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Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) today reported two new human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in Dallas County for 2023.
The patients are two male residents of the 75228 and 75204 zip codes in the City of Dallas. Both patients were diagnosed with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND.)
Due to privacy and confidentiality reasons, DCHHS does not disclose additional information about the patient.
As of July 28, 2023, there are four total human cases this year.
There were 42 cases of WNV in Texas and seven deaths in 2022. Over the last five years, Texas has had 485 cases and 65 deaths.
"Mosquito activity continues in our community, and we're now reporting two additional human cases of West Nile Virus. WNV is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, and people should be careful when going out outside to enjoy outdoor activities," said Dr. Philip Huang, DCHHS Director. "Please follow the 4 Ds to do everything you can to avoid mosquito bites," in a press release.
As of July 28, 2023, there were seven new mosquito sample pools: in Dallas, 75218, 75241, and 75243 (2 pools); Mesquite, 75150 (3 pools).
WNV is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, says the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Most people exposed to the virus don't get sick, but about 20% develop symptoms like headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue.
In a tiny proportion, less than 1%, the virus affects the nervous system, leading to the more severe WNND that can cause neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, and even death.
"It's important for people to be aware that there are many diseases transmitted by mosquitoes found in Texas," said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH, in a press release on July 11, 2023.
"Most of these diseases cause mild illness, but in rare instances, diseases like dengue or Zika can cause severe illness."
"We've even had a locally acquired malaria case in Texas this year, which underscores the importance of taking precautions to prevent mosquito bites."
As of July 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved a WNV vaccine.
While various measles outbreaks continue globally, one country just reported some great news.
The Republic of South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) today announced in the past week, as of July 22, 2023, only one laboratory-confirmed measles case was detected from the Western Cape province.
And the Limpopo province, the year-long measles hot spot, is currently completing a mop-up vaccination campaign.
The outbreak is effectively over, said the NICD in a media release on July 28, 2023.
However, the percentage of samples testing positive increased from (0/19) in week 28 to (1/12.) of samples tested in week 29.
The NICD has tested 6,541 serum samples for measles since epidemiological week 40, 2022, of which 1,115 (17%) were confirmed positive.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the top ten measles outbreaks as of July 18, 2023, were led by India, with 67,592 cases.
To alert international travelers, the CDC published a global Watch-Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice on June 29, 2023, regarding measles outbreaks in Africa and other countries.
Measles cases worldwide increased by about 80% during 2022 compared with 2021.
And the CDC recently reported 18 measles cases in twelve jurisdictions in 2023. Last year, there were 121 measles cases in six U.S. jurisdictions.
According to recent news from the World Health Organization (WHO), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks were found in a few countries in the Region of the Americas.
The WHO's Influenza Update N° 449, published on July 7, 2023, RSV activity was increasing in a few temperate South American countries.
Separately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently offered insights into when the U.S. could expect RSV to be detected in 2023.
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report presented the seasonality of RSV in the U.S. from 2017–2023. The most recent RSV season onset occurred in June and peaked in November.
Across both prepandemic and pandemic years, RSV circulation in the U.S. began in Florida, then in the southeast, and later in the north and west regions.
The CDC says Florida's RSV season is longer than the rest of the U.S.
For this reason, the Florida Department of Health segmented reports into five RSV regions, each with its own RSV season. As of July 22, 2023, there were no RSV outbreaks in Florida.
From a prevention perspective, the U.S. FDA recently approved RSV vaccines and a second monoclonal antibody therapy for children.
The U.S. NIH’s Carl Dieffenbach, Ph.D., Director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke with Louis Shackelford, MPH, on July 25, 2023, about HIV vaccine studies being discussed at IAS 2023 and potential roles for broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs).
Noting it is an exciting time in HIV vaccine research, Carl explained that scientists are exploring how to take what we have learned about bNAbs, which prevented the acquisition of some HIV strains, and turn that into an HIV vaccine.
In addition, Carl and Louis discussed how bNAbs are being studied for use in HIV treatment and even, possibly, a cure.
Previous research indicates that bNAbs may also activate other immune cells to help destroy HIV-infected cells.
And a study published in February 2022 identified an additional antiviral activity of bNAbs, which block HIV-1 release by tethering viral particles at the surface of infected cells.
View and listen to their conversation at the International AIDS Society’s 12th Conference on HIV Science in Germany at this YouTube link.
As of July 27, 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved any HIV vaccine candidate.
Merck today announced positive topline results from two Phase 3 trials evaluating V116, the company's investigational 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in vaccine-naïve and previously vaccinated individuals.
In both studies, V116 had a safety profile comparable to the comparator in the studies.
