Travel Vaccine Breaking News

When visiting areas in central Asia, travelers may become ill with fevers and headaches, occasionally leading to acute encephalitis. According to local health ministries, the cause could be Nipah virus (NiV).

It is estimated that about 40% of people with NiV may die.

According to the UK Travel Health Pro on April 4, 2025, most human infections result from direct contact with animals, particularly pigs and bats, in a few Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

For example, Bangladesh has already reported three cases of NiV in people this year.

In the Indian state of Kerala, the Health Department has started awareness activities ahead of the bat breeding season in five districts considered to be hotspots for the zoonotic infection: Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, and Ernakulam. 

In 2023, Kerala experienced multiple Nipah outbreaks. Three of these outbreaks were contained to the Kozhikode district. 

However, the causes of these NiV outbreaks remain unclear.

While these outbreaks are concerning, the UK says the 'risk of NiV infection for tourists to endemic countries is currently very low, if the following precautions are taken.'

Unfortunately, NiV preventive vaccines are unavailable in 2025.

The World Health Organization says Nipah vaccine candidates include live-attenuated and replication-defective recombinant vaccine platforms based on poxviruses, VSV, adenovirus, measles, rabies, and virus-like particles and subunit vaccines. 

As of April 6, 2025, neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the European Medicines Agency has authorized a vaccine or treatment for Nipah, but clinical trials are ongoing. 

Nigeria’s Ministry of Health announced today that it has received over 1,000,000 doses of the pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men5CV) to combat the meningococcus C and W outbreak in northern Nigeria.

This initial shipment will launch a crucial response campaign targeting individuals aged 1 to 29, the most affected demographic. The campaign will begin in Kebbi and Sokoto States and expand to Yobe State as more vaccine doses arrive.

As of April 4, 2025, this meningococcal outbreak has claimed more than 70 lives and affected over 800 individuals across 23 states.

In Africa's 'meningitis belt', seasonal outbreaks are common during the dry season, peaking between March and April due to low humidity and high dust levels.

According to the U.S. CDC, disease rates during epidemics can reach 1% of the local population.

Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated in a press release, “The arrival of the Men5CV vaccines is a significant milestone in our fight against the meningitis outbreak."

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, funds the global stockpiles of vaccines against cholera, Ebola, meningitis, and yellow fever, accessible to all countries worldwide. 

When visiting Nigeria in 2025, the CDC recommends routine and travel vaccines to prevent polio, measles, yellow fever, and diphtheria infections. 

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health recently announced it is investigating a cluster of Malaria cases in South Trinidad, indicating a potential upsurge in 2025.

As of April 2, 2025, five malaria cases have been confirmed this year.

These five cases are in a well-defined geographic area, and the following field work has been conducted by the Insect Vector Control Division, after the identification of the first case on March 27, 2025:

The Ministry says Trinidad and Tobago, located east of Venezuela, is not endemic for malaria, and as such, most confirmed cases are imported and/or introduced.

Last year, over 200,000 people visited Trinidad and Tobago from a country in North America.

Over the period 2015 to 2024, there were 153 confirmed cases, which is an average of 15 cases per year.

Countries in the Region of the Americas, such as Trinidad and Tobago, reported over 500,000 malaria cases in 2023, a 5% increase from 2022. 

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says millions of residents travel to countries where virus-carrying mosquitoes transmit malaria.

As of week #11 ending March 15, 2025, the CDC confirmed 209 malaria cases in the U.S. this year, with Florida reporting eight travel-related malaria cases.

During 2024, the CDC confirmed 436 measles cases in the U.S.

While two malaria vaccines are available in 2025, neither is offered in the U.S.

In the Philippines, the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) recently issued an advisory regarding increasing cases of rotavirus and typhoid.

Typhoid is caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi, which spreads through contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person.

Data showed that from January to March 22, some 27 cases of typhoid, also known as enteric fever, were reported, compared to only 11 cases during the same period in 2024.

Meanwhile, the CHO reported 74 cases of rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children, during the same period in 2025.

The top risk factor for rotavirus is poor sanitation and hygiene, leading to contamination of food and water.

In its advisory, the CHO said prevention includes washing hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before eating, as well as drinking only clear water. If unsure, boil water for three minutes or chlorinate water.

“Go to the nearest barangay health station or center, or consult with your physician if experiencing signs and symptoms of typhoid fever,” Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said in a press release on April 2, 2025.

