The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India (SII), will partner with CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) to develop a new vaccine targeting H5N1 avian flu as a prototype for Disease X, an as-yet-unknown pathogen with pandemic potential. The project will be supported by up to $16.4 million. 

The vaccine will be developed on a baculovirus platform and will compare two H5 antigens for a recombinant protein vaccine: a wild-type and an artificial intelligence (AI)-optimized, broad-spectrum H5 antigen designed by scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute. 

Goal: Produce broad immune response 

The goal is to produce a vaccine that elicits a broad immune response across multiple strains of H5 viruses. CEPI said the vaccine is a key part of its 100-day mission of accelerating vaccine development to within 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat.

This new project—which deepens our collaboration with SII, one of CEPI’s preferred vaccine manufacturing partners—is designed to power up global readiness.

“This new project—which deepens our collaboration with SII, one of CEPI’s preferred vaccine manufacturing partners—is designed to power up global readiness to tackle pandemic threats, from early-stage vaccine development through to global manufacture and supply,” said Richard Hatchett, MD, CEO of CEPI, in a press release. 

Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has reported two new H9N2 avian flu cases from mainland China. The detections raise the H9N2 total since April to 21 cases.

One case was noted in a 2-year-old boy from Hunan Province, and the second case was in a 70-year-old woman from Jiangxi Province. Both patients experienced symptom onset at the end of September. 

21 cases in past 6 months

Thirteen of the 21 cases reported in the past 6 months have been in children under age 7 years. 

All 21 cases in 2025 have been reported from mainland China, with the most (7) reported in Hunan province. In 2024, the country reported 11 total cases.

H9N2 avian flu is known to circulate in poultry in China and other parts of Asia, and sporadic human infections have been reported, mainly in China. Infections are typically reported in children, who usually experience mild infections. Some infections, however, are severe.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has spread to another elk-hunting area in Wyoming, the state's game and fish department reports.

An adult female elk in Elk Hunt Area 116 tested positive for the fatal neurologic infection, marking the area's first case. The hunting area, located in the Casper region in the northeast corner of Wyoming, 116 borders Elk Hunt Areas 117 and 129, which had detections in 2008 and 2020, respectively. 

Area 116 is part of the Black Hills Elk Herd, which includes hunting areas 115, 117, and 1, the latter of which has been CWD-positive since 2020.

Hunters asked to submit samples in affected areas

CWD, which spreads via infectious misfolded proteins called prions, affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. 

Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions.

"Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions," the news release said. "Hunters can assist in data collection by submitting free samples for CWD testing when hunting in priority or mandatory CWD testing areas."