Influenza H5N1 in mammals – Overview
spotlight topic:
1. Overview
Risk to mammals
Published 25 April 2024 | Updated 3 April 2025
- Lin, T-H. et al (2024) A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors. Science, 386 (6726), pp. 128-1134. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt0180
- Gu, C. et al. (2024) A human isolate of bovine H5N1 is transmissible and lethal in animal models. Nature, 636, pp. 711-718. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08254-7
- Sacristán, C. et al. (2024) Novel Epidemiologic Features of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus A H5N1 2.3.3.4b Panzootic: A Review. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 5322378. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5322378
- Alberts, F. et al. (2024) Predicting host species susceptibility to influenza viruses and coronaviruses using genome data and machine learning: a scoping review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1358028
- Ahrens, A.K. et al. (2024) Novel genotypes of highly pathogenica avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, Germany, November 2023. Emerging Infectious Disease, 30 (8), pp. 1737-1739. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3008.240103
- Eisfeld, A.J. et al. (2024) Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07766-6
- Caserta, L.C. et al. (2024) Spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus to dairy cattle. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07849-4
- Puryear, W.B. and Runstadler, J.A. (2024) High-pathogenicity avian influenza in wildlife: a changing disease dynamic that is expanding in wild birds and having an increasing impact on a growing number of mammals. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 262 (5), pp. 601-609. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.01.0053
- Runstadler, J.A. and Puryear, W.B. (2024) The virus is out of the barn: the emergence of HPAI as a pathogen of avian and mammalian wildlife around the globe. American Journal of Veterinary Research. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.01.0018
- Plaza, P.I. et al. (2024) Recent changes in patterns of mammal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus worldwide. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30 (3), pp. 444-452. https://doi.org/10.3201%2Feid3003.231098
- Elsmo, E.J. et al. (2023) Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b infections in wild terrestrial mammals, United States, 2022. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29 (12), pp. 2451-2460. https://doi.org/10.3201%2Feid2912.230464
- Gilbertson, B. and Subbarao, K. (2023) Mammalian infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses renew concerns of pandemic potential. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 220 (8), no. e20230447. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20230447
Risk to humans
Published 25 April 2024 | Updated 3 April 2025
- Avian flu is evolving but what risk does it pose to us? (2024) [BBC Radio 4: The Briefing Room] [Podcast]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z6q3 [Accessed 6 June 2024]
- Xie, R. et al. (2023) The episodic resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 virus. Nature, 622 (7984), pp. 810-817. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06631-2
- Limb, M. (2023) Fears for human cases of avian influenza. Veterinary Record, 193 (30), pp. 93. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3316
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) et al. (2024) Drivers for a pandemic due to avian influenza and options for One Health mitigation measures. EFSA Journal, 22 (4), no. e8735. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8735
- Human case of avian flu detected in England. UKHSA confirms rare case of bird flu A(H5N1) in the West Midlands region[UK Health Security Agency] [online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/human-case-of-avian-flu-detected-in-england [Accessed 18 February 2025]
- Hosseini, P. et al. (2025) Qualitative studies on farm managers perception of risk from HPAIV and implementation of biosecurity measures on UK poultry farms. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106445
- Notes from the field: Seroprevalence of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5) virus infections among bovine veterinary practitioners — United States, September 2024. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 74 (4), pp. 50-52. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7404a2.htm [Accessed 3 April 2025]
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