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According to the updated Annual Antrax Epidemiological Report, this rare Zoonotic disease continues to be detected in humans in Europe.
From 2018 to 2021, EU/EEA countries reported 11 confirmed cases.
However, for 2022, the Republic of Croatia reported seventeen anthrax cases (eight confirmed, nine probable), Romania reported three cases, and Spain reported two. And there were no fatalities in any of these countries.
The large outbreak of anthrax in cattle in Croatia was associated with human cases.
All confirmed cases for which information was provided presented with cutaneous anthrax (N=4) after exposure to farm animals (N=3) and were domestically acquired (N=4).
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated on January 22, 2025, that spore-forming bacteria cause anthrax and is not spread from person to person.
The most at-risk populations for developing anthrax are those who are in close contact with animals and potentially contaminated animal products and those who live in endemic areas.
The ECDC says vaccines against anthrax are available and are approved in some EU/EEA countries. Guidelines recommend vaccination for people at risk, such as veterinarians, abattoir workers, those working with animal hides or furs, laboratory workers, and armed forces members in areas with a high risk of exposure.
In addition to pre-exposure prophylaxis with vaccines, the anthrax vaccine is also recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration approved the anthrax vaccine (Emergent BioSolutions, CYFENDUS™), recommended for most adults at risk of exposure to anthrax bacteria.
It is also recommended for unvaccinated people of all ages who have been exposed to anthrax. These people should get three doses of anthrax vaccine together with recommended antibiotic drugs.
In the U.S., anthrax vaccines are not generally available at pharmacies.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently published recommended actions for response regarding respiratory viruses and preventive vaccines during the 2025 winter season.
On January 24, 2025, the ECDC stated that primary and secondary care consultation rates have increased in several countries recently and that significant respiratory virus activity is occurring in Europe.
Seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics are ongoing.
All indicators point to widespread high influenza activity in the EU/EEA, albeit some countries are now observing slightly decreasing trends in test positivity following a peak in transmission.
In recent weeks, RSV activity decreased overall at the EU/EEA level, although the country-level picture remains mixed.
The ECDC says 'vaccination is the most effective measure to protect against more severe forms of viral respiratory diseases. Those eligible for vaccination, particularly those at higher risk of severe outcomes, are encouraged to get vaccinated.'
According to Stattista, Europe accounts for over half of international tourist arrivals worldwide, with inbound arrivals exceeding 700 million in 2023.
As of January 26, 2025, the U.S. CDC and the ECDC encourage international travelers to be updated on travel vaccines relevant to their pending trip abroad.
A recent study confirmed the protection provided by two doses of the Hecolin® Hepatitis E vaccine, even during an epidemic, and the reduction in the incidence of the disease.
"Our results and others helped lead to recent approval by WHO's International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision of a stockpile of hepatitis E vaccines for emergencies, stated Andrew Azman, an epidemiologist at the UNIGE-HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, MSF and JHU, who led this research published by The Lancet, in a press release on January 14, 2025.
Hepatitis E, stemming from the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is a widespread liver ailment, contributing to around 20 million cases. Its impact is notably more severe in developing nations like India and Bangladesh than in developed nations.
Hepatitis E is a viral infection that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, with a mortality rate of up to 10-50%. Vertical transmission rates of the virus range from 27% to 78%.
"Symptoms of hepatitis E are similar to other diseases that cause acute jaundice, making it difficult to detect. While we don't have precise global burden estimates, some have put it at around 50,000 fatalities yearly," explains Azman.
"This (ICG) stockpile has the potential to save many lives, and we're looking forward to seeing it put into action. These results have also already contributed to the WHO recommendations on using a two-dose schedule", concluded Azman.
The Hecolin vaccine was licensed in some countries in 2011 and is typically given in three doses.
Since 2015, the World Health Organization has recommended its use in outbreak settings.
In the United States, hepatitis E is relatively underexplored, and vaccine development for this disease has not been a priority.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued an Alert that waives any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
Effective January 22, 2025, the USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination. This U.S. policy has been in place since October 2021.
Furthermore, the USCIS updated policy will not deny any adjustment of status application based on the applicant's failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
However, applications must show proof of standard vaccinations for other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio and measles, recommended by the U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices.
As of January 25, 2025, updated vaccine passport information is posted by Vax-Before-Travel News.
The Kingdom of Morocco has had a measles outbreak since September 2023. According to health officials, about 25,000 measles cases and 120 related fatalities have been reported in the northwest African country as of early 2025.
In January 2025 alone, the Ministry of Health reported over 3,000 measles cases.
Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas informed HESPRESS that most fatalities have occurred among children under five and older adults.
Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at Morocco's Ministry of Health and Social Protection, described the situation as an epidemic, citing the unprecedented spread of the disease. "We previously recorded just three to four cases annually."
At a press briefing, Baitas urged parents and civil society groups to support the vaccination campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. "Vaccination remains the most effective way to combat such diseases."
The Health Ministry confirmed measles vaccination campaigns would continue in 2025.
Morocco is one of the leading destinations for international tourists traveling to Africa. It surpasses Egypt, with about 17 million visitors last year.
As of 2024, Morocco is not listed by the U.S. CDC's Global Measles Travel Health Advisory, identifying 59 other countries.
The CDC recommends that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine, including an early dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months.
Following a disheartening 2024, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan recently reported three new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) patients.
As of January 22, 2025, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) confirmed that these WPV1 cases were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
Last year, 73 WPV1 patients were confirmed.
Of these, 27 were from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 from Sindh, and one from Punjab and Islamabad.
Pakistan's National Emergency Operations Centre recently wrote, 'Considering the intense polio outbreak, parents must ensure vaccination for all their children under five to protect them.'
Polio remains a vaccine-preventable but paralyzing disease that has no cure.
There are three serotypes of wild poliovirus. Immunity to one serotype does not confer immunity to the other two.
Type 2 wild poliovirus was declared eradicated in 2015, and type 3 was declared eradicated in 2019. Only type 1 wild poliovirus remains in 2025.
In late December 2024, the GPEI wrote, 'This resurgence of the virus underscores that there is no room for error in an eradication program. To stop wild poliovirus in its last frontier of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the program is working to strengthen cross-border coordination and deliver a broader range of health interventions alongside polio vaccines.'
In 2023, Pakistan reported over 900,000 visitors, a new record for international tourist arrivals.
To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC reissued a Global Polio Travel Health Advisory on January 14, 2025. The CDC says adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series before traveling to any destination listed may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.
In the U.S., polio vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.