Results from the STRIDE-3 clinical trial demonstrated statistically significant immune responses compared to PCV20 (pneumococcal 20-valent conjugate vaccine) in vaccine-naïve adults for serotypes common to both vaccines as assessed by serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) 30 days post-vaccination.
Positive immune responses were also observed for serotypes unique to V116.
Additionally, results from STRIDE-6 demonstrated that V116 was immunogenic for all 21 pneumococcal serotypes in the vaccine among adults who previously received a pneumococcal vaccine at least one year before the study.
If approved, V116 would be the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine designed for adults, says Merck.
Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development, and chief medical officer of Merck Research Laboratories, said in a press release on July 27, 2023, "These results support the potential for V116 to become an important new preventative option for adults, regardless of prior pneumococcal vaccination status, by expanding coverage to include eight serotypes not currently included in any licensed vaccine."
According to pre-pandemic 2019 U.S. CDC data, the 21 serotypes covered by V116 are responsible for 85% of invasive pneumococcal disease in individuals 65 and older.
V116 includes eight serotypes not currently covered by approved pneumococcal vaccines.
Serotypes unique to V116 include 15A, 15C, 16F, 23A, 23B, 24F, 31, and 35B, which were responsible for approximately 30% of invasive pneumococcal disease in individuals 65 and older, based on pre-pandemic 2019 U.S. CDC data.
Anixa Biosciences, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Allowance broadening protection of Anixa's novel ovarian cancer vaccine technology, which has been exclusively licensed from, and is being developed in partnership with The Cleveland Clinic.
This ovarian cancer vaccine targets the extracellular domain of anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2-ED), which is expressed in the ovaries but disappears as a woman reaches and advances through menopause.
However, AMHR2-ED is expressed again in the majority of ovarian cancers.
Dr. Amit Kumar, Chairman and CEO of Anixa, stated in a press release on July 27, 2023, "We are pleased to receive this notice of allowance from the USPTO, providing additional protection for our ovarian cancer vaccine technology, including a possible mRNA vaccine."
"Preclinical work to advance the vaccine is ongoing with support from the PREVENT Program at the National Cancer Institute, which supports preclinical innovative interventions and biomarkers for cancer prevention and interception."
The patent is titled "Ovarian Cancer Vaccines" and covers nucleic acid-based vaccine delivery. The late Dr. Vincent Tuohy of The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio is the lead inventor.
As of July 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved an ovarian cancer vaccine.
Silvia Licciulli, Ph.D., wrote on June 7, 2023, the concept of using vaccination to eradicate cancer by instructing the immune system to eliminate malignant cells has been pursued for decades with little success.
To be successful, cancer vaccine approaches must overcome significant hurdles, including low immunogenicity and the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment.
With several recent incidents reported in Irish media, the U.S. Embassy in Dublin reminded U.S. citizens on July 25, 2023, to exercise good personal security practices while traveling abroad.
For example, an older Buffalo, New York musician was abused last week during an unprovoked assault near Store Street Garda station.
The U.S. Embassy Dublin encourages all citizens to be aware of their surroundings, especially when traveling in unfamiliar places, crowded locations, empty streets, or at night in July 2023.
U.S. Embassy in Ireland can be contacted at +353 1 668-8777 or [email protected].
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State reissued a Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions travel advisory of Ireland on July 26, 2023.
The State Department says if you decide to travel to Ireland, visitors should participate in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts during an emergency.
From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC suggests speaking with a healthcare provider one month before visiting Ireland to ensure you are fully immunized against routine and travel diseases.
GSK plc today announced Shingrix®, a vaccine against herpes zoster (shingles), had achieved a U.S. cumulative immunization rate that grew from 30% at the end of 2022 and has now reached 32% at the end of Q1'23.
And sales increased in the second quarter of 2023, reaching 880 million pounds (about $1.1 billion).
However, U.S. sales declined 10% in the quarter, impacted by unfavorable wholesaler and distributor inventory movements plus lower non-retail demand partly offset by strong retail growth and pricing.
On October 20, 2017, the U.S. FDA authorized Shingrix.
Furthermore, Shingrix is now available in 33 countries, with recent additions in India and Japan.
Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, GSK said in a press release on July 26, 2023, "We have made a strong start to 2023, with excellent performance across Vaccines, Specialty and General Medicines."
"We are very focused on our upcoming launches, including our potential RSV older adult vaccine, and on continuing to strengthen our pipeline – both organically with several positive late-stage read-outs already this year, and through targeted business development."
In the U.S., the CDC says an estimated 1 million people get shingles yearly. If you've ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles. Even children can get shingles. Your risk of shingles increases as you get older.
GSK says people should not receive Shingrix if they are allergic to its ingredients or have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of Shingrix.
