National Microbiology Centre - Carlos III Institute of Health
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Researcher at the Reference and Research Laboratory in Mycology, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Researcher at the National Center for Microbiology - Carlos III Health Institute
Senior scientist at the Reference Laboratory for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses of the National Microbiology Centre.
Scientific researcher at the Reference and Research Laboratory for Immunopreventable Viral Diseases of the National Microbiology Centre - Carlos III Health Institute
Senior Researcher, Head of the Enterovirus and Viral Gastroenteritis Unit (Reference and Research Laboratory for Immunopreventable Viral Diseases), Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Virologist at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Researcher at the Reference Laboratory for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses at the Centro Nacional de Microbiología - Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Although outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza have reached record numbers in recent years, human infections remain anecdotal. A study published today in Nature identifies a protein responsible for inhibiting the replication of this virus in humans, while 'human' flus are able to evade it. The authors propose that this protein with antiviral activity evolved in primates and consider that resistance or sensitivity to it should be taken into account when assessing the zoonotic potential of avian influenza viruses.
On 5 April, the UK National IHR Focal Point informed WHO of an increase in severe myocarditis in neonates associated with enterovirus infection in Wales (UK). Between June 2022 and April 2023, ten hospitalised neonates with a positive PCR for enterovirus were found to have myocarditis. Seven of the ten cases were confirmed to have coxsackievirus B3 or coxsackievirus B4. As of 5 May 2023, one patient remained hospitalised and one patient had died. According to the WHO statement, although enterovirus infections are common in neonates and infants, the reported increase in myocarditis - inflammation of heart muscle tissue - with severe outcome associated with enterovirus infection is unusual.
A study to be published in the journal Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas analyses an outbreak of ringworm that has affected hundreds of Spanish adolescents in the last two years.
After the World Cup in Qatar, National Microbiology Centre researcher María Iglesias wonders where the social alarm about an alleged outbreak of MERS came from and takes the opportunity to explain some concepts of the virus and its surveillance.
Several media outlets are reporting cases of "camel flu" or MERS-CoV at the World Cup in Qatar, including three French national team players. However, no cases have been confirmed and the news reports speak of non-specific symptoms that could be due to any other infectious condition. This coronavirus, discovered in 2012, has a high case fatality rate and before the start of the competition, the WHO had already asked fans travelling to the country to watch out for possible symptoms.
The WHO has published the first list of priority fungal pathogens, which affect more than 300 million people and kill at least 1.5 million people every year. However, funding to control this scourge is less than 1.5 % of that devoted to infectious diseases.
A sarbecovirus distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 and found in horseshoe bats in Russia is able to enter human cells using the ACE2 receptor, according to research published in PLOS Pathogens.
The UK Health Security Agency published in its latest report on 25 March the detection of three recombinant forms of omicron, called XE, XD and XF. The WHO mentions them in its 29 March report, noting that the possibility that XE is more transmissible than BA.2 still requires further study.
A new variant of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 has been identified in South Africa, with numerous mutations present in other variants, including Delta. Variant B.1.1.529, as it is now called, appears to be spreading rapidly in South Africa. Attached is the rapid reaction of three Spanish researchers with expertise in genomic surveillance.