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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 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced it had detected a confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox, in which the person who resides in the North East of England had no reported travel history and no reported link with previously reported mpox cases in the UK.
England has reported 11 mpox cases this year.
As of April 7, 2025, the UKHSA says the mpox risk to the UK population remains low, as clade Ia and Ib mpox are no longer classified as a high-consequence infectious disease.
To date, all previous cases in the UK have either been linked to someone who has traveled to an affected country or been linked to someone who has.
UKHSA Mpox Incident Director Dr Gillian Armstrong commented in a media release, "The risk to the UK population from mpox remains low."
"The majority of people who have presented with symptoms report close physical contact, including massages or sex, before developing symptoms."
"While mpox infection is mild for many, it can be severe for some, and UKHSA is committed to preventing its spread within the UK."
Currently, the UK government has authorized an approved mpox vaccine known as IMVAMUNE® (JYNNEOS®, MVA-BN®).
Whether you have travelled or not, it is essential to remain alert to the risks. Anyone who thinks they may have mpox should contact NHS 111 for advice on what to do, says the UKHSA.
Recently, the U.S. CDC updated its Level 2 Travel Health Advisory, saying, 'There is ongoing person-to-person transmission of mpox in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.'
'Person-to-person transmission has occurred through various means during this outbreak.'
About 15 million people visited central Africa last year, many traveling from the U.S. and the UK.
The CDC, like the UK, recommends mpox vaccination for at-risk individuals.
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.
The Department of Mayotte, an overseas department of France, recently announced that, due to the first indigenous (local) case of chikungunya on the island, health authorities are activating level 2A of the ORSEC (emergency) plan.
This decision will increase surveillance of the epidemiological situation and measures to prevent more active viral (virus) circulation by mosquitoes in the territory.
As of April 7, 2025, Mayotte has reported four chikungunya cases this year.
As a reminder, about 900 miles away, Reunion Island has been facing a chikungunya epidemic, with 13,594 cases, including two related fatalities, since August 2024.
Mayotte's Regional Health Agency says all travelers to and from Reunion Island should protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Mayotte is located between Africa's east coast and Madagascar, one of France's 18 regions.
To protect people on Reunion, the local government has started vaccinating 40,000 residents with a U.S. FDA-approved vaccine.
Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® Chikungunya vaccine is commercially available in the U.S. and recommended for travelers to endemic areas in 2025.
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.'
During the measles outbreak of 2025, a second measles-related fatality was confirmed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
This school-aged child was hospitalized in Lubbock, Texas, was not vaccinated, had no reported underlying conditions, and passed away last week.
According to the child’s doctors, the condition was described as measles pulmonary failure.
As of April 7, 2025, 489 measles cases have been confirmed in Texas's South Plains and Panhandle regions this year.
DSHS’s interactive dashboard and additional information about the outbreak can be found on the News & Alerts page.
Globally, the U.S. CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued various measles outbreak advisories in 2025. The WHO says the 'source of this measles outbreak is unknown.'
The WHO and the CDC disclosed that genotype D8 and B3 sequences have been detected in 2025.
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.
When visiting areas in central Asia, travelers may become ill with fevers and headaches, occasionally leading to acute encephalitis. According to local health ministries, the cause could be Nipah virus (NiV).
It is estimated that about 40% of people with NiV may die.
According to the UK Travel Health Pro on April 4, 2025, most human infections result from direct contact with animals, particularly pigs and bats, in a few Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
For example, Bangladesh has already reported three cases of NiV in people this year.
In the Indian state of Kerala, the Health Department has started awareness activities ahead of the bat breeding season in five districts considered to be hotspots for the zoonotic infection: Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, and Ernakulam.
In 2023, Kerala experienced multiple Nipah outbreaks. Three of these outbreaks were contained to the Kozhikode district.
However, the causes of these NiV outbreaks remain unclear.
While these outbreaks are concerning, the UK says the 'risk of NiV infection for tourists to endemic countries is currently very low, if the following precautions are taken.'
Unfortunately, NiV preventive vaccines are unavailable in 2025.
The World Health Organization says Nipah vaccine candidates include live-attenuated and replication-defective recombinant vaccine platforms based on poxviruses, VSV, adenovirus, measles, rabies, and virus-like particles and subunit vaccines.
As of April 6, 2025, neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the European Medicines Agency has authorized a vaccine or treatment for Nipah, but clinical trials are ongoing.
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:
- Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas.
- New Orleans, La.
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Lafayette, La.
- El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
- Chicago, Ill.
- Washington, D.C. (Hagerstown, Md.)
- Houston, Texas.
- Knoxville, Tenn.
- 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.
