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The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on March 17, 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government reported a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in a 39-year-old man who owns a camel farm.
The WHO explained the 39-year-old national reported a history of close contact with dromedary camels at his farm in the 14 days before the onset of symptoms. No travel history was reported during the same period. The patient is in stable condition and was treated a the Shiekh Khalifa Medical Center laboratory in Abu Dhabi.
The first MERS-CoV case in the UAE was reported in July 2013. Since then, 92 cases of MERS-CoV (including the current case) and 12 associated deaths have been reported in the UAE.
The WHO continued clarifying, 'MERS-CoV has demonstrated limited ability to transmit between humans. So far, the observed non-sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred mainly in health care settings.'
Furthermore, the WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry concerning this MERS event nor does it currently recommend applying any travel or trade restrictions.'
The beta coronavirus that causes MERS is a viral, often fatal, respiratory illness in humans. MERS is a zoonotic coronavirus, and the source of the virus remains unknown, says the U.S. CDC.
There are several MERS vaccines in a clinical study, but no vaccine candidate has been authorized as of March 18, 2021.
Seqirus Canada announced today that Health Canada had approved Flucelvax Quadrivalent, its cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc), for people two years of age and older.
Health Canada had previously approved Flucelvax for use in persons nine years of age and older.
Flucelvax's expanded age indication is based on absolute efficacy data indicating the flu shot was effective and produced a sufficient immune response against influenza in children and adolescents between ≥2 to <18 years of age over three influenza seasons in the Southern (2017) and Northern (2017/18 and 2018/19) Hemispheres compared to a non-influenza comparator.
This data represents the first absolute efficacy study of a cell-based influenza vaccine in this population.
"Young children are at a high risk of complications from influenza, so annual vaccination is critical," stated Dr. Rupesh Chawla, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist.
The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) agrees with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendation of using a quadrivalent vaccine containing two strains of influenza A and both lineages of influenza B for children and adolescents, as influenza B causes more mortality and morbidity in children than in adults. CPS encourages annual influenza vaccinations for all children and youth six months of age or older.
As of March 6, 2021, Health Canda stated 'there has been no evidence of community circulation of influenza despite continued testing above seasonal levels. Influenza activity has remained below the threshold required to declare the start of the 2020-21 influenza season.'
Seqirus is a significant contributor to influenza prevention globally and a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness. With state-of-the-art production facilities in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia and leading R&D capabilities, Seqirus utilizes egg, cell, and adjuvant technologies to offer a broad portfolio of differentiated influenza vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world.
The American Academy of Pediatrics published a study on March 12, 2021 that offers insights into the actual costs generated during a measles outbreak in the USA. During 2018 and 2019, various cities reported measles outbreaks that revealed a significant under-vaccination of children.
From January to December 31, 2019, the U.S. CDC confirmed 1,282 individual measles cases were in 31 states.
In New York City, 94% (101 of 108) of the early measles infections in unvaccinated children.
The measles cases in the USA and across the globe underscore the need to more fully understand the societal cost of measles cases and outbreaks and the economic consequences, said these researchers.
This study found the 2019 Clark County, WA, measles outbreak's overall societal cost was about $3.4 million ($47,479 per case, 76 cases).
The majority of the costs (∼$2.3 million) were incurred by the local public health response to the measles outbreak, followed by productivity losses (∼$1.0 million) and direct medical costs (∼$76 000).
'Our estimates can provide valuable inputs for policymakers and public health stakeholders as they consider budget determinations and the substantial value associated with increasing vaccine coverage and outbreak preparedness as well as the protection of society against vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, which are readily preventable with high vaccination coverage,' concluded this study.
The CDC says two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. Children may also get the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
This measles vaccine is only licensed for use in children who are 12 months through 12 years of age.
A previous study published by PNAS stated 'recent epidemics demonstrate the global threat of Zika virus, a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes. There are concerns for designing a safe vaccine for the Zika virus because antibodies (Abs) elicited against Zika may also bind flaviviruses that share a similar envelope protein.
