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  • 11 Feb 2026
    ‘Concerning’ bird flu study findings prompt ‘essential’ surveillance call

    Researchers have stressed the need for ongoing surveillance after two studies tracking avian influenza’s ability to adapt to other species returned “concerning” results.

    One study, published in Nature Communications, examined the B3.13 genotype of H5N1, which has been circulating in US dairy herds since 2024.

    more....



    Last edited by sharon sanders; February 13, 2026, 09:00 AM. Reason: shortened for copyright

    Comment


    • FAOGeneva
      @FAOGeneva

      9:01 AM · Feb 20, 2026

      Avian influenza is spreading fast, impacting wild birds, poultry,
      mammals and even humans.

      It’s mutating. It’s everywhere. And it’s not just a threat to animals.

      @FAO is helping countries prepare and respond to this global health risk.

      Discover how https://bit.ly/3G4XVAV

      https://x.com/FAOGeneva/status/2024846961044504819


      Four reasons why avian influenza should be on your radar: https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/f...-your-radar/en

      Comment


      • Coscoroba swan

        The coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) is a species of waterfowl in the subfamily Anserinae of the family Anatidae.[3][4] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.[5]
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        /https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coscoroba_swan
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Concerning the recent outbreaks of avian influenza in wild birds in Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile, the virus was identified in the coscoroba swan in all three cases.

        /https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/south-america/h5n1-tracking-ab/brazil-aa/1013474-brazil-2025-2026-bird-flu-in-wild-birds
        /https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/south-america/h5n1-tracking-ab/chile/964333-chile-bird-flu-in-wild-birds-and-mammals-december-8-2022
        /https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/south-america/h5n1-tracking-ab/uruguay-aa/1030901-uruguay-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds-2026​

        Comment


        • Yale School of Public Health
          March 2, 2026
          Forecasting the Next Pandemic

          Led by scientists from Yale and the University of Oklahoma, the Verena research initiative is using AI and team science to predict viral threats

          ​... https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/f...next-pandemic/

          Comment


          • Canada and CSL Seqirus, a Global Leader in Influenza Vaccines, agree on new Pandemic Preparedness Contract
            30 minutes ago
            • CSL Seqirus will supply millions of doses of adjuvanted cell-based vaccine to support Canadians, in the event the World Health Organization (WHO) declares an influenza pandemic.
            • The continued detection of influenza viruses of pandemic potential, including highly pathogenic avian influenza infecting wild birds, poultry and mammals, underscores the pandemic threat posed by influenza and the potential public health risk.1

            MONTREAL, March 6, 2026 /CNW/ – CSL Seqirus has been awarded a new contract agreement to support the influenza pandemic preparedness plans of the Canadian government’s Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).


            Under the terms of the agreement, CSL Seqirus has committed to rapidly manufacture and deliver millions of doses of cell-based adjuvanted influenza vaccines to help protect Canadians if an influenza pandemic is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

            Under a previous agreement with PHAC, CSL Seqirus was contracted to provide an egg-based influenza vaccine in the event of a pandemic. This shift towards cell-based vaccines builds on the successful introduction of cell-based Flucelvax® , Influenza Vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated, prepared in cell cultures), into Canada’s seasonal influenza program over the past six years.

            “This new contract with CSL Seqirus strengthens Canada’s ability to respond quickly to a potential future flu pandemic. By securing access to millions of doses of flu vaccine if a pandemic is declared by the WHO, we are reinforcing our commitment to protecting health and being prepared and ready to act in the face of emerging public health threats,” says the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health.

            continued: https://aijourn.com/canada-and-csl-s...ness-contract/

            Comment


            • Community-Based Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses among Deceased Birds

              Posted March 07, 2026.
              Download PDF

              View ORCID ProfileLyudmyla Marushchak, View ORCID ProfileCaitlin Cotter, View ORCID ProfileJudith Oguzie, Philip Keiser, Thang Nguyen-Tien, Jessica Rodriguez, View ORCID ProfileIsmaila Shittu, View ORCID ProfileClaudia Trujillo-Vargas, Amanda Wolff, Shivonne Ryans, Robert Kaufman, Jillian Clack, Susan McLellan, Gene Olinger, View ORCID ProfileGregory C. Gray

              doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.06.710164​

              This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?].

