Influenza at the human-animal interface summary and assessment, 1 November 2024

From 28 September to 1 November 2024, the detection of influenza A(H5) virus in 30 humans and influenza A(H9N2) virus in one human were reported officially.


? New human cases: From 28 September to 1 November 2024, the detection of influenza A(H5) virus in 30 humans and influenza A(H9N2) virus in one human were reported officially.
? Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals: high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
? Risk assessment: Based on information available at the time of the risk assessment, the overall public health risk from currently known influenza viruses at the human-animal interface has not changed, and the occurrence of sustained human-to-human transmission of these viruses iscurrently considered unlikely. Although human infections with viruses of animal origin are infrequent, they are not unexpected at the human-animal interface.
? IHR compliance: All human infections caused by a new influenza subtype are required to be reported under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). This includes any influenza A virus that has demonstrated the capacity to infect a human and its haemagglutinin gene (or protein) is not a mutated form of those, i.e. A(H1) or A(H3), circulating widely in the human population. Information from these notifications is critical to inform risk assessments for
influenza at the human-animal interface.