Coronavirus Breaking News

AfricaNews recently reported the United Republic of Tanzania requested medical experts investigate a mysterious "communicable" disease that has already killed five people in the country in March 2023.

Outbreaks are not new in the east African country of Tanzania.

In July 2022, a disease whose symptoms included nosebleeds, fever, headaches, and fatigue, was detected in the Lindi region. A total of 13 patients were detected then.

The World Health Organization later confirmed 20 cases of leptospirosis in two districts in the Lindi Region, including three deaths. The majority of these cases were men who were farmers as of August 8, 2022.

And in 2019, a disease with Ebola-like symptoms killed one woman who had visited Uganda, where an Ebola outbreak was detected.

Tanzania was formed as a sovereign state in 1964 through the combination of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, reports Britannica.  

No U.S. CDC health notices are in effect for Tanzania, including Zanzibar, as of March 18, 2023.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson recently announced an early-stage antiviral candidate (JNJ-1802) provides strong protection against dengue in non-human primates and mice.

The new data indicate JNJ-1802 is effective against all four dengue serotypes in mouse models and provides strong protection against two tested serotypes (DENV-1 and -2) in non-human primates.

The first-in-class antiviral, which was shown to be safe and well tolerated in a first-in-human clinical study, is progressing into Phase 2 clinical studies for the prevention and treatment of dengue.

"The unprecedented rise in dengue outbreaks throughout the past years offers a glimpse of what lies ahead ....." said Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Global Public Health R&D at Janssen Research & Development, LLC, in a press release on March 15, 2023.

"We know an antiviral will be critical to addressing the unmet needs today and tomorrow."

The peer-review journal Nature published this study: Blocking NS3–NS4B interaction inhibits dengue virus in non-human primates. These findings support the further clinical development of JNJ-1802, a first-in-class antiviral agent against dengue, which is now progressing in clinical studies to prevent and treat dengue.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Report issued on March 17, 2023, stated that despite the geographic spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses, only a small number of 'bird flu' cases in people have been identified.

The CDC stated all reported human cases since 2022 have been associated with poultry exposures.

And no bird flu cases of human-to-human transmission have been identified, says the CDC.

However, because of the potential for influenza viruses to evolve rapidly, continued sporadic human infections are anticipated.

To date, more than 6,300 people in 52 jurisdictions have been monitored since 2022, and only one human case in Colorado has been identified.

However, there has been an upsurge in various mammals dying from bird flu in Canada and the U.S. during 2023.

The CDC presented some good news regarding bird flu vaccines.

An H5 candidate vaccine virus (CVV) produced by CDC is nearly identical or, in many samples, identical to the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of recently detected clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in birds and mammals and could be used to produce a vaccine for people. 

This H5 CVV is available and has been shared with vaccine manufacturers.

One manufacturer, CSL Seqirus Inc., has already produced a U.S. FDA-approved vaccine, Audenz™.

Audenz is a monovalent, adjuvanted, cell-based inactivated influenza (H5N1) subunit vaccine designed to protect people from bird flu.

GSK plc recently announced positive results from a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its MenABCWY combination vaccine candidate, administered as two doses given six months apart in healthy individuals aged 10-25 years.

GSK's MenABCWY vaccine candidate combines the antigenic components of its licensed meningococcal vaccines, Bexsero (MenB) and Menveo (MenACWY).

All primary endpoints were met, including the non-inferiority of the vaccine candidate for all five Neisseria meningitides serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y) compared to licensed meningococcal vaccines Bexsero and Menveo in terms of an immune response.

In addition, the vaccine candidate was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with Bexsero and Menveo.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, commented in a press release on march 14, 2023, "These statistically significant phase III data are a very encouraging step toward reducing the incidence of meningococcal disease."

"In the U.S., routine use of a 5-in-1 meningococcal vaccine with a two-dose regimen in adolescents at 16 to 18 years of age, just before this disease's incidence peak, could drive significant public health impact."

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), a significant cause of meningitis and septicemia, is an uncommon but serious illness that can cause life-threatening complications or even death, typically amongst previously healthy children and adolescents.

Five Neisseria meningitides serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y) account for nearly all IMD cases worldwide.

Among those contracting meningococcal diseases, one in ten will die, sometimes in as little as 24 hours, despite treatment. 

As yet, no licensed combination vaccine offers protection against these serogroups in a single vaccine.

Currently, in the U.S., two separate vaccines needing four injections are required to protect against all five serogroups.

