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Journal articleSubissi L, Otieno JR, Ruis C, et al., 2026,
Oropouche virus: transmission, epidemiology, genetic diversity, and public health implications.
, EClinicalMedicine, Vol: 95Historically endemic to parts of South America, Oropouche virus (OROV) has caused an estimated 500,000 infections since its discovery, with a marked geographic expansion beyond the Amazon basin into other regions of South America and the Caribbean since late 2023. This Review synthesises current evidence on OROV epidemiology, transmission dynamics, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, viral diversity, and public health impact, with the primary objective of identifying critical knowledge gaps and outlining priorities for surveillance, research, and control. Human transmission occurs primarily via Culicoides paraensis midges, while the competence of other vectors, the role of animal reservoirs in sustaining sylvatic transmission, and the contribution of vertical and sexual transmission remain incompletely understood. Although most infections are self-limiting, reports of neurological disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and rare fatalities highlight uncertainties regarding pathogenicity, risk factors for severe disease, and long-term sequelae. The known teratogenicity of related Simbu serogroup orthobunyaviruses in animals further raises concerns about foetal risk in humans. Environmental change, expanding vector ranges, and viral evolution are likely contributing to outbreak emergence and geographic spread. Based on the available evidence, this review highlights priority gaps in epidemiological surveillance, diagnostics and genomic monitoring, vector competence and ecology, transmission pathways, and countermeasure development. Addressing these gaps through coordinated surveillance, improved laboratory capacity, targeted vector control, and focused research will be essential to mitigate the public health impact of OROV and reduce the risk of further spread.
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Journal articleLawson T, Drevinskas R, Sakakura M, et al., 2026,
Property-driven analysis of glasses for data storage via femtosecond laser writing
, Optica, Vol: 13, Pages: 698-706, ISSN: 2334-2536The growing demand for high-density, long-term data storage has intensified interest in three-dimensional optical storage based on laser-written structures in glass. We evaluate a diverse set of commercial glasses to determine how intrinsic material properties influence the formation of multibit phase voxels. By analyzing voxel quality and write efficiency, we develop a materials-screening framework that links storage performance to measurable glass properties. Thermal diffusivity emerges as the property most strongly correlated with quality (r = 0.78). The resulting performance landscape identifies a Pareto front in which Schott K10 exhibits the highest write efficiency (0.115 bit nJ<sup>−1</sup> voxel<sup>−1</sup>), while Borofloat 33 provides the highest quality (1.76 bit voxel<sup>−1</sup>). Overall, this work demonstrates a generalizable methodology for selecting glasses for advanced laser-processing applications, highlighting thermal diffusivity as a key factor for achieving precise photonic structuring.
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Journal articleTeerawattananon Y, Wang Y, KC S, et al., 2026,
Harnessing health economic evaluation for policy and practice
, Communications Medicine, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2730-664XHealth economic evaluation is essential for evidence-informed health policy, supporting prioritization of high-value care and optimal resource use. This Perspective synthesizes experiences from the HTAsiaLink network and global literature to demonstrate its role across the technology lifecycle. Drawing on diverse country experiences, it highlights how these methods guide value-based, equitable, and sustainable decision-making amid rapid technological advances and resources constraints. Key challenges and opportunities are examined, such as integrating equity considerations, incorporation of environmental impacts, and adapting frameworks for novel technologies. Strengthening deliberative processes, building capacity, and adopting flexible methods are crucial to harnessing full potential of health economic evaluation.
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Journal articleLlanes-Kidder C, Gaythorpe K, Rawson T, 2026,
Sociodemographic factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake and dropout rates in England.
, Vaccine, Vol: 79COVID-19 vaccine uptake varied across geographical areas and demographic groups in England, with significant disparities observed locally. Understanding the factors driving these disparities is crucial for improving public health interventions. Using a comprehensive dataset containing sociodemographic, economic, and health-related variables, this study identifies key predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and dropout rates across Lower Tier Local Authorities (LTLAs) in England. Specific Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) variables, including crime and environment scores, were significant predictors of both vaccine uptake and vaccine dropout rates, indicating that these domains create barriers to vaccination. Socioeconomic deprivation, especially among ethnic minority groups such as Asian and Black/African/Caribbean populations, was linked to lower vaccine uptake and higher dropout rates. LTLAs with younger populations saw significantly higher rates of dropout between doses, and LTLAs with a greater proportion of the population over the age of 65 saw significantly lower rates of vaccination dropout, likely due to targeted public health messaging and prioritisation. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to address the barriers faced by underserved communities. By focusing on the identified predictors, future vaccination campaigns can be tailored to improve uptake and reduce health disparities, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes.