              Abstract

              Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, are spreading worldwide, posing a threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. In 2025, a multidisciplinary collaboration for HPAI H5N1 surveillance among birds within Galveston County, Texas, was initiated. Between November and December 2025, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected from wild and domestic birds reported as dead or dying by Galveston County residents. Specimens were studied with molecular assays, Sanger sequencing, virus isolation, and next-generation sequencing. Molecular evidence of HPAI H5N1 was detected in 7 of 10 (70%) birds, and the virus was successfully cultured in MDCK cells. Next-generation sequencing analysis of eight influenza A genome segments demonstrated a 4:4 gene segment reassortant constellation within clade 2.3.4.4b, consistent with genotype D1.1. Community members exposed to HPAI were offered antiviral prophylaxis. No human infections were identified. This surveillance demonstrates that community involvement combined with cross-sectoral collaboration can ensure rapid detection and characterization of circulating avian influenza viruses. Sustained local surveillance is essential for early warning, risk assessment, and prevention of virus spread to poultry, mammals, and humans.
              ...
              Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, are spreading worldwide, posing a threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. In 2025, a multidisciplinary collaboration for HPAI H5N1 surveillance among birds within Galveston County, Texas, was initiated. Between November and December 2025, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected from wild and domestic birds reported as dead or dying by Galveston County residents. Specimens were studied with molecular assays, Sanger sequencing, virus isolation, and next-generation sequencing. Molecular evidence of HPAI H5N1 was detected in 7 of 10 (70%) birds, and the virus was successfully cultured in MDCK cells. Next-generation sequencing analysis of eight influenza A genome segments demonstrated a 4:4 gene segment reassortant constellation within clade 2.3.4.4b, consistent with genotype D1.1. Community members exposed to HPAI were offered antiviral prophylaxis. No human infections were identified. This surveillance demonstrates that community involvement combined with cross-sectoral collaboration can ensure rapid detection and characterization of circulating avian influenza viruses. Sustained local surveillance is essential for early warning, risk assessment, and prevention of virus spread to poultry, mammals, and humans. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Excerpt from the PDF:
              ...
              Discussion
              ...
              In this surveillance work, we detected avian influenza A H5N1 viruses consistent with
              genotype D1.1 genome constellation from dead birds. Identification of a D1.1-like genome
              constellation in the context of avian mortality is epidemiologically important, as it indicates
              ongoing circulation of this reassortant virus in wild bird populations and underscores the role of
              wild birds as both maintenance hosts and sources of repeated introductions into new settings.


              Beyond identification of the 4:4 reassortant genotype D1.1 constellation, the detection of
              specific molecular markers associated with mammalian adaptation and immune modulation is
              epidemiologically significant.
              Substitutions in the polymerase genes (PB2 I495V, A676T; PB1
              S375N) have been experimentally linked to enhanced polymerase activity and increased
              virulence in mammalian hosts, suggesting potential for improved replication efficiency outside
              avian species [21; 22]. NA substitutions (P272S and N329S) may influence antigenicity and
              antiviral susceptibility [23], while NS1 D171N and NS1 P87S may contribute to modulation of
              innate immune responses and immune evasion [24; 25]. Although no zoonotic transmission was
              detected in this investigation, the presence of these mutations within wild bird–derived H5N1
              viruses underscores the dynamic evolutionary landscape of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses.
              Continuous
              genomic monitoring is therefore essential to detect accumulation of adaptive mutations that
              could increase pathogenicity, transmissibility, or zoonotic risk.

              From a One Health perspective, confirmation of D1.1 in dead birds also serves as an early
              warning for nearby poultry operations and the potential of mammalian spillover, given that
              carcasses and contaminated environments can facilitate the exposure of scavengers, predators,
              and peridomestic animals
              . Accordingly, surveillance is essential to monitor the emergence and
              spread of reassortant genotypes and to strengthen ongoing risk assessment efforts.
              ...

              Comment


              • March 13, 2026

                Raucous bird tornado touches down as snow geese make annual flight to Arctic
                Snow geese have been arriving in growing numbers at the 6,300-acre Middle Creek property since the late 1990s.

                KLEINFELTERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A few dozen birdwatchers gathered in the predawn darkness to wait for the moment when thousands of migrating snow geese stopped honking and preening to suddenly take flight from a Pennsylvania reservoir.​

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                -snip-

                The Pennsylvania reservoir was built a half-century ago to attract waterfowl, and over the years the gaggle has grown. Pennsylvania Game Commission environmental education specialist Payton Miller described it as a raucous bird tornado that lifts off the water.

