When I began working at Teva Pharmaceuticals a few months ago, I was immediately struck by the incredible work culture. When you change companies, it’s hard to know if you’ll fit and if you got it right. Switching from a business in the consumer goods industry to a pharmaceutical company, I was honestly surprised to find such strong cultural similarities. The shared focus on the consumer—or, in Teva’s case, patients—along with purpose, care, and humanity are some common attributes and why I’ve felt at home from the start. I also love Teva’s performance orientation, determination, and execution mindset.

Resilience at Our Core

As I immersed myself, I realized that it wasn’t just our purpose or culture that stood out—it was resilience. Teva is no stranger to challenge. From navigating geopolitical situations to operating across regions with ongoing conflict, this company has shown a remarkable ability to deliver—always doing what it says it will. What I find amazing is that despite these global challenges, my colleagues show up with a readiness, a smile, and a professionalism that I deeply admire. In fairness, for a company to have been around for more than 100 years, you need to be made of something very special! This resilience is core to who we are, and it’s something we can build on as we think about the future.

Background

HPAI viruses have caused significant disease outbreaks globally, particularly since 2016, when HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b emerged. These viruses primarily affect birds, posing a major challenge for the poultry industry through direct losses from high illness and fatality rates and indirect economic impacts from market disruptions and efforts at management and prevention. Notably, in non-vaccinated flocks, HPAI outbreaks result in a 93% probability of virus transmission after initial infection. Additionally, there has been an increase in HPAI transmission to mammals, raising concerns about its zoonotic potential despite limited human cases.

However, vaccination introduces the risk of silent virus circulation, necessitating strict monitoring protocols. France launched a comprehensive surveillance program following EU regulations, involving active, passive, and enhanced passive surveillance methods to detect HPAI early. Enhanced passive surveillance includes weekly testing of dead ducks, while active surveillance involves monthly testing of live ducks. This approach aims to control the virus and reassure international trade partners of the safety of vaccinated flocks.

About the Study

The researchers used a mechanistic model to evaluate the applicability of different surveillance strategies for detecting HPAI. They simulated the transmission of HPAI within a typical group of 6,400 ducks bred for producing foie gras. Ducks were vaccinated at ages 10 and 28 days, with the study focusing on the breeding stage of production.

Researchers employed a stochastic susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered, or dead (SEIRD) model, categorizing ducks into compartments. They modeled virus introduction and transmission, testing different effective vaccination coverage levels (70%, 80%, 90%). The model considered various parameters, including transmission rate, mortality, case-fatality risk, and immunity development.

The effectiveness of surveillance strategies was assessed by simulating outbreaks and testing different surveillance protocols. These included passive surveillance (based on mortality thresholds), enhanced passive surveillance (regular testing of dead ducks), and active surveillance (testing live ducks). Each strategy was evaluated for its sensitivity (ability to detect outbreaks) and timeliness (speed of detection).

Findings

The study found that vaccinating duck flocks significantly reduced the likelihood of avian influenza outbreaks. Without vaccination, the probability of an outbreak was 93%. With 90% effective vaccination coverage, this probability dropped to 38% during the transition phase (days 28–35) and 8% during the immunity phase (after day 35). If the first infected duck was immune, the outbreak probability was further reduced to 3%.

Nearly all ducks (99%) became infectious in non-vaccinated flocks within 14 days. However, in vaccinated flocks with 90% coverage, only 0.3% of ducks became infectious during the immunity phase. Enhanced passive surveillance, especially sampling five to seven dead ducks weekly, proved most effective, detecting 81%–88% of outbreaks. Passive surveillance based on daily mortality showed lower sensitivity (28%–64%), and active surveillance involving live bird sampling was the least sensitive, with delays of up to 28 days.

Conclusions

Vaccination against HPAI in poultry significantly reduces outbreaks and virus spread. In France (2023–2024), only two outbreaks occurred in vaccinated duck farms, reflecting a 92%–98% reduction in expected epizootic size.

However, vaccinated flocks show fewer signs of illness, making passive surveillance less effective. Enhanced passive surveillance, involving virologic tests on dead ducks, proved most sensitive and timely. The study found a 10-fold decrease in outbreaks and a 100-fold reduction in infectious ducks during the immunity phase in vaccinated flocks. While no surveillance strategy was fully effective, combining enhanced passive and active strategies could improve detection. Future research should explore alternative methods and consider factors like cost and workload.

Symptoms of HMPV

The symptoms of HMPV can vary in severity and commonly include cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Some individuals may also experience wheezing and shortness of breath (dyspnea). In certain cases, a rash may develop as part of the infection.

HMPV primarily affects children and is known to be present in about 0.7 per cent of flu cases globally. However, Karnataka health officials have stated that they lack detailed information on the specific strain in question.

Amid speculation over the spread of HMPV (human metapneumovirus) in China, the Directorate General of Health Services has said that there is “nothing to be alarmed about”, Doordarshan reported.

What is HMPV?

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has recently garnered attention due to videos and reports circulating on social media, suggesting that hospitals in China are overwhelmed by a surge in respiratory illnesses, including HMPV. Posts also claim that outbreaks of multiple viruses, including HMPV, influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19, have contributed to overcrowding in both hospitals and cemeteries.

HMPV, first identified in 2001 by researchers in the Netherlands, is a significant cause of acute respiratory infections, according to the American Lung Association. The virus primarily spreads through close contact with infected individuals, either through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, or by touching contaminated surfaces such as doorknobs or toys.

Bengaluru hospital suspected to have tested positive

An eight-month-old in Bengaluru is the first suspected case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). The infant's sample was collected on January 2, according to the laboratory report. The infant and its family had no history of recent travel and did not show any symptoms of concern, sources in the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) health department said.