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Poliovirus Samples Detected in 16 European Cities

Polio outbreaks remain a global public health concern in 2025
March 7, 2025
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With five norovirus outbreaks aboard cruise ships already reported by the U.S. CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program in 2025, there continues to be significant interest in accessing a preventive vaccine for this 'stomach virus.'

Over the past few years, viable norovirus vaccine candidates have been unsuccessful in preventing this highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis and can lead to substantial morbidity in older adults.

However, on March 5, 2025, Vaxart, Inc. announced that complete data from the Phase 1b trial of its first-generation oral pill norovirus vaccine candidate have been published in Science Translational Medicine. The data show strong and durable antibody responses and induction of norovirus-specific antibody and T cell responses.

“A key finding of this study evaluating our first-generation oral pill norovirus vaccine candidate in elderly individuals was that the antibody and serum responses observed in these participants were robust and durable, and a cross-study analysis suggested that the observed antibody and cellular responses were independent of age. These findings are encouraging given that older adults have an increased risk of norovirus-related morbidity and may have less robust immune responses following vaccination than younger individuals,” said James F. Cummings, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Vaxart, in a press release.

“Another key result was that an orally-administered vaccine can generate potent antibody responses in mucosal tissues outside the gastrointestinal tract, which could have important implications for use of our vaccine platform for norovirus and other indications.”

In January 2025, Vaxart announced that the next step in its norovirus program would be a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating its second-generation oral norovirus vaccine constructs head-to-head against its first-generation constructs. This trial is expected to initiate in the first half of 2025.

While this is a good update, it means cruise ship passengers and crew may not have access to a norovirus vaccine this year.

Vaccine Treats: 
Norovirus
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by Edmund Hochmuth
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
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San Francisco
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While most of the media attention has been on west Texas's South Plains area's ongoing measles outbreak, just a few miles to the east, New Mexico is also reporting unsettling news.

On March 6, 2025, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed that an unvaccinated resident of Lea County tested positive for measles and later died. NMDOH Scientific Laboratory has confirmed the presence of the measles virus.

The official cause of death is still under investigation by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. One in five cases requires hospitalization, and approximately three in every 1,000 cases result in death.

This new measles case brings the total number of cases to 10, all residents of Lea County. Seven cases were unvaccinated, while the remaining three had unknown vaccination histories. 

As of March 5, 2025, the U.S. CDC reported 164 measles cases in nine jurisdictions this year.

Globally, about 57 countries are reporting measles outbreaks.

"We don't want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles," said Dr. Chad Smelser, NMDOH Deputy State Epidemiologist, in a press release. "The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease"

The NMDOH wrote that measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe complications. Vaccination is the best prevention method.

With ongoing exposures in Lea County, NMDOH urges residents to vaccinate with MMR to protect themselves and their families. NMDOH has scheduled free measles vaccination clinics to support community protection on March 11, 2025.

More information is available on the NMDOH website at http://measles.doh.nm.gov.

Vaccine Treats: 
Measles
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Google Maps March 7, 2025
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
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New Mexico
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The Mayotte Regional Health Agency announced today that it has detected its first case of imported Chikungunya on the main island off the east coast of Africa.

On March 5, 2025, a Mamoudzou resident returned from visiting La Reunion Island, another of France's overseas departments. These departments are separated by the island of Madagascar and the Mozambique Channel. 

Following this identification, the ARS of Mayotte immediately implemented vector control actions to identify larval breeding sites around the person's home. Local health professionals and emergency services have been informed of the situation.

No indigenous case has been reported in Mayotte to date. 

Generally, a single, travel-related Chikungunya case does not generate significant actions.

However, since late August 2024, La Reunion has been facing a Chikungunya epidemic, with 3,390 cases recorded.

Furthermore, an apparent Chikungunya epidemic has increased in late February and early March 2025. During one week, 1,300 new cases of Chikungunya were confirmed.

In mainland France, 25 travel-related cases were reported in 2024. And, for the first time, Ile de France (Paris) reported a locally acquired Chikungunya case.

The World Health Organization says Chikungunya transmissions have occurred frequently in about 110 countries.

So far this year, 49,491 Chikungunya cases and two related fatalities have been confirmed in the Region of the Americas. In 2024, over 400,000 cases were confirmed.

Most people infected with the Chikungunya virus develop some symptoms 3–7 days after a bite by an infected mosquito. People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions.

Chikungunya has recently become a vaccine-preventable disease.

Since late 2023, an innovative vaccine has been available in various countries, including the United States. The U.S. CDC recommends Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® vaccine for certain international travelers in 2025. This vaccine is often offered at travel clinics and pharmacies,

Vaccine Treats: 
Chikungunya
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Google Maps March 6, 2025
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Don Hackett
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Mayotte
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Two governments recently confirmed that visiting the Republic of Singapore in 2025 can be safe, with no infectious disease outbreaks.

