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Scientists recently announced they used genomics to reveal distinct sexual networks for syphilis transmission in England.

On September 15, 2023, The Lancet Microbe published a study by researchers with the UK Health Security Agency and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which revealed infectious syphilis diagnoses tripled since 2010.

In England, new diagnoses of early syphilis increased from 3,011 in 2012 to 8,011 in 2019.

About 50% of the cases were in the greater London area.

By comparing the bacterial genomes from different individuals, the researchers could identify single-letter changes in the DNA – known as single nucleotide polymorphisms – to distinguish one bacterium strain or sublineage of T. pallidum from another.

They show distinct transmission chains between individuals and significant resistance to a commonly prescribed class of antibiotics in England.

These health officials believe the increase in syphilis cases reflects increased sexually transmitted disease testing and transmission.

Dr. Ana Cehovin, Senior Research Manager of Infectious Disease at Wellcome, commented in a press release, "Genomic surveillance is an invaluable tool for understanding how diseases are spreading, what populations are at increased risk, and which strains are developing drug resistance."

"Similarly, realizing the potential of genomic surveillance to identify and monitor drug resistance can help decision makers to implement necessary mitigation measures to control the spread of resistant strains, reducing the chance of disease escalation and protecting at-risk communities."

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by T. pallidum.

While the genomes of T. pallidum are highly conserved compared to other bacterial pathogens - as they tend to transmit more frequently than they mutate - subtle differences can still exist as it spread through a population.

By comparing how genetically related T. pallidum samples are between individuals with a syphilis diagnosis, scientists hope to pinpoint the source of syphilis outbreaks and construct networks that capture its spread.

As of September 18, 2023, there are no approved syphilis vaccines.

Additionally, about 20 mpox patients were confirmed during 2023 in a similar population subset in London. And various poliovirus samples were confirmed in London in 2022.

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Travel vaccines 2023

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Rabies vaccines 2023

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For the first time, seniors can prepare to defend themselves against co-circulating influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the betacoronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Vaccines can provide life-saving protection against all three viral respiratory diseases, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

With the fall season's increasing number of cases, now is an excellent time to take action, says the CDC's new Director, Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH.

As of September 19, 2023, the CDC recommends these approved vaccines for older adults, who are at a higher risk of severe illness from these diseases.

Furthermore, clinicians play a vital role in ensuring that older adults know they can now protect themselves by encouraging them to stay current on respiratory vaccinations.

During today's Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) webinar, CDC presenters will offer updates about the latest recommendations and clinical considerations for administering influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines to adults 60 years and older and discuss resources and communication strategies that may help facilitate older adult vaccination.

At 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET., this COCA Webinar Link (ID: 160 602 0154,  Passcode: 493303)  https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1606020154 will become active, as will today's related presentation - Preparing for the Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season: Recommendations for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines for Older Adults.

 

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Results from a recent real-world evidence (RWE) study across three consecutive flu seasons in the United States showed that vaccination with cell-based influenza vaccines resulted in lower test-confirmed influenza rates than traditional egg-based vaccines. 

This retrospective test-negative designed study showed the clinical value of cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVc) compared with traditional egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVe) in preventing outpatient test-confirmed influenza. 

The analysis found that QIVc showed a clinical benefit compared to QIVe in the prevention of test-confirmed influenza in the outpatient care setting, with estimated relative vaccine effectiveness (rVEs) (95% CI) of 14.8% (7 – 22) in 2017–-18, 12.5% (4.7 – 19.6) in 2018-–19 and 10% (2.7 – 16.7) in 2019–-20.

"Vaccines remain one of our greatest tools for fighting influenza, a disease that continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide," commented Raja Rajaram, Head of Global Medical Strategy, CSL Seqirus, in a press release on September 19, 2023.

"At CSL Seqirus, we are committed to advancing the science of influenza prevention, and these studies show the benefits of innovative vaccine technologies, including cell-based and adjuvanted influenza vaccine technology, on reducing the burden of flu."

The RWE study was conducted over three consecutive influenza seasons characterized by different circulating influenza viruses and degrees of egg adaptation and aligned with previously published QIVc relative effectiveness studies for the same seasons.

This review of real-world data allows for evaluating trends in the effectiveness of QIVc over time and the context of season-over-season changes, given the variability of influenza viruses.

This data complements randomized controlled trial research, assessing influenza vaccine effectiveness continually and providing an ever-growing data set on real-world outcomes.

Influenza is a contagious seasonal respiratory disease that may cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in some people. Influenza can lead to clinical symptoms varying from mild to moderate respiratory illness to severe complications, hospitalization, and, in some cases, death, says the U.S. CDC.

