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Influenza virus image
CDC
Animals: Influenza A viruses have been identified in many different domestic animal species, such as poultry, pigs (swine), horses, dogs, and cats. With respect to wildlife, avian influenza is most typically associated with wild birds; however, other wildlife species (e.g., marine mammals, foxes, bears, etc.) are also susceptible to infection. Occasionally, influenza viruses can be transmitted between animals (e.g., birds and pigs) and humans, and this is called zoonotic influenza. When a host is simultaneously infected with different flu viruses, the viruses can combine with each other to produce a new viral strain, which has the potential to cause greater disease severity or be more transmissible in both humans and animals. In birds, viruses are classified into two categories: low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. These categories refer to the molecular characteristics of the virus and the viruss ability to cause disease and mortality in chickens, not to the severity of illness in humans. In poultry, some LPAI can evolve into HPAI. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with the virus, as it is shed in the saliva, nasal secretions, and feces of infected birds or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Wild birds may have additional routes of exposure, including contaminated water and eating infected waterfowl. Because avian migratory pathways around the world are connected, avian influenza can be introduced into new places. In the U.S., poultry are not vaccinated for Avian Influenza. Currently, AI vaccines to protect poultry are being explored and considered for future use. When domestic poultry are infected, the risk increases for humans that work with poultry. Human infections have occurred uncommonly and sporadically. The CDC reported the first case of human HPAI H5 bird flu in the U.S. in April 2022. The case occurred in a person who had direct exposure to poultry and was involved in the depopulating of poultry with presumptive H5N1 bird flu. There have also been four human infections with LPAI in the United States, resulting in mild-to-moderate illness.
Swine influenza, also caused by type A influenza viruses, do not usually cause infections in humans, but rare human infections have been reported. Flu viruses in pigs can be transmitted to people through droplets, but transmission from eating pork is not known to occur. Influenza vaccines for swine are available, although they are not 100% effective.
Equine influenza, which occurs in horses, can cause an antibody response in some people but has not been known to cause human illness.
Environment: Flu viruses can live in the environment for up to 48 hours. Flu viruses are killed by heat above 75 C and can be killed by common household products, including products containing chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soaps), iodine-based antiseptics, and alcohols. See Resource section below for resources on on specific disinfectants that will kill flu viruses.
PREVENTION
CNN
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still requiring international visitors boarding flights to the United States to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but its easing vaccine requirements for those travelers.
International travelers boarding flights to the United States will now be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting a single dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine any time after August 16, 2022, when bivalent formulations first became available. The updated travel guidance was posted on the agencys website on Thursday.
The change aligns with the CDCs recently simplified vaccine guidance for Americans; those who are unvaccinated are now considered fully vaccinated after a single dose of a bivalent vaccine, which protects against more strains of the virus than the original shot.
Previously, foreign travelers entering the United States were considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of a vaccine that required two primary doses, or two weeks after a vaccine that only required a single shot, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
A number of older, monovalent vaccine regimens also qualify a foreign visitor as fully vaccinated. Those include:
The travel requirements dont apply to US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or immigrants.
Earlier this month, the CDC signed off on a plan to streamline Covid-19 vaccination. As part of the update, the older monovalent mRNA Covid-19 vaccines are no longer recommended in the United States, and updated vaccines are recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.
Overview
Globally, nearly 2.8 million new cases and over 16 000 deaths were reported in the last 28 days (27 March to 23 April 2023), a decrease of 23% and 36%, respectively, compared to the previous 28 days (27 February to 26 March 2023). Contrary to the overall trend, increases in reported cases and deaths continued to be seen in the South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions and in several individual countries elsewhere. As of 23 April 2023, over 764 million confirmed cases and over 6.9 million deaths have been reported globally.
In this edition, we include:
US health authorities reportedly plan to stop tracking Covid on community level The Guardian
Opinion | Our Covid Data Project Is Over, but the Need for Timely Data Is Not The New York Times
