidik/109948856596394316)

"there are measures that could help keep avian influenza in check" [2]

#preparedness #prevention

Avian Influenza A (H5N1) - Cambodia

Show threadDaniele de RigoMar 2, 2023

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"Ancestral versions of today’s #H5N1 virus have been circulating among birds for about 25 years and have not yet gained the ability to spread between humans
[...] If #BirdFlu does trigger a human pandemic, there are a number of tools for combating the disease. Approved human vaccines against avian flu exist" [2] (to be updated in case)

#References

[2] Sidik, S.M., 2023. How to stop the bird flu outbreak becoming a pandemic. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00591-3

#DOI #preparedness @saimamaysidik

Show threadDaniele de RigoMar 11, 2023

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On #biodiversity loss versus #EmergingInfectiousDiseases (EIDs), a 2020 @ipbes report [3]:

https://mas.to/@ipbes/110003678193154043

Fig. 2 offered a clear summary:
"#Pandemics are a subset of EIDs, and this report reviews the scientific evidence of linkages to biodiversity for EIDs that did not become pandemic (e.g. #Ebola), as well as those that did (e.g. #COVID-19), so that patterns affecting both can be used to identify policy options to reduce the opportunities for future EID and pandemic emergence"

IPBES (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 video 3 years ago, #COVID19 was declared a pandemic by @who. If we don't address #biodiversity loss, future #pandemics will be more frequent, costly & deadly than COVID19. @ipbes #PandemicsReport offers policy options. Press release, summary & full report ⬇️ https://ipbes.net/pandemics

mas.to
Show threadDaniele de RigoMar 11, 2023

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#References

[3] Daszak, P., Amuasi, J., das Neves, C., Hayman, D., Kuiken, T., Roche, B., Zambrana-Torrelio, C., Buss, P., Dundarova, H., Feferholtz, Y., Foldvari, G., Igbinosa, E., Junglen, S., Liu, Q., Suzan, G., Uhart, M., Wannous, C., Woolaston, K., Mosig Reidl, P., O’Brien, K., Pascual, U., Stoett, P., Li, H., Ngo, H.T., 2020. Workshop report on biodiversity and pandemics of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. IPBES. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4147317

#DOI

Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

The IPBES Bureau and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) authorized a workshop on biodiversity and pandemics that was held virtually on 27-31 July 2020 in accordance with the provisions on “Platform workshops” in support of Plenary-approved activities, set out in section 6.1 of the procedures for the preparation of Platform deliverables (IPBES-3/3, annexe I). This workshop report and any recommendations or conclusions contained therein have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by the IPBES Plenary. The workshop report is considered supporting material available to authors in the preparation of ongoing or future IPBES assessments. While undergoing a scientific peer-review, this material has not been subjected to formal IPBES review processes. For inquiries, please contact [email protected] https://ipbes.net/events/ipbes-workshop-biodiversity-and-pandemics

Zenodo
Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

7/

Commentary on #BirdFlu #H5N1 [4]

"As cases of #AvianInfluenza continue to rise in cattle [...], countries are preparing for the possibility that the virus could start spreading in people [...]

Studies suggest that the virus is spreading between cows through contaminated milking equipment, rather than airborne particles. The biggest risk is that it could evolve to infect #mammals more effectively, including through the #RespiratorySystem, which would make it more difficult to contain"

Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

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#References

[4] Mallapaty, S., 2024. Bird flu could become a human pandemic - How are countries preparing? Nature d41586-024-02237-4+. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02237-4
(archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240713112408/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02237-4 )

Cited #preprints on spreading "through contaminated milking equipment"

- Caserta, L.C., et al., 2024. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.22.595317

- Another ref. seems to have issues
Le Sage, V. et al., 2024 - which in bioRxiv can only be https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.05.574401
(but its main topic is #swine #H1N2 influenza viruses)

Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

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Recent work on "pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus" [5]:

"Highly pathogenic #H5N1 #AvianInfluenza (HPAI H5N1) viruses occasionally infect, but typically do not transmit, in #mammals. In the Spring of 2024, an unprecedented outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in #bovine herds occurred in the US, with virus spread within and between herds, infections in #poultry and #cats, and #spillover into humans, collectively indicating an increased public health risk" [5]

Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

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"HPAI #H5N1 influenza viruses do not transmit efficiently among #mammals. Moreover, influenza A viruses have rarely been detected in #cattle. Thus, the current #outbreak of HPAI H5N1 influenza viruses in dairy cows and the #spillover into other mammalian species may have profound consequences for #PublicHealth and the dairy industry. [...]

Recently, mammal-to-mammal transmission may have occurred during outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 viruses in mink in Spain and sea mammals [in] South America" [5]

Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

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"The discovery that HPAI #H5N1 viruses may acquire the ability to transmit among #mammals is a paradigm shift and increases the pandemic potential of these viruses. [...]

Collectively, our study demonstrates that #bovine H5N1 viruses may differ from previously circulating HPAI H5N1 viruses by possessing dual human/avian-type receptor-binding specificity with limited respiratory droplet transmission in #ferrets." [5]

Show threadDaniele de RigoJul 13, 2024

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#References

[5] Eisfeld, A.J., Biswas, A., Guan, L., Gu, C., Maemura, T., Trifkovic, S., Wang, T., Babujee, L., Dahn, R., Halfmann, P.J., Barnhardt, T., Neumann, G., Suzuki, Y., Thompson, A., Swinford, A.K., Dimitrov, K.M., Poulsen, K., Kawaoka, Y., 2024. Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07766-6

(Early "unedited version of this manuscript": https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07766-6_reference.pdf )

#DOI

Show threadDaniele de RigoAug 7, 2024

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On #COVID19 disease and #coronavirus group (#SarsCoV2 #MersCoV etc.) #WHO launced in March a network of global laboratories (https://www.who.int/groups/who-coronavirus-network )

https://www.who.int/news/item/27-03-2024-who-launches-covinet--a-global-network-for-coronaviruses

A recent COVID-19 situation update by Maria Van Kerkhove (WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention https://www.who.int/activities/preparing-and-preventing-epidemics-and-pandemics )

high percent positivity, e.g. in Europe - call not to forget measures to reduce risk of severe disease [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19) ]

https://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/2284/covid-19-situation-update-who-06aug2024/0/Jxbo2QBagw

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152866

WHO Coronavirus Network

The WHO Coronavirus Network (CoViNet) aims to bring together surveillance programs and reference laboratories to support enhanced epidemiological monitoring and laboratory (phenotypic and genotypic) assessment of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV and novel coronaviruses of public health importance.

Show threadskuaFeb 15, 2023

@dderigo
#HeLa #HeLaContamination #AConspiracyOfCells #MichaelGold
#WalterNelsonRees
That sounds worryingly similar to what is presented in the 1986 book about the mass contamination with HeLa of cell lines used in research laboratories.
An important piece of science that is much neglected.

https://www.worldcat.org/title/12805138

A conspiracy of cells : one woman's immortal legacy and the medical scandal it caused | WorldCat.org

A Conspiracy of Cells presents the first full account of one of medical science's more bizarre and costly mistakes. On October 4, 1951, a young black woman named Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cance