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Since the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season began in the United States in Florida last year and peaked over the winter months, pregnant women have had two immunization options available to protect their future infants.
In August 2023, the CDC recommended Beyfortus™ (Nirsevimab-alip), a single-dose, long-acting monoclonal antibody offering passive immunization, to protect infants aged <8 months against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in their first RSV season.
The other option is maternal vaccination.
On March 7, 2023, the U.S. CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report offered encouraging news.
The CDC confirmed that Beyfortus was 90% (95% CI = 75%–96%) effective against RSV-associated hospitalization in infants in their first RSV season.
However, Beyfortus's effectiveness is expected to decrease after receipt because of antibody decay.
In clinical trials, nirsevimab remained highly efficacious against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants through 150 days, consistent with an extended half-life of 63–73 days.
This early estimate supports the current CDC recommendation for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants.
As of January 2024, among females with an infant <8 months, 40.5% reported that their infant received nirsevimab. An additional 21.7% said that they plan to get nirsevimab for their infant.
The year 2024 has already witnessed a resurgence of measles outbreaks in cities across the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed that 45 cases of measles have been reported by 17 jurisdictions, including the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
After a brief pause, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed another case of measles in a resident at a new arrivals shelter in Pilsen, Illinois, on March 8, 2024.
The initial measles case was reported yesterday.
Illinois had five measles cases in 2023. Those cases were the first in the state since 2019.
As of today, CDPH is asking all shelter residents at 2241 S. Halsted St. to remain in place until it can be determined whether they are vaccinated against measles and, therefore, immune to the infectious disease.
Those who are vaccinated can do their regular business, while those who have not been vaccinated must remain indoors to watch for symptoms.
However, all unvaccinated residents (number not disclosed) will be screened for symptoms and offered the measles vaccine.
While most Chicagoans were vaccinated in childhood and, therefore, are not at high risk, anyone who is unvaccinated against measles should do so as soon as possible.
Under Illinois law, the MMR vaccine is available at most doctor’s offices and pharmacies, and children as young as ten can get vaccinated at community pharmacies.
For more information on measles please visit the CDPH web site.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today reported a significant surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe.
The latest Annual Epidemiological Reports on STIs in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), published on March 7, 2024, reveal a sharp increase in reported STI cases in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Gonorrhea cases rose by a staggering 48%, syphilis by 34%, and chlamydia by 16%. This is a concerning trend that requires immediate action to prevent further escalation, wrote the ECDC.
ECDC Director Andrea Ammon expressed deep concern over the rising STI rates in a press release: "Addressing the substantial increases in STI cases demands urgent attention and concerted efforts."
"Testing, treatment, and prevention lie at the heart of any long-term strategy."
While no approved vaccines for these STIs exist, the United Kingdom (U.K.) has launched an innovative immunization program targeting gonorrhea.
In 2023, the U.K.'s JCVI considered the evidence presented regarding program cost-effectiveness and likely impact on gonorrhea epidemiology.
The committee agreed that a targeted program should be initiated using the 4CMenB vaccine (Bexsero®) to prevent gonorrhea in those at most significant risk of infection.
It is essential for individuals offered vaccination to understand that real-world studies have estimated that the 4CMenB vaccine is effective against gonorrhea between 32.7% and 42%.
Therefore, although vaccination would be expected to reduce the chance of becoming infected with gonorrhea, it would not eliminate the possibility.
Vaccinated individuals could expect to have some reduction in their own risk of contracting gonorrhea.
However, the JVCI wrote that the main benefit of a vaccination program is expected to be at the community level, with a significant reduction in the overall number of cases.
According to an article published by MIT News, a new study shows metal-organic particles can both deliver vaccines and act as an adjuvant to generate a strong immune response at a lower dose.
Anne Trafton wrote on March 6, 2024, that many vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B and whooping cough, consist of fragments of viral or bacterial proteins.
These vaccines often include other molecules called adjuvants, which help to boost the immune system’s response to the protein.
