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With the new slogan "health for all, everyone's task," Equatorial Guinea Health intends to involve the entire population in the surveillance of the Marburg virus, reported ahoraEG.com.
A new action plan will require passengers, especially those coming from the city of Bata, with over 200,000 residents, to fill out a form to enter location information so that they can be located quickly and on time in case of any suspicion.
Obama Nve has indicated that filling out the Marburg virus control form is a civic duty for anyone, "we want to beg the population that we are going to demand that they fill out a small file, not to bother because we do it to safeguard public health in our country."
As of March 29, 2023, about 459 contacts have been followed up since the Marburg outbreak was declared in mid-February 2023.
In an interview on national television, the member of the Technical Committee for Health Emergencies, Maricamen Andeme Ela, assured that we are in a drastic situation because we have not wanted to comply with the measures imposed since the appearance of the first case, "Marburg exists, and we are seeing it, and unfortunately, it is taking human lives."
WHO Director-General's opening remarks at a media briefing on March 29, 2023, included the number of officially reported Marburg cases remaining at nine, with seven deaths, in three provinces.
However, the WHO is aware of additional cases, and we have asked the government to report these cases.
Breaking news regarding the Marburg outbreaks in Burundi, Tanzania, and Africa is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.
Vaccitech plc today announced positive topline final data from a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of VTP-300 in people with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection.
VTP-300 is the first antigen-specific immunotherapy shown to induce sustained reductions in Hepatitis B surface antigen.
"The safety data and HBsAg reductions in the HBV002 study are very encouraging, and we look forward to sharing the full data set, including immune responses, at the EASL conference," said Bill Enright, CEO of Vaccitech, in a press release on March 28, 2023.
"Less than 10% of people with chronic HBV reach a functional cure with current therapies."
"We believe VTP-300 has the potential to be a critical component of a functional cure for HBV, potentially eliminating the need for chronic treatment."
"Our ongoing trials are exploring dosing, including an additional booster, and combination approaches with readouts expected towards the end of the year."
And VTP-300 is a heterologous immunotherapy candidate consisting of an initial dose using the ChAdOx platform and a second dose(s) using MVA encoding multiple hepatitis B antigens, including full-length surface, modified polymerase, and core antigens.
The full announcement and study results are posted at this link.
The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced it had certified the countries of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan for eliminating malaria in their territories. The certification follows the two countries' sustained, century-long effort to stamp out this vaccine-preventable disease.
As of March 29, 2023, a total of 41 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free by WHO, including 21 countries in the European Region.
"The people and governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked long and hard to eliminate malaria," Tweeted WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Their accomplishment further proves that eliminating malaria is possible with the right resources and political commitment. I hope that other countries can learn from their experience."
The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification rests with the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification. For more on WHO's malaria-free certification process, visit this WHO link.
Malaria vaccines are available in certain countries in 2023. However, the United States has not approved a vaccine yet.
While the annual flu season in the United States has subsided, India's government reports an unusual influenza surge.
PTI reported today Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha that 1,317 cases of H3N2 have been confirmed from January to March 21, 2023.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, of 510 H3N2 cases reported in the last two months, 19 patients required ICU admission, Pawar wrote to PTI on March 28, 2023.
The H3N2 virus spreads from an infected person through droplets in the air or direct contact with virus-laden surfaces, says the U.S. CDC.
The severity of human illness caused by H3N2 is similar to seasonal flu, which can become severe if complications like pneumonia develop.
Another influenza version is called 'swine flu.'
H3N2v is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs. Viruses that normally circulate in pigs are "swine influenza viruses." When these viruses infect humans, they are termed "variant" viruses, says the CDC. Furthermore, the seasonal flu shot does not protect against H3N2v.
The CDC's FluView Interactive Novel Flu A digital tool displays the most current case counts for variant virus infections reported in the U.S.
Previously, India's government confirmed that young children and old persons with co-morbidities are the most vulnerable groups in seasonal influenza.
Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally.
The cases arising from seasonal influenza in India are expected to decline by the end of March 2023.
The World Health Organization published Influenza Update N° 401 on March 20, 2023, stating most indicators of influenza activity in the Northern Hemisphere decreased to levels similar to or below levels typically observed this time of year.
In the U.S., annual flu shots remain available at many clinics and community pharmacies.
According to various Tweets and local media news articles published today, the Republic of Burundi reported multiple fatalities related to an unknown disease.
Since Burundi is located near the Republic of Tanzania, which confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus last week, health authorities throughout central Africa are on high alert.
Recently, the U.S. CDC published updated travel alerts for Marburg outbreaks in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea. Additional Marburg outbreak news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.
