Bernalillo County’s Post

Bird flu - H5N1 - better preparedness: The European Commission Joint Research Centre has just published the first ad-hoc bulletin on (waste)water surveillance for the detection of the HPAI A(H5N1) employing (waste)water surveillance. Globally, concern is rising about the spread and infection pattern of the H5N1 virus. The bulletin provides a brief summary of the feedback received after the detection of the HPAI A(H5N1) virus in US dairy herds. It follows an enquiry of the Canadian Public Health Authority in the context of the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON). Upon this initial request and in agreement with the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) , the EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health collected insights on wastewater surveillance initiatives in EU Member States and beyond. The bulletin on (waste)water surveillance summarizes the collective feedback and outlines the steps forward for our surveillance strategy in light of the emerging concerns linked to H5N1. Direct access to the bulletin: https://lnkd.in/dVTTdyVA EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health (https://lnkd.in/dAkY9TBX) Contact (mail): jrc-eu4s-deep@ec.europa.eu

Increased monitoring and preparation for highly pathogenic bird flu are crucial steps in preventing potential outbreaks and protecting public health. The WHO's call underscores the importance of proactive measures and global cooperation to monitor and respond to emerging infectious threats. 🦠🌍 #BirdFlu #PublicHealth #GlobalMonitoring

Opinion: 4 years after COVID, we are still lacking an international prevention plan Opinions by Susan Lieberman, Chris Walzer, and Christine Franklin It has been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and caused the deaths and suffering of millions of people across the globe, along with extraordinary economic devastation. In December 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its 194 member states — all national governments — resolved to draft and negotiate a “convention, agreement, or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.” You would think that the governments of the world would seize this unprecedented opportunity to protect themselves, their children and grandchildren, as well as future generations, from the shattering impacts of pandemics. But you’d be wrong. When the process launched, there was a sense of urgency and commitment to adopt an agreement that would ensure that something like COVID-19 never happens again. But what we have seen in the past six months is a decline in political will and a failure to communicate and compromise. Governments, through the WHO, have given themselves until May 10 to reach a consensus on this international instrument, yet appear nowhere close to adopting text that will truly prevent consequential pathogen spillovers from wildlife that could bring us COVID-25, 26, or beyond. With only five negotiating days left on the calendar, governments must show leadership and converge on mutually acceptable text. Otherwise, we run the risk of a weak agreement or no agreement at all. The WHO suggests that “zoonotic” spillovers of viral pathogens between wildlife and people have been responsible for up to 75 percent of new infectious diseases in the past decade. We know how to prevent such outbreaks, and scientists are clear that it’s not “if” but “when” the next pandemic will occur — unless strong actions are taken. But most scientists and other nongovernmental organization experts are sadly not allowed in the room where the WHO agreement text is being hashed out. ***Click on image below to finish reading this opinion piece. Posted by Larry Cole

And this time on water and in Australia: https://lnkd.in/gpMVEGEk Onsite assessment of aquatic facilities by environmental health professionals help keep the risk of cryptosporidiosis at bay.

👏🏛️ We commend Senators Maggie Hassan and Mitt Romney for calling on Senate Leadership to urgently reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (#PAHPA) amidst the evolving #birdflu outbreak in the United States. “Critical preparedness and response authorities lapsed in 2023, and the recent reports of human infection with #H5N1 avian flu that is highly pathogenic in birds, as confirmed by the U.S. CDC, underscore the need for Congress to quickly renew this legislation,” write the Senators, who lead the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight. PAHPA, a bipartisan bill, strengthens the nation's medical and public health preparedness against biological threats and other crises. Previous versions authorized ASPR and BARDA and introduced new programs, but the current version expired in September 2023. https://lnkd.in/eTkC4MRy

Plans for pandemic prevention must focus not only on what should be done but on how to encourage decision makers to do it. The current, tough negotiations over WHO’s pandemic accord are a reminder that real conflicts of interest exist over access to pathogens for research, benefit sharing, intellectual property, technology transfer, who provides and controls the money for pandemic control, and how signatories will be held to account. Over the past decade, the Ebola, Zika, mpox, and covid-19 emergencies have underlined the value of a globally cooperative approach to pandemic prevention and control. A new accord will succeed only if it appeals to reason—aligning different perceptions of hazard, risk, and urgency to offer each stakeholder sufficient benefits for the costs incurred.

Insecticide paints: a new community strategy for controlling dengue and zika mosquito vectors in Cabo Verde #dengue #entomology #pestcontrol #healthcare

This assessment illustrates the complexity of the H5N1 virus’s impact on both animal and human health and the need for a coordinated international response to monitor, contain, and understand the virus to mitigate its broader impacts.

NEWS: U.S. Drinking-Water Systems Still Haven’t Defeated This Nasty Parasite The U.S.’s largest-ever outbreak of waterborne illness—#cryptosporidiosis—hit Milwaukee 30 years ago. Why are many other water systems still vulnerable to the same parasite today? Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eTne5UKU #waterborneillness #waterquality #waterconservation #environmentalscience

#WorldZoonosesDay Protecting health by understanding zoonoses 🌍🐾 World Zoonoses Day, observed on July 6th, raises awareness about diseases transmitted from animals to humans. It marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's first successful rabies vaccine in 1885. This day highlights the importance of preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases, emphasizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment. Understanding and managing zoonoses is crucial for protecting global health and preventing future outbreaks. #WorldZoonosesDay #ZoonoticDiseases #OneHealth #PublicHealth #RabiesAwareness #LouisPasteur #HealthForAll #PreventZoonoses