Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Historically, local cases of dengue fever have been concentrated in Miami-Dade County. However, recent reports indicate that mosquitoes in northeast Florida are now also transmitting the disease, placing about 600,000 people at risk.

On August 2, 2025, the Brevard County health department reported its sixth locally acquired dengue case of the year.

In response, the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard) has issued a Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert that expires in September 2025.

DOH-Brevard and Brevard County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts along this Atlantic Ocean coastal community by enhanced monitoring for mosquitoes and diseases, as well as targeted mosquito treatment and overnight spraying to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

This area of Florida includes these cities: Melbourne, Titusville, and Cocoa Beach. And to the west, Orlando.

Two other local dengue cases were reported by Miami-Dade in 2025.

Furthermore, there have been over 120 travel-related dengue cases confirmed in Florida in 2025.

Dengue fever is not contagious, causes flu-like symptoms, and can be prevented with vaccination. Currently, a first-generation dengue vaccine is being evaluated in children living in Puerto Rico. 

Globally, a second-generation dengue vaccine is offered in numerious countries in 2025.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) recently announced it was urging residents to take precautions to prevent infection from Vibrio vulnificus. 

As of July 31, 2025, 17 cases of Vibrio vulnificus have been reported by LDH among Louisiana residents. All of these patients were hospitalized, and four of these illnesses resulted in death.

Of those 17 cases, 75% reported wound/seawater exposure.

During the same period over the previous 10 years, an average of seven Vibrio vulnificus cases and one death have been reported each year in Louisiana.

LHD says Vibrios are bacteria that naturally live in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer.

About a dozen species of Vibrio can cause human illness. Some species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can become seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation.

About one in five people with this infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill. It can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.

LHD wrote in this press release the precautions that can help keep you safe:

Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound, including cuts and scrapes.

Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.

Use caution when consuming raw or undercooked seafood, especially if you have a weakened immune system, are pregnant, or have certain medical conditions like liver or stomach disorders. And wear protective gloves when handling raw seafood.

More information from LDH can be found at this U.S. CDC link.

Along the eastern Gulf of America, Florida reported 11 Vibrio vulnificus infections in various countries this year.

The Florida Department of Health reported that fatalities had occurred in Hillsborough, Bay, Broward, and St. Johns counties in 2025.

In 2024, Florida reported 82 cases and 19 fatalities, many in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.

In 2025, Brazil remains the leading country in the Americas for reported yellow fever cases. However, the Republic of Colombia has confirmed a significant outbreak since 2024

By July 31, 2025, Colombia reported in a post on Facebook a total of 125 confirmed cases of yellow fever (YF), resulting in 53 deaths.

Most of these YF cases were concentrated in the Tolima Department, which accounted for 105 cases and 38 deaths.

In addition, YF cases have been reported in the Departments of Huila, Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo, Caldas, Meta, Vaupés, Guaviare, and Caquetá.

As of August 4, 2025, YF is a vaccine-preventable disease, and proof of vaccination is required to enter various countries, including Colombia. 

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

Since the beginning of 2025, five countries in Europe have reported human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection: Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, and Romania.

In week #31, the European CDC reported that the highest number of cases, 43, occurred in the Latina province of Italy.

As of July 31, 2025, a total of 89 cases of WNV infection have been confirmed (Bollettino N. 3) in Italy this year, including eight fatalities.

In addition to WNV, other mosquito-borne diseases, Chikungunya and Dengue, have been reported in Italy in 2025.

Before visiting Italy this summer for events such as the Jubilee of Youth, the U.S. CDC recommends speaking with a travel vaccine advisor at least one month before departure about immunization options.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently highlighted cases of Oropouche virus disease in Europe that are linked to international travel, as noted in their Communicable Disease Threats Report.

As of July 25, 2025, the ECDC has reported that Germany confirmed one imported case of Oropouche virus disease. This case involved a person who had traveled to Dominica between January 24 and February 7, 2025.

France also reported one imported case in an individual who visited Brazil in March 2025.

Additionally, the United Kingdom recorded three imported cases among travelers returning from Brazil during March and April 2025.

Throughout 2024, there were a total of 44 imported cases of Oropouche reported in EU countries, with Spain accounting for the highest number at 23 cases. Most cases had a travel history to Cuba, and one case was linked to Brazil.

The ECDC assesses the risk of infection for EU/EEA citizens traveling to countries in the Americas affected by the Oropouche as moderate.

They state, "The likelihood of human exposure to Oropouche virus in the EU/EEA is considered very low. This is despite the potential for further cases to be imported, as the competent vectors typically found in the Americas are absent from continental Europe.'

'To date, there has been no reported secondary transmission. Therefore, the risk of locally acquired Oropouche virus disease in the EU/EEA is low.'

In the United States, there were 103 cases of Oropouche fever reported in individuals in Florida who had traveled to an endemic area, such as Cuba, in 2024.

As of July 31, 2025, there are no Oropouche vaccines available.

With the 2025-2026 Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus seasons launching in the United States, a debated innovation recently recieved positive data on how it can passively reduce respiratory diseases.

The new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine trialled commercially available germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) appliances in senior care facilities, finding they reduced rates of viral respiratory infections by about 12.2%.

GUV appliances, which purify the air with UV-C light rays and deactivate harmful micro-organisms like viruses and bacteria.

“Some of the key advantages of germicidal ultraviolet air-treatment appliances are that they are easily installed into existing facilities and cost-effective to use,” says lead author Dr Andrew Shoubridge from Flinders University and SAHMRI’s Microbiome and Host Health Programme, in a press release on July 28, 2025.

“When used in conjunction with existing infection control measures, they could be transformative in reducing rates of seasonal respiratory viral infections and protecting residential aged care facilities against emerging pathogens.”

This randomized clinical trial tested commercially available LAF Technologies GUV appliances that are already used in a wide range of clinical and commercial settings, including hospitals.

The appliances can be mounted to ceilings or walls, fitted into ventilated AC systems, are harmless to people, and have already proven to reduce levels of airborne pathogens in laboratory and hospital settings.

Senior author of the study, Professor Geraint Rogers, conceived this world-first trial and the transformative adaptation of this technology to reduce respiratory viral outbreaks in vulnerable older Australians.

“Our study aimed to explore new ways in which to protect aged care residents from harmful outbreaks of viruses, without disrupting their day-to-day activities.

“Based on our findings, it’s difficult to see why you wouldn’t install these appliances in aged care facilities.”

When Ebola and Marburg outbreaks have occurred over the decades, diagnosing cases has been a significant challenge for healthcare workers.

To address this essential need, Aptitude Medical Systems announced its second major partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), with $9 million in funding to develop the Metrix Filovirus Panel.

This collaboration leverages Aptitude's next-generation molecular diagnostics platform, Metrix®, which has been advanced through a prior BARDA partnership valued at up to $61.9 million.

This rapid next-generation molecular diagnostic device aims to detect and differentiate Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus species.

"Point-of-care diagnostics are essential for effectively addressing outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens like Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus species," added JP Wang, PhD, CTO, President, and Executive Chairman of Aptitude, in a press release on July 28, 2025.

It is a small, portable platform, making it appropriate for use in remote and more traditional point-of-care settings, generating results in 30 minutes or less from venous or fingerstick blood samples.

As of July 29, 2025, there are no active Ebola and Marburg outbreaks in Africa, and Ebola vaccines and antibody therapies have been approved for use by various countries.