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Last week the CDC held a COCA Call - geared primarily to clinicians - on human H5N1 and Influenza A surveillance. Those who were unable to attend can now watch the archived video presentation, and download the transcript and 49-slide PDF file.
The video runs a little over an hour, and has the following stated objectives.
This webinar spends a good deal of time on recognizing and treating suspected H5N1 infection.
In addition to providing a background for clinicians on H5N1, and providing information on testing and treatment with antivirals, this webinar stresses the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for influenza A even during the summer months.
While our biggest concern is currently H5N1, over the past 15 years we've also seen more than 500 novel viruses of other (swine) origin confirmed in the United States (see CDC chart below), primarily linked to agricultural fair attendance.
Although the public health risks from swine variant viruses are considered low, the CDC advises those who are at higher risk of serious flu complications (including children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women, and those with certain chronic medical conditions), to avoid pigs and the swine barn altogether.
A reminder that while we are watching one threat (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b), we could always get blindsided by something unexpected (e.g. H5N6, H10N3, H3N8, H1N2v, H3N3v etc.) coming from out of left field.
In 2023 the CDC held a webinar for clinicians on recognizing, treating, and reporting zoonotic influenza cases in the community (see COCA Call : What Providers Need to Know about Zoonotic Influenza), which remains available on their website.
Swine influenza viruses (H1, H2, & H3) are thought to be more easily adaptable to human physiology than avian (H5 & H7) viruses. Currently the CDC ranks a Chinese EA H1N1 `G4' swine virus at the top of their IRAT list, with 3 other North American swine variant viruses scoring higher than H5N1.
A reminder that while we are watching one threat (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b), we could always get blindsided by something unexpected (e.g. H5N6, H10N3, H3N8, H1N2v, H3N3v etc.) coming from out of left field.