                “All it takes is for me to come out here on a really nice morning where there’s a huge morning flight and I’m kind of reminded how awesome it is to see such a large number of such a beautiful bird,” Miller said. “I never get sick of it.”

                ... https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/13/snow-geese/​

                Comment


                • USDA: Current HPAI outbreak has impacted more than 197 million birds

                  March 19, 2026 By Brent Barnett Filed Under: Avian influenza, foreign animal disease, Human Interest, Livestock, News, Poultry
                  ...
                  Dr. Chelsey Shivley is a veterinarian and serves as the acting critical issues manager for the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

                  “This outbreak was first detected back in February 2022,” she said, “and now represents the largest animal disease outbreak that we’ve ever dealt with here in the United States.”

                  She tells Brownfield more than 197 million birds have been infected with the virus.
                  ...
                  Shivley says there are fears more cases will be detected in the weeks to come.
                  ...




                  An animal welfare specialist with the USDA says the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. has reached unprecedented levels. Dr. Chelsey Shivley is a veterinarian and serves as the acting critical issues manager for the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. “This outbreak was first detected back in February 2022,” […]

                  Comment


                  • Avian bird flu surges in New York urban wildlife, increasing disease concerns
                    7 Apr 2026

                    Excerpt:

                    The wet market problem

                    Migration, crowding and cold weather aren’t the only amplifiers of avian flu in New York. Live animal and poultry markets also appear to be key culprits. (The working theory is that H5N1 turned pathogenic on crowded poultry farms, then spread widely via migratory birds.)

                    “For many infectious diseases, especially those with density-dependent transmission like influenza, density is the biggest risk factor,” a senior disease ecologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on background. “In the context of a wet market, it’s the combination of high density and high diversity of bird species together, which creates countless opportunities for viral strains to emerge.”

                    Wet markets sell perishable foods including raw meat and, in some cases, live animals, which may be slaughtered on-site. Though often imagined as exotic or exclusive to the Asian continent, wet markets exist across the globe. What makes a market “wet” is not geography or species, but water: floors routinely hosed down to rinse away the blood and residue of slaughter.

                    There are wet markets in every New York City borough — more than 80 in total. Most slaughter and sell birds, including chickens, ducks, pigeons, fowl and quail. Roughly a quarter also offer mammals, such as rabbits, goats, sheep and cows. Many are located within just a block of elementary schools, residential buildings and public parks, creating opportunities for viral spillover.

                    For more than a decade, live bird markets in New York City have experienced avian influenza outbreaks. Most recently, in February 2025, a series of H5N1 detections across the city prompted Governor Kathy Hochul to temporarily shut down all live bird markets for “depopulation” and disinfection.

                    -snip-

                    Megacities like New York face intensifying risks. In just a few years, H5N1 has infected thousands of wild birds and a growing number of mammals. If the virus can move this readily across species in one of the world’s most heavily surveilled urban regions, it raises questions about what may be happening, or about to happen, in other urban centers, especially those with migratory wildlife, large live animal markets and weaker surveillance.

                    In highly dense, urban environments, even small margins of risk can carry outsized consequences. “New York is almost a worst-case scenario,” the CDC official stated on background. “You can be connected to every corner of the globe within a day. That’s a disease ecologist’s worst nightmare.”


                    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/av...ease-concerns/

                    Comment


                    • First continent-wide map of dominant avian influenza strain explains its spread
                      News provided by

                      St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
                      Apr 15, 2026, 11:39 ET
                      Scientists provided the most complete view of bird flu's spread through wild bird populations across North America, explaining how the dominant strain advanced, maintaining the risk of human infections.

                      MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An international group of scientists mapped the spread of the current dominant strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus through North American bird populations in 2024. Led by scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the collaboration provides a comprehensive view of this novel flu spreading through birds in North America. The investigators collected and sequenced samples from birds across the continent, letting them map the virus's spread. They also compared the virus from birds to those causing human infections, showing that current human vaccine stockpiles will likely work well against both. Closer evaluation of the viruses led the researchers to classify them as low risk for human-to-human spread in their current form. The study was published today in Nature Medicine.


