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The WHO Director-General recently determined that the upsurge of mpox cases in Africa continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern and issued temporary recommendations to States Parties as of July 10, 2025.
The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has subsequently spread to other central and western African countries.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outbreaks of clade II mpox have been reported in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where mpox is endemic.
The CDC's updated Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Advisory states that, unlike the ongoing global clade II mpox outbreak, which began in May 2022, these outbreaks have affected males and females approximately equally.
Furthermore, person-to-person transmission has occurred during this outbreak, including through sexual or other intimate contact.
Previously, the Ministry of Health in Cameroon confirmed the first case of mpox (Clade I) in a child from Ayos district, as of July 9, 2025.
The CDC recommends mpox vaccination (JYNNEOS®, MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) for travelers to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
This advice is essential as millions of international travelers are visiting Africa.
According to the World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, Africa attracted approximately 74 million tourists in 2024.
Local media (ANI) reported that the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health recently launched a polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.3 million children across 19 provinces of Afghanistan.
Healthcare providers have emphasized the crucial role of public awareness and ongoing investment in eradicating polio. Dr. Mojtaba Sufi, a health expert in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, reiterated in a news article, "The only effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, and the international community provides these vaccines.
This new vaccination campaign is essential as Afghanistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission.
The total number of WPV1 cases in 2025 is two, which compares to 2024 when 25 cases were confirmed.
As of July 23, 2025, the U.S. CDC and the WHO's International Travel and Health recommend that all travellers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors staying for more than 4 weeks) from areas infected with poliovirus, such as Afghanistan, should receive an additional dose of oral or inactivated polio vaccine within 4 weeks to 12 months after travel.
Additionally, a booster dose may be recommended for specific travelers.
Currently, the CDC lists 41 countries as being at risk for poliovirus.
As the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season expands in the state of Florida, the most significant US real-world study of a single-dose long-acting antibody designed to help prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants successfully met both of its co-primary endpoints.
The full results from the "Effectiveness of nirsevimab against RSV and RSV-related events in infants" study have been published in PEDIATRICS®, an official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, on July 22, 2025.
Ayman Chit, Head of North America Medical, Vaccines, Sanofi, commented in a press release, "These results support BEYFORTUS (nirsevimab) as a groundbreaking advancement in infant RSV disease prevention."
"With more than 40 real-world evidence studies to date, this latest study further strengthens the well-established body of data that shows that BEYFORTUS protects against RSV disease to help safeguard the health of all babies, regardless of whether they are born before or during the RSV season."
According to the Florida Department of Health, RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Young children and older adults, especially those with certain underlying health conditions, are at higher risk for severe illness from RSV.
Florida’s RSV season is longer than that of the rest of the nation and exhibits distinct regional patterns. For this reason, the state is broken up into five RSV regions, each with its own RSV season.
Austin Public Health (APH) announced yesterday that its wastewater surveillance in Travis County has detected the presence of the measles virus collected during the first week of July 2025.
As of July 21, 2025, this detection may indicate an undetected case or cases of measles in the local community that exceeds 1 million residents.
Furthermore, Austin adds another 50,000 college students each year during August and hosts over 100,000 football fans most weekends in the Fall.
So far in 2025, only two measles cases have been confirmed among Travis County residents, both of which were linked to exposure during international travel.
However, the State of Texas has reported numerous measles cases in western counties, as well as in Dallas and Houston counties.
Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can actively linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. If someone breathes contaminated air or touches infected surfaces and then their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can become infected.
APH says if one person has measles, 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.
APH offers the MMR vaccine for uninsured and underinsured Austinites at its Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics.
With an unexpected number of chikungunya outbreaks reported in the Region of the Americas in 2025, Canada is taking action to ensure an ample supply of vaccines available.
In the past 20 years, the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus has emerged across many popular travel destinations.
Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today that Health Canada has accepted for review the Company's application for licensure of the single-dose, virus-like particle (VLP) chikungunya vaccine candidate, CHIKV VLP, for immunization to prevent disease caused by chikungunya virus infection in individuals 12 years of age and older.
The Directorate's acceptance of the application screening confirms that the New Drug Submission is complete, initiating a standard review procedure that may support approval of the vaccine in the first half of 2026.
Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, stated in a press release on July 22, 2025, "Pending approval, this vaccine will further strengthen our offering for Canadians seeking protection against serious diseases when traveling the world."
