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The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced three human cases, including one death, of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

According to the WHO's Disease Outbreak News on May 8, 2024, all three cases were middle-aged males with underlying health conditions.

The three cases are epidemiologically linked to exposures in a Riyadh healthcare facility, although investigations are ongoing to verify this and understand the transmission route.

In 2024, a total of four cases and two deaths have been reported from the KSA.

MERS is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-CoV. Humans are infected with MERS-CoV from direct or indirect contact with dromedary camels, the virus's natural host and zoonotic source.

So far, non-sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred among close contacts and in healthcare settings. However, the WHO reports limited human-to-human transmission outside of healthcare settings.

Since 2012, when the first MERS-CoV case was reported in KSA, 2,613 MERS-CoV cases and 941 deaths (36%) have been reported from 27 countries in all six WHO regions.

Fortunately, no MERS-CoV cases have been reported from countries outside the Middle East since 2019.

The notification of the new cases does not change WHO's overall risk assessment, which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels.

As of May 9, 2024, no approved MERS vaccines are available.

However, in late 2023, Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the University of Oxford collaborated on fast-tracking the development of the VTP-500 vaccine candidate.

This $34.8 million project intends to take this MERS vaccine through Phase II clinical trials.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed that imported malaria in three U.S. southern border jurisdictions increased in 2023, particularly among new arrivals with recent complex transit through at least one country with endemic malaria. 

The median travel duration was 29 days, and 73% reported traversing land borders.

On May 9, 2024, the CDC's Notes from the Field revealed that during 2023, 68 imported malaria cases were identified in Pima, Arizona (18), San Diego, California (27), and El Paso, Texas (23).

According to this Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, his data compares with 28 cases in 2022 (three in Pima, 12 in San Diego, and 13 in El Paso).

Overall, 63 (91%) patients with malaria in 2023 were hospitalized; no deaths were reported. Severe malaria was more common among other newly arrived migrants (37%) than among U.S. residents (7%).

These new arrivals were non–U.S.-born persons who had arrived in the United States within the preceding six months.

This CDC report is in addition to May 8, 2024, when the CDC reported ten Plasmodium vivax malaria cases in Los Angeles, California.

Seperately the states of Florida and Texas have reported imported malaria cases in 2024, 2023, and 2022. 

Infected people who meet the criteria for uncomplicated malaria are generally treated with either hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, or atovaquone/proguanil, followed by anti-relapse treatment with primaquine.

While malaria is now a vaccine-preventable disease, the two approved vaccines (Mosquirix™, R21/Matrix-M™)   are not currently offered in the U.S.

Dynavax Technologies Corporation today announced that HEPLISAV-B® vaccine net product revenue grew 10% year-over-year to approximately $48 million in the first quarter of 2024.

HEPLISAV-B is the first and only adult hepatitis B vaccine approved in the U.S., the European Union, and Great Britain to enable series completion with only two doses in one month.

In 2024, HEPLISAV-B's total estimated market share in the U.S. increased to approximately 41%, and its estimated market share in the retail pharmacy segment increased to approximately 55%.

"The U.S. adult hepatitis B vaccine opportunity remains significant with over 130 million patients eligible, one of the largest addressable patient populations in the U.S., and the vast majority remaining unvaccinated," said Ryan Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Dynavax in a press release on May 8, 2024.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can cause acute or chronic disease.

Driven by the U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices' universal recommendation for adult hepatitis B vaccination, the hepatitis B vaccine market continues to expand in the U.S. Dynavax believes the U.S. market has the potential to grow to over $800 million by 2027, with HEPLISAV-B well-positioned to achieve a majority market share.

A supplemental Biologic License Application for HEPLISAV-B vaccination of adults on hemodialysis is currently under review by the U.S. FDA, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date planned for May 13, 2024.