Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Since the Zika virus was first detected in the Region of the Americas in May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has published counts of cases reported by member countries.

However, given the high proportion of asymptomatic individuals infected with the Zika virus, the lack of specificity in clinical presentation among cases, and the complexity of laboratory diagnosis in the context of co-circulation of closely related viruses such as chikungunya and dengue, underreporting of Zika virus cases is probable, wrote the PAHO.

While Brazil has been the multi-year leader in reporting Zika cases, the Argentine Republic has been confronted with a measurable outbreak in 2025.

As of September 2, 2025, the PAHO reported 730 Zika cases for the year. This data compares with 564 cases for all of 2024.

Currently, the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory regarding Zika in Argentina.

However, the United Kingdom Travel Health Pro states there is a risk of the Zika infection in this country. Specific affected areas within Argentina where mosquitoes are spreading the virus are not available.

Both the CDC and the UK confirm that pregnant women should discuss the suitability of travel and the potential risks that the Zika virus may present with their healthcare provider before traveling abroad.

From a prevention and treatment perspective, no Zika vaccine or medication is expected to be available in 2025.

When the World Health Organization confirmed in June 2025 that the spread of the poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, it identified several countries where visitors are at risk of contracting this severe disease.

As of August 27, 2025, new data from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reveal an unexpected surge in polio cases in the Republic of Yemen, situated in southern Arabia.

According to the GPEI, 25 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV2) cases were reported this week. This updated data brings the number of cases in Yemen for 2024 to 187 and 29 for 2025.

'The recent increase in reported cases and environmental sample isolates from 2024 and 2025 is not particularly linked to an increase in poliovirus transmission, but rather to retrospective testing,' wrote the GPEI.

CVDPV2 is a strain of poliovirus that can emerge in under-vaccinated populations when the oral polio vaccine (OPV) strains genetically revert to a form that can cause paralysis.

To address the shortcomings of this vaccine, the nOPV2 vaccine has been deployed over 1 billion times in various countries.

In the United States, the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was developed in 1955 and has been offered since 2000. IPVs produce antibodies in the blood that target all three types of poliovirus, thereby preventing the virus from spreading.

As of September 2, 2025, the U.S. CDC recommends IPV booster doses for specific travelers visiting areas where poliovirus has been detected, such as Israel and Germany.

IPVs are currently offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is found in twenty-one countries in the Americas, including the United States, where it has become endemic.

In the U.S., blood-sucking insects occur naturally in the southern half of the country and, as of September 2025, have been identified in 32 states.

The state of Texas has undertaken extensive efforts to document human Chagas disease cases that were made reportable in 2013. The first known autochthonous case of human Chagas disease in the U.S. occurred in an infant in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1955, in a home infested with triatomines.

According to the U.S. CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases (Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025), in this Perspective, researchers review a body of evidence establishing the robust presence of T. cruzi parasites in the U.S., not only among insect vectors, wildlife, and domestic animals but also among humans without travel histories who are assumed to be locally infected.

After feeding, these bugs pass the parasite in their feces. If the feces enter a person's body through a cut or near the eyes or mouth, it can cause infection.

These researchers wrote, 'Updating Chagas disease endemicity status as hypoendemic is a crucial step toward a more effective management model, one that addresses the unique challenges and complexities of this country regarding vector-borne diseases.'

'Such a shift will help reform curriculum in professional schools to enable the next generation of practitioners to be competent in recognizing the low but present risk for locally acquired T. cruzi infections and better serve those who acquire the parasite elsewhere and require diagnosis in the U.S.'

A Viewpoint published by The Lancet in May 2025 wrote that, despite many studies, there is still no vaccine for Chagas Disease.

To make matters worse for those infected, the only two drugs available have proved efficacy only when administered during the acute phase of the disease.

After consuming Louisiana-harvested oysters contaminated with the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, a sixth person has died along the Gulf of America.

The recently deceased were served the oysters at separate restaurants in Louisiana and Florida. 