This immunization regimen and low awareness of the disease can lead to sub-optimal immunization coverage rates, particularly for MenB, with an estimated coverage of only about 31% of adolescents in the U.S.

GSK works closely with regulators to review the complete phase III data set, including the supplemental Biologics License Application for Bexsero.

This clinical trial was the confirmatory trial for Bexsero and the phase III trial for MenABCWY.

Detailed results from this phase III trial will be presented in a peer-reviewed publication and at upcoming scientific meetings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) presented some good news last week regarding influenza vaccines. The FDA confirmed this season's influenza vaccination provided substantial protection against inpatient, emergency department, and outpatient illnesses among all ages.

On March 7, 2023, Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), presented to the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee updated vaccine effectiveness (VE) information through January 2023.

Dr. Grohskopf's presentation highlighted influenza vaccination significantly reduced disease by the following:

• 39% (95%CI: 31, 45) against adult hospitalizations,
• 44% (95%CI: 41, 47) against adult ED or UC visits, and
• VE was observed across age groups and immunocompromised.

Furthermore, this flu season's estimates are higher than VE estimates against hospitalization (25%) and ED or UC visits (25%) from the 2021–22 season.

As of March 15, 2023, the CDC says various flu shots remain available at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S., and late-season vaccinations are advised for certain at-risk people.

Over 173 million influenza vaccines have already been distributed this flu season.

Communities in India have voiced strong interest in accessing HIV self-testing, says the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The WHO today announced it recommends HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an important approach to address gaps in HIV diagnoses, including among key populations in India.

HIVST can also generate demand for prevention services and facilitate pre-exposure prophylaxis delivery. 

The first of the United Nations’ 95-95-95 targets to end the HIV epidemic is for 95% of people living with HIV to know their HIV status by 2025. HIV testing is therefore essential to achieving “the first 95”.

A report launched in New Delhi in 2022 showed HIVST is acceptable to key populations and their partners in India. 

In the U.S., clinicians are recommended to screen for HIV infection in all pregnant women, including those who present in labor or at delivery and whose HIV status is unknown.

And screening is endorsed for certain adolescents and adults who are at increased risk of HIV infection.

Globally, 98 countries now have policies supportive of HIVST, and 52 are routinely implemented, yet many countries have not yet introduced HIVST as a routine approach. 

Until HIV-preventive vaccine candidates are approved, HIVST is a key component to reducing infections.

Parents living in St. Thomas, Elgin, and Oxford counties in Ottawa were recently advised to be alert to respiratory symptoms, which are particularly dangerous in young children.

Symptoms of the vaccine-preventable disease pertussis start with a runny nose or nasal congestion, sneezing, mild cough, and mild fever.

Southwestern Public Health, which is located between Detroit and Toronto, announced on March 8, 2023, parents and guardians should keep themselves and their children up to date with the pertussis vaccine after a recent dramatic rise in cases in the region.

"Our region has seen 82 confirmed cases of pertussis between January 2022 and February 28, 2023. This represents about 40% of the provincial total from that time period."

"Combine this with the number of children who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, and I am concerned in particular for the youngest members of our community," says Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health, in a related press release.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a vaccine-preventable disease.

This vaccine is routinely administered to children along with protection from polio, tetanus, and diphtheria (DTaP).

In the U.S., DTaP vaccines such as Boostrix are offered at clinics and pharmacies.

Pertussis is very contagious and spreads via droplets from the noses and mouths of those who are infected.

The cough, which can last anywhere from 2 – 8 weeks, gets progressively worse and may lead to vomiting or trouble breathing and coughing up mucous. It can often be recognized by the loud "whooping" sound that occurs when the child is inhaling after a coughing spell.

Untreated pertussis in infants can lead to hospitalization, brain damage, and death.

Furthermore, new research indicates an expecting mother can take action to protect her future child.

According to an Original Investigation published by JAMA Pediatrics in February 2023, maternal Tdap vaccination reduces pertussis burden in infants (2 months).

"I have two asks of our local parents."

"The first is that you make yourself familiar with the symptoms of pertussis and seek medical care if your child has these symptoms."

"It can be treated with antibiotics, and after five days on the treatment, the person can no longer spread the disease to others."

"Second, please contact your family health care provider or Southwestern Public Health to get your child's routine vaccinations up to date."

"The vaccine is free, and we have openings in our clinics throughout the month of March," adds Tran.

Ottawa residents requiring a public health vaccination clinic appointment can book online at www.swpublichealth.ca/booking.