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As 2024 draws to a close, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an in-depth update on malaria burden and trends at global, regional, and country levels. As of December 19, 2024, the WHO reported malaria outbreaks remain a formidable public health challenge.

In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 597,000 malaria-related fatalities and 263 million new cases, an increase of 11 million cases over 2022.

The WHO wrote, 'Given current trends, progress towards critical targets of the WHO global malaria strategy is off track.'

As the WHO Director-General stated: "No one should die of malaria.... An expanded package of lifesaving tools now offers better protection against the disease, but stepped-up investments and action in high-burden African countries are needed to curb the threat."

The WHO African Region continues to be most impacted, accounting for an estimated 94% of global cases, led by Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

When visiting these countries, the WHO recommends international travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert one month before departure. In November 2024, the WHO published a revised version of the consolidated Guidelines for malaria with an updated vaccine recommendation.

While malaria vaccines are available in Africa, they are unavailable in the USA in 2024.

In the U.S., most malaria cases are travel-related.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of the week ending November 23, 2024 (#47), 1,772 malaria cases had been confirmed in 2024, mostly among international travelers arriving in New York City (232), Texas, Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California. In 2023, there were 2,013 travel-related malaria cases in the U.S. 

Vaccine Treats: 
Malaria
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Image Caption: 
WHO Malaria Report 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Geneva
Vaccine: 
R21 / Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine
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Pertussis Booster Dose Delivers Lasting Protection

Whooping cough outbreak in 2024
December 30, 2024
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced active person-to-person transmission of mpox clade 1 in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

As of December 30, 2024, the CDC's Level 2 Travel Health Advisory says person-to-person transmission has occurred through various means during this mpox outbreak. Historically, clade I have been associated with a higher percentage of people with mpox developing severe illness or dying, compared to clade II. 

The mpox clade II outbreak began in the United States in late May 2022.

As of November 2024, there have been 2,455 confirmed clade II mpox cases this year, which has exceeded the 1,407 confirmed cases in 2023.

Furthermore, the CDC says mpox vaccination is recommended for certain people traveling to countries with ongoing person-to-person transmission of clade I mpox.

In the U.S., the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine has been approved by the U.S. FDA since September 2019. Other mpox vaccines and vaccine candidates are actively seeking regulatory approvals in 2025.

Vaccine Treats: 
mpox
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Image Caption: 
Google Maps - CDC THN Mpox Outbreak map Dec. 30, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Africa
Vaccine: 
JYNNEOS Smallpox Mpox Vaccine
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UTI Vaccination Appointment

As of December 2025, the Uromune MV140 vaccine is not FDA-approved and unavailable in the United States. However, this oral spray vaccine is available in various countries, such as London, England.

 

In England, these PassportHealth clinics offer the Uromune UTI vaccine in Hampstead, London, and the Marylebone area.

 

In the Dominican Republic, here is the local contact.

 

In Mexico, the Benavides pharmacy website lists Uromune's availability in 2025. A prescription from a local doctor is required. Several other pharmacies also offer Uromune in Mexico.

 

Across the Pacific, this clinic in Singapore offers UTI vaccination service.

 

Additionally, here are links to additional UTI information:

 

  • Pivya (pivmecillinam) tablets for Uncomplicated UTIs.
  • RECCE 327 is an intravenous and topical treatment for UTIs.
  • The BCG vaccine is available for off-label use.
  • LBP-EC01 is a bacteriophage cocktail engineered with a CRISPR-Cas3 construct targeting the E. coli genome for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs.
  • UTI clinical trials in the USA.
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Thursday, December 11, 2025 - 07:10
Description: 
Uromune MV140 vaccine appointments
Condition: 
Urinary Track Infection (UTI)
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While the Region of the Americas experienced the most significant Dengue virus outbreak in 2024, with over 12.8 million cases and 7,855 related fatalities, effective vaccines have become available in many countries.

However, safety concerns about dengue vaccines focus on the potential for enhanced disease after vaccine-induced seroconversion and subsequent infection.

On December 28, 2024, in a Brief Report, clinical researchers present a fatal case of severe dengue in an unvaccinated traveler without known prior dengue virus infection but longitudinal serologic and molecular evidence for secondary infection.

In the context of this Dengue case and vaccination guidance for travelers, they discuss pre-vaccination screening and potential implications for travelers to regions with ongoing outbreaks and emphasize the importance of serostatus-independent vaccines.

As of December 30, 2024, Dengvaxia® and Qdenga® vaccines are not offered in the U.S.

