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The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) today announced new advice against all travel within 20km of the Arab Republic of Egypt-Libya border, except for El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel.

On January 8, 2025, the U.K. confirmed travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.

Previously, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Advisory on October 15, 2024, indicating visiting Egypt was a Level 3, Reconsider Travel status due to the U.S. Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens.

And some areas in Egypt have increased risk, such as:

The Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula,

The Western Desert,

Egyptian border areas.

The State Department advised keeping travel documents up to date and easily accessible and making contingency plans to leave the country without U.S. government assistance.

If you visit Egypt in 2025, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts and make locating you in an emergency easier.=

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC advises awareness of current health issues in Egypt, such as Variant Poliovirus Type 2.

The WHO’s International Travel and Health recommends that all travelers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than four weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine within one to twelve months of travel.

In the U.S., polio vaccinations are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.

Vaccine Treats:

Polio

Image:

Image Caption:

UK FCDO 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Cairo

Vaccine:

nOPV2 Polio Vaccine

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Micron Biomedical today announced the company secured a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that brings total grant funding from the organization to $43 million.

As of January 7, 2025, the Gates grant will support Micron’s efforts in increasing access to a measles-rubella vaccine and activities to support a phase 2 clinical trial in infants.

Micron’s technology has been recognized for its potential to have a positive global impact and be game-changing in hard-to-reach settings, such as in Africa. Micron's “peel-and-stick” microarray technology is applied to the skin and allows for the self-administration of pharmaceuticals (vaccines) by pressing a button.

A study published in The Lancet on May 11, 2024, involving Micron’s needle-free microarray technology, was the first to demonstrate the safety, immunogenicity, and acceptability of a vaccine delivered to children via any needle-free microarray technology. The research involved the leading commercially available MR vaccine.

Micron Biomedical is a clinical-stage life science company on a rapid path to commercializing its proprietary dissolvable, microarray technology.

Vaccine Treats:

Measles

Image:

Image Caption:

Micron Biomedical, Inc. 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Atlanta

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine Clinical Trials, Indication, News

ModeX Therapeutics's MDX2201, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccine candidate, is based on ModeX's ferritin nanoparticle vaccine platform, which can express as many as 24 copies of a recombinant antigen on its surface to enhance the presentation of key components of the virus and stimulate durable protective immunity. MDX2201 presents antigens from four viral proteins involved in viral entry into host cells. These include a recombinant antigen designed from the proteins gH, gL, and gp42 and an antigen derived from gp350. By using ModeX's multi-targeted approach, this combination inhibits infection in two cell types, B and epithelial cells, which contrasts with efforts previously focused on gp350 alone.

This EBV vaccine technology was the subject of preclinical data published in May 2022 in Science Translational Medicine.

ModeX, an OPKO Health company, is based in Weston, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.modextx.com. OPKO (NASDAQ: OPK) is a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its discovery, development, and commercialization expertise and novel and proprietary technologies. For more information, please visit www.opko.com.

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine Indication

According to the U.S. CDC, EBV is a member of the herpes virus family and is one of the most common human viruses. Most people are infected with EBV at some point during their lives. Since over 90% of adults have been infected with EBV, most adults will show antibodies to EBV. The presence of antibodies to both VCA and EBNA suggests past infection. EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis, also called mono, and is associated with other illnesses, including some specific types of cancer and multiple sclerosis. A sample of the patient's blood is required to perform a monospot test. There are currently no U.S. FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for EBV or herpes infections.

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine News

January 7, 2025 - "We are grateful to the participants and physicians who are actively engaged with Merck in our joint efforts to explore the potential of MDX2201 as a novel vaccine against EBV," said Elias Zerhouni, M.D., President and Vice Chairman of OPKO.

March 8, 2023 - OPKO Health, Inc. announced that ModeX Therapeutics, Inc., an OPKO Health company, entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck for the development of MDX-2201, ModeX's preclinical nanoparticle vaccine candidate targeting EBV.

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine Clinical Trials

A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Escalation Trial to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of V350A and V350B in Healthy Participants.

