NIV keeps refusing to share important data before release

According to the World Animal Health Organization, as of February 20, 2025, H5N1 was found in 99 cats and killed 18 cats. File (images for representation purposes only) | Image source: Reuters

A two-year-old girl from Narasaraopeta, Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh, died on March 16, 2025 when infected with H5N1; she was admitted as AIIMS-Mangalagiri on March 4. ICMR’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) identified the virus as influenza on March 7. In the direction of ICMR, samples were sent to the Pune for Aflenza a fallenza a falenza a a virus subtype. NIV identified the virus as N5N1, and ICMR reminded the state government on March 31 this year.

Even after three weeks of NIV taking the virus as the H5N1 subtype, there is no information on which clade the H5N1 virus belongs to. Determining clades through phylogenetic analysis is a simple and automated procedure, so it can be done immediately after genome sequencing.

It is not new to NIV researchers who are reluctant to share important information or quickly store genomic sequence data in public databases. Whether it is Zika, Nipah, or Monkeypox viruses, NIV genomic sequence data can only be obtained when a paper about the virus published in a scientific journal a year or two later. NIV released preimpressions of the results of two Montex studies. Even during the pandemic, genomic sequence data from the first two SARS-COV-2 cases detected by NIV in Kerala were published in a public database by NIV – Gisaid-gisaid-the next day, the news project marked the issue on March 4, 2020. Hindu.

NIV researchers prioritize paper publications over free and immediate access to genomic sequence data and other important information, while 11-year-olds who have been infected with H5N1 in 2021. On July 15, 2021, NIV researchers determined that children from Gurugram received acceptance in the NCR area on June 12, 2021 in the Delhi Dellhi ncr area. The child died on July 12, 2021. Although when the genome was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed, NIV researchers submitted genome sequences in Genbank in October 2021. However, the sequence data were only publicly accessed on June 2, 2022 on June 2, 2022 on June 2, 2022 only when NIV researchers published the results in a journal. It is only known that the child was infected with the H5N1 clade when the paper was published 2.3.2.1a.

In contrast, a 2.5-year-old girl returned to Melbourne after visiting Kolkata from February 12 to February 29, 2024 and was hospitalized on March 2, 2024 and found that she was found infected with H5N1 Clade 2.3.2.2.2.1a after returning from India. The Victorian Department of Health confirmed the case on May 18, 2024. Four days later, on May 22, complete information about the case, including clade details. Most importantly, genomic sequence data has been published on GISAID on May 22, 2024, a public database.

Focus on clade 2.3.2.1a

It is a very important reason to know whether the H5N1 virus found in children in Panadu area belongs to Andhra Pradesh children belong to Calla of 2.3.2.1a. Clave 2.3.2.1a suddenly attracted more attention. The National Institute of High Safety Animal Diseases in Bhopal found the Reastrant H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1a virus in three domestic cat samples collected from Chhindwara City in Madhya Pradesh on January 16 and 24. In stark contrast to NIV, NIHSAD researchers soon shared details about clades and the recombinant properties of the virus in a preprint released on February 23, 2025.

Phylogenetic analysis showed that the N5N1 virus from three CAT samples was a reclassified virus. According to the preprint, “four gene segments are closely related to the H5N1 clade in Bangladesh circulating, while the remaining four parts gather together with the 2.3.4.4b virus”. Although the H5N1 2.3.4.4b virus detected in wild birds in South Korea, the polymerase gene complex with the H5N1 clade has been grouped with the H5N1 clade as 2.3.4.4b viruses with the H5N1 clade since 2022.

They wrote: “Although the CAT virus lacks classic mammalian adaptation markers, the mutations they carry are associated with enhanced polymerase activity in mammalian cells and have increased affinity for α2-6 sialic acid receptors, suggesting their potential role in promoting infection in cats,” they wrote. “Identification of H5N1 substitute 2.3.2.1a virus in Indian domestic cats highlights the urgent need for enhanced surveillance in poultry, wild birds and mammals, including humans, to track genomic diversity and molecular evolution of circulating strains.”

According to data from the World Animal Health Organization, as of February 20, 2025, H5N1 was found in 99 cats and killed 18 cats. “As H5N1 is found in domestic cats, the risk of virus transmission to humans is increased due to the increased chance of exposure.” Hindu. “In this case any mammal spillage of a cat, and the persistent infection can adapt to mammal transmission (as in the United States) and then eventually spread to humans by exposure.”