Bacolod City, located on the northwest coast of Negros Island in the Philippines, has become a tourist favorite and was visited by over 800,000 people last year.

The U.S. CDC's Travel Health Advisory for the Philippines recommends vaccination for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

When departing from the United States in 2025, most travel clinics and pharmacies offer vaccines that prevent both typhoid and rotavirus.

Additionally, the CDC highlights vaccines for chikungunya, dengue, and measles when visiting the Philippines.

At the end of March 2025, the Republic of Panama's Ministry of Health announced it is strengthening preventive measures in the community of Las Guias in the district of Calobre, due to an increase in malaria cases.

As of March 31, 2025, 66 malaria cases were reported in the province, 6 of which were in Las Guías and La Raya de Calobre.

These malaria infections were confirmed in an area where a sugar harvest occurs in the Ngäbe-Buglé region. 

Over 100 years ago, building the Panama Canal generated malaria infections that cost many lives.

In a press release, Alex Sánchez, regional head of Public Health, emphasized that the Vector Control and Epidemiology departments continue to conduct research, case detection, teaching, and preventive operations, providing timely treatment and care.

Furthermore, it is essential to eliminate mosquito breeding sites to prevent all mosquito-transmitted diseases, including Dengue.

During the first three months of 2025, Panama has reported over 4,800 Dengue cases and four related fatalities.

Last year, the Pan American Health Organization reported Panama confirmed 37,231 Dengue cases and 52 fatalities.

There is also an outbreak of Oropouche in Espírito Santo, Brazil, and Darién Province.

Like Dengue and Malaria, Oropouche is spread primarily through the bites of infected midges and mosquitoes.

While the U.S. CDC has issued Travel Health Advisories for Panama, as of April 2, 2025, it has not authorized the use of preventive vaccines against Dengue and Malaria.

A second-generation Dengue vaccine, QDENGA®, is offered in various countries in the Americas.

Moreover, malaria vaccines have also been approved for use in Africa.

According to cruise ship news in early 2025, passing through the Panama Canal does not pose a significant health risk for passengers!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed an ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa. Previous data indicates that about 15 million people visit central Africa each year.

As of April 1, 2025, the CDC updated its Level 2 Travel Health Advisory saying, 'There is ongoing person-to-person transmission of mpox in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.'

Person-to-person transmission has occurred through various means during this outbreak.

There are two types of Monkeypox virus. Historically, clade I has been associated with a higher percentage of people with mpox developing severe illness or dying, compared to clade II. The global outbreak of clade II began in May 2022.

The CDC writes, 'Mpox vaccination is recommended for people who anticipate the following sexual activities during travel to countries with ongoing person-to-person transmission of clade I mpox.'

In the United States, the Bavarian Nordic JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®, IMVANEX®) two-dose vaccine is commercially offered at various travel clinics and pharmacies in April 2025. 

Those eligible for mpox vaccination should get two doses of JYNNEOS at least 28 days apart, before visiting an mpox outbreak area.

With clade I mpox outbreaks occurring in hard-to-reach areas in Central and Eastern Africa, a new version of an effective vaccine has been approved.

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the freeze-dried formulation of the JYNNEOS® vaccine to prevent smallpox and mpox disease in adults 18 and older.

Announced on March 31, 2025, this FDA approval will enable additional flexibility for stockpiling against a smallpox event or mpox outbreak. 

The Company recently informed the African CDC that it can manufacture about ten million vaccine doses in addition to current orders by the end of 2025.

The current liquid-frozen formulation of JYNNEOS, approved by the FDA in September 2019, has specific cold-chain requirements, while the freeze-dried formulation provides advantages in terms of transportation, storage conditions, and shelf life, all of which are essential factors for long-term stockpiling. 

“Today’s FDA approval represents a significant milestone in our development of this next generation of JYNNEOS and in our collaborative efforts with the U.S. government to strengthen public health security,” said Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, in a press release.

“As a long-term supplier of JYNNEOS to the U.S. biological preparedness, we are committed to supporting the government’s efforts to protect its citizens against current and future public health threats.”

To alert international travelers of this continued health risk, the U.S. CDC maintains Level 2 Travel Health Advisories.

JYNNEOS, a two-dose vaccine based on a live, attenuated vaccinia virus, is commercially available in pharmacies and clinics in the United States.

Internationally, JYNNEOS is known as MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®, and IMVANEX®.