According to the United Kingdom and the U.S. Department of State, while no international travel can be guaranteed safe, Singapore has the lowest level of advisories.

As of March 6, 2025, the State Department's Level 1 Travel Advisory says visitors should exercise normal precautions when visiting Singapore, an island state at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Last year, the U.S. Embassy in Singapore confirmed that a new version of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program became active and recommended that visitors enroll to revive digital alerts. 

With about 5 million residents, the "Garden City" has one of the highest standards of living in the world, with very good healthcare services.

Visitors in Singapore could face mosquito-transmitted health risks, including Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.

In Singapore, the first outbreak of chikungunya fever was reported in January 2008 in Little India, where Aedes aegypti was the vector implicated in transmission. In 2024, there were 14 locally acquired chikungunya cases in Singapore.

The last confirmation of a Zika virus outbreak was in 2019; individual cases have been reported in 2025.

While there is no risk of yellow fever, a certificate is required when arriving at the local airport for most travelers from countries with risk for the virus transmission.

The U.K. and U.S. agencies recommend updating visitors with routine and travel vaccinations and boosters at least one month before arrival in Singapore. 

With about 13 million visitors expected this year, Singapore has become a vacationer's safe haven in 2025.

Vaccine Treats: 
Chikungunya
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Google Maps March 6, 2025
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
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Singapore
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According to a recent International Visitors Survey, the Kingdom of Tonga has become a preferred destination in Polynesia. Visitor satisfaction was highly ranked, with the friendly local population, water-based attractions, and cultural activities ranking very well.

However, a mosquito-transmitted disease may curtail tourism.

Tonga's government today reported a significant increase in dengue fever cases with 30 additional new cases.

As of March 5, 2025, there have been 129 dengue cases this year.

With 45 inhabited islands, the majority of dengue cases were from Vava'u (63), the rest from Tongatapu (47) and 'Eua (19).

Tonga's Ministry of Health (MOH) says dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2) is responsible for the current outbreak.

This dengue outbreak subtype is different from DEN-3, which is the dominant case in the region of the Americas, including in Florida and Puerto Rica.

The MOH recommends that residents and visitors wear appropriate clothing to minimize mosquito bites, use mosquito nets and repellents such as lotion and spray, and if you are sick, watch out for severe symptoms and seek medical attention immediately.

While the U.S. CDC does not recommend getting an approved dengue vaccine, it does support various routine and travel vaccines before visiting Tonga in 2025.

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
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Tonga MOH March 2025
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
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Oceania
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Following the declaration of the Sudan Ebolavirus (SVD) outbreak in late January 2025, the Republic of Unganda's Ministry of Health recently reported an additional positive case in Mulago hospital who passed away on February 25, 2025.

As of early March 2025, there have been ten confirmed cases, including two related fatalities. Out of the ten confirmed SVD cases, five are health workers, and four are family members of the index case.

Additionally, nearly 300 close contacts were identified.

The World Health Organization recently wrote, 'The confirmation of a new SVD case in Kampala highlights the risk of undetected transmission, particularly given the delayed diagnosis and the child's movement across multiple healthcare facilities.'

The United Nations in Uganda has also launched an appeal to raise funds for the comprehensive three-month (March- May) response plan, seeking $11.2 million.

Future interventions will focus on seven very high-risk districts, with potential expansion to other districts based on the needs and resources in alignment with the national response plan.

"The goal is to rapidly contain the outbreak and address its impact on public health as well as associated social-economic life of affected people, in full solidarity with the Government and people of Uganda," said WHO Representative Dr. Kasonde Mwinga in a press release on March 3, 2025.

Uganda has experienced five previous SVD outbreaks.

Additionally, traveler screening at 13 Ugandan entry points remains active, with 25,364 travelers screened as of March 2, 2025. Ugandan passengers are also subject to virus screening when arriving in the United States.

Currently, there are approved vaccines and therapies for Zaire Ebolavirus but not for Sudan.

However, over 2,000 doses of IAVI's rVSV Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidate (IAVI C108, rVSVΔG-SUDV-GP) were shipped to Uganda in early 2025. Theuse of these vaccines is being evaluated in a clinical trial.

In addition to an Ebola Travel Health Advisory, the U.S. CDC has issued polio and mpox alerts focused on Uganda in 2025. The CDC says that approved vaccines are available at travel clinics and pharmacies to prevent these diseases.

Vaccine Treats: 
Sudan Ebolavirus
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US CDC 2025
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Don Hackett
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Uganda
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The state of Texas has been reporting a spike in measles cases in 2025, including some in vaccinated children.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) initially reported two measles cases in Harris County, which includes the city of Houston, in January 2025.

Since then, DSHS has confirmed an ongoing measles outbreak in the South Plains. As of March 4, 2025, 159 cases have been identified. There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.

Another measles case was recently reported in Travis County by the Austin Health Department.

The DSHS's investigation into the vaccination status is ongoing. So far, 5 cases have been confirmed as vaccinated with one dose. In 74 cases, the vaccination status is classified as unknown.