The VLP vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission, and the United Kingdom in May 2025 under the trade name VIMKUNYA®.
In the U.S., VIMKUNYA is commercially available at clinics and pharmacies.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) recently issued a health alert confirming an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the state.
As of July 10, 2025, 80 cases have been reported so far this year. This total is an increase from 2024, when the MSDH reported 49 cases.
As of July 22, 2025, no related fatalities have been reported.
Most (76%) of this year's cases have occurred in children less than 18 years of age. Of the 73 age-eligible cases for pertussis vaccination, 28 were not vaccinated.
While cases have been reported statewide, 40% were identified in northeast Mississippi.
According to the U.S. CDC, reported cases of pertussis have increased across the United States. Preliminary data show that more than six times as many cases were reported in 2024 compared to 2023.
The CDC states that there's no distinct seasonal pattern to pertussis; however, past trends suggest that cases may increase in the summer and fall.
Pertussis is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets or contact with airborne droplets. Patients are considered infectious from the onset of symptoms until three weeks after the start of high-pitched coughing fits, or until they have completed five days of antibiotics.
Vaccination, one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against pertussis, is recommended for everyone. Two types of combination vaccines include protection against pertussis, as well as diphtheria and tetanus: DTaP and Tdap.
DTaP is recommended for younger children, while Tdap is recommended for older children, pregnant women, and adults.
Recommended treatment includes antibiotics within three weeks of cough onset in people 1 year of age and older, and within six weeks of cough onset in infants younger than 1 year old and pregnant women.
MSDH offers vaccinations to children and uninsured adults at county health departments. To make an appointment, visit msdh.ms.gov/pertussis or call (855) 767-0170.
As summer vacation season 2025 reaches a peak, the state of Florida recently reported that numerous individuals have been diagnosed with travel-related diseases in several counties.
As of July 12, 2025, Florida Department of Health confirmed Escambia and Miami-Dade counties remain under mosquito-borne illness alerts.
And St. Johns and Brevard counties have issued Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisories in 2025.
The diagnosed diseases in Florida include four travel-related cases of chikungunya. The countries of origin were Bolivia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
A total of 105 cases of dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, with 49 cases of DENV-4 originating from Cuba. Additionally, three locally acquired dengue cases (DEN-3, DENV-4) were reported in Miami-Dade (2) and Brevard (1) counties in 2025.
And 21 travel-related malaria cases have been confirmed in Florida, primarily in people visiting from Africa.
While not travel-related, four people in Florida have died from infections caused by the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as the "flesh-eating" bacterium, in 2025. Last year, 11 cases were confirmed.
From an alert perspective, no country has issued a Travel Health Advisory focused on the state of Florida as of July 21, 2025. However, routine and travel-related vaccines are recommended for many people.
In 2025, the United States reached an unfortunate milestone with a record number of measles cases, leading many patients to look for medication.
According to a press release issued today by NanoViricides, Inc., the company has made significant progress in developing a drug to combat measles.
On July 21, 2025, NanoViricides stated NV-387 showed strong antiviral effectiveness against the measles virus.
"NV-387 is on its way to become the very first drug to treat Measles," commented Anil R. Diwan, PhD, adding, "Measles cases are skyrocketing globally, and the world needs a drug."
NV-387 is a clinical-stage, broad-spectrum antiviral drug designed to act as a decoy for a cell, presenting to the virus the very features it requires for binding to the cell. Upon binding, the virus particle is destroyed, preventing infection.
While most measles cases can be prevented through vaccination, the percentage of the population that would not benefit from vaccination continues to increase due to chronic diseases and immunological deficiencies.
Thus, a treatment for measles is of paramount importance to the global health community.
Amidst the prime summer vacation season, the United States and United Kingdom have issued 'Do Not Travel' advisories for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
As of July 18, 2025, both countries reported that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has declared a nationwide State of Emergency. Anyone visiting this Caribbean vacation destination this summer should expect an increased police and military presence.
As a reminder, the U.S. Embassy advises government personnel to avoid traveling to areas such as Laventille (including Picadilly Street and Charlotte Street between Oxford Street and Park Street), Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah, and to refrain from visiting these places after dark.
If you plan to visit Trinidad and Tobago in 2025, the U.S. CDC recommends various routine and travel vaccinations, including those for measles, typhoid, and yellow fever. Travel vaccines are commercially offered at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
