Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Since the beginning of 2025, two European countries have reported cases of chikungunya virus disease: France and Italy.

According to the ECDC's Epidemiological summary Week #36, based on data submitted up to September 3, 2025, Italy reported 44 new locally acquired cases of chikungunya virus disease last week.

The total number of locally acquired, mosquito-transmitted cases in Italy is now 107.

The largest cluster of chikungunya cases is located in northern Italy in Carpi, San Prospero, and Soliera.

While the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory focused on Italy's chikungunya outbreak, approved vaccines are available in Italy and throughout Europe that can prevent this viral disease.

Since the first outbreak of the Zaire Ebola virus was identified in 1976 in Africa, numerous outbreaks have been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO published a Disease Outbreak News on September 5, 2025, regarding the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

As of September 4, 2025, 28 suspected cases, including 15 deaths (case fatality ratio: 54%), have been reported from three areas of the Bulape health zone (Bulape, Bulape Com, and Dikolo) and the Mweka health zone.

Although the affected district is a hard-to-reach rural area relatively far from the two main urban centres of Mbuji Mayi and Kananga, population movements between different parts of the province are frequent, especially between Bulape and Tshikapa.

Among the deaths, four are unvaccinated health-care workers.

This is the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The last EVD outbreak in the country was declared on August 15, 2022, in Beni city, North Kivu province.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, the Ervebo vaccine is recommended during a Zaire EVD outbreak for contacts and potential contacts of confirmed/suspected cases, as well as for frontline workers.

The DRC's Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, is implementing public health response measures to contain the outbreak. 

Ebola is a serious, often fatal illness transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife and then spreads through human-to-human transmission.

The WHO assesses the overall public health risk posed by the current EVD outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level. No travel restrictions have been issued.

As of September 8, 2025, Ebola vaccines and therapies are unavailable in the USA.

In response to the United States' recent naval operation off the coast of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, vacationers to the southern Caribbean Islands may make alternative plans this fall season.

These vacation destinations include Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, and the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.

As of September 7, 2025, both the US Department of State and the UK government have updated their high-level travel advisories for Venezuela.

The US State Department writes, Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention and civil unrest. All US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately.

Additionally, no US embassy or consulate is operating in Venezuela, and the US government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to US citizens in Venezuela.

Previously, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advised against travel within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border.

From a health perspective, if you plan to visit Venezuela in 2025, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends various routine and travel vaccinations before traveling to this South American country. 

And since March 2025, the CDC has reported cases of Oropouche virus disease in Venezuela.

A significant increase in hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has been reported in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia in 2025.

The Czechia State Institute of Health recently reported its multi-month HAV outbreak had reached 1,348 cases, with 15 people having died from the liver disease this year.

The State Health Institute (SZÚ) reported on September 3, 2025, that the majority of HepA cases have been recorded in Prague (436), Central Bohemia (202), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (118).

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the increase in HAV infections is primarily affecting adults experiencing homelessness, individuals who use or inject drugs, and those living in poor sanitary conditions who have limited access to healthcare.

Local cases have also been reported among members of the Roma communities in both Czechia and Slovakia.

According to media reports, Prague was the most visited destination in Czechia, attracting about 1.2 million visitors in 2024.

"This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis A can cause serious illness and death, especially among people with limited access to healthcare and basic hygiene," said Ole Heuer, Head of Unit for One Health Related Diseases at ECDC, in a media release. 

"We need to strengthen outreach, provide access to vaccination in groups more likely to be exposed, and ensure basic sanitation, especially in response to the increase in cases. More than health measures, they are equity measures."

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable acute infection of the liver caused by a small, non-enveloped hepatotropic virus classified in the genus Hepatovirus within the family Picornaviridae.

The U.S. CDC recommends vaccination for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older traveling to Czechia.

And unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart for a risk area in less than 2 weeks should receive the initial dose of vaccine and, at the same appointment, receive immune globulin.