Vaccine Treats: 
Dengue
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Image Caption: 
PAHO Dec. 30, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Houston
Vaccine: 
QDENGA Dengue Vaccine
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UTI vaccine

UTI Vaccine Reported Very Effective in Portugal

MV140 Is Effective in the Reduction of Urinary Tract Infections in Prospective Real-Life Study
December 29, 2024
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The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) recently reported a resident of northern Kentucky has died after being infected with the rabies virus.

As of December 28, 2024, KDPH stated transmission of the rabies virus from person to person is rare. In 1999, skunks accounted for 21 of Kentucky's 35 confirmed rabies cases. 

State Public Health Veterinarian Kelly Giesbrecht, DVM, MPH, is the primary consultant in Kentucky for Rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system and kills about 70,000 people worldwide each year.

. People get Rabies from the bite of an infected or rabid animal. Wild mammals like raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, or bats can have and transmit Rabies.

According to the U.S. CDC, bats, not dogs, are the leading source of rabies infection in the United States.

In late November 2024, the Fresno County Department of Public Health announced a rabies death involving a county resident who was suspected to have been bitten by a bat in Merced County, located east of San Jose.

Furthermore, Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease, with various U.S. FDA-approved vaccines available in 2024.

Vaccine Treats: 
Rabies
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Image Caption: 
US CDC type of rabies death worldwide
Live Blog Update Author: 
Karen McClorey Hackett
Location Tags: 
Lexington
Vaccine: 
Rabies Vaccines
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The Victorian Department of Health recently announced that Australia's surveillance program detected vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) in pre-treated sewage from the Western Treatment Plant in Melbourne.

Melbourne has over 5 million residents and is the host city of the Australian Open 2025, which hundreds of thousands of tennis fans attend.

The poliovirus detection (Advisory number: 241224) on December 2, 2024, is likely linked to an individual who received a live polio vaccine and shed the virus in Victoria. Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Dr. Clare Looker, wrote on December 23, 2024, that Australia remains polio-free, as this wastewater detection is not a wild-type poliovirus case.

However, the U.S. CDC says the detection of poliovirus in wastewater cannot be used to determine the total number of infected persons in a community or the portion of the infected population. The minimum number of infected individuals that can be reliably detected through wastewater testing is not known.

To alert the international community, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in December 2024 that the spread of the poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In 2022, the United States was added to the WHO's list of polio-identified countries. 

Over the past few years, more than 1 billion 'triple-locked' nOPV2 vaccines have been administered to prevent virus mutations.

In the United States, the inactivated polio vaccine is offered.

"Most travelers to Australia don't need many travel vaccines, but with poliovirus detected in sewage in Melbourne, a once-in-a-lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine would be prudent before departure," commented Beverly Schaefer, travel vaccine expert at Katterman's Sand Point Pharmacy, Seattle, WA.

The U.S. CDC suggests that international travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert about Japanese encephalitis, which is mainly a concern in the Murray River and the Outer Torres Strait Islands area. All international travelers should also be vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine.

Vaccine Treats: 
Polio
Image: 
Image Caption: 
Google Maps Dec. 28, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Melbourne
Vaccine: 
nOPV2 Polio Vaccine
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Cruise Ships and Norovirus Don't Mix

Norovirus vaccine candidate progresses in Nova 301 phase 3 clinical trial
December 28, 2024
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The World Health Organization (WHO) today published an updated Disease Outbreak News regarding an undiagnosed disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which was published on December 8, 2024.

As of December 27, 2024, the WHO identified this condition as an acute respiratory infection complicated by malaria.

Recent laboratory results from 430 samples indicated positive results for malaria and several common respiratory viruses, including Influenza A (H1N1, pdm09), rhinoviruses, human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and human adenoviruses.

These findings suggest a combination of common and seasonal viral respiratory infections and falciparum malaria, compounded by acute malnutrition, which has led to a rise in severe infections and deaths, disproportionately affecting young children.

This led to a significant increase in reported cases, with 891 cases documented as of December 16. However, the number of deaths reported weekly (48 deaths during this period) has remained relatively stable.

The DRC's health ministry had reported a fatality rate of 6.2%. Young children represent 64.3% of all reported cases.

The WHO wrote that this event highlights the significant burden of common infectious diseases, such as acute respiratory infections and malaria, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Additionally, the WHO recommends the programmatic use of malaria vaccines for children living in malaria-endemic areas.

The WHO and the European Medicines Agency recommend Mosquirix™ (RTS,S/AS01) and R21 / Matrix-M™ vaccines for travelers visiting malaria-endemic countries.

As of December 27, 2024, seventeen African countries are deploying malaria vaccines unavailable in the U.S.

Vaccine Treats: 
Malaria
Image: 
Image Caption: 
WHO Dec. 27, 2024
Live Blog Update Author: 
Don Hackett
Location Tags: 
Democratic Republic of Congo
Vaccine: 
R21 / Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine
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