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While this respiratory disease is generally related to camel interactions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, clinical efforts to produce a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) vaccine have been elusive.
Since April 2012 and as of mid-March 2025, six World Health Organization regions have reported 2,618 cases of MERS, including 945 deaths, a significant case-fatality rate.
To address this need, CEPI announced, on March 25, 2025, a $2.6 million investment in moving a promising vaccine candidate into preclinical trials.
This new investment, developed by Newark, DE-based Uvax Bio, an early-stage vaccine technology company spun out of The Scripps Research Institute, is based on proprietary protein nanoparticle technology, 1c-SApNP®, licensed from Scripps Research.
The technology is already being tested against other infectious diseases, including HIV, where an in-human trial is ongoing.
Dr. Kent Kester, Executive Director of Vaccine R&D, CEPI, commented in a press release, “Uvax Bio’s unique vaccine could help strengthen our response to future MERS outbreaks while informing us of the vaccines being developed against other coronaviruses.”
Uvax’s novel vaccine design uses tiny protein “nanoparticles” to closely resemble or mimic the size and shape of the MERS coronavirus.
Uvax Bio has analyzed viral structures and designed the technology to present enhanced antigens —parts of the virus that trigger an immune response—in a multilayered scaffold layout. This design offers stability and allows for as many as twenty antigens to be presented at once, which could help provide strong protection by generating both antibody and T-cell immunity.
The 1c-SApNP® technology is also unique as it has been combined with a process called ‘glycan trimming.’
Here, sugar molecules—called glycans—that would generally cover the MERS virus are shortened in the nanoparticle virus-mimicking vaccine design. This could expose additional sites on the antigen surface, enhancing the immune response.
In addition to the vaccine candidate, several MERS vaccines are in clinical development addressing this zoonotic disease with an unknown source in 2025.
A substantial Chikungunya outbreak is occurring throughout France's overseas department of La Réunion Island, which has spiked since early 2025, with 8,600 cases recorded.
To protect the residents of La Réunion, Valneva SE today announced an agreement with support from the local public health agency, the Agence Régionale de Santé La Réunion, to deliver 40,000 IXCHIQ® vaccine doses starting in early April, with an option to provide more.
IXCHIQ® is the world’s first licensed chikungunya vaccine to address this significant unmet medical need
This supply of doses, paid for by the French authorities, is in line with the recommendation of France’s national public health agency, the Haute Autorité de Santé, to prioritize vaccination for adults aged 65 and over with co-morbidities.
Furthermore, IXCHIQ® remains available for purchase in France (mainland and overseas), as well as throughout Europe, the United States, and the U.K.
Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on March 24, 2025, “Chikungunya outbreaks spread rapidly, so it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible to help contain the virus."
"We have the capacity to supply more doses and will continue working closely with Agence Régionale de Santé La Réunion to manage this outbreak locally and prevent its spread to other regions through international travel.”
La Réunion is located east of Africa and Madagascar and is a favorite vaccination destination for international travelers.
Furthermore, Valneva recently announced an agreement with the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by number of doses, enabling the vaccine supply throughout Asia.
In the U.S., Chikungunya vaccines are commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.
According to the World Health Organization, Dengue fever continues to be endemic in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific in 2025.
This includes popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong people, such as the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and in mainland China, such as Guangdong.
As of March 20, 2025, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong confirmed international visitors are arriving infected with Dengue. Seven imported Dengue cases have been reported this year, primarily from Indonesia (3).
In 2024, 161 were imported (75 from Mainland China, 19 from Indonesia) and five locally transmitted cases.
In 2023, there were 62 imported cases of Dengue were recorded in Hong Kong.
The CHP writes, 'Members of the public returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to a doctor.'
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, with over 7 million residents, and welcomes millions of international visitors yearly.
As of March 24, 2025, Hong Kong and China are not listed in the U.S. CDC's Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Health Advisory regarding the global Dengue outbreak.
Outside of the United States, a second-generation Dengue vaccine is offered in about 40 countries.
Over the past two decades, about 18 million Brazilians have been infected with one of Dengue's four viruses.
As of March 23, 2025, the Sao Paulo Ministry of Health's Dengue data dashboard indicates over 403,000 probable cases and 273 related fatalities have been reported this year.
The São José do Rio Preto region is the unfortunate leader during this Dengue outbreak, with 86 fatalities.
Throughout Brazil, one million Dengue cases and 304 fatalities have already been reported in 2025.
To notify international travelers of this infectious disease risk in Brazil, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published three notices.
On March 19, 2025, the CDC reported 1,158 travel-related Dengue cases and one local case in 28 jurisdictions this year. Of these, 3% were Severe Denge cases. DENV-3 was the most (84%) common serotype identified in 2025.
The CDC recently reissued a Global Travel Health Notice regarding Dengue outbreaks in the Region of the Americas. Transmission of Dengue remains high in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
And on March 18, 2025, the CDC's Health Update (CDCHAN-00523) highlighted the ongoing risk of Dengue virus infections and updated testing recommendations in the United States.
As of March 23, 2025, the CDC has not issued travel advisories for U.S. cities reporting Dengue cases, such as southeast Florida. Nor does the CDC endorse Dengue vaccinations in 2025.
After being named by Travel + Leasure as 'Destination of the Year' in 2024, when Costa Rica welcomed about 2.6 million tourists, a few headwinds have confronted this Central American country.
A spokesman for the business group Turismo por Costa Rica recently estimated that tourist arrivals could drop by 15% to 20% by the end of 2025.
"The decline is multifactorial," Bary Roberts noted in a news article by the Tico Times on March 21, 2025.
Price competitiveness is one hurdle.
The appreciation of the Republic of Costa Rican colón has further eroded purchasing power. Each U.S. dollar now converts to fewer colones, making Costa Rica a pricier destination compared to regional peers.
Another tourism challenge is an increase in health alerts.
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in San José issued an alert on the spike in histoplasmosis associated with caving activities in Costa Rica.
Histoplasmosis is a lung infection caused by a fungus in soil contaminated with bat or bird droppings. If left untreated, it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications.
Additionally, over the past few years, local cases of mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika have been confirmed at Costa Rica's beaches and mountain destinations.
Furthermore, from a safety perspective, the U.S. Embassy remains committed to ensuring the well-being of U.S. citizens when visiting Costa Rica. The State Department's Level 2 Travel Advisory issued in December 2024 says visitors should exercise increased caution due to crime.
In February 2025, The U.S. Embassy announced it had received reports regarding travel incidents near the Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Please take appropriate precautions and stay informed when visiting Costa Rica. To receive alerts, you can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, making locating you in an emergency easier.
The Chikungunya outbreak on La Réunion Island recently reached Level 4 of the ORSEC plan of this French overseas department and region.
The Director General of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) stated in a media release on March 19, 2025, stated Réunion is experiencing a "medium-intensity epidemic," with 2,888 cases reported in early March.
On March 21, 2025, local media reported two Chikungunya-related fatalities.
ARS wrote, 'Although there is no current tension in the hospital environment, 77 patients were admitted to the emergency room between March 3 and 9, 2025.'
'Faced with the increase and spread of cases across the country, the ARS vector control service is adapting its system to optimize the effectiveness of interventions.'
The southern municipalities are the most affected by this mosquito-transmitted virus, particularly Le Tampon, located in the south-central part of the island and home to about 80,000 residents.
To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC issued a Travel Health Advisory in February 2025, confirming that people can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites and that vaccination against Chikungunya is recommended for most people traveling to a destination with a current Chikungunya outbreak.
In the United States, various Chikynunga vaccines are available at most travel clinics and pharmacies as of March 22, 2025.
