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The U.K. National History Museum recently reported sea lions in Peru are among the latest victims of a version of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) known as bird flu.

The HAPI virus has killed about 3,500 South American sea lions in Peru as of March 9, 2023.

The Peruvian government has reported that since November 2022, around 3% of the country's sea lions have died due to HPAI infections.

Peru, like many South American countries, believes HAPI was brought south by pelicans before jumping into the marine mammals. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, Canada and the United States have reported multiple mammalian fatalities related to bird flu infections.

The United States Department of Agriculture and the World Animal Health Information System reported during March 2023, over 131 HAPI H5N1 detections of wild striped skunks, black bears, raccoons, and red foxes.

  • The California Department of Fish and Wildlife received confirmation on February 15, 2023, that an adult bobcat died from the Eurasian strain of HPAI H5N1.
  • The Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed on February 9, 2023, several cases of HPAI in free-ranging wildlife (black bear, skunk, mountain lion).
  • The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks confirmed on January 17, 2023, three juvenile grizzly bears tested positive for HAPI.

While there are no vaccines that protect birds or mammals from H5N1 infections, there are bird flu vaccines for humans.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration authorized CSL Seqirus' Audenz™ vaccine on January 31, 2020, and RAPIVAB® in 2022.

And the U.S. government has financially supported the development of newer bird flu vaccines for people.

Furthermore, the government reminds everyone that annual flu shots are effective against certain types of influenza, but they are not effective against bord flu viruses.

Vaccine Treats: 
Bird Flu
Image: 
Image Caption: 
South American sea lions - by Lars Schlageter
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Peru
Vaccine: 
Audenz Influenza A(H5N1) Vaccine
Pharmacist ethics rating 2023

Who Do You Trust For Vaccine Information

Harvard researchers and colleagues found the CDC was highly trusted information source
March 11, 2023
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled: Interim Clinical Treatment Considerations for Severe Manifestations of Mpox—United States, February 2023.

Published on March 3, 2023, this MMWR provides updated clinical treatment considerations about using therapeutic countermeasures to treat severe mpox cases.

Until data gaps are filled through randomized controlled studies and other carefully controlled research studies, this MMWR represents the best available information about human mpox treatment.

Previously, the CDC updated the U.S. National Mpox Vaccination Strategy on February 6, 2023.

The CDC continues to recommend people who have been exposed to the Mpox virus and people who may be more likely to contract mpox should be vaccinated.

The JYNNEOS® vaccine is available at certain clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Mpox is a disease caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus, an Orthopoxvirus in the same genus as the Variola virus, which causes smallpox.

In 2022, a global outbreak involving mpox clade IIb was detected sourced from the Canary Islands in early May. Since then, 1,201,210 JYNNEOS doses have been administered in the 57 U.S. Jurisdictions reported data.

Vaccine Treats: 
Monkeypox
Image: 
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Washington DC
Vaccine: 
JYNNEOS Smallpox Mpox Vaccine
jet landing in Israel

New York Issues Polio Travel Alert

New York warns visitors to Israel to be immunized against polio
March 11, 2023
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The New York State Department of Health today announced New Yorkers are planning to travel abroad to Israel and other countries with circulating poliovirus to get fully immunized against polio.

Recently, Israel's Ministry of Health confirmed four children had tested positive for poliovirus in Northern Israel.

Furthermore, Israel has reported widespread detection of poliovirus in wastewater systems.

This latest outbreak follows one that was detected in February 2022 when seven children tested positive for poliovirus in Jerusalem.

With the latest polio case, New York health officials have contacted their Israeli counterparts to ensure a coordinated response.

As of March 10, 2023, enhanced precautions are encouraged when visiting the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, several other central African countries, and Israel.

In the U.S., polio vaccines are available at health clinics and community pharmacies. 

Additional polio outbreak 2023 news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

Vaccine Treats: 
Polio
Image: 
Image Caption: 
JFK Airport NY March 2023
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Israel
Vaccine: 
nOPV2 Polio Vaccine
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U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam, Netherlands, announced significant demonstrations are expected to occur on March 11, 2023, and advised visitors to avoid these crowds.

Furthermore, U.S. government personnel in Amsterdam have also been advised to avoid the pending, conflicting demonstrations near The Hague in Zuiderpark and around Koekamp near Central Station, including on the A12.

To help bypass the crowds, the Consulate advises U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital security updates related to these events.

Or visit the U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam at Museumplein 19, 1071 DJ Amsterdam.

And to call 1-1-2 for emergency service from Dutch Police, Rescue, and Fire Departments.

Recently the U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution alert on March 9, 2023, highlighting the ongoing civil unrest in The Netherlands.