Study: Stein AN et al. Superior Effectiveness of Cell-Based Versus Egg-Based Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccines Against Outpatient Test-Confirmed Influenza Over Three Consecutive Seasons in the U.S. Presented at ESWI 2023.

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South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) today announced that In the past weeks (week 35 up until week 36, 09/09/2023), 16 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were detected from four of the eight provinces where Measles outbreaks have been confirmed.

Gauteng province reported most cases (11), Limpopo reported one, Kwa-Zulu Natal reported two, and Mpumalanga reported two cases as of September 14, 2023.

Since week 34, 17 measles cases have been from Gauteng province.

The criteria for declaring the measles outbreak over was met in the Northern Cape province in week 15, the North West province in week 24, and the Free State province in week 25.

Globally, several countries continue reporting measles outbreaks in 2023, led by India.

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As the global mpox outbreak continues impacting people in 2023, a leader in mRNA vaccines intends to enter the market with an innovative vaccine.

This announcement is essential since numerous vaccine breakthrough cases related to currently approved mpox vaccines have been reported worldwide in 2023.

BioNTech SE today announced a strategic partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance the development of BNT166 for the prevention of mpox.

CEPI will provide up to $90 million to support the development of mRNA-based vaccine candidates.

BNT166 is part of BioNTech's efforts to develop novel prophylactic vaccines for various infectious diseases with a high medical need.

BioNTech aims to develop a prophylactic mRNA-based mpox vaccine with a favorable safety profile that can be manufactured at scale.

"The 100 Days Mission aims to accelerate the development of a vaccine against a novel virus with pandemic potential to just 100 days. BioNTech's world-class scientists, technology, and facilities can make a vital contribution. Achieving this mission and potentially preventing the next pandemic will require gathering a wealth of knowledge and data about the performance of the latest vaccine platforms, like mRNA, which can enable rapid responses to emerging infectious threats across a broad range of viruses," commented Richard Hatchett, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of CEPI in a press release on September 18, 2023.

The BNT166 vaccine candidates encode surface antigens expressed in the monkeypox virus's two infectious forms to efficiently fight virus replication and infectivity.

The phase 1/2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of two mRNA-based multivalent vaccine candidates for active immunization against mpox.

This study will enroll participants with and without prior known or suspected smallpox vaccination history.

Since eradicating smallpox in 1980, the global population-level immunity against the Orthopoxvirus viral family, including mpox, has been waning. 

Mpox is a vaccine-preventable, sexually transmitted disease caused by a member of the Orthopoxvirus viral family, an infectious disease that can lead to severe, life-threatening complications.

BioNTech and CEPI also confirmed today that they are committed to enabling equitable access to the outputs of this partnership. Any licensed vaccines developed due to this strategic partnership are expected to be available at affordable prices in low- and middle-income countries.

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Western Australians were recently told to be alert following a confirmed measles case in a traveler from Bali.

Infected while overseas, the person received care at a Perth metropolitan hospital and has spent time in the Perth and Midwest regions while infectious.

People who have visited an exposure location and times listed here should be vigilant for symptoms 18 days after exposure.

As of September 13, 2023, the Government of Western Australia's Health Department's Acting Director of Communicable Diseases, Dr. Jelena Maticevic, said public health staff contacted people exposed and where they are known.

"While there is no ongoing risk of measles at those locations, anyone who has visited one of the exposure locations at the same time as the case should monitor for symptoms and see a doctor if symptoms develop," Dr Maticevic added.

Western Australia reported its first measles cases in three years on April 20, 2023.

Due to high vaccination coverage, measles has been eliminated from Australia for around 25 years. Small outbreaks can occur, sparked by residents or visitors who get infected while overseas.

During September 2023, measles outbreaks continued to be reported in various countries, including the United States.

For example, India has confirmed 46,231 measles cases over the past year.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on September 8, 2023, a total of 22 measles cases were reported by 14 jurisdictions this year.

The CDC recommends international travelers speak with a healthcare provider about vaccination options before visiting measles-outbreak countries.

According to Statista, Western Australia is a popular place to visit.

In 2022, around 4.3 million domestic overnight visitors traveled to Perth, Australia. That same year, over 15 million domestic tourists went to Perth for the day.

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Nipah Virus Vaccine

Nipah Virus Vaccine Candidates February 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Nipah virus (NiV) vaccine candidates include live-attenuated and replication-defective recombinant platforms based on poxviruses, VSV, adenovirus, measles, rabies, and virus-like particles, as well as subunit vaccines. As of February 7, 2026, no vaccine or treatment for the NiV has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). While no NiV vaccine is licensed or approved, candidates are in Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical trials, and others are in preclinical development. The diversity of platforms reflects ongoing global efforts to address this high-priority pathogen.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 32, Number 1—January 2026, Online Report, highlights key findings from Hendra@30 and reflects on 4 elements that have advanced henipavirus research and development and medical countermeasures. Previously, a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and The Pirbright Institute was launched in 2024 to support the development of vaccines against henipaviruses, which include the Nipah virus.

