Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Charlotte Elton with EuroNews today reported Ibiza health officials are urging tourists to be on alert for symptoms of a Dengue infection.

The scenic Balearic Island, located off Spain's east coast, has recently experienced several dengue outbreaks.

For example, a message from Germany in 2023 alerted Spain to six cases of native dengue reported between May and November last year. 

The Centre for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES) recently confirmed one of the potential carriers of dengue is the Aedes albopictus or tiger mosquito.

These mosquitoes are found throughout the Spanish Mediterranean, northern Spain, including France.

From May to December 9, 2022, 272 imported cases of dengue fever were identified in metropolitan France, most from implantation by Aedes albopictus.

In addition to Europe's dengue outbreaks, several countries have reported dengue cases in 2023, including south Florida in the U.S.

Dengue can take up to two weeks to develop, with the illness generally lasting less than a week, says the U.S. CDC.

Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding. And dengue can become severe within a few hours.

Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.

Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease. And there are two dengue vaccines available in specific countries.

Moderna Inc. president Stephen Hoge commented at a conference on healthcare on March 6, 2023, indicating it would accelerate the approval pathway for its personalized cancer vaccine candidate mRNA-4157/V940.

"At some point, this randomized 150-person Phase IIb study that we ran might — might — be able to become the basis of accelerated approval," Hoge said, according to EndPoint News.

"It's too early to say, but we are hopeful that the data will mature that way."

On December 13, 2022, mRNA-4157/V940, combined with KEYTRUDA, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death compared to KEYTRUDA monotherapy in stage III/IV melanoma patients with a high risk of recurrence following complete resection.

An advantage of Moderna's mRNA platform is that it allows for investigational medicines that combine several different approaches to activate the immune system to attack cancer in a single mRNA therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already issued breakthrough therapy designation for mRNA-4157/V940 ahead of a potential Phase 3 study for the treatment expected in 2023 for adjuvant melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

In 2019, the latest year for which incidence data are available, 88,059 new cases of melanoma of the skin were reported, and 8,092 people died of this cancer in the U.S. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., exceeded only by heart disease, says the U.S. CDC.

The CDC's real-time cancer dashboard is available at this link.

Oliver Rich, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that the FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible for the assault and kidnapping of four U.S. Citizens, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

On March 3, 2023, four Americans crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Shortly thereafter, unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle.  

All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men.

The US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salzar, said in a statement that “US law enforcement officials from numerous agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to secure the safe return of our compatriots."

The FBI, federal partners, and Mexican law enforcement agencies are investigating, and the FBI announced a reward of $50,000 for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved.

Previously, the U.S. Department of State has issued its highest level travel advisory for most of Mexico, warning Americans 'do not go.'

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Health Department recently alerted health officials and the public that there was a significant measles exposure event southwest of Lexington.

Asbury University, located in Wilmore, KY, hosted an on-campus event in mid-February 2023 that included about 20,000 attendees from around the U.S.

A measles case was confirmed on February 24, 2023, in an unvaccinated person who attended this gathering while infectious.

The CDC says that anyone unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against measles should quarantine for 21 days. And anyone with measles symptoms should isolate and call a health care facility before testing.

With declines in measles vaccination rates, outbreaks are occurring in all World Health Organization Regions.

Significant measles outbreaks have been reported in the European, African, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian Regions.

In the U.S., recent measles outbreaks were confirmed in Minnesota and Ohio.

The CDC says measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, with access to measles vaccines at most health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

According to recent reporting by the Austin Business Journal (ABJ), Elon Musk's car factory and rocket ship companies may become neighbors with significant developments, including a new airport.

The ABJ reported on February 16, 2023, a developer believes this corner of east Austin could soon be called World Trade Center Austin.

Positioned far away from Austin's current weirdness, this ambitious plan includes a mix of Las Vegas, Disney World, and Venice.

This area is also the home to the Circuit of The Americas, which has hosted racing, action sports, and music events since 2012.

Named Greenport Airport, the online information posted as of March 5, 2023, indicates an opening last year.

Austin's current airports include the expanded Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which offers a vast array of local Austin eateries and relaxing live music. 

Additionally, the Austin Executive Airport is a first-class business facility ranked as a top Fixed Base Operator in Texas. And on Austin's western front, the Lakeway Airpark serves various public and private aviation needs.

From a health perspective, there are certified travel vaccination pharmacies in Austin meeting the needs of international travelers.

The U.S. Department of State recently announced revised travel advisories for two counties located in Central America.

On March 1, 2023, the State Department reissued its Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for the Republic of Honduras.

This high-level advisory highlights civil unrest in areas such as the Gracias a Dios Department.

Separately, the State Department reissued its Level 3: Reconsider Travel to the Republic of Guatemala.

This Gualemalia alert identifies says do not travel to:

• San Marcos Department (except the city of San Marcos).
• Huehuetenango Department (except the city of Huehuetenango).
• Zone 18 and the city of Villa Nueva in Guatemala City.

Within both advisories, travelers to these countries are encouraged to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts in an emergency.

Previously, in support of the region's development, the United States Agency for International Development announced on February 15, 2023, it had awarded $42.5 million in new humanitarian funding for the people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

This brings USAID's total humanitarian funding for these three countries to nearly $261 million since April 2021.

Additional travel advisories have been recently issued for Costa Rica and El Salvador. 

From a health perspective, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests various travel vaccinations before visiting Central America.

These vaccines include yellow fever, measles, and influenza.

Travel vaccination services are offered at certified health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Updated with links on March 6, 2023.

According to recent media reports, four children in Israel have been diagnosed with polio. 

The JPost reported the Health Ministry announced in early March 2023 that an unvaccinated child from the Safed region in Galilee was found positive for polio at the Ziv Medical Center.

And on March 2, 2023, the Times of Israel reported an Israel Health Ministry statement confirming three additional children who had been in contact with the infected child and tested positive for poliovirus.

The Ministry did not reveal the vaccination status of these three children.

In June 2022, the Ministry reported that vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) was detected in the sewage in the Jerusalem area. This strain has spread to many places in Israel, from Ramat HaGolan, in the north, to Beer Sheva in the south.  

Unfortunately, about 150,000 children in Israel have not been vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine, and therefore they are not protected from pediatric paralysis should they be infected with the virus.

Polio is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that affects children and can cause paralysis and related fatalities. The live attenuated oral vaccine (bOPV) currently administered in Israel does not cover the VDPV2 strain.

This is a breaking news story, and relevant updates will be published at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Polio.