DSHS wrote, 'A dose of MMR is given to unvaccinated people within 72 hours of their exposure to the measles to lessen the severity of the illness if they get sick from the virus.'

'We are investigating whether any of these cases received their MMR dose after (virus) exposure.'

'Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,' added DSHS.

Last year, 285 measles cases were reported in the U.S. Minnesota (70) and Illinois (67) were the leaders in confirming measles outbreaks.

Most of the measles cases in 2024 were traced to unvaccinated international travelers.

Currently, the U.S. CDC maintains a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory that identifies 57 countries reporting measles cases.

The CDC and DSHS strongly encourage most people to get two doses of a MMR vaccine, available at clinics and pharmacies in the United States in 2025.

Measles vaccination programs began in the United States in 1963. Since then, the MMR vaccine has been found to be very safe and about 95% effective.

The U.S. FDA has approved the M-M-R®II, ProQuad®, and Priorix vaccines to prevent measles. On November 18, 2022, the CDC stated that the Priorx and M-M-R II® vaccines are considered fully interchangeable.

Vaccine Treats: 
Measles
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US CDC Feb. 2025
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Don Hackett
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Austin
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The British Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Bahamas is just a quick 620-mile flight from the United States. It offers warm Caribbean waters and a safe vaccination.

The country's tourism authority, Experience Turks and Caicos, recently confirmed that about two million travelers visited the islands in 2024, setting a new record.

According to the U.S. Department of State's updated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau provides consular services for U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Embassy consular personnel will visit Providenciales, Turks, and the Caicos Islands from March 5 to March 7, 2025, to provide routine U.S. passport and citizenship services.

On March 4, 2025, the State Department wrote that vacationers should avoid Providenciales, as that was where most of the crime occurred. Providenciales is the third largest island in the Turks and Caicos, home to most of the population.

Furthermore, the Provo area has resorts and hotels that line the island's beautiful coastline.

From a health-risk perspective, Turks and Caicos has avoided most mosquito-transmitted disease outbreaks except for Dengue. In 2024, 117 cases were reported.

The UK Travel Health Pro writes that a dengue vaccine is licensed in the UK to prevent dengue disease in individuals from 4 years of age. However, there are no certificate requirements under the International Health Regulations.

The U.S. CDC does suggest various travel and routine vaccinations before traveling to the islands. These vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
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Google Maps 2025
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Karen McClorey Hackett
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The Bahamas
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UTI Appointment Request Response

As you may be aware, the Uromune MV140 vaccine is not FDA-approved for use in the United States as of October 2025. However, this oral spray UTI vaccine is available 'off-label' in various countries.

  • In Canada, Red Leaf Medical has voluntarily withdrawn the application to address deficiencies in the submission identified by Health Canada.
  • In Mexico, the Benavides pharmacy website lists Uromune, but inventory has been limited, and you need a local doctor's prescription. Several other pharmacies in Mexico also offer Uromune.
  • In England, clincis near London offers the UTI vaccine, such as The Urology Partnership at The Forbury Clinic.
  • In Portugal, Dr. Ricardo Pereira e Silva and collaborators the Hospital de Santa Maria – Lisbon. Online interview link.
  • According to the manufacturer, Uromune is not offered in Spain.
  • In the Dominican Republic, here is the contact for Luis E. Betances & Co. SAS.
  • Across the Pacific, this clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Uro Health in Singapore offer UTI services.
  • Uromune is not yet approved in Denmark, France, Germany, India or Japan.

Additionally, here is a link to UTI information about:

  1. Uro-Vaxom® (OM-89) whose active ingredient is the bacterial lysate acts as a vaccine. Since its launch, millions of patients have been treated with OM-89.
  2. Blujepa is approved for the treatment of female adults (≥40 kg) and pediatric patients with uUTIs.
  3. Pivya (pivmecillinam) tablets for Uncomplicated UTIs.
  4. RECCE 327 is an intravenous and topical UTI therapy.
  5. Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial announced positive data. If approved, tebipenem HBr could be the first oral carbapenem antibiotic for patients with cUTIs.
  6. The BCG vaccine is used off-lable for various bacteria related infections.
  7. LBP-EC01 is a bacteriophage cocktail engineered with a CRISPR-Cas3 construct targeting the E. coli genome, treating uncomplicated UTIs.
  8. UTI clinical trials in the USA.

In addition to UTIs, Vax-Before-Travel publishes breaking news and travel vaccine information.

By the way, I am not a healthcare provider, and this publicly available information is not health advice. If you have questions, please contact your healthcare provider.

Thank you,

Don

Donald W. Hackett

Publisher, Vax-Before-Trave LLC

@DonWardHackett

3 min read
Last Reviewed: 
Sunday, October 12, 2025 - 05:00
Description: 
Uromune UTI Vaccine October 2025
Condition: 
Urinary Track Infection (UTI)