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The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recently confirmed the first case of clade I mpox in Canada.
On November 22, 2024, PHAC announced this travel-related case is associated with an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Africa. The individual sought medical care for mpox symptoms in Manitoba, Canada, shortly after their return and is currently isolating. A public health investigation, including contact tracing, is ongoing.
PHAC stated in a media release that the risk of clade 1 mpox, a virus infection, remains low for the general population. At this time, vaccination of the general public is not recommended.
However, getting vaccinated is a key prevention strategy for those at high risk of exposure. This recommendation includes clade II mpox, which has spread throughout Canada over the past two years.
The Government of Canada has a sufficient supply of mpox vaccines (JYNNEOS®, MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) to support provincial and territorial programs to prevent and control mpox in Canada.
In Europe, dengue outbreaks are primarily associated with infections acquired in endemic countries. Local transmission remains rare, with only sporadic, small-scale outbreaks.
However, according to a Rapid Communication published by Eurosurveillance, Volume 29, Issue 47, on November 21, 2024, Italy's Marche Region experienced a locally-acquired dengue outbreak that peaked in early October 2024.
Fano, a small coastal city, reported autochthonous (local) cases beginning in August. By the end of October, 138 confirmed and 61 probable cases of DENV-2 had been notified.
In total, the Italian National Public Health Authority has reported 213 locally acquired dengue cases in 2024.
Of note, the U.S. CDC's updated Global Dengue Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Health Advisory listed 26 countries, but not Italy.
From a prevention perspective, Takeda's second-generation QDENGA® tetravalent dengue vaccine was approved in Italy in 2023. Unfortunately, it is not offered in the United States in 2024.
While the countdown continues towards the end of the Republic of Rwanda's Marburg disease outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Travel Health Advisory.
On November 22, 2024, the CDC stated that the last known patient with Marburg was discharged from the hospital with a negative test on November 8, 2024. That's when Rwanda started the 42-day countdown to declare the outbreak's end.
Over 1,700 experimental vaccines were delivered to Rwanda during the outbreak, which led to 15 related deaths.
The Africa CDC commended the U.S. government for its decisive action to reduce the Level 3, Reconsider Nonessential Travel advisory for Rwanda, initially issued on October 7, 2024.
“Africa CDC’s unwavering commitment was instrumental in ensuring that the Marburg outbreak remained contained within Rwanda’s borders, preventing further regional or international spread,” said Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana in a press release on November 23, 2024.
The CDC says travelers to Rwanda should review information on routine precautions, such as vaccinations targeting mpox, malaria, measles, dengue, and chikungunya.
When departing abroad from the United States in 2024, chikungunya and measles vaccines are available at travel clinics and pharmacies.
The U.K. Travel Health Pro says international travelers should ideally arrange an appointment with their health professional at least four to six weeks before travel. However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile.
The Florida Department of Health (FDH) published its Arbovirus Surveillance Update 46 on November 16, 2024, disclosing mosquito-borne disease cases, including chikungunya and dengue fever.
In Florida, 14 species of mosquitoes have been found to transmit diseases to humans.
As of November 2024, Alachua, Bay, Broward, Holmes, Madison, Mantatee, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Volusia counties are under a mosquito-borne illness advisory.
Additionally, Duval, Hillsborough, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Walton counties are currently under a mosquito-borne illness alert.
- 786 travel-associated dengue cases were reported, mainly by Brazil, Cuba, and Puerto Rico visitors.
- 90 Oropouche cases were reported in individuals with a travel history to an endemic area such as Cuba. Miami-Dade led the Florida counties with 53 cases.
- 66 cases of locally acquired dengue were reported from six counties, led by Miami-Dade with 40.
- 63 cases of malaria were reported in individuals with a travel history to a malaria-endemic area, such as Africa (Nigeria).
- 9 chikungunya cases with an onset in 2024 have been reported in individuals with a travel history to Brazil (5) and India (4).