On February 23, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) stated that all Louisiana oysters harvested outside of Area 3, as well as all other Louisiana seafood statewide, are safe for human consumption. While cooking kills the virus, outbreaks have occurred from eating undercooked oysters harvested from contaminated waters.

During 2025, the LDH reported cases from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina.

As of August 28, 2025, the Florida Department of Health (FDH) reported 23 cases and five related deaths in various counties this year.

In 2024, FDH reported 82 cases and nineteen related deaths. Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties experience an unusual increase due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that usually lives in warm seawater and is part of a group of vibrios that are called "halophilic" because they require salt, says FDH. Oysters are filter feeders and can accumulate contaminants and microorganisms present in the water.

The U.S. CDC defines coastal waters as including both saltwater and brackish water. Brackish water is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater. It is often found where rivers meet the ocean.

Vibrio wound infections are treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove dead or infected tissue, according to the CDC.

Acne,  a common skin condition, has long been dismissed as a rite of passage for millions of adolescents for years. The U.S. NIH says hormones and genetics play a role in acne cases, but it is primarily driven by inflammation and lesions caused by bacteria that grow in clogged pores.

Sebum, oil that helps keep skin from drying out, and dead skin cells plug the pores, which leads to outbreaks of lesions, commonly called pimples or zits.

Most often, outbreaks occur on the face but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders, as stated by the NIH.

But vaccine researchers are attempting to change how to manage this unfortunate issue..

According to an article written by Benjamin Plackett and published by Nature on August 27, 2025, two vaccine candidates that aim to engage the immune system in tackling the underlying cause of acne.

The vaccines, one that treats the condition and one that acts as a preventive measure, both attempt to provoke the immune system into targeting these acne-causing bacteria.

“It has taken time for the field to treat acne as a disease of immune regulation, rather than just a surface issue," says dermatologist Anjali Mahto, spokesperson for the London-based British Skin Foundation.

"What matters most is this shift in mindset."

The complete, unedited article is posted at this link.

The WHO today published its Multi-country outbreak of mpox External situation report #57.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on August 28, 2025, that all monkeypox virus (MPXV) clades continue to circulate in several countries. When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, they continue to pose a risk of sustained community transmission.

In July 2025, 47 countries in five (out of six) WHO regions reported a total of 3,924 confirmed cases, including 30 deaths (case fatality ratio 0.8%).

The South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions reported an increase in cases in July 2025, while the African Region, European Region, and the Region of the Americas reported a decrease. 

To alert international travelers to this serious health risk, the WHO Director-General has extended the standing recommendations for mpox issued to States Parties until August 20, 2026, to prevent further spread or reduce the international spread of mpox, as well as its impact on health.

The WHO and the U.S. CDC recommend mpox vaccination for those with the highest risk profile.

In light of the resurgence of pertussis across several countries in the region and the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reiterated the importance of strengthening vaccination and surveillance systems. 

Known as Whooping cough, pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness that has resurged in the Americas. While 4,139 cases were reported in 2023, the number soared to 43,751 in 2024. 

In the United States, preliminary data show that more than six times as many cases were reported in 2024 compared to 2023. 

In the first seven months of 2025, nine countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and the U.S., reported over 18,595 cases and 128 deaths.

The PAHO states that the resurgence is linked to declining vaccination rates and emphasizes the need for strengthened, standardized surveillance.

Regional coverage for the first and third vaccine doses dropped to historic lows of 87% and 81% in 2021, respectively.

By 2023, a partial recovery was observed (90% and 88%), but these rates remain below the 95% recommended by PAHO, with significant disparities within countries.

Pilar Ramón-Pardo, head of PAHO's Special Program on Antimicrobial Resistance, commented in a media release on August 26, 2025, "We still have time to contain this issue, but we must act now: increase vaccination coverage, strengthen early detection, and enhance our outbreak response capacity."

When visiting countries such as Brazil, the U.S. CDC recommends travelers be protected against pertussis. Specifically, vaccination is essential from pregnant women and infants visiting outbreak areas.

Various pertussis vaccines are offered at clinics and pharmacies in August 2025.