Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of May 3 to May 10

Study Highlights Airborne Transmission of H5N1 in Ferrets, Raising Pandemic Concerns

A study of the H5N1 virus isolated from a Michigan dairy worker showed it can transmit through airborne particles in ferrets and cause moderate illness, raising concerns about its potential to spread among mammals. The worker's infection is part of a larger multistate outbreak involving dairy cattle and poultry, with 70 human cases reported since 2024. While no sustained human-to-human transmission has been detected, the virus was shown to transmit through direct contact and respiratory droplets in ferrets, with infected animals releasing infectious particles. The Michigan strain showed lower virulence than a related Texas strain but retained efficient transmission. The CDC continues surveillance and monitoring, as over 1,000 dairy herds, millions of poultry, and thousands of wild birds have been affected.

NFID Finds Nearly Half of US Adults Admit to Not Washing Their Hands at Key Moments

The list includes categories and content sections from a medical or public health platform, featuring resources such as interactive tools, case studies, and subscription options, along with topic areas like antimicrobial stewardship, blood-borne diseases, COVID-19, foodborne and fungal infections, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, healthcare-associated infections, prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, skin and soft tissue diseases, and zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. It also highlights sponsored content, special projects, and a section for contributing writers and mentors.

Gilead’s Bulevirtide Demonstrates Long-Term Sustained Virologic Response For Hepatitis D

At the EASL Congress 2025, Gilead presented data showing that bulevirtide, used alone or with pegylated interferon alpha, led to sustained virologic response in patients with chronic hepatitis D. Patients who achieved undetectable HDV RNA at the end of treatment were more likely to maintain suppression 48 weeks after therapy ended. The data showed that longer treatment durations and combination therapy increased the likelihood of achieving and maintaining undetectable HDV RNA, even in the presence of HBV surface antigen. Bulevirtide is approved in the EU, Australia, and Russia but remains investigational in the United States.

Over 1 Million Drug-Resistant Infections Went Untreated Across LMICs

A modeling study across eight low- and middle-income countries found that only 6.9% of an estimated 1.5 million carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections in 2019 received appropriate treatment, leaving about 1.39 million infections untreated. Using pharmaceutical sales data and burden of disease estimates, researchers identified significant gaps in access to effective antibiotics, with tigecycline being the most commonly procured drug. India accounted for the majority of antibiotic procurement, while countries like Mexico and Egypt showed the highest coverage rates, though still low. Senior author Jennifer Cohn, MD, MPH, emphasized the need for better data on diagnostics, treatment availability, and healthcare access, and proposed adapting care cascade models from HIV treatment to improve response strategies for antimicrobial resistance.

Clinical Strategies for Tick Season: Lyme Prevention and Next-Gen Diagnostics

In a recent clinical update, Jason Barker, ND, of Vibrant Wellness discussed strategies for Lyme disease prevention and improvements in diagnostic technologies during peak tick season. He emphasized the importance of protective clothing, repellents, post-exposure hygiene, and routine tick checks for those frequently outdoors. Clinicians are urged to consider Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in patients with flu-like symptoms during summer months, even without a characteristic rash. Barker highlighted new diagnostic tools such as multiplex PCR and protein microarray platforms, which allow for simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens or antibodies, increasing diagnostic accuracy and aiding in timely treatment.