Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Following a significant outbreak in 2024, the first confirmed case of West Nile virus illness was reported on June 24, 2025, in a resident of Brazos County, Texas.

This Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announcement raises concerns for all Texans as virus-carrying mosquitoes remain active into December.

There were 455 cases of West Nile disease in Texas in 2024 and 56 related fatalities.

Over the last five years, Texas has had 929 West Nile cases and 122 deaths.

“Texans should be aware that mosquitoes transmit disease, and some of these illnesses, like West Nile and dengue, can be severe,” said DSHS  Commissioner Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, MPH. “But taking steps to prevent mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas around homes are proactive measures that can reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness.”

Infected mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus after biting. Although 80% of people exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms, the remaining 20% will experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain.

Less than one percent of those exposed will suffer from West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which affects the nervous system and can cause disorientation, neck stiffness, tremors, paralysis, convulsions, and even death.

DSHS urges anyone experiencing West Nile symptoms to contact their health care provider and mention any exposure to mosquitoes.

As of July 3, 2025, no vaccine for West Nile virus exists.

The regional health agency in Grand Est, France, reported its first locally acquired case of chikungunya in Bas-Rhin.

As of July 1, 2025, epidemiological investigations indicated that this locally acquired chikungunya case had frequented the municipalities of Lipsheim and Fegersheim during their infectious period. 

Unlike previous local cases, this area is located in France's northeast.

In June 2025, Occitane (Hérault and Gard), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Var and Bouches-du-Rhône), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Drôme), and the island of Corse (Corse-du-Sud) reported local chikungunya cases.

And in the southern Indian Ocean, France's departments have reported significant chikungunya outbreaks in 2025.

According to the World Health Organization and the United States, chikungunya is a vaccine-preventable disease, with two vaccines commercially available as of July 2025. 

According to the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honduran authorities are requiring documentation to show proof of a measles vaccine (MMR) for travelers coming from various countries, including the United States.

As of June 28, 2025, this new requirement applies to all foreign travel to the Republic of Honduras, whether by land, sea, or air. 

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras stated that if someone cannot receive the vaccine, they will need to provide proof of a negative measles test result 72 to 80 hours before the flight.

This means that cruise ship passengers visiting this Central American country may need to carry proof of their vaccination.

In addition to measles vaccination, the U.S. CDC recommends being protected against chikungunya, dengue, malaria, typhoid, and Zika when visiting Honduras.

For local assistance during July 2025, the U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa is available to U.S tourists.

Additionally, the Department of State stated in 2024, "Reconsider travel to Honduras due to civil unrest." The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is available to travelers interested in receiving digital travel alerts while abroad.

Like many countries in South America, the Plurinational State of Bolivia has been confronted with a multi-year outbreak of Chikungunya.

To alert international travelers visiting Bolivia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 Travel Health Advisory on June 26, 2025, stating that this year's Chikungunya outbreak is centered in Bolivia's Santa Cruz department.

According to recent data, Bolivia welcomed around 984,000 international tourists in 2024.

Data released at the end of June 2025 indicates Bolivia has reported 3,863 Chikungunya cases this year and 505 cases in 2024.

So far in 2025, about 38 people have returned to the U.S. infected with the Chikungunya virus.

The CDC advises that if you are pregnant, you should reconsider travel to the affected areas, especially if you are nearing the time of delivery. Mothers infected around the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby before or during delivery.

Newborns infected in this way or by a mosquito bite are at risk for severe illness, including poor long-term outcomes.

Furthermore, vaccination is recommended for most travelers who are visiting an area with a Chikungunya outbreak.

As of June 30, 2025, Chikungunya vaccines are approved for use by the CDC and are commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

Rabies has been present in the wildlife population in New Jersey since 1989, affecting the entire state.

Rabies is a virus that can affect any mammal, including cats, dogs, raccoons, skunks, and bats, the unfortunate source of most rabies cases in the United States.

In NJ, groundhogs have been a significant source of rabies.

Recently, the Hillsborough Health Department tested a groundhog that bit two people outside of a business at The Landing business complex. This animal tested positive for rabies. 

As of June 27, 2205, rabies vaccinations of all cats and dogs, with few exceptions, are required in Hillsborough Township.

The virus lives in the central nervous system fluid and saliva of the affected animal. This infectious fluid must enter the host’s body thost's an opening put there by a bite, or a scratch, or through exposure of an open cut, or rubbing the eyes after touching saliva.

'If any anima' bites you, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention,' says the NJ Hea'th Department.

Additionally, rabies vaccination is immediately recommended for people bitten by a rabid animal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the 54th situation report for the multi-country outbreak of mpox, which began in May 2022.

The WHO Director-General recently confirmed that the ongoing upsurge of mpox cases continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

On June 27, 2025, the WHO confirmed that during May 2025, a total of 6,823 confirmed mpox cases and 16 deaths (Case Fatality Ratio: 0.2%) were reported. The majority of mpox instances continue to be reported from the WHO African Region, with 18 countries currently experiencing active ongoing transmission.

Since the last WHO report, Ethiopia and Italy have reported their first cases of mpox, caused by the clade Ib monkeypox virus (MPXV).

In addition, North Macedonia, the Republic of the Congo, and Togo have reported their first cases of mpox clade IIb MPXV. Albania has reported its first mpox case.

According to a disease prevention update, the WHO reported that seven African countries have initiated mpox vaccination. More than 731,000 doses of the MVA-BN (JYNNEOS) vaccine have been administered to date.

In the United States, there have been four reported cases of clade I mpox in people who had recently traveled to affected areas in Central and Eastern Africa. 

The U.S. CDC advises that when visiting countries in Africa, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, you should get your first mpox vaccine at least 6 weeks before traveling, if possible. After completing your first and second vaccine doses, which are given four weeks apart, it takes about two more weeks to achieve the best protection against mpox.

Whether or not you've been vaccinated, continue to reduce your risk of getting mpox, says the CDC.

With the continued confirmations of mpox infections in various countries, the U.S. FDA-approved vaccine is now being evaluated for at-risk, vulnerable populations.

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that on June 26, 2025, the initiation of the first of two clinical trials designed to support approval and use of the MVA-BN® (JYNNEOS) mpox/smallpox vaccine in infants under 2 years of age, pregnant, and breastfeeding women.

Both studies are conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, where infants and pregnant women remain highly vulnerable to the sexually transmitted mpox virus.

Paul Chaplin, President & CEO of Bavarian Nordic, commented in a press release, “These new studies will fill the gap by providing important data about the use of MVA-BN ... which could help support a label expansion for MVA-BN to include the most vulnerable populations.”

Furthermore, these studies are part of the PregInPoxVac research project, which includes a phase 2 trial of MVA-BN in children aged 2-11 years. Topline results from this trial (NCT06549530) are anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.

Currently, JYNNEOS is commercially offered in the United States at various clinics and pharmacies.

According to the U.S. CDC, the majority of clade II mpox cases in the U.S. continue to be in people who are not vaccinated or who have received only one dose of JYNNEOS.

As of June 1, 2025, approximately 35,000 mpox infections had been reported in the United States.