Post Reply - A new pandemic

reportable

   https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-sars-cov-2-bq-1-1-1-variant-with-40-spike-mutations-and-many-other-worrisome-genetic-changes-detected-in-canada or https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-sars-cov-2-bq-1-1-1-variant-with-40-spike-mutations-and-many-other-worrisome-genetic-changes-detected-in-canada 
link to https://github.com/sars-cov-2-variants/lineage-proposals/issues/2511 or https://github.com/sars-cov-2-variants/lineage-proposals/issues/2511 ;
BQ.1.1.1 >40 spike mutations saltation (1 Canada) #2511
New issue
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DJ, A BQ.1.1.1 CoViD variant with (over) 40 mutations-likely from a host with immunity problems-was detected in Canada...Some of the mutations could bring increased immunity evasion...

Even worse-unclear how many of these variants there may be because of lack of testing/sequencing...

https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/cell-early-warning-signals-and-role-of.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/cell-early-warning-signals-and-role-of.html ;

While H9N2 may not be at the very top of our pandemic threats list, this LPAI virus is viewed by many as an important and influential player in the avian flu world. H9N2 has become widespread - even ubiquitous - among poultry across Asia, Europe. the Middle East, and more recently Africa (see Viruses: Genetic Evolution of Avian Influenza A (H9N2) Viruses in Uganda & Evidence of Mammalian Adaptation)
Serological studies suggest human infection may be far more common than standard surveillance (see FluTrackers List) would suggest (see HK CHP: Mainland China Reports 2 More H9N2 Cases)
H9N2 reassorts easily with other viruses, and its internal genes are often found inside many avian and swine viruses (including H5N1, H5N6, and H7N9) -  (see EID Journal: Natural Reassortment of EA H1N1 and Avian H9N2 Influenza Viruses in Pigs, China)
H9N2 viruses continue to accrue evolutionary changes, which include mammalian adaptations, and increased binding to human receptor cells (see PLoS Path: Genetics, Receptor Binding, and Transmissibility Of Avian H9N2).
Control of H9N2 has been difficult, as the virus continues to mutate, and many countries continue to use outdated and ineffectual vaccines (see J. Virus Erad.: Ineffective Control Of LPAI H9N2 By Inactivated Poultry Vaccines - China), some of which may be driving its evolution.
While  H9N2 is not considered a `reportable' disease by WOAH (formerly the OIE), the CDC has 2 different lineages (A(H9N2) G1 and A(H9N2) Y280) on their short list of influenza viruses with pandemic potential (see CDC IRAT SCORE), and several candidate vaccines have been developed.

But H9N2's biggest threat may come its ability to reassort with other, potentially more virulent, subtypes. 
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It seems likely that unless and until H9N2 can be better controlled, our avian flu woes may extend far beyond just H5Nx in the years ahead.
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https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/nature-lengthy-delays-in-h5n1-genome.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/nature-lengthy-delays-in-h5n1-genome.html ;
While many countries have long held avian flu (and other emerging infectious disease) information close to the vest (a few examples from Indonesia, China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia), in recent years it has increasingly become the norm, rather than the exception. 
WHO member nations are required under the 2005 IHR to report novel virus detections within  24-hours, but the reality is that many governments are often slow - or simply refuse - to release `bad news' which may impact their economy, or political stability (see From Here To Impunity).

Every WHO report and statement `reminds' nations of their duty to report, yet  90% of the worlds nations no longer reliably report COVID deaths and ICU admissions, and many countries appear equally silent on other disease outbreaks, including H5N1.
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Our global `don't test, don't tell' strategy may be politically or economically expedient in the short run - and the public may be comforted by a lack of information - but we risk sleepwalking our way into the next pandemic.  
But at least our leaders can honestly say when that happens; they never saw it coming. 
DJ, CoViD is getting worse, all kinds of flu...worse...measles, TB, Mpox...