Coronavirus Breaking News

Mono County Public Health has confirmed a third fatality due to Hantavirus in the Town of Mammoth Lakes, a favorite outdoor destination for vacationers in Northeast California.

As of April 3, 2025, Mono County has recorded 27 cases since it was first reported here in 1993, the most in California. Twenty-one of these infections affected county residents, and six occurred among visitors who were infected in Mono. In 

As of 2022, 864 cases of Hantavirus disease were reported in the United States.

According to the U.S. CDC, Hantavirus is a serious and often fatal illness contracted through infected deer mouse droppings, urine, or saliva. It most commonly occurs in the late spring or summer.

“A third case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (in 2025), each of which has been fatal, is tragic and alarming,” said Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer, in a press release.

“We don’t have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity. We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes.

We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings.

We’ve been aware of this suspected case for weeks, but obtaining testing has taken time. The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year.

We’ve gone about a month without additional suspect cases, but remain concerned about the increased activity.

We believe deer mouse numbers are high this year in Mammoth (Eastern Sierra). An increase in indoor mice elevates the risk of Hantavirus exposure.

As far as we know, none of these deceased individuals engaged in activities typically associated with exposure, such as cleaning out poorly ventilated indoor areas or outbuildings with a lot of mouse waste. Instead, these folks may have been exposed during normal daily activities in the home or the workplace.

Many of us encounter deer mice daily, and there is some risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste,” stated Dr. Boo.

Without a preventive vaccine available in 2025, the county says to avoid eating food that may have been contaminated by rodents and always wash your hands thoroughly after any potential exposure.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently updated its Dengue fever outbreak data dashboard, highlighting the continued surge of cases in 2025.

Within the Americas, the Federative Republic of Brazil's state of São Paulo is on track to exceed last year's record numbers.

As of April 8, 2025, São Paulo has reported approximately 522,000 dengue cases and 390 related fatalities, with an additional 475 deaths currently under investigation by the health ministry.

For all of 2024, over 9.6 million dengue cases and 5,441 related fatalities were reported throughout Brazil.

While Dengue has become endemic in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, most cases in the United States are travel-related.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on April 2, 2025, that 1,346 travel-related Dengue cases and one local case have been reported in 30 jurisdictions this year.

Most of these cases were identified in southern Florida.

With over 6 million people visiting Brazil in 2024, and many international travelers returning to the U.S., identifying Dengue infections has become a challenge.

To offer updated guidance on Dengue testing, the CDC recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to provide additional information to healthcare providers about the ongoing risk of dengue virus infections and updates to testing recommendations in the United States.

The CDC urges healthcare providers to continue taking steps to prevent, detect, diagnose, and respond to Dengue, as described in the June 2024 HAN Health Advisory (CDCHAN-00511).

Currently, the CDC does not recommend any Dengue vaccine in the U.S. However, second-generation Dengue vaccines are available in about 40 countries.

Two powerful earthquakes recently struck the central part of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar's Sagaing Region near Mandalay. The full scale of damage, deaths, and injuries has not yet been ascertained.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Public Health Situation Analysis, released on April 3, 2025, says preliminary assessments indicate high casualties and trauma-related injuries, with an urgent need for emergency care. 

On April 2, 2025, the State Administration Council (SAC) reported that 3,003 people had died and 4,515 had been injured in the earthquake.

In the earthquake-affected areas, with limited access to safe water and worsening sanitation and hygiene conditions, the WHO says the risks for Acute Waterborne (AWD) - cholera outbreaks are assessed as very high. 

Since July 2024, AWD and cholera cases have surged in at least nine states, including Ayeyarwady, Bago, and Mandalay.

Mandalay, which faced a cholera outbreak in October 2024, remains at high risk for further outbreaks due to infrastructure damage and overcrowded shelters, significantly increasing the likelihood of cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks.

From June 22, 2024, to March 23, 2025, 12,195 AWD cases (not all confirmed as cholera) were reported, along with three deaths.

A vaccination campaign using oral cholera vaccine (OCV) has been conducted in Yangon, Mon, and Mandalay, providing 2.4 million doses.

As of April 7, 2025, the U.S. CDC says, 'OCV vaccination may be considered for children and adults traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.'

In the United States, OCVs such as DUKORAL® are available at travel clinics and pharmacies.

The WHO wrote, 'These deteriorating conditions, combined with overcrowded temporary shelters and reduced sanitation services, significantly increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks in the affected areas.'

According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that has caused significant increases in severe flu-like illness across the globe.

For example, the WHO's Western Pacific Region continues to face a high burden of Dengue-like Illnesses in the Republic of Fiji, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean.

