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Pertussis Booster Dose Delivers Lasting Protection

Whooping cough outbreak in 2024
December 30, 2024
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced active person-to-person transmission of mpox clade 1 in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

As of December 30, 2024, the CDC's Level 2 Travel Health Advisory says person-to-person transmission has occurred through various means during this mpox outbreak. Historically, clade I have been associated with a higher percentage of people with mpox developing severe illness or dying, compared to clade II. 

The mpox clade II outbreak began in the United States in late May 2022.

As of November 2024, there have been 2,455 confirmed clade II mpox cases this year, which has exceeded the 1,407 confirmed cases in 2023.

Furthermore, the CDC says mpox vaccination is recommended for certain people traveling to countries with ongoing person-to-person transmission of clade I mpox.

In the U.S., the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine has been approved by the U.S. FDA since September 2019. Other mpox vaccines and vaccine candidates are actively seeking regulatory approvals in 2025.

Vaccine Treats: 
mpox
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Google Maps - CDC THN Mpox Outbreak map Dec. 30, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Africa
Vaccine: 
JYNNEOS Smallpox Mpox Vaccine
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UTI Vaccination Appointment

As of December 2025, the Uromune MV140 vaccine is not FDA-approved and unavailable in the United States. However, this oral spray vaccine is available in various countries, such as London, England.

 

In England, these PassportHealth clinics offer the Uromune UTI vaccine in Hampstead, London, and the Marylebone area.

 

In the Dominican Republic, here is the local contact.

 

In Mexico, the Benavides pharmacy website lists Uromune's availability in 2025. A prescription from a local doctor is required. Several other pharmacies also offer Uromune in Mexico.

 

Across the Pacific, this clinic in Singapore offers UTI vaccination service.

 

Additionally, here are links to additional UTI information:

 

  • Pivya (pivmecillinam) tablets for Uncomplicated UTIs.
  • RECCE 327 is an intravenous and topical treatment for UTIs.
  • The BCG vaccine is available for off-label use.
  • LBP-EC01 is a bacteriophage cocktail engineered with a CRISPR-Cas3 construct targeting the E. coli genome for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.
  • UTI clinical trials in the USA.
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Last Reviewed: 
Thursday, December 11, 2025 - 07:10
Description: 
Uromune MV140 vaccine appointments
Condition: 
Urinary Track Infection (UTI)
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While the Region of the Americas experienced the most significant Dengue virus outbreak in 2024, with over 12.8 million cases and 7,855 related fatalities, effective vaccines have become available in many countries.

However, safety concerns about dengue vaccines focus on the potential for enhanced disease after vaccine-induced seroconversion and subsequent infection.

On December 28, 2024, in a Brief Report, clinical researchers present a fatal case of severe dengue in an unvaccinated traveler without known prior dengue virus infection but longitudinal serologic and molecular evidence for secondary infection.

In the context of this Dengue case and vaccination guidance for travelers, they discuss pre-vaccination screening and potential implications for travelers to regions with ongoing outbreaks and emphasize the importance of serostatus-independent vaccines.

As of December 30, 2024, Dengvaxia® and Qdenga® vaccines are not offered in the U.S.

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
Image: 
Image Caption: 
PAHO Dec. 30, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Houston
Vaccine: 
QDENGA Dengue Vaccine
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UTI vaccine

UTI Vaccine Reported Very Effective in Portugal

MV140 Is Effective in the Reduction of Urinary Tract Infections in Prospective Real-Life Study
December 29, 2024
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The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) recently reported a resident of northern Kentucky has died after being infected with the rabies virus.

As of December 28, 2024, KDPH stated transmission of the rabies virus from person to person is rare. In 1999, skunks accounted for 21 of Kentucky's 35 confirmed rabies cases. 

State Public Health Veterinarian Kelly Giesbrecht, DVM, MPH, is the primary consultant in Kentucky for Rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system and kills about 70,000 people worldwide each year.

. People get Rabies from the bite of an infected or rabid animal. Wild mammals like raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, or bats can have and transmit Rabies.

According to the U.S. CDC, bats, not dogs, are the leading source of rabies infection in the United States.

In late November 2024, the Fresno County Department of Public Health announced a rabies death involving a county resident who was suspected to have been bitten by a bat in Merced County, located east of San Jose.