Osivax today announced that it had received a pneumonia and pandemic preparedness grant of over USD 1 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support additional research and development of its lead, broad-spectrum influenza vaccine candidate, OVX836.
Osivax confirmed it would use the grant to evaluate the breadth and the duration of protection provided by OVX836 against a wider range of seasonal and highly pathogenic influenza strains.
And this research will assess the potential of OVX836 to provide long-term protection against emerging and circulating strains of influenza, thus informing its potential as a standalone influenza vaccine administered less frequently than annually.
Alexandre Le Vert, CEO and Co-Founder of Osivax commented in a press release on March 28, 2023, "The support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will allow us to widen the scope of OVX863 development and bring us one step closer to providing much needed, universal protection against both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains, which continue posing a significant global health threat."
OVX836 has shown promising safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy data across preclinical and clinical trials (Phase 1 and 2a) and continues to be evaluated in additional studies.
As of March 4, 2023, about 173.37 influenza vaccines were distributed in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recently confirmed the presence of poliovirus in Rockland County wastewater for the first time since October 2022.
This single positive result was collected in February 2023.
However, sequencing analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed as of March 22, 2023, the presence of poliovirus in 101 positive wastewater samples, most linked to the individual case of paralytic polio among a Rockland County resident in 2022.
Transmission of this disease only continues if the overall polio vaccination rates remain low, says the CDC.
"It is our obligation to protect all our residents from debilitating and potentially fatal diseases," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day in a press release.
"I urge our residents to act now and protect yourselves, your family, and your community."
"Polio is preventable through the complete vaccination series."
As of mid-March, 19,282 doses of the polio vaccine have been administered to Rockland County residents.
In 2022, there were over 330,000 residents in Rockland County.
"While certainly, the number of doses is strong, the polio vaccine is a series of 4-doses, so it takes time to reach full protection," added Day.
"As I've said before, this is why it is crucial for schools and the New York State Education Department to maintain and enforce these required vaccinations."
"But families with unvaccinated children who are not yet of school age completely lack protection from this dreaded disease and must get on the schedule now."
Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) is actively working on strategies to increase vaccination rates, including working with the CDC and NYSDOH to perform daycare and school assessments and audits.
To enhance local detections, New York recently received $21.6 million in funding to expand its wastewater surveillance and infectious disease monitoring capabilities.
In 2023, this funding will increase the number of participating sewer sheds from 125 to over 215, reaching about 81% of the population of New York public sewer systems.
Moreover, with holiday travelers peaking this spring break, enhancing protection from polio is a priority, says the CDC.
For example, Israel's Ministry of Health also recently confirmed four children tested positive for poliovirus in Northern Israel.
With increased travel expected between New Yorkers and Israel over Passover 2023, the RCDOH reminds families there is a real risk of paralysis if they are unvaccinated.
Furthermore, adults who completed the polio vaccine series as children may receive a one-time polio booster dose before traveling abroad to any of the thirty countries reporting poliovirus detections.
And any New York resident who needs vaccination can obtain one by calling the RCDOH at 845-364-2520 or 845-364-2524.
Throughout the U.S., polio vaccines are offered by health clinics and community pharmacies as of March 28, 2023.
Global biotechnology leader CSL today announced the official opening of the company's new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) center in Waltham, Massachusetts.
CSL's global R&D organization has over 2,000 employees in ten countries, contributing to a robust and promising pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates.
The custom-built facility west of Boston will serve as CSL's central hub for current and future vaccine designs, such as cell-based flu shots.
"CSL's growing R&D presence in Waltham is the latest example of our investment in our future – which includes advancing our growing capabilities in disruptive technologies like next-generation mRNA," said Jon Edelman, Senior Vice President of the CSL Vaccines Innovation Unit, in a press release on March 27, 2023.
In addition to Waltham, Massachusetts, the company has an R&D presence helping create an integrated global organization that can conveniently collaborate with institutions everywhere, offer access to professional development opportunities, and enhance external innovation.
"The Waltham site's location and our investment in this world-class facility will provide our talented people with the ideal environment to deliver the breakthroughs that CSL aims to achieve," added Ethan Settembre, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, CSL Vaccines Innovation Unit and site head for this facility.
"We are also excited that this location provides an opportunity for our scientists to collaborate closely with industry and academic partners, allowing greater access to ongoing innovation and talent."
CSL already produces world-class vaccines, such as Flucelvax® Quadrivalent, a cell culture-based flu vaccine, and bird flu vaccines, such as Audenz™ monovalent, adjuvanted, cell-based inactivated influenza (H5N1) subunit vaccine.
Note: This news article is not paid content.
