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As the 2024-2025 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season expands in the United States, one approved vaccine shared some positive news. 

GSK plc today announced new data from a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a single dose of AREXVY RSV vaccine against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) over three full RSV seasons.

Published on October 8, 2024, a single dose of AREXVY's cumulative efficacy over three full RSV seasons was clinically meaningful at 62.9% against RSV-LRTD and 67.4% against severe RSV-LRTD compared to placebo.

In the third season, the vaccine’s efficacy was 48% against RSV-LRTD.

These results include efficacy against different RSV subtypes in older adults (70-79) and those with certain underlying medical conditions.

In a press release, GSK's chief scientific officer, Tony Wood, said, “We are excited by these new data, which show that a single dose of AREXVY could help protect millions of older adults at risk of RSV disease over three seasons to benefit public health."

"This is the only RSV vaccine with efficacy and safety data available through three full seasons."

As of October 2024, the U.S. FDA had approved three RSV vaccines and one monoclonal antibody therapy.

Recent experiences with the introduction of Chikungunya and Zika viruses to the United States could foretell what might occur with the Oropouche virus because all three arboviruses are maintained in an urban cycle between humans and arthropod vectors.

Both Chikungunya and zika viruses are transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes, which oviposit and develop in containers in and around homes. This makes persons more susceptible to mosquito exposure and, ultimately, infection.

In contrast, the primary Oropouche vector, the biting midge, is low-abundance in North America and primarily resides in tree holes in the southeast and midwestern U.S., says the U.S. CDC Emerging Infectious Disease, Volume 30, Number 11—November 2024.

As of October 7, 2024, local transmission of the Oropouche virus had not been reported in the United States, although 92 cases have been reported in travelers, primarily arriving from Cuba.

Cuba is in the midst of its peak rainy season, which is associated with increased vector abundance. This suggests that more travel-associated cases might be expected in the U.S., in particular, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. CDC wrote on October 1, 2024, that various factors are likely to affect the risk of the local spread of the virus, including the rate of introduction from travel-associated cases, the presence and distribution of the vectors and potential host reservoirs, and potential virus adaptation.

Should the virus infect wild bird populations in North America, it is possible that the Oropouche virus could become endemic, similar to the progression of the West Nile virus, says the CDC.

While Chikungunya has one approved vaccine and several Zika vaccine candidates are progressing in clinical research, Oropouche vaccine research is in its early stages in 2024.

According to the U.S. CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), only 21.3% of patients hospitalized for flu during the Southern Hemisphere flu season had received an influenza vaccine in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Published on October 3, 2024, this MMWR reported that the effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine was about 35%, which is a decrease from the 50% reported in 2023.

Among 3,848 influenza case patients, 18.3% had received a 2024 seasonal influenza vaccine.

The CDC wrote flu shot effectiveness might be similar in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, if similar A(H3N2) viruses predominate during the 2024–25 influenza season.

The CDC expects the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease seasons to have a similar or lower number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV than last season.

To protect yourself, the CDC recommends that all eligible persons receive seasonal influenza and RSV vaccines, generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. 

Furthermore, to enhance this year’s modest influenza vaccine protection against hospitalization, providers should treat patients with suspected or confirmed influenza with antivirals as soon as possible.

Millions of people will be infected with the Dengue virus in the last few months of 2024 without being able to be treated with an approved antiviral.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on October 4, 2024, that it discontinued the Phase 2 field study evaluating the efficacy of investigational antiviral candidate mosnodenvir (JNJ-1802) for the prevention of dengue virus in adults.

Recent results from the Phase 2a human challenge study found that the compound induced antiviral activity against one of dengue's four viruses (DENV-3) in humans, compared to placebo.

J&J's decision to discontinue this study is part of a strategic reprioritization of the Company’s Communicable Diseases research and development portfolio. However, J&J will continue to support the fight against dengue by sharing study results with the medical community in the future.

Almost 4 billion people will live in areas at risk of dengue in 2024, including 26 countries recently highlighted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the U.S. CDC, dengue symptoms can become severe within a few hours. See a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. Dengue can be found in the blood during the first week of illness.

Furthermore, time is of the essence as severe dengue is a medical emergency.

Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease. Various approved vaccines have limited availability, and candidate vaccines are conducting late-stage research in October 2024.