Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows an increase in travel-associated enteric fever cases, specifically typhoid and paratyphoid fever, serious but preventable illnesses caused by Salmonella bacteria.

In 2024, there were 702 reported cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, representing an 8% rise from the 645 cases recorded in 2023.

This number marks the highest annual total of cases ever.

In the UK, most cases of enteric fever are contracted abroad, particularly in regions with poor hygiene and sanitation. Previous surveillance has indicated a troubling increase in antibiotic-resistant typhoid strains in Pakistan, which diminishes the effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics and complicates treatment.

As of June 14, 2025, a free typhoid vaccination is available in the UK for some travelers; however, there is currently no vaccine for paratyphoid fever.

The UK's Travel Health Pro website says, 'Ideally, travellers should consult their GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, or travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before their trip for individual advice, travel vaccines, if relevant for their destination.

In the United States, the CDC estimates that 5,700 of cases of typhoid fever occur in the United States each year. Almost all cases occur among international travelers returning from South Asia, primarily Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The CDC says vaccination can help prevent typhoid fever. Two typhoid vaccines are available in the United States: an oral vaccine and an injectable vaccine.

Bavarian Nordic's Vivotif® (Ty21a) is the only oral typhoid vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Find out if you need a typhoid vaccine at www.cdc.gov/travel. Or visit a local travel vaccine clinic or pharmacy.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently published its monthly update on measles cases in England, which shows that outbreaks are continuing, with 109 cases confirmed in April and 86 so far in May 2025.

Since January 2025, the UKHSA has reported 420 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles in England.

As of June 6, 2025, 39% (162 of 420) of these cases have been in London, 14% in the South West, and 14% in the East of England.

Last year, there were 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. The 2024 outbreak was initially reported in Birmingham but was soon overtaken by a large outbreak in London.

Dr. Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, stated in a media release, "Too many babies and young children are still not protected against the diseases, which are contagious infections that spread very easily and can cause serious health problems."

"MMR jabs are provided free as part of the NHS routine immunisation programme – and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child's vaccination."

In England, the decline of the uptake of childhood vaccinations, including MMR, in the past decade (below the WHO 95% vaccination target) means thousands of children are left unprotected.

London has the lowest MMR uptake rates compared with other English regions (MMR2 uptake at 5 years is just 73.3% in London compared to the English average of 83.9%).

To warn visitors to England of this health risk, the U.S. CDC included numerous areas of the United Kingdom in its May 28, 2025, Level 1, Global Travel Advisory.

The CDC recommends prospective visitors to England speak with a travel vaccine expert one month before departure to ensure maximum protection can be achieved.

One of North America's favorite vacation destinations, located just 193 miles east of South Florida, accessible by boat or plane, has been informed by Canada to 'Exercise a high degree of caution.'

On June 3, 2025, Canada affirmed that the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is experiencing a high level of civil unrest, especially in Nassau and Freeport.

The Bahamas is an island country located in the Atlantic Ocean, welcoming approximately 11 million visitors in 2024, many of whom came from Canada and the United States.

Amongst the various warnings, Canada states that the water sports rental industry in the Bahamas is poorly regulated, and reputable operators are limited. Boating accidents occur frequently, particularly on jet skis.

Canada offers the following advice to vacationers: Only rent water sports equipment from reputable, registered operators. Ensure that proper training is provided before using the equipment, and verify that beach and aquatic equipment is safe and in good condition.

The U.S. State Department has also issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisory for The Bahamas.

Similar to Canada, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued a Security Alert on April 9, 2025, advising U.S. citizens of the risks associated with renting jet skis in The Bahamas.

The Embassy wrote, Nassau jet ski operators have raped and sexually assaulted two U.S. citizen women in 2025, and three rapes were reported in 2024.

Women victims reported that male jet ski operators picked them up from downtown Nassau and Paradise Island beaches. This includes the area from Junkanoo Beach to Saunders Beach and Cabbage Beach.

The victims said they were raped and assaulted on isolated islands near New Providence.

