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By way of overview, this month we have:

First, from the July Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, an article describing the reemergence of Clade IIb–Associated Mpox, in Germany in 2023.

Next, From the July Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, a study describing the discovery of both avian and human-like sialic acid receptors in dairy cattle infected with HPAI H5N1 in the United States."

A July Nature article reporting on the pathogenicity and mammalian transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus, emphasizing its dual receptor-binding capability and transmission through milk.". followed by, from

July 2024, Eurosurveillance, research on the impact of COVID-19 vaccination in Ireland, showing that the program significantly reduced severe cases by 80 to 90 percent in people aged 50 and older during Omicron variant dominance, then,

a Journal of Infection article highlighting a significant decline in antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting an immunity gap was behind the post-pandemic surge in cases, next, from

MMWR June 2024, a field note on the transmission of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans between humans and household pets in Utah and Colorado and finally,

from the July 2024 JAMA Health Forum, a study reveals that stringent state-level restrictions in the USA were associated with significantly lower excess COVID-19 pandemic death rates,

Message from the editor at end of podcast.

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Overview and links to articles mentioned this month.

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June 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases: Noelle M. Cocoros details the development of the RAVIOLI algorithm, a new method using electronic health records to enhance surveillance of respiratory viruses beyond traditional influenza-like illness methods. This approach notably improved detection of respiratory illnesses including SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, providing early warnings of emerging respiratory infection trends. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-0473_article

• June 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases: Park et al. explore severe Human Parainfluenza Virus pneumonia in adults at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, highlighting its prevalence and severe impact, especially in the immunocompromised. The study emphasizes the significant role of fungal co-infections in mortality rates. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-0670_article

• June 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases: A study on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) finds no transmission to human cerebral organoids, suggesting a strong species barrier, which is crucial for understanding the zoonotic potential of CWD. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-1568_article

• June 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases: Marta Zlotnick examines foodborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. linked to foods eligible for irradiation. The findings suggest a significant prevention potential through irradiation, which is currently underutilized. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-0922_article

• June 2024, Emerging Infectious Diseases: Katrine Finderup Nielsen's follow-up study on the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in Denmark shows moderate and persistent effectiveness against invasive pneumococcal disease, except for serotype 3. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/6/23-0975_article

• May 2024, Clinical Microbiology Reviews: Trisha Greenhalgh and colleagues provide a comprehensive review on masks and respirators, affirming their effectiveness in reducing transmission of respiratory infections and outlining future research directions for improving their use and public acceptance. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00124-23

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• June 2024, Nature Communications: Research by Haddrell et al. discusses the correlation between ambient CO2 levels and SARS-CoV-2 stability, revealing that increased CO2 concentrations can significantly enhance the virus's survival in aerosols, emphasizing the importance of ventilation in public health strategies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47777-5

• June 2024 BMJ Public Health - a paper alleging that much of the excess mortality associated with the pandemic is actually due to COVID vaccines. This paper is flawed - perhaps it did not receive the usual BMJ review? https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000282

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Podcast text below:

Electronic Health Record–Based Algorithm for Monitoring Respiratory Virus–Like Illness, by Noelle M. Cocoros, in June 2024 Emerging Infectious Diseases

Multiple respiratory viruses circulate and cause significant illness and death, but public health has traditionally focused surveillance efforts on influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI). Syndromic surveillance systems provide little information on which pathogens are circulating and often require...

By way of overview, first up a study in May Emerging Infectious Diseases providing a detailed description of Hepatitis E viral dynamics in a group of asymptomatic people tested every 4 days, showing rapid viral load rises and declines with parallel antibody responses.

Next, a report in May EID of a cluster of invasive meningococcal disease caused by an expanding serogroup B strain in older adults in England, highlighting the critical role of genomic surveillance in linking cases and guiding public health responses.

Then, a study in May EID investigating the evolution and dynamics of Legionella pneumophila sequence type 1905 in Portugal, finding that this atypical strain has persisted since a major 2014 outbreak and continues to pose a public health risk for recurrent Legionnaires' disease cases and outbreaks and a note that something unusual is happening in legionella globally with many examples of locally persistent virulent strains.

Following that, an interventional study in May EID comparing COVID-19 incidence rates among cruise ship populations applying different sets of measures, finding a greater than 14-fold protection of passengers in ships that used masking and physical distancing.

Next, a study in April's American Journal of Infection Control using whole genome sequencing to investigate a hospital outbreak, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 remained infectious in aerosols for up to 5 hours after the room was vacated by an infected patient.

Then, a study in March's Lancet Infectious Diseases investigating fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 variants, finding that the BA.2.86 and JN.1 variants showed significantly higher rates of viral shedding compared to other variants,– potentially disrupting correlations between sewage viral concentrations and human disease rates.

Followed by a study in April's Journal of Infectious Diseases investigating the association between preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection and post-COVID-19–related symptoms among fully vaccinated Canadian paramedics, finding no association between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and the prevalence of post-COVID-19–related symptoms.

Lastly we revisit the continued spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza among dairy cattle in the USA that we reported on last episode.

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