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The first participant recently received a dose of a Zika virus vaccine candidate in a phase 1 clinical trial conducted by the University of Liverpool at the Clinical Research Facility within the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
This study is essential since Zika remains an ongoing threat, with thousands of cases of the mosquito-borne virus reported annually, in countries such as Brazil, Belize, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Bolivia.
And in 2023, Puerto Rico reported 21 probable Zika cases.
And pregnant women continue at the highest risk for the infection as the virus can cause severe fetal congenital disabilities, such as microcephaly, a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected.
It's hoped that the vaccine, designed to be suitable for use during pregnancy, wrote these researchers on May 2, 2023.
“Zika should not be forgotten, especially since climate change contributes to the spread of the Aedes mosquitoes to countries without immunity. Vaccines like ours will enable us to be better prepared for the next Zika outbreak,” commented Dr. Krishanthi Subramaniam in a press release on April 27, 2023.
The vaccine originates from a 2016 Zika Rapid Response grant awarded to Dr. Tom Blanchard and colleagues at the University of Manchester in collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency.
Dr, Blanchard has since developed several iterations to enhance the vaccine's effectiveness and manufacturing scale-up.
Liverpool researchers have been driving this project forward since 2017. The team has used an approach to develop a vaccine based on studies to understand immunity to Zika and other related viruses.
As of May 11, 2023, there are no U.S. FDA-approved Zika vaccines.
The recent Aboviral Diseases Report of the Puerto Rico Department of Health indicates the Zika virus has returned in 2023.
As of May 5, 2023, Report #17 data indicates 21 probable Zika cases were confirmed in 2023.
Since its first detection in March 2014, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has confirmed local transmission of Zika in all countries and territories in the Region of the Americas, except for continental Chile, Uruguay, and Canada.
In 2022, Barbados had the highest Zika incidence and case fatality rate. Other Zika outbreak countries were Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
Zika is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, says the PAHO. About 25% of infected people may develop symptoms. The illness is usually mild, lasting between two and seven days.
However, the Puerto Rico Department of Health and the U.S. CDC surveyed women who gave birth to infants from August to December 2016.
This survey determined there are no known ways to prevent the adverse effects of Zika infection during pregnancy.
One is Microcephaly, a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected.
As of May 11, 2023, there are no approved vaccines to prevent Zika infections.
The Republic of Costa Rica Ministry of Health continues to monitor work on dengue cases in different areas such as Sarapiquí and Río Cuarto.
As of May 9, 2023, epidemiological week #16, a total of 1,179 cases of dengue were reported, with the Huetar Caribe and Central Sur regions presenting the most cases.
Given the previous declaration of a dengue outbreak by the North Central Region, a total of seven officers were displaced to work in the town of Santa Rita and Río Cuarto to assist with fumigation efforts.
Costa Rica was included in the U.S. CDC's recent dengue outbreak travel advisory for the Americas.
Almost half of the world's population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with a risk of dengue. Moreover, dengue is often a leading cause of illness in high-risk areas, says the U.S. CDC.
Dengue is caused by one of four related viruses. For this reason, people can be infected with dengue multiple times in their life.
Approximately 1 in 20 patients with dengue virus disease progress to develop a severe, life-threatening disease called severe dengue.
Dengue vaccines are approved and available in certain countries as of May 11, 2023.
Additional Costa Rica disease outbreak news is posted by Vax-Before-Travel.
The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the Fifth Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the Multi-Country Outbreak of Mpox decided to end the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
As of May 11, 2023, data sources indicate about 87,000 Mpox cases have been confirmed globally, with 30,395 cases and 42 related fatalities in the U.S. since early May 2022.
The WHO committee stated having considered the significant decline in the global spread of mpox and the gains achieved in the control of the outbreak in many countries; the Committee advised that the event requires a transition from a PHEIC to a robust, proactive and sustainable mpox response and control program.
The Committee emphasized the need for long-term attention and support, including financial aid, particularly for countries where Mpox occurs regularly, and advised that Standing Recommendations would now be a more appropriate tool to manage the immediate, short, and long-term public health risks posed by Mpox.
In the U.S., an initial Mpox outbreak was declared in August 2022. On October 27, 2022, the Mpox public health emergency in San Francisco ended, followed by New York City in November 2022.
And on January 31, 2023, the U.S. HHS did not renew the Mpox public health emergency declaration.
However, recent Mpox outbreaks have been reported in Chicago.
Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously approved vaccines can prevent certain sexually transmitted diseases such as Mpox.
And the oral TPOXX® (Tecovirimat) treatment remains available in the U.S.
The Kingdom of Lesotho recently confirmed a measles outbreak in the capital city of Maseru, which has a population of over 300,000.
In response, through the Maseru District Health Management Team, the Ministry of Health launched a measles vaccination campaign in mid-April 2023.
Measles is a severe disease that can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines.
Lesotho is located in the country of South Africa, which has been reporting measles outbreaks in 2023.
South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported in April the percentage of samples testing positive for measles remained at 27%.
Unfortunately, the Mountain Kingdom's 2022 measles vaccination campaign turnout was about 33% in 2022.
Before 2019, Lesotho had gone about ten years without a measles outbreak.
Measles outbreak news and alerts are posted by Vax-Before-Travel.
Vakzine Projekt Management GmbH (VPM) today announced the successful licensing of the novel R21/Matrix-MTM Malaria Vaccine by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority.
On May 10, 2023, VPM confirmed in a press release that the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine has emerged as the most effective vaccine against malaria.
This innovative malaria vaccine was initially developed by the lab research team of Adrian Hill, Director of the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute.
Based on available clinical data in 2023, the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine's efficacy is greater than 75%, far above the effectiveness of the other approved malaria vaccine, Mosquirix™ (RTS,S/AS01).
Notably, the manufacturing capacity of 200 million doses/year by SII will increase the current supply capacities by >20-fold globally.
Malaria is one of the leading causes of pediatric morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. And that children under five account for approximately 80% of all malaria-related fatalities, says the WHO Africa.
Four African countries accounted for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), the United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%), and Niger (3.9%).
And in the Northern Hemisphere, Costa Rica recently reported 105 positive malaria cases.
Malaria outbreak news is posted by Vax-Before-Travel.
Sinovac Biotech Ltd. today announced it would provide its CoronaVac® vaccine to self-paying groups in Hong Kong and confirmed a donation plan.
Additionally, the company will collaborate with local charity groups to provide donations, giving more children in Hong Kong access to free its inactivated original strains COVID-19 vaccine.
On March 31, 2023, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced that beginning April 20, 2023, high-risk groups would be able to receive free doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Whereas low-risk groups, including children, can only receive their vaccines via the private market through self-pay.
"SINOVAC's ongoing fight against COVID-19 is based on our mission to 'supply vaccines to eliminate human diseases,'" said Yin Weidong, Chairman, President, and CEO of SINOVAC, in a press release on May 10, 2023.
"From developing the COVID-19 vaccine to obtaining market approvals, from the first CoronaVac® shipment landing in Hong Kong 800 days ago to the rollout of a massive public vaccination program, SINOVAC and Hong Kong have taken steps together to emerge from the shadows of the pandemic."
CoronaVac® is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be used in children from as young as three years old, under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use List.
As of March 2023, CoronaVac® has been authorized for use in more than 60 countries, regions, and international organizations. But not in the U.S.
The cumulative global vaccine supply exceeds 2.9 billion doses.