                      A highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus entered North America in 2021, causing havoc in wild birds and the poultry industry. Since then, researchers across the continent have continued to test wild populations of waterfowl, such as ducks and geese (influenza's natural hosts), for any changes in the virus. In late 2024, the St. Jude group detected D1.1, a novel strain which became dominant in several sites. They coordinated with multiple institutions across Canada and the United States to map the strain's geographic penetration. The researchers observed that the strain first appeared in Alaska and British Columbia, then moved south and east via known migratory pathways.

                      "Combining information collected from multiple partners, we've documented the entire continental spread of a newly dominant strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus through wild bird populations," said corresponding author Richard Webby, PhD, St. Jude Department of Host-Microbe Interactions. "We've shown the value of connecting what are usually regional findings into a single comprehensive map to understand the strain's spread."

                      Understanding D1.1 H5N1's risk to humans

                      Starting in 2024, severe infections from avian influenza were reported in North America. Every severe case was of this newly dominant D1.1 strain, though at the time, the disparate geographical locations of those cases made understanding the source of the infections unclear. The new map provides a direct explanation.

                      "We could connect all the severe cases with the wild bird map," said co-first author Walter Harrington, PhD, St. Jude Department of Host-Microbe Interactions. "We had reason to suspect wild birds played a role, but the extent of spread in wild bird populations wasn't clear. Without that context, the human infections appeared geographically scattered; with it, the strain's emergence correlated with where we saw it becoming the dominant strain in wild birds."

                      While the map retroactively provided a plausible source of human infections from D1.1, it could not tell the researchers what the general risk of bird-to-human infections was, or most importantly, what the risk of the virus becoming human-to-human transmissible was.

                      "Fortunately, we saw that these viruses remained mostly avian, with none of the major mutations known to enable efficient human infections," said co-first author Lisa Kercher, PhD, St. Jude Department of Host-Microbe Interactions. "They did have a mutation that gives resistance to a common antiviral drug, but when we tested existing candidate vaccines, they showed significant cross-reactivity, suggesting they will likely be effective to help control the virus."

                      The study's results suggest that the strain poses a low risk to the human population in its current form. However, the severity of disease for those few who have become infected is a reminder that the virus is a risk to individuals and emphasizes the need to keep surveilling avian flu to understand its potential impact on human health.

                      "We were lucky enough to join groups from Canada and throughout the U.S. to understand this virus," Webby said. "That lets us put human cases in the context of the strain's greater spread and gives us a model to continue to monitor and assess the threat of these highly pathogenic influenza viruses in the future."​
                      ...

                      /PRNewswire/ -- An international group of scientists mapped the spread of the current dominant strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus through North...

                      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------​

                      See also:


                      Comment


                      • Emergence of D1.1 reassortant H5N1 avian influenza viruses in North America View ORCID Profile (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3462-9072)Alvin Crespo-Bellido, View ORCID Profile (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2106-1166)Nídia S. Trovão, Wendy Puryear, Alexander Maksiaev, View ORCID Profile (http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0977


                        Excerpts:
                        ...
                        Whereas B3.13 spillover events primarily occurred in dairy and poultry workers and
                        resulted in mild conjunctivitis symptoms, D1.1 zoonoses have been associated with more severe
                        illness and the animal source has been less clear
                        . The first D1.1 zoonotic infection involved a
                        hospitalized teenager with no known animal exposure in British Columbia, Canada18 (November
                        9, 2024, Figure S1). In December 2024, an adult with underlying medical conditions died from a
                        D1.1 infection following exposure to backyard poultry in Louisiana, USA, the first H5N1-
                        associated fatality observed in the Americas19. In March 2025, a D1.1 infection in Durango,
                        Mexico led to the death of a young child with no underlying medical conditions, no travel history,
                        nor exposure to infected animals20. This death was the first reported H5N1 human infection in
                        Mexico.​
                        ...
                        D1.1 spillover and adaptation to mammals. D1.1 has frequently transmitted from wild birds to
                        a range of diverse host species (Figure 7A, Figure S9). D1.1 has a broad host range compared
                        to prior genotypes and is the only genotype to infect seven host types: wild bird, terrestrial
                        mammal, marine mammal, domestic bird, cattle, domestic mammal (other than cattle), and human
                        (Figure 7B). D1.1 also infected a broader range of wild bird orders (n = 14, Figure 7C) than any
                        other genotype, including the B3.2 genotype that spread widely in South America.
                        Ecologically,
                        most D1.1 spillovers involved direct exposure to wild birds (Figure 7A) and these avian-origin
                        viruses experienced strong selection in mammalian hosts for PB2 mutations that improve virus
                        replication efficiency in mammals. Close to 35% of D1.1 spillovers from wild bird into mammals
                        (e.g., humans, seals, bears, raccoons, skunks) had the E627K mutation in PB2, including the
                        human cases A/Wyoming/01/2025 and A/British Columbia/PHL-2032/2024 (Figure 8, Figure
                        S10). The D701N mutation in PB2 seen in South American marine mammals also became fixed
                        in the D1.1 Nevada cattle clade and was found in ~7% of other D1.1 spillovers into mammals
                        (e.g., domestic cat, fox). In contrast, once the PB2 segment became adapted to cattle (D701N for
                        D1.1; M631L for B3.13), there is no evidence of emergence for additional PB2 mutations following
                        spillover events from cattle to other mammalian hosts (Figure 8, FiguresS10-S11).​
                        ...

