Dr. Yager is currently available to share his insight on these issues either at in-studio or virtual Zoom interviews.
Not only is the Capital District currently knee deep in frigid temps and cold and flu season, but other global viruses are also making an appearance including H5N1 bird flu and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). What are these viruses and how prevalent are they? How can we protect ourselves and stay healthy?
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Chair of the Department of Allied Health Sciences at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Dr. Eric Yager, teaches classes in immunology and virology at ACPHS and is consistently called on by local and national media to provide answers to these pressing questions.
He is currently available to share his insight on these issues either at in-studio or virtual Zoom interviews.
H5N1 Bird Flu
The first H5N1 Bird Flu death occurred in the United States on January 6, 2025. The victim was over the age of 65 and had underlying health conditions, a patient population traditionally at high risk for severe disease following influenza virus infection. While the individual had exposure to wild birds and was infected by a strain of bird flu currently circulating in wild birds and poultry, there have not been any documented reports of human-to-human spread.
Seasonal influenza represents a greater concern to the general public. To date, there have been over 95,000 flu cases and 5,818 flu-related hospitalizations in New York. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against H5N1. However, the national stockpile has doses of a H5N1 vaccine that, though created to recognize a strain of H5N1 that circulated years ago, would provide some protection against several disease. Several drug companies are working on a vaccine against the current strain of H5N1.
Increased Cases of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) in China
hMPV is a respiratory virus that causes flu-like symptoms that last a few days. The majority of cases are mild, but hMPV infection can cause complications (bronchitis, pneumonia) in the very young, elderly and immunocompromised.
hMPV cases tend to surge in late winter, much like flu and RSV, so the surge of hMPV cases in China is not unusual. The virus was first detected in 2001 and there are no vaccines available nor antivirals.
Preventive measures are much the same as those recommended by the CDC for other respiratory viruses:
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Proper hand hygiene
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Avoiding contact with sick individuals
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Covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
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Staying home when sick