Travel Vaccine Breaking News

An unprecedented situation arose during the summer of 2025, with the first locally acquired cases of Chikungunya virus disease detected as early as June, notably affecting the Grand Est region for the very first time.

Since the beginning of 2025, France has reported 480 cases of Chikungunya virus infection.

In mid-September 2025, the French Health Ministry reported 97 new locally acquired cases of Chikungunya in thirty-eight active clusters. The largest cluster is located in Antibes and consists of 87 cases. 

This area of France's Mediterranean coast is a popular vacation destination, located between Cannes and Nice.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated on September 12, 2025, that Chikungunya is not endemic in mainland Europe, with the majority of cases being travel-related.

However, when environmental conditions are favourable, in areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is established, viraemic travel-related cases may lead to local transmission of the virus, as demonstrated by the sporadic events of chikungunya virus transmission since 2007. 

For more information on locally acquired Chikungunya cases in Europe, refer to the ECDC's seasonal surveillance report.

In addition to avoiding mosquito bites, the French and U.S. governments have approved vaccines for use in areas with Chikungunya outbreaks.

As of September 22, 2025, the U.S. CDC advises international travelers to speak with a travel vaccine expert regarding immunization options before traveling abroad.

The China CDC recently published its Notifiable Infectious Diseases Report, which highlights various disease cases and related fatalities.

As of September 19, 2025 (10.46234/ccdcw2025.203), several vaccine-preventable diseases that international travelers should be aware of before departing for China were disclosed.

According to the UK TravelHealthPro, when planning a trip to China in 2025, travelers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK.

These vaccinations include, for example, the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and the diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.

Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choices, or specific underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines.

Seperately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Notice focused on a Chikungunya fever (CF) outbreak in southeastern China.

Chikungunya is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. It causes a flu-like illness and can lead to severe joint and muscle pains, which may persist for months or even years. But it is rarely fatal.

China's CDC reported its first imported case of CF in 2008. Between 2010 and 2019, local outbreaks resulting from imported instances were documented in Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Yunnan provinces.

During the summer of 2025, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, reported a cluster of CF cases.

In addition to avoiding mosquito bites, the CDC recommends vaccination as a preventive measure for Chikungunya for some travelers to countries in Asia and the Pacific Ocean. 

Vaccination may be considered for individuals aged 12 years and over who are traveling to regions with a current Chikungunya outbreak.

For detailed vaccination advice, the CDC and the UK recommend that travelers schedule an appointment with their healthcare professional at least four to six weeks before departure for China.

However, even if time is short, an appointment is still worthwhile, say these health agencies. 

The International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) for Bangladesh recently notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of four confirmed fatal cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection.

As of September 18, 2025, Bangladesh has documented 347 NiV cases through its Nipah surveillance system, which was established to detect and respond to outbreaks promptly, with a case fatality rate of 71.7%.

The WHO reported that between January and August 29, 2025, three geographical divisions in Bangladesh —namely, Barisal, Dhaka, and Rajshahi —reported these NiV patients.

Since the first recognized outbreak in Bangladesh in 2001, human NiV infections have been detected almost every year, says the WHO.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Bangladesh has implemented several public health measures with support from the WHO. The WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by NiV at the national and regional levels to be moderate; the risk of international disease spread is considered low.

Human NiV infection is an epidemic-prone disease that can cause severe disease in humans and animals, with a high mortality rate, and outbreaks primarily occur in South and South-East Asia.

Recently, in India, NiV-related fatalities were reported.

As of August 6, 2025, Kerala State health officials have reported four cases to the WHO since mid-May, two of which have been fatal.

Since 2018, Kerala has experienced nine outbreaks of the Nipah virus, which is part of a pattern of recurring spillovers.

The WHO states there are currently no specific drugs or vaccines for NiV infection; intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications.

In 2023, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations invested $$100 million in four Nipah vaccine candidates.

Recently, the U.S. government announced a project to support the development of a Nipah monoclonal antibody, which is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trial testing in India and Bangladesh.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has identified human West Nile virus (WNV) cases in Los Angeles County for the 2025 season.

Four people were hospitalized with WNV illness beginning in late July 2025 through late August and are recovering.

LACDPH has identified WNV cases in the Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and central Los Angeles areas.

Public Health reports human cases of WNV every year in LA County, averaging 56 cases per year over the last five years.

This announcement does not include cases in Long Beach and Pasadena.

WNV spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. About three-quarters of reported cases have had severe disease, and approximately 10% of patients with severe WNV die from complications.

