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Every year, rare human infections with zoonotic influenza viruses usually spread in birds and pigs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported the first two human infections with swine flu viruses in 2023.
These infections were caused by two different types of flu viruses that generally spread among pigs, and they occurred in two people who attended various agricultural fairs in Michigan and had exposure to pigs.
These influenza A(H1N2)v virus infections were thoroughly investigated to ensure that such viruses are not spreading in people and to limit further exposure of people to infected animals if infected animals are identified.
As of August 4, 2023, the CDC recommends people take precautions to prevent the spread of swine influenza viruses to people and has guidance for people exhibiting pigs at fairs, people attending fairs, and fair organizers.
Since 2005, over 500 swine influenza infections have been identified in the U.S.
Unlike, avian influenza (Bird Flu), which has recently spread among birds, mammals, and humans, there are no approved swine flu vaccines.
Furthermore, the CDC says the annual 'flu shot' does not prevent swine influenza infections in people.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently reported the number of air travelers passing through airport security has returned to pre-pandemic levels in July and early August 2023.
About 2.4 million people are being screened by TSA security each day.
And according to new data from the TSA, screening can be measured in minutes if you are a TSA PreCheck® member.
During July 2023, about 89% of air passengers waited less than 5 minutes to be processed by TSA PreCheck.
TSA PreCheck is a Trusted Traveler Program offering expedited security screening services at 200 airports in the U.S. To learn more about TSA PreCheck, visit the TSA PreCheck page or the TSA PreCheck® FAQ webpage.
Each summer, influenza viruses are detected in both the northern and southern hemispheres. What happens in one hemisphere does not necessarily predict what will happen in the other because influenza viruses evolve and impact populations differently.
While the exact timing and duration of any flu season varies by country, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported most detections in late July 2023 are moderate.
The WHO recently published Influenza Update N° 450, indicating some countries in the southern hemisphere reported changes in influenza detections in recent weeks, while others seemed to have already peaked.
And Australia's Department of Health and Aged Care published report No. 8, which stated insufficient information to assess the 2023 influenza season's potential severity comprehensively.
The WHO and the U.S. CDC suggest international travelers speak with a healthcare provider about flu shot options before visiting countries reporting influenza outbreaks in August 2023.
As of August 5, 2023, most health clinics and community pharmacies in the U.S. offer various flu shots targeting 2023-2024 influenza viruses.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported this week the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently confirmed ten new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1).
As of August 2, 2023, there are now 46 cases reported so far this year. There were 146 cases in 2022.
Additionally, the DRC reported four new cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).
There are now 61 cases so far this year and 367 cases reported in 2022.
In response to this polio outbreak, the U.S. CDC included the DRC in its Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Global Polio Travel Health Notice.
The CDC said on July 28, 2023, adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of an IPV polio vaccine before traveling to any of these 30 destinations.
In the U.S., IPV vaccinations are offered by travel pharmacies.
In the U.S., poliovirus is often detected in wastewater surveillance systems.
Separately, the GPEI published the 6th Transition Independent Monitoring Board report in July 2023, which evaluates the progress and challenges of transferring the responsibility of polio immunization and response efforts to national governments.
The report includes a series of recommendations to strengthen the process at the global, regional, and country levels.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) latest multi-country cholera outbreak situation (#5) says that Based on the large number of outbreaks and their geographic expansion, WHO continues to assess the risk at the global level as very high.
As of August 4, 2023, twenty-five countries have reported cholera outbreaks since the beginning of 2023.
India became the 25th country on May 15, 2023.
The WHO African Region remains the most affected region, with 14 countries reporting cholera cases this year.
In the Region of the Americas, Haiti reported 54.826 cholera cases last year.
The overall capacity to respond to multiple and simultaneous outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV).
Since the start of 2023 and as of July 24, 2023, a total of 49.9 million OCV doses have been requested, of which 19.3 million (39%) have been approved for 11 countries. The available (not yet allocated) global OCV stockpile was 2.7 million doses.
In the current outbreak context, only one-dose courses have been validated and implemented in these reactive campaigns. Doses for preventive campaigns cannot be supplied due to the low global stockpile, says the WHO.
In the U.S., the CDC recommends that adults traveling to areas with active cholera transmission get vaccinated with a newly licensed cholera vaccine, Bavarian Nordic's Vaxchora®.
This OCV is indicated for active immunization against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 in adults.
According to Vaxchora's manufacturers, the vaccine has limited availability in 2023.
Another vaccine. Valneva SE's Dukoral® is administered with a buffer solution that, for adults, requires 150 ml of clean water. Dukoral can be given to all individuals over the age of 2 years.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported the 166th influenza-associated pediatric death for the 2022-2023 flu season.
As of August 4, 2023, the CDC reported two additional influenza-associated pediatric deaths during week #30. Both deaths were associated with influenza A(H1N1) viruses.
Last flu season, there were only 47 flu-related pediatric deaths confirmed.
The CDC says the current flu shots offer protection against this type of influenza. For most persons, including children, who only one dose of an approved influenza vaccine is needed for the season.
Furthermore, vaccination should ideally be offered during September or October in the U.S.
And flu season in the Southern Hemisphere usually occurs between April and September.
Moreover, vaccination should continue throughout each flu season as long as influenza viruses are circulating.
Recent news indicates there will be plenty of flu shots available this season.
As of early August, about 100 million vaccines have already been distributed for the 2023-2024 flu season. Last season, the CDC reported that about 173.37 million flu shots were distributed in the U.S.
Various flu shots are available at health clinics and community pharmacies in the U.S.