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada Health, and the United Kingdom have not issued vaccination requirements for visitors to Florida in 2024.
In Florida, the newly approved chikungunya vaccine (IXCHIQ®) is available at many pharmacies, but dengue and malaria vaccines are currently unavailable in the U.S.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met today regarding the upsurge of clade I mpox cases.
On November 22, 2024, the WHO Director-General agreed with the advice of the Committee and determined that the upsurge of mpox continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighboring countries (Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda) was declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, 2024.
The decision was based on the rising number and continuing geographic spread of cases, operational challenges in the field, and the need to mount and sustain a cohesive response across countries and partners.
A report of this meeting will be issued next week, wrote the WHO.
To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Advisory in September 2024. The CDC says mpox vaccination is now recommended for people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, who anticipate the following sexual activities during travel to countries with ongoing person-to-person transmission of clade I mpox.
In the United States, Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®) vaccine is commercially available at many pharmacies and is also recommended by the CDC to prevent clade II mpox cases.
A research letter recently published by The NEJM assessed the serostatus of asylum seekers in New York City.
On November 20, 2024, the researchers disclosed that about 27% of the participants in a study were seronegative for measles. This data indicates these people did not have protective antibodies against this highly contagious disease.
As of late November 2024, the U.S. CDC reported eight imported and six locally-acquired measles cases have been reported in New York City this year.
Nationwide, the CDC reported 277 measles cases in 32 jurisdictions as of November 7, 2024. Measles outbreaks have been declared in sixteen areas this year.
If one person has measles, up to 90% of people around them will also get it if they are unvaccinated or otherwise not immune.
'Anyone who has received two doses of a measles vaccine is considered immune for life and unlikely to get measles,' wrote NYC Health.
Since measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, most pharmacies in New York offer measles vaccination services. Call 311 for information on where you or your child can get vaccinated.
While the CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory focused on New York City, the U.K. says travelers to the U.S. should be up to date with routine vaccinations, including the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
According to new data, seasonal influenza activity in the United States is increasing slightly among children but remains low nationally.
The U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network monitors outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses. Nationally, during Week #45, 2.5% of patient visits reported to the U.S. CDC were due to respiratory illness, including fever, cough, or sore throat.
As of November 22, 2024, the CDC says the best way to avoid respiratory illnesses is to discuss vaccination options with your healthcare provider.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months and a single lifetime dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults.
By November 9, 2024, an estimated 34.7% of adults had received a flu shot for the 2024–25 season.
And 39.7% of adults aged ≥75 years and 31.6% of adults aged 60–74 years at increased risk for severe RSV disease had ever received RSV vaccine.
This CDC data indicates many unvaccinated people are unprotected heading into the Thanksgiving holidays.
The good news is that over 92 million flu shots have been distributed to healthcare providers and pharmacies. Hence, everyone still has time to get protected ahead of the peak respiratory virus season.
Most people live within five miles of a pharmacy, which offers a variety of flu shots and RSV vaccines.
Dyadic International, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Gates Foundation for the cell line development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and malaria utilizing the company's proprietary C1 protein production platform to provide globally accessible treatment options for underserved populations.
Mark Emalfarb, Founder and CEO of Dyadic, stated in a press release on November 21, 2024, "We believe C1's increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness can expand access to therapeutics and vaccines for populations impacted by health disparities."
The versatile C1-cell protein production platform is based on an industrially proven microorganism (C1) designed to accelerate development, reduce production costs, and improve the scalability and performance of biologic vaccines and therapeutics for both human and animal health markets.
Currently, the C1 platform is being utilized in collaborations with leading pharmaceutical, biotech, academic, and government organizations to develop innovative vaccines and treatments.
If these research efforts succeed, Dyadic plans to commercialize these and other antibodies through licensure, expanding access to affordable treatment options for patients worldwide and reducing the global burden of infectious diseases.
As of late November, U.S. FDA-approved RSV mAbs (Beyfortus™) are in full supply and are offered to newborn infants in the U.S.