Furthermore, Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease, with various U.S. FDA-approved vaccines available in 2024.

Vaccine Treats: 
Rabies
Image: 
Image Caption: 
US CDC type of rabies death worldwide
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Lexington
Vaccine: 
Rabies Vaccines
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The Walgreens Flu Index recently identified the top 10 areas in the United States with influenza activity.

As of December 21, 2024, these unfortunate leaders are located in the southern section of the central U.S.:

  1. Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Ala.,
  2. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas,
  3. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas,
  4. Monroe, La.-El Dorado, Ark.,
  5. Huntsville-Decatur (Florence), Ala.,
  6. Knoxville, Tenn.,
  7. New Orleans, La.,
  8. Jackson, Miss.,
  9. Nashville, Tenn.
  10. Shreveport, La.

Walgreens's Flu Index is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. The Flu Index illustrates which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of flu.

Seperately, the U.S. CDC published Key Updates for Week 51, ending December 21, 2024. 

Nationally, the percentage of influenza positivity, the percentage of emergency department visits for flu, the rate of outpatient visits for respiratory illness, and influenza-associated hospitalizations increased this week compared to last week.

And 5 pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza virus infection were reported this week, bringing the 2024-2025 flu season total to nine pediatric deaths. Last flu season, 206 pediatric deaths were related to influenza.

This flu season, there is an ample supply of influenza vaccines at local pharmacies; over 92 million flu shots have been distributed in the U.S., targeting the 2024-2025 flu season.

Vaccine Treats: 
Influenza
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Walgreens Flu Index
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Chicago
Vaccine: 
Flumist Influenza Vaccine
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According to data from the California Department of Public Health, the number of Valley fever cases will set new records in 2024.

As of the end of November, 11,076 valley fever cases had been confirmed statewide, a 20% increase compared to 2023.

Kern County is California's hot spot for the disease again, accounting for 3,768 reported cases.

Home to the city of Bakersfield, Kern County spans the southern end of the Central Valley and is home to less than 1 million people.

Other impacted counties include Los Angeles, Riverside, Fresno, Kings, Merced, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Stanislaus.

Historically, Valley fever has also spread in the states of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.

According to the U.S. CDC, Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a lung infection caused by a fungus found in soil. Usually, people who get sick with Valley fever get better independently, but some people will need antifungal medication.

As of December 28, 2024, scientists continue working on a preventive vaccine, but the CDC has not recommended a Valley fever vaccine.

Vaccine Treats: 
Valley Fever
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Image Caption: 
CDPH Nov. 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
California
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The Victorian Department of Health recently announced that Australia's surveillance program detected vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) in pre-treated sewage from the Western Treatment Plant in Melbourne.

Melbourne has over 5 million residents and is the host city of the Australian Open 2025, which hundreds of thousands of tennis fans attend.

The poliovirus detection (Advisory number: 241224) on December 2, 2024, is likely linked to an individual who received a live polio vaccine and shed the virus in Victoria. Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr. Clare Looker, wrote on December 23, 2024, that Australia remains polio-free, as this wastewater detection is not a wild-type poliovirus case.

However, the U.S. CDC says the detection of poliovirus in wastewater cannot be used to determine the total number of infected persons in a community or the portion of the infected population. The minimum number of infected individuals that can be reliably detected through wastewater testing is not known.

To alert the international community, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in December 2024 that the spread of the poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In 2022, the United States was added to the WHO's list of polio-identified countries. 

Over the past few years, more than 1 billion 'triple-locked' nOPV2 vaccines have been administered to prevent virus mutations.

In the United States, the inactivated polio vaccine is offered.

"Most travelers to Australia don't need many travel vaccines, but with poliovirus detected in sewage in Melbourne, a once-in-a-lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine would be prudent before departure," commented Beverly Schaefer, travel vaccine expert at Katterman's Sand Point Pharmacy, Seattle, WA.

The U.S. CDC suggests that international travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert about Japanese encephalitis, which is mainly a concern in the Murray River and the Outer Torres Strait Islands area. All international travelers should also be vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine.

Vaccine Treats: 
Polio
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Google Maps Dec. 28, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Melbourne
Vaccine: 
nOPV2 Polio Vaccine
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vaccine

Cruise Ships and Norovirus Don't Mix

Norovirus vaccine candidate progresses in Nova 301 phase 3 clinical trial
December 28, 2024