Dengue Situation Update #720, published on April 3, 2025, shows that Fiji has reported over 800 cases of Dengue each of the last two weeks. This data indicates a significant increase above the five-year median of 300 monthly cases in the early part of most years.

This year's Dengue outbreak may upset vacationers planning to visit this unique destination in 2025. Fiji visitors reached a new high of over 900,000 in 2024, an increase of 5.7% compared to last year.

To forewarn international visitors in 2025, the U.S. CDC includes Fiji in its reissued Global Dengue Travel Health Advisory, which says people should avoid being bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito.

Since the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization shared recommendations for use of the QDENGA® vaccine in October 2023, about 40 countries have authorized its use. However, the United States has yet to authorize this second-generation Dengue vaccine.

While the U.S. CDC reports a continued decrease in influenza cases during the tail end of the 2024-2025 flu season, several cities are treating patients impacted by this respiratory disease.

According to the Wlagreens Flu Index®, the first week to show an increase in flu activity was the week ending on January 18, 2025.

Currently, the top ten cities treating people for the flu are:

1. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas.
2. New Orleans, La.
3. Baton Rouge, La.
4. Lafayette, La.
5. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
6. Chicago, Ill.
7. Washington, D.C. (Hagerstown, Md.)
8. Houston, Texas.
9. Knoxville, Tenn.
10. Honolulu, Hawaii.

For 11 years, the Walgreens Flu Index has provided an early and accurate view of disease trends. The Index offers detailed insights into flu activity across different markets.

This Index is based on retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza at Walgreens locations nationwide. It is designed not to indicate the overall levels or severity of flu activity, but rather to highlight which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of influenza.

As of April 6, 2025, the CDC recommends flu shots for people at risk for this severe disease, especially for children. Unfortunately, there have been 168 influenza-associated deaths this flu season.

Flu shots remain available at most pharmacies throughout the United States.

In Réunion Island, a French department located in the Indian Ocean, an unexpected chikungunya outbreak has overwhelmed the local population.

Since August 2024, about 20,242 chikungunya cases and two related fatalities have been confirmed across the island.

As of April 2, 2025, 14 newborns have been hospitalized following infection with the chikungunya virus. The disease can have serious, even fatal, consequences for newborns and infants.

Due to the acceleration in the number of cases and the spread of outbreaks to almost the entire territory in 2025, the first phase of the free chikungunya vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 7, 2025. It will be carried out based on a medical prescription by a healthcare provider.

Accoring to ARS Réunion's media statement today, per the recommendations of the High Authority for Health and by decision of the health authorities, this first phase of the IXCHIQ® vaccination campaign primarily targets people aged 65 and over with comorbidities or chronic illnesses and who have not already contracted chikungunya.

The first 40,000 doses of Valneva's single-dose IXCHIQ® vaccine will not be available for pregnant women. Furthermore, this live attenuated vaccine is contraindicated in immunocompromised individuals. 

Since 2023, IXCHIQ® has been approved by the U.S. FDA to treat chikungunya virus infections in adults at increased risk of exposure to the mosquito-transmitted disease. This indication now includes adolescents.

In March 2025, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions Travel Health Advisory regarding Réunion's situation. The CDC wrote, ' Vaccination against chikungunya is recommended for people traveling to a destination with a current chikungunya outbreak.'

As of April 4, 2025, IXCHIQ is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in various countries, including the United States.

With warm Caribbean waters and beautiful beaches, The Bahamas is a tourist favorite in 2025. Last year, over 11 million people visited the various islands in The Bahamas.

To ensure visitors departing from the United States are appropriately forewarned about risks 60 miles east of Florida, the State Department recently updated its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.

As of March 31, 2025, this Advisory stated that crime can occur anywhere in The Bahamas, with frequent reports in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Additionally, visitors should stay alert in the "Over the Hill" area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street.

And stay alert in vacation rental properties, especially where private security is not present.

Furthermore, boating is not well-regulated, as sexual assaults, injuries, and deaths have occurred. Moreover, never swim alone and beware of jet skis or other watercraft operating close to shore. 

Due to these risks, U.S. government employees are prohibited from using jet skis and personal watercraft rented from independent operators on New Providence and the Paradise Islands.

And be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in public restrooms, as sexual assaults have occurred on and near downtown Nassau beaches.

For local assistance, the U.S. Embassy Nassau is located at 42 Queen Street, Nassau, The Bahamas. You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital messages from the Embassy and make locating you in an emergency easier.

From a health risk perspective, the U.S. CDC recommends various routine and travel vaccinations before visiting the Bahamas in 2025. Unlike its Caribbean neighbors, no mosquito-transmitted, vaccine-preventable Chikungunya or Dengue cases were reported in 2025 or 2024.

Travel vaccines are offered at various clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.