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According to the U.S. CDC's MMWR 73(20);460–466, JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccination does prevent mpox; however, infection in fully vaccinated persons can occur.
On May 23, 2024, the CDC disclosed that mpox virus infection after receipt of two JYNNEOS doses is estimated to have occurred in <1% of fully vaccinated persons.
Among persons who experienced infection after having received a complete 2-dose series and for whom complete data were available, mpox infections have been milder than those among unvaccinated persons.
In 2024, mpox cases have been reported in urban centers such as New York City, which confirmed 42 mpox cases from April 7, 2024, to May 4, 2024.
The CDC says that to optimize protection, persons recommended to receive mpox vaccination should complete Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS vaccination series. Estimates suggest that about two million U.S. individuals are eligible for mpox vaccination.
Furthermore, the CDC does not recommend additional vaccine doses at this time.
Regarding the current clade 1 mpox outbreak in Africa, on March 14, 2024, Agam Rao, MD CAPT, US Public Health Service, stated, 'JYNNEOS vaccination is expected to be effective regardless of mpox clade.
Since the global mpox outbreak began in May 2022, cases have continued to occur in the United States in 2024.
According to the U.S. CDC's Notes from the Field published on May 23, 2024, after the peak in late 2022, mpox cases declined sharply and remained significantly lower, about 59 cases per week from October 2023 to April 30, 2024.
Most mpox cases in the U.S. are reported in urban centers.
In New York City, there have been 42 mpox cases from April 7, 2024, to May 4, 2024.
The CDC says most new mpox cases occur in unvaccinated persons. However, vaccine breakthrough cases have been confirmed.
Since October 2023, five people have died from mpox infection.
CDC recommends that persons at risk for mpox exposure who have not previously recovered from mpox complete the 2-dose JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccination.
A meta-analysis of 16 studies published on April 26, 2024, revealed that the JYNNEOS vaccine effectiveness (VE) for one pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination ranged from 35% to 86%, and VE ranged from 66% to 90% (n=5) for two doses.
Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS was co-developed with the U.S. Government (BARDA, BioShield) to ensure adult populations can be protected from smallpox.
As of May 2024, healthcare providers in the U.S. can order JYNNEOS through their preferred wholesaler and distribution partners.
According to the U.S. CDC's Tick Bite Data Tracker dashboard, emergency room visits for tick bites have accelerated.
As of mid-May 2024, most tick disease cases in the U.S. have been concentrated in the Northeast, followed by the Midwest.
The CDC estimates that approximately 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease yearly.
While Lyme disease received the most media attention, common Tickborne diseases in the United States include Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
While the Lyme disease vaccine candidate (VLA15) continues conducting late-stage research, it previously received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Fast Track designation. The vaccine manufacturers have indicated updated study results in 2025.
Until a preventive Lyme disease vaccine becomes available, the CDC recommends protecting yourself from ticks by applying DEET or picaridin, treating clothing with products containing 0.5% permethrin, and conducting thorough tick checks after outdoor activities.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently highlighted two gateway cities as the unfortunate leaders in this year's dengue outbreaks.
According to New York City Health, travel-related dengue cases have increased among residents in recent years. As of May 21, 2024, the CDC confirmed 114 cases.
And the Florida Department of Health recently confirmed 173 travel-associated dengue cases, mainly by visitors from Brazil and Cuba, and 7 cases of locally acquired dengue were reported from two counties (Miami-Dade, Pasco).
In 2023, Florida reported 609 travel-associated dengue cases, and 186 people locally contracted dengue from the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Throughout the Americas, 7,327,521 suspected cases of dengue (an increase of 243% from 2023) and over 1,700 deaths have been registered in 2024.
While dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, vaccinations are not generally offered in the U.S.
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. today announced that the company will present data from its herpes simplex virus (HSV) program at the International Herpesvirus Workshop in Portland, Ore., July 13-17, 2024.
At the Workshop, Assembly Bio will present data describing the preclinical profile of ABI-5366, a long-acting helicase-primase inhibitor candidate in development for treating recurrent genital herpes.
Additionally, the company will present data highlighting the preclinical characterization of ABI-1179, a structurally distinct long-acting helicase-primase inhibitor candidate.
William Delaney, PhD, chief scientific officer of Assembly Bio, commented in a press release on May 22, 2024, "Improved therapeutic options are urgently needed for people living with recurrent genital herpes, as the current standard of care is only partially effective in controlling recurrences."
"Our HSV program employs a highly innovative approach, with candidates designed from the start for long-acting administration and targeting the viral helicase-primase complex, a different viral target than the standard of care."
"We look forward to an important year for the program, as we remain on track to begin dosing in a Phase 1a/1b study for ABI-5366 by mid-year (2024) and anticipate bringing ABI-1179 into the clinic by the end of the year."
Details of the presentations are as follows:
Poster Presentation: The Helicase-Primase Inhibitor ABI-5366 is a Novel, Potent, Long-Acting Inhibitor for the Treatment of Recurrent Genital Herpes
Presenter: Ran Yan, PhD, Assembly Bio
Poster Session Date and Time: Not Yet Available
As of May 23, 2024, there are no U.S. FDA-approved herpes vaccines available.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department recently announced a pertussis outbreak after 9 cases were confirmed since late April 2024. These cases include students attending local high schools.
“Any school-age children with symptoms of pertussis should stay home from school and visit their health care provider for evaluation, even if they have previously been vaccinated,” the health department said in a statement on May 20, 2024.
Pertussis (Whooping cough) is a contagious respiratory illness that spreads quickly from person to person. The health department recommends preventive antibiotics for high-risk students exposed to pertussis.
Kentucky requires school-age children to be vaccinated against pertussis. For protection, one dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended for children ages 11 and above.
Throughout the United States, pertussis cases have been increasing in recent years.
The U.S. CDC reported 5,611 cases in 2023, significantly more than the 2,388 pertussis cases reported in 2022.
Internationally, pertussis outbreaks have continued in 2024.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), more than 32,000 pertussis cases were reported between January and March 2024. The ECDC data announced on May 8, 2024, indicates a nearly 10-fold increase in pertussis cases this year.
Following the initial shortage of the newly approved long-acting, monoclonal antibody Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab) for preventing infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), a new digital app may help identify newborns at the highest risk for developing serious RSV LRTI, according to research published at the ATS 2024 International Conference.
These researchers wrote, 'To predict whether these infants developed severe RSV LRTI requiring ICU admission during the first year of life, we developed a multivariable logistic regression model. The model includes demographic and clinical variables collected at or shortly after birth–19 variables, such as prenatal smoking, delivery method, maternal age, and assisted breathing (ventilation) during birth hospitalization.'
"Timely identification of infants at highest risk of RSV-related morbidity is key to prevention," said lead author Brittney M. Snyder, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in a press release on May 21, 2024.
"Our personalized risk prediction tool may have applications in allocating expensive and/or limited immunoprophylaxis (immunization with nirsevimab or palivizumab) to achieve the greatest benefit and promote RSV prevention among families with high-risk infants."
During the 2023-2024 RSV peak season in the U.S., Beyfortus reduced RSV hospitalizations by about 82% in infants compared to infants who received no passive immunization against RSV.
As of March 2024, among females with an infant <8 months, 41.3% reported that their infant received Beyfortus.
As of May 2024, access to Beyfortus is not constrained in the U.S.