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Manufacturer:

ModeX Therapeutics

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Vaccine:

MDX2201 Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine

VIS:

PDF

Generic:

MDX2201

Drug Class:

vaccine

Clinical Trial Phase I:

A Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of V350A and V350B in Healthy Participants (V350-001).

Condition:

Epstein-Barr Virus

Last Reviewed:

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 08:45

Status:

Candidate

Manufacturer Country ID:

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ModeX Therapeutics Inc. today announced the dosing of the first participant in the Phase I clinical trial of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccine candidate, MDX2201.

The U.S. CDC says EBV, a member of the herpes virus family (human herpesvirus 4), is one of the most common human viruses. Most people (90%) are infected with EBV at some point during their lives. EBV infection can affect a person's brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

As of January 8, 2025, there are no U.S. FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for EBV or herpes infections.

This EBV vaccine is based on ModeX’s ferritin nanoparticle platform. Its surface can express as many as 24 copies of a recombinant antigen, enhancing the presentation of key virus components and stimulating durable protective immunity.

MDX2201 presents antigens from four viral proteins involved in viral entry into host cells. These include a recombinant antigen designed from the proteins gH, gL, and gp42 and an antigen derived from gp350.

This combination, using ModeX’s multi-targeted approach, inhibits infection in two cell types: B and epithelial cells. This contrasts with efforts previously focused on gp350 alone.

“EBV infection can cause serious illness and pose long-term risks of cancer and autoimmunity..... Our nanoparticle vaccine aims to stimulate protective immunity in patients and prevent these diseases,” said Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ModeX and Chief Innovation Officer of OPKO, in a press release on January 7, 2025.

This study's (V350-001) estimated completion date is November 18, 2026.

MDX2201 is being developed in collaboration with Merck.

Vaccine Treats:

Epstein Barr Virus

Image:

Image Caption:

ModeX Therapeutics Inc. 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Boston

Vaccine:

BNT163 Herpes Vaccine

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Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) today announced it awarded Clarametyx Biosciences $2.6 million to develop an anti-biofilm vaccine.

Clarametyx's CMTX-301 is a pathogen-agnostic vaccine candidate designed to prevent bacterial biofilm formation and allow the body's immune response to clear infections without antibiotics.

Biofilms enable bacteria to infect medical devices and human tissues, shielding them from natural clearance mechanisms. Bacterial biofilms are increasingly recognized to be involved in clinical infections in many body systems, including the auditory, cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary, reproductive, respiratory, and urinary systems.

"CARB-X is proud to continue supporting Clarametyx Biosciences in work to combat biofilm-associated infections, a major challenge in the fight against antibiotic resistance," said Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X, in a press release on January 7, 2025.

"With their novel anti-biofilm vaccine, CMTX-301, Clarametyx is taking an innovative approach that could transform how we prevent and treat these difficult-to-address infections. We look forward to seeing the impact of this program as it advances through clinical development."

CARB-X provided an initial overview of Clarametyx's work on novel anti-biofilm technologies.

Vaccine Treats:

Bacteremia

Image:

Image Caption:

Clarametyx Biosciences 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Boston

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The Lunar New Year, commonly known as the Chinese New Year, is celebrated in various ways by different cultures worldwide.

This year, the year of the Snake, official celebrations begin on January 29, 2025. Numerous festivals are expected to attract many international visitors through mid-February.

However, travelers must be aware of unique health issues in every destination, even in different areas of the same country.

Lunar New Year is an important festival observed by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. Celebrations retain traditional customs such as feasts, gift exchanges, lantern lighting, and offers to ancestors.

For example, the Penn Museum winds into the Year of the Snake with its 44th annual CultureFest on January 25, 2025.

"Over the years, our collaboration has brought the richness of Asian heritage to diverse audiences, creating opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together," commented Holly Meng, President and CEO of the American Center for Asian Students, in a press release.

According to the U.K. Travel Health Pro reporting on January 6, 2025, when large gatherings occur, infectious diseases such as measles and respiratory infections can easily spread, quickly affecting large groups.