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Journal articleKu C-C, Rosello A, Walker J, et al., 2026,
The epidemiological effect and cost-effectiveness of expanded age eligibility for recombinant zoster vaccination in England.
, Vaccine, Vol: 78INTRODUCTION: Since September 2023, England's national immunisation programme has offered the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) to adults aged 65-79 as a preventative measure against shingles (herpes zoster) and its complications. However, adults aged 80 and over are currently not eligible for the vaccine. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of providing RZV to adults aged 80 and older in England. METHODS: This cost-utility analysis employs a static cohort model considering herpes zoster (HZ) cases and severe cases leading to post-herpetic neuralgia, HZ-related hospitalisation, and deaths from the perspective of the National Health Service. The long-term impacts of RZV are assessed using the model, accounting for changing population demographics and the previously-offered live zoster vaccine (ZVL). We consider different eligibility scenarios for RZV focusing on the older population (80+ years old) and provide comparisons to the pre-2023 programme. RESULTS: Expanding the current programme to offer a single dose of RZV to people aged 80 and up is likely to be cost-effective relative to the current programme. Offering two doses to this group would be less cost-effective but would offer greater protection against HZ. For preventing health-related quality of life loss, it is most efficient to vaccinate 60-69-year-olds, but for averting hospitalisation costs, it is most efficient to vaccinate 80-89-year-olds. CONCLUSION: Providing one or two doses of RZV for older adults can be cost-effective and would reduce the healthcare burden of shingles.
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Journal articleDixon-Zegeye M, Ramani A, Walker M, et al., 2026,
Modelling of onchocerciasis-associated skin and ocular disease and the impact of ivermectin treatment
, Communications Medicine, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2730-664XBackgroundDespite decades of control interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, morbidity associated with Onchocerca volvulus infection still exerts a substantial burden of disease, arising from cutaneous, ocular and neurological manifestations.MethodsWe developed and integrated a morbidity sub-model into our previously published individual-based, stochastic transmission model, EPIONCHO-IBM, including both reversible (severe itch, reactive skin disease (RSD)), and irreversible (skin atrophy, depigmentation, hanging groin) cutaneous sequelae, and eye disease (blindness, visual impairment). We modelled the relationship between onchocerciasis skin disease (OSD) and infection prevalence using pre-intervention data from northern Nigeria, and between onchocerciasis ocular disease (OOD) and infection intensity using data from the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa. We simulated the impact of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) upon OSD and OOD using data from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda.ResultsModelled age-specific OSD and OOD prevalence at baseline align well with reported prevalence estimates across the simulated range of endemicity levels but underestimate irreversible OSD in older age groups. Under MDA, we capture trends in infection prevalence, severe itch and irreversible OSD but underestimate reductions in RSD and blindness prevalence.ConclusionsIntegrating morbidity outcomes into transmission dynamics modelling will help improve estimates of onchocerciasis disease burden and inform the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of current and alternative interventions.
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Journal articleManuli ER, Hua X, Scachetti GC, et al., 2026,
Transmission dynamics of Oropouche virus in Latin America and the Caribbean
, Nature Medicine, Vol: 32, Pages: 1383-1392, ISSN: 1078-8956Oropouche virus (OROV) is an arbovirus endemic to the Amazon region since the 1950s that re-emerged in late 2023, causing a major epidemic across Central and South America. Here we investigated the transmission dynamics of the 2023–2024 epidemic in Manaus City (Amazonas state, Brazil), a major metropolitan hub in the Amazon, and estimated OROV infections across Latin America and the Caribbean. OROV re-emergence in Manaus resulted in an increase of IgG seroprevalence from 11.4% in November 2023 to 25.7% in November 2024. The neutralizing capacity of OROV-specific IgG antibodies from individuals collected before and after the re-emergence demonstrated a median plaque reduction neutralization test 50% titer of 640 against both the historical and contemporary OROV isolates. A historical reconstruction of OROV circulation in Manaus indicated a continuous low-level transmission with two major outbreaks of comparable seasonality and magnitude in 1980–1981 and 2023–2024. We estimate approximately 336,000 OROV infections in the Amazon region under a scenario of continuous endemic transmission without major outbreaks and over 9.4 million OROV infections during major outbreaks from 1960 to 2025. Collectively, our findings provide a comprehensive assessment of OROV transmission in Manaus and contribute to a better understanding of the OROV burden.
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Journal articleStevens O, Anderson RL, Sabin K, et al., 2026,
HIV prevalence in transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa.
