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Pakistan's Polio Eradication Programme recently stated it is focused on eliminating polio in 2023 by continuing to conduct extensive vaccination programs.
Pakistan launched its first nationwide anti-polio campaign in 2023 to immunize children under the age of five against the crippling disease.
Pakistan has repeatedly come close to eradicating polio, but long-running propaganda in conservative rural areas that the vaccines cause sterility in children has set back the mission, reported VOA in January 2023.
This goal is within reach as only 20 wild poliovirus type 1 cases were reported in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2022.
Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system of children.
For a summary of polio-related activities in Pakistan for the last two weeks, take a look at the latest National Emergency Operations Centre newsletter.
Pakistan is included in the U.S. CDC's Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions polio travel advisory issued in 2023.
The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently reported surveillance data shows laboratory reports of norovirus are 66% higher than the average at this time of year.
As of February 9, 2023, the most significant increase in norovirus has been seen in those aged 65 years and over.
While high numbers of cases in this age group are expected at this time of year, these levels haven't been seen in over a decade, says the UKHSA.
Norovirus is highly infectious and quickly spread through contact with someone with the infection or contaminated surfaces.
In response to the increase in cases, UKHSA is reminding the public of the actions they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus.
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of norovirus is by practicing good hand hygiene.
Most people will fully recover within 2 to 3 days.
Still, it is essential to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially for the very young, elderly, or those with weakened immune systems, which are more at risk.
The U.S. CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. As of mid-February 2023, various norovirus outbreaks have been reported to the CDC.
And the list of Cruise Ship Inspection scoring 100 was updated in January 2023.
As of February 20, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved a norovirus vaccine.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. recently announced that it is obtaining an exclusive license from Columbia University in New York for the development of a portfolio of fully human (TNX-3600) and murine (TNX-4100) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment or prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The Company believes that murine mAbs, such as TNX-4100, have the potential to generate high-affinity antibodies that recognize different epitopes on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
This is because mice have a different repertoire of antibodies than humans.
The technology for generating antibodies optimizes the selection of appropriate B cells by the timing of immunization, harvesting approach, and screening platform.
Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, commented in a press release on February 13, 2023, "Immunocompromised individuals, including organ transplant recipients, are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and poor clinical outcomes."
"We believe there is a need for second-generation mAb treatments and prophylactics to protect this population."
Although five mAb products containing seven distinct mAbs received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for either treatment or prevention of COVID-19, none have remained useful or available in the U.S. since January 26, 2023.
Other mAbs news is posted at Coronavirus Today.
Clover Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that it entered into an exclusive agreement with Taiwan-based Adimmune Corporation for Clover to distribute AdimFlu-S (QIS), a quadrivalent split inactivated vaccine, in mainland China.
The China National Medical Products Administration approved AdimFlu-S (QIS) in January 2022 for individuals three years and older.
AdimFlu-S (QIS) is currently the only imported quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine approved for use in China for individuals three years and older.
With commercial launch forecasted for later in 2023.
The agreement also grants Clover rights to commercialize AdimFlu-S (QIS) in Bangladesh, Brazil, and the Philippines, contingent on local regulatory approvals.
“We are very pleased to partner with Clover, with its growing commercial presence in mainland China and impressive record of successful cross-border collaboration,” said Dr. Chi-Hsien Chan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adimmune, in a Clover press release on February 19, 2023.
As a quadrivalent vaccine, AdimFlu-S (QIS) contains hemagglutinin from four influenza virus strains (two A and two B).
Clover Biopharmaceuticals is a global commercial-stage biotechnology company committed to unleashing the power of innovative vaccines to save lives and improve health worldwide.
Founded in 1965, Adimmune Corporation is the only influenza vaccine manufacturer with both EU GMP and US FDA certificates in Taiwan.
GC Biopharma announced today that the World Health Organization (WHO) granted prequalification for BARYCELA, a varicella vaccine.
BARYCELA is a live attenuated varicella virus vaccine containing MAV/06 strain, a virus exclusively attenuated by GC Biopharma.
While containing a higher amount of virus, this new vaccine, compared to its previous product (Suduvax), shows higher product stability.
BARYCELA has also proved non-inferior in immunogenicity with an equivalent level of safety to Merck's Varivax®, an existing prequalified vaccine in the market.
In addition, BARYCELA is being produced in a state-of-the-art aseptic condition from cell culture and virus infection to purification to make it the world's single-only varicella vaccine produced without antibiotics.
WHO prequalification decision has made BARYCELA eligible for procurement by the United Nations agencies for national immunization programs.
With the WHO's prequalification decision, MAV/06 strain has moved closer to being registered in the WHO Technical Report Series and the previously listed OKA strain.
According to the U.S. CDC, Varicella, known as chickenpox, is an acute infectious disease.
It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is a DNA virus that is a member of the herpesvirus group. Primary infection with VZV causes varicella.
After the primary infection, VZV stays in the body as a latent infection.
Reactivating latent infection causes herpes zoster (shingles), and approved vaccines are available.
"We hope BARYCELA will continue our contribution to reducing the world's social and economic cost incurred by varicella outbreaks," said EC Huh, Ph. D., President of GC Biopharma, in a press release on February 19, 2023.
Developed in 1993, GC Biopharma's Suduvax was Korea's first and the world's second varicella vaccine.
Over 28 million doses of the vaccine have been sold worldwide.
GC Biopharma's strategy is to utilize the global supply network for Suduvax to distribute BARYCELA.
The Florida Health Department recently reported 18 additional travel-associated dengue case were reported in week #6.
At this pace, Florida may exceed its case reports for 2022, when 903 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported.
Florida is not alone in reporting dengue cases in 2023.
The Pan American Health Organization reported on February 19, 2023, that Brazil confirmed the highest number of dengue cases in the Region in 2022, with 2,363,490 cases (84%), followed by Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico.
And the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico continues to report severe dengue cases in 2023.
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions travel notice regarding dengue outbreaks in 2022, it did not include Florida or Puerto Rico.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites.
Furthermore, a recent study published by the Royal Society indicates the mosquitoes that carry dengue are expanding their range.
Using a regression approach, these researchers estimated that specific mosquitoes gained an average of 6.5 m of elevation per year, and the southern limits of their ranges are moving polewards 4.7 km per year.
The good news is dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease.
As of February 19, 2023, two authorized dengue vaccines (Qdenga and Dengvaxia) are available in certain countries.
Dengue vaccination is not required to visit Florida or the Caribbean during 2023.