As of September 6, 2025, HAV vaccines are generally available at health clinics and pharmacies in Europe and the United States.

French Polynesia, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, has been a dream vacation destination for decades.

However, these islands are also home to dengue fever, which is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

According to Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°34, published on September 2, 2025, there were 22 new dengue cases (19 confirmed last week.

And the blue alert for DENV-1 remains in effect.

Since November 2023, a total of 2,577 cases have been recorded.

To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC's Travel Health Advisory issued on August 21, 2025, included French Polynesia.

The CDC identified the island groups of the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora), the Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Ua Huka), and the Austral Islands (Tubuai and Rurutu).

The CDC reported that these countries are experiencing higher-than-usual numbers of cases and have identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries. 

While a second-generation dengue vaccine is available in various countries, it is not offered in the USA.

Fortunately, several dengue vaccine candidates are conducting late-stage research focused on preventing all four virus types from infecting people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed that the global cholera situation continues to deteriorate in 2025.

Cholera is resurging in several countries, with some that had not reported substantial case numbers in years.

Since January and through August 17, 2025, the WHO has reported a total of 4,738 cholera/Acute Watery Diarrhoea-related fatalities from 31 countries, with six of the 31 countries reporting case fatality rates (CFR) above 1%.

For example, suspected cholera cases have been reported from two provinces of the Republic of Chad. Among these, Chokoyane is the most affected area, accounting for 541 cases and 25 deaths, with a district-specific CFR of 4.6%.

While Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, primarily associated with poor sanitation and limited access to safe water, it can be prevented with vaccination.

As of September 5, 2025, the U.S. CDC's Travel Health Advisories for these countries advise cholera vaccination before departing abroad. Most cholera cases diagnosed in the U.S. are related to international travel.

In the U.S., Vaxchora® (CVD 103-HgR) is the only U.S. FDA-approved vaccine available at travel clinics and pharmacies.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced an update to its Level 2 Travel Health Advisory for the Republic of Colombia, due to a yellow fever outbreak.

On September 3, 2025, the CDC reported an increase in cases in new areas in the South American country.

In a Facebook post, the Health Ministry reported that between 2024 and 2025, 132 yellow fever (YF) cases were registered, resulting in 57 deaths, in the following Colombian departments: Tolima, Huila, Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo, Caldas, Meta, Vaupés, Guaviare, and Caquetá.

The CDC recommends that travelers to these newly affected areas get vaccinated at least 10 days before traveling abroad, as yellow fever is a severe viral disease.

Last year, the Colombian government declared a nationwide health emergency to alert residents and visitors to the situation.

Colombia welcomed over 6.5 million international visitors.

Recently, the U.S. Embassy in Bogota issued an alert stating visitors should reconsider travel to the Valle del Cauca Department due to civil unrest.

As of September 2025, YF is a vaccine-preventable disease, and proof of vaccination is required to enter various countries, including Colombia. 

A booster dose may be given to eligible travelers or those who received their last dose of the YF vaccine at least 10 years prior and will be in a higher-risk setting, according to the CDC.

"With yellow fever cases rising in Colombia, the CDC has expanded the list of areas where vaccination is now recommended. We're seeing a similar trend in parts of Peru and Bolivia, too," commented Jeri Beales, MSN, RN, BS.

This isn't a mosquito-borne virus to take lightly—yellow fever can be deadly, with fatality rates as high as 60% in severe cases."

"If you're planning a trip to Colombia, consult with a travel health provider about getting vaccinated. It's highly effective and usually offers lifelong protection. Still, it's only available at certified clinics, so schedule ahead—ideally a few weeks before you leave to give the vaccine time to create a robust immune response so you're fully protected before arriving," added Beales, vaccination leader at Destination Health, located in the greater Boston, MA, area.

In the United States, the YF-VAX vaccine is commercailly offered at travel vaccination retailers.

Note - vaccine expert insight added on September 6, 2025.