Furthermore, due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in The Bahamas are prohibited from renting and using jet skis on New Providence and the Paradise Islands.

From a health perspective, mosquito-transmitted disease reporting from The Bahamas appears lacking.

While the entire Region of the Americas, including the Caribbean countries, set records for Dengue virus infections in 2024, The Bahamas didn't report any cases. Nor has it reported any in 2025.

Which leads to questions about the number of Chikungunya, Malaria, and Zika infections vacationers experience following a Bahamas vacation.

However, the U.S. CDC did include The Bahamas in a recent measles outbreak alert.

Therefore, when scheduling a quick trip to enjoy the warm waters of the Caribbean in June 2025, vacationers should heed the advice from these government agencies and exercise caution. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the Republic of Sudan's Khartoum State is facing an infrastructure breakdown and severe constraints on access to healthcare.

Since May 2025, there has been a rapid increase in cholera cases in Khartoum State, with over 16,000 cumulative cases and 239 deaths reported.

Effective as of June 10, 2025, a 10-day reactive oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign was launched in five localities to protect more than 2.6 million people aged 1 year and above from cholera infection, interrupt transmission, and help contain the ongoing cholera outbreak.

WHO Representative in Sudan, Dr Shible Sahbani, commented in a press release, "The vaccines will help stop cholera in its tracks as we strengthen other response interventions."

Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan, with over 7 million residents, located adjacent to the Nile rivers.

The WHO's Global Cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhoea Dashboard was updated in June 2025, indicating that over 224,000 cholera cases and 2,800 related fatalities were reported from 26 countries this year.

Cholera is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It poses a global threat to public health.

As of June 12, 2025, OCV remains in limited supply worldwide, except for the United States.

According to an analysis recently published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fewer infants were admitted to hospitals struggling to breathe from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) last season. 

This positive trend was announced in the MMWR (74(16);273–281) on May 8, 2025, following the approval of RSV vaccines and antibody treatments for the 2024-2025 season.

Data from the RSV-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RSV-NET) and New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) showed infants aged 0–7 months (eligible for protection with maternal vaccination or nirsevimab), 2024–25 RSV-associated hospitalization rates were lower compared with the 2018–20 pooled rates.

The most significant estimated rate reduction was observed among infants aged 0–2 months (RSV-NET: 52%, 95% CI = 49%–56%; NVSN: 45%, 95% CI = 32%–57%) and during peak hospitalization periods (December–February). 

In a sensitivity analysis of the NVSN surveillance site in Houston, Texas, where the RSV season began before vaccine and antibody treatments were available, the effect was even more pronounced, with a 71% drop in infant hospitalizations.

The findings suggest the importance of protecting infants born during the RSV season through either maternal vaccination during pregnancy or nirsevimab (Beyfortus) administration in the first week of life, ideally during the hospitalization for birth.

In a demonstration of continental unity, twenty African Union Member States affected by cholera outbreaks in 2025 have issued a call to action.

Following the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) lead, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for bold leadership and systemic change on June 2, 2025, "The people of Africa are watching. They expect bold, coordinated, and unwavering leadership that puts their health and dignity first."

As of May 2025, the Africa CDC reported approximately 130,000 cholera cases and 2,700 deaths, representing 60% of global reported cases and an alarming 93.5% of cholera-related deaths.

The Africa CDC emphasized the systemic drivers of the crisis—limited WASH infrastructure, insecurity, weak coordination, and vaccine shortages:
"Africa needs 54 million doses of oral cholera vaccine annually, but receives barely half. This gap is unacceptable."

"Urgent action is needed to scale up local production and secure (vaccine) supply."

Globally, over 244,000 cholera cases and 2,800 related fatalities have been reported in 2025.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the U.K. National Health Service recommend oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) for travelers visiting countries experiencing outbreaks.

The WHO says that all OCVs require two vaccine doses for complete protection for up to three years.

In the United States, OCVs are expected to be available at travel clinics and pharmacies in June 2025.