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On February 5, 2023, @Senasa_Peru tweeted that three dead sea lions and one dolphin had tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAPI) H5N1 virus.
By November 30, 2022, HAPI had been reported in Ecuador and Peru related to about 14,000 pelican fatalities.
These reports indicate the ongoing HAPI outbreak has impacted numerous mammals throughout North and South America over the past year.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service listing in 2023 includes about 110 H5N1 detections in skunks, bears, raccoons, and foxes confirmed in 2022.
USDA stated the Eurasian H5N1 strain initially appeared in North America in January 2022 and has affected 47 states, leading to the loss of over 58.2 million birds as of February 4, 2023.
As of February 2023, global surveillance data does not suggest widespread mammalian adaptation of the HAPI virus (low to moderate confidence), says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, seven human infections in 2022 were related to the HAPI.
Should a HAPI crossover outbreak occur in people, the CDC says one approved bird flu vaccine is available in the U.S., but with distribution controlled by the government.
The Audenz™ monovalent, adjuvanted, cell-based inactivated influenza (H5N1) subunit vaccine was approved in 2020 to protect individuals six months of age and older in the event of bird flu pandemics.
Other bird flu vaccine candidates and monoclonal antibody treatments were funded in 2022 and are in development.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a fundamental cause of various cancers, anogenital warts, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis that vaccination can prevent.
Beginning in 2019, U.S. guidelines recommended shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) for HPV vaccination among adults aged 27–45.
Researchers recently conducted a narrative review of existing literature on HPV vaccination in this mid-adult population.
The Open Forum Infectious Diseases published this analysis on January 11, 2023, concluding the available evidence demonstrates that HPV vaccination in mid-adults is safe, efficacious, and likely to benefit both HPV-naïve mid-adults and those with previous infections.
These researchers found universal mid-adult HPV vaccination in the U.S. could avert 20,934–37,856 cancer cases over 100 years, costing $141,000–$1,471,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.
The wide variation in these estimates reflects uncertainties in sexual behavior, HPV natural history, and naturally acquired immunity.
'Greater awareness among clinicians and mid-adult patients and broad implementation of SCDM may accelerate progress toward eliminating HPV-associated cancers and other diseases,' wrote these researchers.
HPV vaccines are generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. during 2023.
Qurient Co. Ltd. and TB Alliance recently announced that they have entered into a license agreement to develop and commercialize telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for treating tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infections.
The potent efficacy of telacebec against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies.
Telacebec was successfully tested in Phase 2a early bactericidal activity study for TB, and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 2020).
Telacebec has received Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA.
Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO of TB Alliance, stated in a press release on February 3, 2023, "TB Alliance is excited to partner with Qurient to bring about the next generation of TB cures."
"New drugs like telacebec are urgently needed in the fight against TB as well as certain NTM infections – compounds with potentially impactful novel mechanisms of action can have a significant benefit in combating the TB pandemic. "
"If we expect to regain ground lost to COVID-19, we need to use every tool we have to give patients the best possible treatment and save lives."
"We look forward to advancing this new compound as part of combination regimens that could yield a short, simple, safe, and highly effective cure for all forms of TB."
Vaccines to prevent TB, such as the BCG vaccine, have been available for about 100 years and are generally available in most countries in 2023.
The state of Florida's Week#4 Arbovirus Surveillance report disclosed no new locally-acquired dengue cases had been confirmed in 2023.
However, there were 68 cases of locally acquired dengue last year.
And Florida confirmed on January 28, 2023, international travelers continue returning to Florida infected with dengue.
So far, in 2023, 14 travel-associated dengue fever cases have been reported.
Last year, 871 travel-associated dengue cases were reported in Florida.
Since most of these dengue cases have been found in south Florida, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory during the summer of 2022.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease. However, dengue vaccination in the U.S. with Dengvaxia requires pre-administration testing and counseling.
The Columbus City Health Department tweeted today that the current measles outbreak in central Ohio reached 42 days or two incubation periods since the last rash onset in a confirmed case.
This milestone fits the U.S. CDC's definition of the end of an outbreak; however, 'we still have test results pending for suspected cases.'