                        ​Discussion

                        The emergence of the D1.1 genotype reflects North America's expanding role as a source
                        for novel reassortant H5N1 viruses with pandemic potential and the increasing complexity of the
                        H5N1 epizootid's geography, genetics, and spillover risk.
                        Our findings support a model in which
                        global viral connectivity introduces genetically distinct lineages into new ecological systems,
                        where reassoriment wih local gene pools generates genotypes with enhanced evolutionary
                        flexibility, enabling rapid expansion and cross-species transmission. Prior to the emergence of
                        D1.1 in 2024, the genetic diversity of the North American 2.3.4.4b epizootic was constrained by
                        the fact that (a) almost all strains traced their ancestry back to the original 2.3.4.4b introduction
                        from Europe and (b) LPAI internal gene segments were almost exclusively acquired during
                        reassortment events, with no swapping of NA antigens". The human population at risk for
                        spillover was likewise constrained, as H5N1 zoonotic cases in 2024 primarily occurred in US farm
                        workers with direct animal contact and generally caused mild illness. It remains unclear whether
                        the H5N1 fatalities caused by D1.1 are an indication of a higher pathogenicity of the virus in
                        humans or a larger denominator of human cases beyond just farm workers. In which case H5N1
                        surveillance in humans has not kept pace with the expanding population at risk.


                        D1.1 is the only genotype to cause two successive epidemic peaks in wild birds, with no
                        sign of being replaced by a different genotype.
                        Prior North American genotypes dominated for
                        one epidemic peak (although B3.2 continues to circulate in South America and the Antarctio
                        region4). At the time of this writing, D1.1 is continuing to acquire new N1 and N2 antigens through
                        addiional reassortment events with LPAI, suggesting that H5N1 evolution is continuing to
                        accelerate and explore new antigenic pairings.


                        Following years of high conservation of the HA-NA pairing of 2.3.4.4b viruses, it is unclear
                        why a new North American LPAI N1 was acquired in 2024 without any apparent loss in fitness.
                        We found no evidence of permissive mutations3 in the Asian-origin A3 hemagglutinin in the
                        months leading up to D1.1's emergence that could have explained a greater tolerance for a new
                        NA. The implications of the new N1 for pandemic risk require further research. Human exposure
                        to H1N1 seasonal influenza viruses containing N1 segments from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic,
                        originally sourced from Eurasian swine, is thought to provide a degree of cross-protection for
                        humans against most H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses circulating in birds globally. The amino acid
                        changes that distinguish the LPAI N1 found in D1.1 from the Eurasian N1 are concentrated on
                        the underside of the globular head domain - or the neuraminidase "dark side" (NDS) - which is
                        positioned away from the enzymatic adtive site. This region has recently been identified as
                        containing highly conserved epitopes that serve as effective targets for cross-reactive monoclonal
                        antibodies against HxN1 infections25.
                        ,,,
                        In recent years, North American avian influenza surveillance has prioritized sequencing
                        HPAl over LPAI, for good reason. However, LPAls still present an important pandemic risk (e.g.,
                        1918, 1957, 1968, and 2009 influenza pandemics) and contribute key segments to new H5N1
                        reassortants and should not be overlooked
                        .
                        ...

