One Health Biweekly Update

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to share with you the 5th issue of the biweekly update from the One Health Secretariat, Bangladesh. This update highlights key developments and news related to diseases or conditions arising at the human-animal-wildlife interface.

We appreciate your continuous support and engagement.

Your feedback and thoughts are highly valued, so please feel free to share your comments with us.

Dr. Sabbir Haider

Dr. Nure Alam

Dr. Farhana Rahman

One Health Secretariat, Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Domestic Cat

A female domestic cat in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area has died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The cat had undergone surgery for pyometra, a severe uterine infection, and was subsequently taken to multiple pet clinics for postoperative complications. It stopped eating on October 25 and died on October 28. Laboratory tests confirmed H5N1, and Bangladesh has formally notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) of the event. This is the country’s third reported detection of H5N1 in cats, following two cases confirmed in April 2025. 

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Dengue Menace Persists Even in Winter
Dengue transmission remains high despite winter setting in. Since November 1, Bangladesh has recorded 13,996 new hospitalizations and 80 deaths. So far Hospitalizations totaled 83,858 in 2025, with 331 deaths. Dhaka remains the epicenter with 38,573 cases and 215 deaths, followed by Barishal with 19,512 cases and 44 deaths. Men account for 62% of cases and women 38%, while fatalities are more evenly split (53% male, 47% female).

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Study Shows Spread of Fungal Superbug in NICUs

A recent study published in the Microbiology Spectrum reports the spread of the fungal superbug Candida auris within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and healthcare settings in general. Hospitalization associated with C. auris has a crude mortality rate of about 70% in low- and middle-income countries. Preterm babies and immunocompromised patients remain especially vulnerable. The study enrolled NICU patients from one public and one private hospital in Dhaka between August 2021 and September 2022. Seven (22%) out of the 32 colonized patients died, and more than half acquired colonization after admission, indicating frequent in-facility transmission.

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Bangladesh Celebrates World One Health Day 2025.

The One Health Secretariat and One Health Bangladesh, in partnership with icddr,b, celebrated World One Health Day on Nov 12 at the Sasakawa Auditorium of icddr,b. Government officials, academics, development partners and students participated in the event  under the theme “One Health: Together for a Safer World”, The event featured an opening session, a poster exhibition, prize distribution, and a panel discussion on “One Health in Action.” The opening event was attended by the Chief Conservator of Forest, the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, the Executive Director of icddr,b, the Chair of the One Health Secretariat, and the National Coordinator of One Health, Bangladesh. Ten posters designed by students from various universities were showcased at the event, with the top three receiving awards. 

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Rest of Asia 

New Mpox Case Reported in Pakistan

A 14-year-old boy from Mirpurkhas city in Sindh Province has been admitted to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in Karachi with suspected mpox. He recently returned from Saudi Arabia and developed a high fever and skin lesions. Doctors quickly transferred him to a specialized ward and are closely monitoring his condition.

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Rest of the world: 

Intranasal H5 Influenza Vaccine Shows Promise

A phase 1 clinical trial in the United States published in Nature Communications  shows good immune responses from an experimental intranasal vaccine that targets multiple H5N1 avian flu strains.  Unlike injectable flu vaccines,  intranasal vaccines can block the virus at its entry point, the nose and throat, potentially reducing human to human transmission. The candidate vaccine is shelf-stable and easy to administer, offering potential value for pandemic preparedness as H5N1 strains continue to evolve. 

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WHO Raises Concerns on Equitable Access to New TB Vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that global access to upcoming tuberculosis (TB) vaccines may be uneven. With the only currently licensed TB vaccine offering limited protection for adolescents and adults, efforts to develop more effective options have intensified. As of September 2025, sixteen TB vaccine candidates are in clinical development, including six already in phase 3 trials. High-burden countries are preparing for rollout, but a new WHO’s TB Vaccine Accelerator Council report cautions that early demand for these vaccines may exceed supply. The report stresses the urgent need for clear policies and global commitments to ensure priority access for countries most affected by TB.

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