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With about 8 million cases annually, gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, without a U.S. FDA-approved vaccine available.
However, another study has concluded that leveraging an existing vaccine provides some cross-protection against N. gonorrhoeae.
Published by the journal Vaccine (Volume 56, 22 May 2025, 127180), this study evaluates the potential effectiveness of outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based meningococcal B vaccines in preventing this sexually transmitted infection.
A recent review and meta-analysis, which included nine studies, found a pooled vaccine effectiveness of 30% when a 4CMenB vaccine was administered.
The University of West Attica researchers concluded, "While randomized clinical trials are necessary, the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the potential effectiveness of OMV-based vaccines in preventing gonorrhea."
This new research, along with previous studies, suggests that the four-component serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) and other OMV-based MenB vaccines might offer such protection against this disease.
4CMenB vaccinations are offered at many community pharmacies in the United States in 2025.
With millions of people planning to visit the Republic of the Philippines during the summer of 2025, the United States government has recently updated various travel advisories.
On May 8, 2025, the Department of State reissued its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to civil unrest in some areas of the Philippines. This advisory says do not travel to:
The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea and Marawi City in Mindanao,
And reconsider visiting other areas of Mindanao this year.
Due to these risks, the State Department wrote that U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas.
If you visit the Philippines in 2025, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts and help locate you in an emergency.
Last month, the U.S. Embassy Manila announced 'Beat the Summer Rush – Renew Your Passport Today.'
Appointments for routine consular services are currently available with little to no wait at the U.S. Embassy and the Consular Agency in Cebu. As summer approaches, demand will rise, making it harder to schedule convenient times. Apply now to avoid the busy season!
From a health risk perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has included the Philippines in two Travel Health Advisories in 2025.
The CDC's dengue advisory was issued in April, and a global measles advisory was issued in March.
While dengue vaccines are unavailable in the U.S., MMR vaccines are readily offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.
Furthermore, the CDC says international travelers should check the list of routine vaccines and medicines and visit a healthcare provider at least a month before departing abroad this summer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 13 million dengue cases were reported in 2024, the highest number on record.
According to recent data, the dengue global outbreak has continued in 2025.
To reduce the health impact of this mosquito-transmitted viral infection, more people than ever were immunized with a dengue vaccine.
Announced today by Japan-based Takeda, the only WHO-listed dengue vaccine QDENGA®'s Q4 FY2024 (April 2024-March 2025), Revenue was JPY 35.6 billion ($247,746,985), an increase of 259%.
QDENGA® (TAK-003) is a tetravalent, two-dose vaccine approved for preventing dengue fever and/or Severe Dengue caused by any of the four serotypes of the dengue virus.
As of May 8, 2025, QDENGA was authorized in about 40 countries, with authorizations pending in the Philippines and India.
Unfortunately, no dengue vaccine is available in the United States, even in Puerto Rico, were dengue has become endemic.
A large-scale, population-based cohort study with a long-term follow-up recently investigated the association between live zoster (shingles) vaccination and the risk of various cardiovascular events.
A study published in the European Heart Journal on May 5, 2025, found a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events in recipients of the shingles vaccine in the eight years following vaccination, with the most significant reduction observed 2–3 years post-vaccination.
The decrease in cardiovascular disease risk was more pronounced among males, individuals aged less than 60 years, those with unhealthy lifestyle habits, and those from low-income households and rural residents.
"A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation, and clot formation that can lead to heart disease," said study author Dong Keon Yon, PhD, from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, in a press release.
"By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks."
These findings suggest that live zoster vaccination may be beneficial for reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease in the general population.
France's ARS Regional Health Agency continues to report chikungunya fever outbreaks in its Departments located east of Africa and Madagascar.
According to the information bulletin released by the Regional Health Agency on May 2, 2025, there have been 89 recorded cases in the Mayotte Department, a significant increase from 32 cases confirmed just two weeks ago.
Mayotte's outbreak breakdown includes 28 imported cases, 28 indigenous cases, and 33 cases currently under investigation. Additionally, two patients have been hospitalized.
The Regional Health Agency indicates that this health risk to the general population and any international visitors is high, and the outbreak could continue for weeks.
Since chikungunya is a vaccine-preventable disease, health authorities announced last week that adults aged 65 and younger will be included in the vaccination campaign in Mayotte.
A recent study found that a disease-blocking vaccine with 75% efficacy, if administered to 40% of individuals aged 12 years and older over three months, could have prevented approximately 34,200 chikungunya cases and 73 related fatalities.
In addition to chikungunya, Mayotte's cholera transmission are localized to Koungou, M'tsangamouji, and Mamoudzou. Mayotte increased its use of the cholera vaccine DUKORAL in the first quarter of 2025.
As of May 6, 2025, the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory for visiting Mayotte.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) has declared a communitywide outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV), a vaccine-preventable disease.
Since January 2024, 167 cases have been confirmed in LAC residents, including 29 in 2025. Typically, 30-50 cases are confirmed per year.
According to the U.S. CDC., the number of estimated new HAV infections increased annually in the U.S. beginning in 2015, peaked in 2019, and sharply decreased in 2020. This downward trend continued through 2023, reaching 3,300 estimated infections.
As of May 5, 2025, most LAC hepatitis A cases have occurred in people without typical risk factors such as travel, unstable housing, or illicit drug use.
Hepatitis A vaccine is widely available at primary care provider offices, pharmacies, and participating community sites serving uninsured people. It is also available at no cost at LAC DPH clinics. And private health insurance plans should cover the hepatitis A vaccine at no cost to beneficiaries.