Additionally, the U.S. CDC says illnesses spread by mosquitoes, such as chikungunya, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis, are common throughout Asia and countries in the Pacific, so it is essential to prevent mosquito and insect bites.

The CDC suggests that anyone attending these celebrations speak with a travel vaccine expert before boarding an airplane.

Vaccine Treats:

Chikungunya

Image:

Image Caption:

Penn Museum 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Karen McClorey Hackett

Location Tags:

Philadelphia

Vaccine:

IXCHIQ Chikungunya Vaccine

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The Louisiana Department of Health today reported a patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Louisiana and the United States recently died.

Due to patient confidentiality and respect for the family, this will be the final update about the patient.

The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.

This report was not a case of H5N1 person-to-person spreading.

LDH’s extensive public health investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.

HAPI avian influenza (bird flu) is widespread globally and has been causing outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, mammals, and dairy cows for a few years. There have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2022.

As of January 7, 2025, the U.S. CDC says the current public health risk for H5N1 to the general public remains low. However, people who work with birds, poultry, or cows or have recreational exposure to them are at higher risk.

Furthermore, the best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses. Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings or bring sick wild animals into your home.

While one avian influenza vaccine has been approved for human use (Audenz™) by the U.S. FDA, and several vaccine candidates are in the U.S. stockpile, they are not CDC-authorized for use, nor are they commercially available in the U.S.

Vaccine Treats:

Avian Flu

Image:

Image Caption:

from Pixabay 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Baton Rouge

Vaccine:

Audenz Influenza A(H5N1) Vaccine

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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently announced that pertussis (whooping cough) cases are increasing throughout the state. It urged pregnant women and infant caregivers to receive tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccinations.

CDPH reported receiving reports of more than 2,000 patients, including 62 infants hospitalized during the last ten months of 2024. One of the hospitalized infants died from the pertussis infection.

This data represents about a 500% increase in cases than in 2023 when 400 pertussis cases were confirmed.

Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer stated in a press release on January 3, 2025, "Infants are particularly vulnerable (the bacterial disease), and that's why CDPH especially encourages people who are pregnant to receive the Tdap vaccine in their third trimester, which will pass along protective antibodies to the baby."

Throughout the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that six times as many pertussis cases were reported in 2024 compared to 2023.

Caused by Bordetella pertussis, people with whooping cough have severe coughing attacks that can last for months, according to the CDC. Infants too young for vaccination are at the most significant risk for hospitalization and death. Early signs of whooping cough are similar to common cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose and low-grade fever. Babies with whooping cough may have trouble breathing, turn blue, or stop breathing.

The CDC and CDPH recommend speaking with your doctor or pharmacist in 2025 about which vaccines are right for you and your family.

Vaccine Treats:

Pertussis

Image:

Image Caption:

from Pixabay 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Karen McClorey Hackett

Location Tags:

California

Vaccine:

Boostrix Pertussis Vaccine

Will Malaria Vaccines Defend the USA in 2025

Malaria Vaccines are approved for use in Africa not the USA

January 7, 2025

Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD

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As 2025 kicks off, many international travelers will visit the United Arab Emirates, and according to government agencies, their stays should be healthy and safe.

On January 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 2 Travel Advisory, Exercise Caution, saying residents and visitors generally find the UAE a safe and secure environment. Still, regional tensions have aggravated risks for U.S. citizens.

Visitors should also be aware that the UAE has strict rules on social behavior.

Previously, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions recommending caution for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators operating in the Middle East, including the UAE.

The State Department suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make locating you in an emergency easier. For local assistance, the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi is located at Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4.

From a health perspective, the U.K. and U.S. CDCs recommend updating travelers with vaccinations and boosters, including measles, mumps, and rubella. The UAE is included in the CDC's current Global Measles outbreak alert.

While there is no risk of yellow fever in the UAE, a vaccination certificate is required upon arrival at the airport.

In the U.S., yellow fever vaccinations are offered at travel pharmacies and clinics. And as of January 2025, several next-generation vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Vaccine Treats:

Yellow Fever

Image:

Image Caption:

US State Dept. 2025

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

United Arab Emirates

Vaccine:

YF-VAX Yellow Fever