, AIDS, Vol: 40, Pages: 510-516INTRODUCTION: The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 calls for equitable access to HIV services for all populations. Transgender people have been marginalized and experience disproportionate risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and data to guide HIV programmes are severely limited. Surveillance data among cisgender men who have sex with men (cis-MSM) are comparatively abundant. We assessed whether HIV prevalence among cis-MSM was correlated with HIV prevalence among transgender women. METHODS: Data from key population surveys conducted in SSA between 2010 and 2022 were identified from existing databases and survey reports. Studies that collected HIV prevalence data among both transgender women and cis-MSM populations were analysed with random effect meta-analysis to estimate the ratio of HIV prevalence among cis-MSM:transgender women. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were identified encompassing 8476 transgender women and 24 102 cis-MSM. Median HIV prevalence among transgender women was 23.5% [interquartile range (IQR) 11.5-39.8%] and 16.2% (IQR 8.1-26.8%) among cis-MSM. HIV prevalence among transgender women was 50% higher than in cis-MSM [prevalence ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-1.76]. HIV prevalence among transgender women was highly correlated with year/province-matched HIV prevalence among cis-MSM ( R2 = 0.60), but poorly correlated with year/province-matched total population HIV prevalence ( R2 = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Transgender women experience a significantly greater HIV burden than cis-MSM in SSA, underscoring the need for HIV services addressing the disproportionate vulnerability experienced by transgender women. Further bio-behavioural surveys focused on determinants of HIV infection, treatment uptake, and risk behaviours among transgender people, distinct from cis-MSM, will improve understanding of HIV risk and vulnerabilities.
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Journal articleZhang T, Wei Q, Schmit N, 2026,
Post-acute sequelae after Nipah virus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
, EClinicalMedicine, Vol: 94, ISSN: 2589-5370Background Nipah virus was first detected in the 1998-1999 Malaysia outbreak and remains a significant public health concern due to its high epidemic potential and recurrent outbreaks in South Asia. Incidence patterns of post-acute sequelae, characterised by persistence or delayed onset after the acute phase of an infection, are not well documented after infectious disease outbreaks. We aimed to address this knowledge gap. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence, incidence, duration, and characteristics of post-acute sequelae in survivors of Nipah virus infection. We searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies published in English between database inception and Nov 17, 2025. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were peer-reviewed and reported primary data on post-acute sequelae in survivors of Nipah virus infection. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. We conducted random-effects meta-analysis for all outcomes reported in at least two studies, and assessed heterogeneity qualitatively and using the I2 statistic. This review was registered with PROSPERO CRD42024616198. Findings Our search identified 1,091 articles after deduplication, of which eight were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review and six in the meta-analysis. Study populations included hospitalised Nipah encephalitis survivors and total survivors of Nipah virus infection in three and five articles, respectively. Only one study included a healthy control group. Three articles were of high, four of moderate and one of low quality. We extracted prevalence for potential neurological, psychiatric or non-specific post-acute sequelae. The pooled prevalence of total residual neurological deficits was 24% (95% CI 9-49; I2=0%) among total survivors of Nipah infection (3 studies; 80 participants), and 45% (95% CI 11-85; I2=64%) among the subset of survivors with acute Nipah encephalitis (3 studies; 87 participants).
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Journal articleDidelot X, Carson J, Ribeca P, et al., 2026,
DiagnoDating: diagnostics for dated phylogenies in microbial population genetics.
, Mol Biol Evol, Vol: 43Microbial population genetic studies often involve the use of a dated phylogeny to show how the genomes are related over a relevant timescale. Many tools have recently been developed to date the nodes of a standard phylogeny, but all make underlying assumptions that may not be realistic for a given dataset, making the results potentially unreliable. Model comparison is sometimes used to remedy this issue, whereby inference under several models is compared to establish which result can be trusted. Although such comparison is clearly useful to assess the relative merits of several inference attempts, here instead we focus on the problem of evaluating how good an inference is in absolute terms, without comparison. We consider several approaches for diagnosing potential issues in a reconstructed dated phylogeny, including outlier detection, posterior predictive checking and residual analysis. These methods are well-established diagnostics tools in other areas of statistics, but here we show how they can be applied to the specific inference of dated phylogenies. We illustrate their use on many simulated datasets, with inference being performed either from the correct model to quantify the specificity or from an incorrect model to quantify the sensitivity of the diagnostics methods. We also applied the methods to three real-life datasets to showcase the range of issues that they can detect. We have implemented the methods in a new R package entitled DiagnoDating. We advocate the use of these diagnostics tools for all microbial population genetic studies that involve the reconstruction of a dated phylogeny.
This data is extracted from the Web of Science and reproduced under a licence from Thomson Reuters. You may not copy or re-distribute this data in whole or in part without the written consent of the Science business of Thomson Reuters.
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