                        Comment


                        • [emphasis is mine]
                          Bird populations are shrinking faster in agriculture hotspots — including the Midwest, study finds
                          APRIL 23, 2026

                          New research out of Ohio State University found the rate of bird decline was quicker in areas with more intense agricultural practices

                          The recent study at Ohio State University found that across North America, more than 120 bird species are experiencing decline, and of those, more than half are experiencing accelerated decline.

                          Researchers focused on geographic areas where they saw faster declines in bird populations, including in the Midwest, California and Mid-Atlantic states. They then focused on potential causes and found a strong link between accelerated bird decline and areas with a lot of agriculture.

                          “The data we had access to were the amount of pesticides used, the amount of fertilizer used and the amount of croplands,” said François Leroy, the lead author and a post-doctoral student at Ohio State University.

                          Continued: https://www.wpr.org/news/bird-popula...tspots-midwest

                          Comment


                          • Could a seasonal flu shot help protect against bird flu? International study points to a surprising possibility
                            As potentially deadly avian influenza (H5N1) continues its global spread, moving from birds into mammals and in rare cases into humans, scientists are confronting a difficult reality. If a human pandemic emerges, vaccines designed specifically to protect people against H5N1 may not be ready in time.

                            New international research led by National Taiwan University, in collaboration with USF Health, suggests that part of the answer may already exist.

                            In a study published April 15 in Emerging Microbes & Infections, researchers found that seasonal influenza vaccines in routine global use may significantly reduce the risk of death from H5N1 infection. The results are based on a systematic review and analysis of ferret studies, widely considered the gold standard animal model for human influenza.

                            The findings highlight an important implication for pandemic preparedness, suggesting that readily available tools may offer protection while the world races to develop more targeted solutions.

                            The Taiwan-US research team analyzed nearly two decades of experimental data from 35 controlled studies involving almost 1,800 ferrets. Seasonal flu vaccines that included a specific component, neuraminidase N1, reduced H5N1-related mortality by approximately 73 percent in vaccinated animals compared with unvaccinated animals.

                            That level of protection was comparable to some H5N1-specific vaccines that failed to generate strong immune responses and was only modestly lower than those that did.

                            In contrast, seasonal vaccines lacking the N1 component showed little to no protective effect, underscoring how specific elements of existing vaccines may play an outsized role in defending against emerging threats.

                            “This work suggests that we may be underestimating the broader protective value of seasonal influenza vaccines,” said Chi-Tai Fang, MD, PhD, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University Hospital and senior author of the study. “While they are not designed to target H5N1, certain components appear to activate immune responses that can reduce the severity of infection. In a real-world setting, that kind of partial protection could translate into lives saved while more specific vaccines are being developed and distributed.”

                            For Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, dean of the USF Health College of Public Health, chief medical officer of the Global Virus Network and a co-author, the findings highlight an important opportunity for pandemic preparedness.

                            “In a pandemic scenario, timing is everything,” Dr. Vermund said. “We often face a critical gap between the emergence of a new virus and the availability of a targeted vaccine. Our findings suggest that seasonal flu vaccination, something already widely available, could help reduce severe outcomes during that window. That is a meaningful advantage when every week matters.”

                            Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, dean of the USF Health College of Public Health

                            The study also revealed something unexpected. The seasonal vaccines did not produce detectable antibodies against H5N1 using standard tests. Instead, the protection appears to come from more complex immune mechanisms likely involving cross-reactive cellular responses that are not captured by traditional measures of immunity, suggesting protection may exist even when it is not detectable through standard laboratory markers.

                            These findings arrive at a critical moment, as H5N1 continues to spread among mammals while limited amounts of vaccine are available globally. This leaves health systems vulnerable in the early stages of an outbreak. While not a substitute for targeted vaccines, extensive adoption of seasonal flu vaccines could buy time by reducing deaths, easing strain on health systems and slowing the impact of a rapidly spreading virus.

                            The researchers caution that the findings are based on animal models and must be validated in humans, but they also point to an important next step in understanding how existing immunity built through routine vaccination may shape responses to emerging infectious diseases.

                            The study also reflects USF Health’s role in advancing global infectious disease research and pandemic preparedness through international collaboration, including its partnership with the Global Virus Network, headquartered at USF Health.


                            https://www.usf.edu/health/news/2026...dy%20in%20time.

                            Comment

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