Nipah Virus Vaccine Candidates

In December 2025, the University of Oxford announced the world's first Phase II clinical trial of a Nipah virus vaccine candidate, the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine. Developed by scientists at the University of Oxford's Pandemic Sciences Institute, the first-in-human trials of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine started in January 2024 in Oxford, England.

The study published in The Lancet in December 2025 found that the Nipah virus vaccine (HeV-sG-V) candidate was safe and immunogenic in a phase 1, single-centre, randomised, observer-blind, placebo-controlled study.

On March 30, 2025, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited confirmed its work with Houston Methodist Research Institute to develop a self-amplifying mRNA Nipah vaccine candidate. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations provides up to $13.38 million in funding for this self-amplifying mRNA vaccine candidate.

On May 30, 2024, Auro Vaccines LLC published the Phase 1 study results for its Nipah Virus vaccine candidate, Hev-Sg-Vults. The induction of antibodies within one month of vaccination, along with the persistence afforded by subsequent doses, suggests that the vaccine candidate has the potential to control outbreaks and prevent infections.

As of January 11, 2024, the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine is being developed by researchers at the University of Pandemic Sciences Institute. Fifty-one people aged 18 to 55 will participate in the first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial, which is being led by the Oxford Vaccine Group within the Department for Paediatrics (Miss Ella Morey, [email protected]) and funded by the CEPI. The study (ISRCTN87634044) will run over the next 18 months, with further trials expected to follow in a Nipah-affected country. NPJ reported in 2022 that ChAdOthe x1 NiV vaccine protects against lethal Nipah Bangl infection in African green monkeys. Vaccinated animals showed no signs of disease and were unable to detect infectious viruses in tissues or on any swab except one. Limited antibodies against the fusion protein or nucleoprotein antigen were observed 42 days post-challenge, suggesting that vaccination induced a robust protective immune response that prevented extensive viral replication. In 2019, a study reported that a single-dose ChAdOx1-vectored vaccine protects Syrian hamsters against Nipah virus in Bangladesh and Malaysia, as does Moderna's mRNA-1215 Nipah virus vaccine. The phase 1 clinical trial was updated in 2023.

Public Health Vaccines LLC sponsors PHV02, a live, attenuated, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector vaccine candidate expressing the Nipah virus (Bangladesh strain) and the Ebola virus glycoprotein. The VSV-NiVG vaccine offers broad protection against NiV disease. It affords protection after a single injection against both homologous and heterologous challenges, using the licensed VSV-EBOV vector as a backbone. The phase 1 clinical trial was last updated on March 14, 2023.

The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh also conducts studies to better understand the body's response to the virus and to support vaccine development. CEPI will provide up to $980,000 to support the research.

PhylexBioSciences's second-generation nanoparticle mRNA vaccine technology directly applies to developing a Nipah virus vaccine. The mRNA vaccine candidate encodes for a nanoparticle displaying 60 copies of the antigen based on the head domain of the G protein of the Nipah virus. On September 22, 2023, Phylex published a proof-of-principle study directly applicable to the development of a Nipah virus vaccine.

Nipah Outbreaks

Nipah is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted between animals and people by fruit bats, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nipah and henipavirus diseases are considered priority pathogens by the World Health Organization because of their potential to cause public health emergencies.

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China has now classified mpox as a Class B infectious disease as cases surged in August 2023.

The South China Morning Post reported on September 15, 2023, that The Class B category also includes diseases such as COVID-19, HIV/Aids, dengue, and rabies.

The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China announced the change would take effect next week with upgraded prevention and control measures against mpox spreading in the local population.

Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) website indicates there were 501 confirmed mpox cases across 25 provinces in August 2023. That compared with 491 cases in July and 106 in June.

The CCDC website says Mpox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and is characterized by fever, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus was first isolated from a specimen of a suspected smallpox patient from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.

Suspected and confirmed cases of mpox should be promptly transported to medical institutions for isolation and treatment. If their clinical symptoms improve significantly and the lesions have scabbed, they can opt to stay at home in China until the scabs fall. 

During home quarantine, patients should reside in a single room and avoid immediate contact with family members, says the CCDC.

The website says there is no vaccine available on the Chinese mainland to prevent mpox as of September 2023.

As of September 2023, over 1.2 million (1st and 2nd) JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccine doses had been administered in the U.S.

Mpox outbreaks in 2023 include countries in Africa, the Americas, France, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan. And in cities such as Chicago, Denver, London, and New York City.

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