Measles outbreaks are declared when the number of cases reported in an area is higher than the expected number of cases.
Around 90% of people who are not protected will become infected following exposure to the measles virus.
As of February 3, 2023, the City of Columbus, Ohio, reported 85 measles cases since the initial cases were reportedpotentially connectedthese most unvaccinated children had been hospitalized.
Throughout the U.S., the CDC has reported two measles cases in 2 jurisdictions in 2023.
One of these new measles cases was reported in Kentucky, with a potential connection to the Ohio outbreak.
In response, the Jefferson County Public Schools, located near Lousiville, Kentucky, began conducting measles vaccination clinics at schools for about 10,000 under-vaccinated students.
The CDC reported on January 13, 2023, nationally, the 2-dose MMR coverage was 93.5% during the 2020–2021 school year.
Measles vaccines are generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, has marked 32 districts at risk of the Nipah virus infection and has identified ten cases in 2023.
According to local media on February 4, 2023, the Dhaka North City Corporation's hospital in Mohakhali has also been instructed to prepare 20 beds for treating Nipah virus patients.
"This is because anywhere a Nipah virus patient is also likely to have bats and palm sap. Therefore, all parts of the country are vulnerable to the Nipah virus, but the districts where it has been detected are advised to take extra precautions."
The World Health Organization says Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness transmitted from animals, through contaminated food, or from person to person.
As of February 5, 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved a Nipah virus preventive vaccine candidate.
However, The Lancet published results from a vaccine candidate study in December 2022 that concluded the VSV-NiVG vaccine offers broad protection against NiV disease.
The U.S. CDC does suggest various vaccinations, including for dengue, before visiting Bangladesh in 2023.
The Canadian government recently confirmed visitors to Buenos Aires, Argentina, should exercise high caution due to civil unrest.
As of January 31, 2023, Canada stated when in the Buenos Aires tourist areas of La Boca, Congreso, Florida Street, the Retiro bus station area, and San Telmo, be aware of your surroundings.
And in La Boca, always remain on Caminito Street, as thefts often occur on neighboring streets, and avoid the area after dark.
Furthermore, since 2019, several incidents of tourists have been followed from Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport to their hotels and robbed. In some cases, the criminals responded violently when the victims resisted.
If you are the victim of a crime, call the local police at 911, as the U.S. Embassy cannot take custody of U.S. citizens or intervene in Argentine legal procedures. All U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the Government of Argentina.
The Embassy suggests enrolling in the STEP program to receive important information about safety conditions, helping you make informed travel plans.
The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires is located at Av. Colombia 4300 (C1425GMN). Telephone: (54-11) 5777-4533.
From a health perspective, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are no travel health notices in effect for Argentina as of February 5, 2023.
However, the CDC suggests various travel vaccinations, including yellow fever.
Yellow fever vaccination with either Stamaril or YF-Vax is recommended for travelers ≥9 months of age going to Corrientes and Misiones Provinces. And is not recommended for travelers going to Formosa Province and designated areas of Chaco, Jujuy, and Salta Provinces.
And the U.K.'s travel advisory for Argentina includes notices regarding dengue and Zika virus transmission.
Public Health recently announced it was extending negative COVID-19 test requirements for arriving air travelers from the Peoples' Republic of China.
Initially announced in early January 2023, this extension is scheduled to be a requirement until April 5, 2023.
This extension applies to travel to Canada through connecting flights from other countries, for example, if your flight itinerary starts in China and includes a connecting flight from Germany to Canada.
And those transiting through Canada with onward travel to another country.
If Canada isn't your final destination, also check the travel and testing requirements for your final destination.
However, this doesn't apply to travelers transiting through China, Hong Kong, or Macao, who are there for 24 hours or less.
For example, if your flight itinerary starts in Australia and includes a connecting flight in China before continuing to Canada, and if you are in China for 24 hours or less before the connecting flight to Canada is initially scheduled to depart.
And travelers must keep the proof of their test result until leaving the airport in Canada.
In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions, with similar requirements, on January 5, 2023.