Most of these adjuvants consist of aluminum salts or other molecules that provoke a nonspecific immune response.
A team of MIT researchers has now shown that a type of nanoparticle called a metal-organic framework can also provoke a strong immune response by activating the innate immune system — the body’s first line of defense against any pathogen — through cell proteins called toll-like receptors.
The unedited article is posted at the MIT News link.
AstraZeneca today announced plans to invest £650 million in the United Kingdom (UK), helping boost the UK's Life Sciences sector and grow the economy.
On March 6, 2024, AstraZeneca confirmed it intends to invest £450 million to research, develop, and manufacture vaccines in Speke, Liverpool. The facility will be operationally net zero, with power supplied from renewable energy sources.
A further £200 million investment announced to expand AstraZeneca's presence in Cambridge, employing potentially 1,000 people.
In a government press release, AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Sir Pascal Soriot said, "AstraZeneca's planned investment would enhance the UK's pandemic preparedness and demonstrate our ongoing confidence in UK life sciences."
"We will continue to support the UK in driving innovation and patient access, building on the strong foundations which have been put in place."
AstraZeneca's investment decision is contingent upon mutual agreement with the UK Government and third parties, and successful completion of regulatory processes. Any final commitment is not solely subject to AstraZeneca's discretion.
Currently, AstraZeneca produces vaccines targeting influenza and RSV.
ImmunityBio today announced the recent publication of preclinical data in the online issue of Science, First Release. The data indicate that combination therapy with N-803, an IL-15 superagonist, and broadly neutralizing antibodies may potentially enable the immune system to manage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) without the need for antiretroviral treatment.
The preclinical non-human primate study funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases demonstrated that using N-803, in combination with broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), led to sustained viral control after discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in ART-suppressed rhesus macaques infected with simian-human immunodeficiency virus AD8 (SHIV-AD8).
Treatment with N-803 and bNAbs led to immune activation and transient viremia but only limited reductions in the SHIV reservoir.
Upon ART discontinuation, all animals experienced viral rebound, followed by long-term virus control for up to 10 months in approximately 70% of those treated with N-803 and bNAbs.
“The viral reservoir in people with HIV is established within the first few days of infection and cannot be eliminated by the body’s immune system or currently available treatments, representing a significant obstacle in curing an established HIV infection,” said James B. Whitney, M.D., study author and researcher at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, in a press release on March 6, 2024.
“When combined with broadly neutralizing antibodies, N-803 has the potential to provide viral control without significant reduction in the viral reservoir, which further suggests that the complete eradication of this reservoir may not be required to induce sustained remission after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy.”
Following on from and directly attributable to these preclinical results, two clinical trials were designed to investigate the ability of N-803 and bNAbs to reduce viral loads in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy.
As of March 2024, these clinical studies are actively enrolling participants.
African countries with the highest burden of malaria have vowed to take bold action to end deaths from this mosquito-transmitted disease.
The African region is home to countries reporting approximately 70% of malaria outbreaks: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The Health Ministers have committed to addressing the threat of malaria in the African region, which accounts for a staggering 95% of malaria deaths worldwide.
They signed a declaration on March 6, 2024.... “No one shall die from malaria”... committing to providing decisive leadership and increased domestic funding for malaria control.
In 2022, $4.1 billion was available for malaria response.
“This declaration reflects our shared commitment as nations and partners to protect our people from the devastating consequences of malaria. We will work together to ensure that this commitment is translated into action and impact,” said Hon Manaouda Malachie, Minister for Health of Cameroon, in a WHO press release.
This commitment will ensure the fight against malaria is sustained and equitable, leaving no one behind.
Globally, the number of malaria cases in 2022 reached 249 million.
Malaria is now a vaccine-preventable disease.
The World Health Organization recommended the Mosquirix™ malaria vaccine in 2021. In 2023, the R21 / Matrix-M™ vaccine was WHO-approved for use in certain countries.
As of March 6, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved either malaria vaccine.