Although not all mosquitoes carry this virus, the type of mosquito that spreads this virus is found throughout Los Angeles County.

"Detecting West Nile virus in our district is a reminder that this virus has been present in California — and right here in our community — for over 20 years. It's part of our local environment and continues to reappear year after year. With the recent rains and more in the forecast, conditions are ideal for mosquitoes to breed," said Brenna Bates-Grubb, Community Outreach Specialist, Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, in a press release on September 17, 2025.

"We urge everyone to take simple steps to protect themselves and their families: use EPA-approved mosquito repellent, keep swimming pools clean and maintained, drain any standing water around your home, and check for sources like buckets, plant saucers, or clogged gutters that can fill with rainwater. It only takes a small amount of water for mosquitoes to breed."

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus disease, and no vaccine is available to prevent infection. Currently, WNV vaccine candidates are being evaluated for their effectiveness.

Additionally, LA County states that Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted to people mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes. LA has reported 36 locally transmitted Dengue cases in 2025, which is more than the 14 cases confirmed last year.

Similar to WNV, no Dengue vaccine is available in LA in 2025.

Although millions of travelers visit this area of California, as of September 19, 2025, the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory specifically focused on LA County.

The Florida Department of Health (FDH) updated its Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Arbovirus Surveillance update #37, which revealed that both travel-related and locally acquired mosquito-transmitted diseases continue to be reported this year.

On September 13, 2025, FDH highlighted cases of Chikungunya, Dengue, and Malaria.

Chikungunya - eleven travel-related cases of chikungunya have been confirmed this year in Broward (4), Collier, Lake, Miami-Dade (2), Palm Beach, and Seminole (2). Countries of origin were: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil (2), Cuba (2), India (2), Indonesia, and Sri Lanka (2).

Dengue Fever - In 2025, 198 cases of dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, with over 119 cases related to travelers from Cuba, and 13 from Puerto Rico. Additionally, 24 locally acquired dengue cases were reported in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade (3), Pasco (1), and Brevard (27) counties in 2025.

Malaria - 37 travel-related malaria cases have been confirmed in Florida, 13 related to travel to Nigeria.

As of September 2025, from a local disease risk perspective, Alachua, Bay, Clay, Duval, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Leon, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are under a mosquito-borne illness advisory. 

Brevard, Escambia, and Miami-Dade Counties remain under a mosquito-borne illness alert scheduled to expire in December 2025. 

Currently, the U.S. CDC and the UK have not issued travel advisories focused on visiting Florida in 2025.

While the actual number of typhoid cases in the United States is debatable, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5,700 cases of typhoid fever occur in the USA each year.

The CDC reports that nearly all confirmed cases (350) occur among international travelers.

Most travelers diagnosed with typhoid in the USA have returned from South Asia, primarily Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

As an example, the Philippines has reported 344 cases and three fatalities in Negros Occidental in early 2025.

According to the U.S. CDC, typhoid is a vaccine-preventable disease. It is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, which spreads through contaminated food and water or through close contact with someone who is infected. A gradual onset of fever over 3–7 days is typical, and life-threatening complications can arise in the second week of untreated illness. 

When visiting the Philippines in 2025, the CDC recommends that most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas, take steps to prevent disease.

In an unrelated article published by The Lancet on September 3, 2025, the author wrote, 'vaccines are available for prevention of typhoid disease, including the newer, more effective typhoid Vi-conjugate vaccines.'

'Vaccination as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene measures are cornerstones of prevention.'

During 2025, various African countries have reported outbreaks of cholera, which have killed tens of thousands of people.

This vaccine-preventable and treatable disease is caused by drinking water or eating food contaminated with cholera bacteria, such as raw shellfish.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) Epidemic Intelligence Weekly Report, since the beginning of 2025, over 75,000 cholera cases and 490 deaths (CFR: 0.66%) have been reported across 22 African Union Member States this year.

Specifically, the Republic of Angola has been the most impacted country this year.

The ACDC reported on September 15, 2025, that between January and early September, a total of 28,102 cases of cholera had been reported from 18 of the 21 Angolan provinces.

Most upsetting, there has been a 46% average increase in the number of new cases reported in the last four weeks.

The U.S. CDC recommends that if you're traveling to an area where cholera is present, or where the water and food are unsafe to drink and eat, follow these five prevention measures: visit a doctor or travel clinic/pharmacy to discuss cholera vaccination options. 

In addition to cholera vaccination, the CDC recommends travel vaccines to protect travelers from measles and polio outbreaks in Angola, which is located on Africa's southwest coast.