And from a health perspective, the U.S. CDC suggests various travel vaccines for visiting the Netherlands.

Vaccine Treats: 
Measles
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Rudy and Peter Skitterians
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Amsterdam
Vaccine: 
Priorix Vaccine
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Reuters recently confirmed GSK plc expects to launch its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in the U.S. in 2023 without supply constraints.

"We are ready to launch without capacity or supply constraints... to supply the market (from its plant in Wavre, Belgium) that we see," Phil Dormitzer, Global Head of Vaccines R&D at GSK, commented in an interview on March 8, 2023.

GSK plc previously announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine voted that the available data support the safety and effectiveness of GSK's AREXVY™ vaccine candidate for preventing lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in adults aged 60 years and older.

The FDA Committee voted unanimously 12-0 on effectiveness and 10-2 on safety.

As of March 10, 2023, the FDA has yet to authorize AREXVY for use in the U.S.

Phil Dormitzer commented in a press release on March 1, 2023, "Today's vote brings us an important step closer to delivering one of the world's first vaccines for RSV, a respiratory virus that causes potentially debilitating disease and imposes a major burden on healthcare systems."

AREXVY is also under regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and several other regulators, with initial decisions expected later in 2023. 

RSV is one of the major remaining infectious diseases for which no vaccine or specific treatment is available for adults. Older adults are at high risk for severe disease due in part to age-related decline in immunity,

Additionally, RSV is a very serious disease in young children.

Unlike seniors, children already have FDA-approved RSV protection from a monoclonal antibody (Synagis®), with another version under final review.

The European Medicines Agency recommended marketing authorization for Beyfortus® (nirsevimab) in 2022 to prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants during their first RSV season when there is a risk of RSV infection in the local community.

Additional RSV vaccine candidates and antibody therapy news are posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/RSV.

Vaccine Treats: 
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Image: 
Image Caption: 
by Gerd Altmann
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
London
Vaccine: 
AREXVY RSVPreF3 OA Vaccine
Chikungunya cases 2023

Chikungunya Outbreaks Accelerate and Turn Fatal

PAHO issued Epidemiological Alert Chikungunya in the Americas
March 9, 2023

Epstein-Barr Virus Vaccine 2023

Epstein-Barr virus Vaccine June 2023

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives. However, as of April 21, 2023, the are no approved Epstein-Barr virus vaccines, says National Institutes of Health (NIH). “A vaccine that could prevent or reduce the severity of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus could reduce the incidence of infectious mononucleosis and might also reduce the incidence of EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune diseases,” commented Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., on May 6, 2022.

Epstein-Barr virus Vaccine Candidates

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) launched an early-stage clinical trial on May 6, 2022, evaluating an investigational preventative gp350-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine for EBV. The Phase 1 clinical study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Maryland. Last Update Posted on November 17, 2022.

MDX-2201 leverages ModeX’s innovative biologics platform to target multiple EBV proteins. OPKO Health, Inc. entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop MDX-2201.

A panel of investigational monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting different sites of the EBV blocked infection when tested in human cells in a laboratory setting. Moreover, one of the experimental mAbs ( EBV gH/gL 769B10) provided nearly complete protection against EBV infection and lymphoma when tested in mice. The study results were published in the journal Immunity on October 27, 2022. Our findings provide structural and antigenic knowledge of the viral fusion machinery, yield a potential therapeutic antibody to prevent EBV disease, and emphasize gH/gL as a target for herpesvirus vaccines and therapeutics, wrote these researchers.

2 min read
Reviewer: 
Robert Carlson, MD
Last Reviewed: 
Friday, June 2, 2023 - 11:25
Description: 
Epstein-Barr virus lacks a preventive vaccine in June 2023.
Condition: 
Epstein Barr Virus
0 min read

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published an update to its Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions global polio travel notice.

The CDC says some international destinations, such as Israel, have circulating poliovirus.

As of March 7, 2023, there have been reports of four polio cases in children during 2023. And about 150,000 children in Israel remain unvaccinated against poliovirus.

Before traveling to any listed destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of a polio vaccine.

Furthermore, children should be current on their routine polio vaccines before traveling abroad.

The CDC says most people with polio do not feel sick.

Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, neck and back stiffness, and arm and leg pain. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function.

Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain.

In 2022, the virus that causes polio was detected in the wastewater of cities such as New York, London, and Montreal.

In the U.S., polio vaccines are offered at most health clinics and community pharmacies.

Vaccine Treats: 
Polio
Image: 
Image Caption: 
U.S. CDC polio detections March 2023
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Atlanta
Vaccine: 
nOPV2 Polio Vaccine