If Abs elicited by a Zika vaccine bind but do not effectively neutralize other flaviviruses, they may enhance virus entry into cells through the process of Ab-dependent enhancement of infection, potentially leading to more severe disease.
By directly comparing how mature Zika-neutralizing Abs and their germline precursors bind different flaviviruses, these researchers provide insights into the Ab maturation process and the molecular interactions important for strong, neutralizing binding to Zika versus weak, cross-reactive binding to other flaviviruses.
To better understand the neutralizing Ab response and risk of Ab-dependent enhancement, further information on germline Ab binding to ZIKV and the maturation process that gives rise to potently neutralizing Abs is needed.
This study used binding and structural studies to compare mature and inferred-germline Ab binding to envelope protein domain III of ZIKV and other flaviviruses. It shows that the light-chain variable domain's affinity maturation is important for strong binding of the recurrent VH3-23/VK1-5 neutralizing Abs to ZIKV envelope protein domain III and identify interacting residues that contribute to weak, cross-reactive binding to West Nile virus.
These findings provide insight into the affinity maturation process and potential cross-reactivity of VH3-23/VK1-5 neutralizing Abs, informing precautions for protein-based vaccines designed to elicit germline versions of neutralizing Abs.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed the Delhi High Court on March 17, 2021, that action is being taken against airline passengers not wearing masks properly. The newly published DGCA guidelines clarify that an airline passenger could be deemed an ‘Unruly-Passenger after repeated warnings.'
"Onboard the aircraft, in case any passenger does not adhere to wearing of mask properly after repeated warning or violates the 'Covid-19 Protocol for passengers', such passenger may be treated as an 'Unruly Passenger,' as defined by the Civil Aviation Requirements.
"In certain cases, Unruly Passengers would be ‘handed over to security agencies, and if required, dealt with by law.’
Furthermore, the new DGCA guidelines extend to 'appropriate mask-wearing and social distancing' when people enter a terminal, while inside, and at the airplane boarding gate.
One airline intends to comply with the DGCA’s new guidelines fully. Air India now notifies its customers on its website, ‘All passengers must wear face mask properly at all times during air travel.’
And the Delhi Airport announced new COVID-19 testing protocols for domestic travelers from five Indian states, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. These travelers need to submit negative PCR test reports before entering the airport.
As of March 18, 2021, the Delhi Airport says, 'In the interest of safety, visitors are discouraged from coming to the airport.'
The Canadian government has implemented travel restrictions across all ports of entry to limit the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Canada. All travelers must provide travel, contact, and quarantine information upon and after entry into Canada.
Canada's Government has moved to a faster, paperless process to help provinces and territories protect their citizens. As of February 22, 2021, all travelers, with limited exceptions, whether entering Canada by air or land, must use a digital app known as ArriveCAN.
Additionally, on March 9, 2021, Canada launched an online screener requesting prospective visitors answer a few questions to determine if they may be allowed to enter Canada. However, the screener provides information only.
If you are traveling as a group, this should be completed for each person.
Information in this tool is based on the Orders in Council (OIC) in effect and is subject to change according to effective dates. For more information, consult COVID-19 Emergency OICs in effect.
The final determination on entry and quarantine is made by a government representative at the port of entry based on the information presented at the time of entry.
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) recently published a substantive review of vaccines targeting seniors. The proportion of the global population aged 65 and older is rapidly increasing. Moreover, infections in this age group, most recently with SARS-CoV-2, cause substantial morbidity and mortality.
This BMJ review says 'influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumococcal infections cause significant morbidity and potentially mortality, in aging people. Vaccines protecting against these diseases have long been available. However, the efficacy and persistence of immunity are suboptimal, especially in over 70 years of age.
Vaccine efficacy can be improved, as was demonstrated by the 90% efficacy of the recently approved recombinant zoster vaccine.
And since influenza infection may mimic or synergize with COVID-19 infection, optimal coverage of older populations with enhanced influenza vaccines is essential to reducing health risks.
The full BMJ review summarizes the evidence on vaccines against influenza, pneumococcal disease, and herpes zoster and identifies potential directions for future vaccine research.
