Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Two powerful earthquakes recently struck the central part of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar's Sagaing Region near Mandalay. The full scale of damage, deaths, and injuries has not yet been ascertained.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Public Health Situation Analysis, released on April 3, 2025, says preliminary assessments indicate high casualties and trauma-related injuries, with an urgent need for emergency care. 

On April 2, 2025, the State Administration Council (SAC) reported that 3,003 people had died and 4,515 had been injured in the earthquake.

In the earthquake-affected areas, with limited access to safe water and worsening sanitation and hygiene conditions, the WHO says the risks for Acute Waterborne (AWD) - cholera outbreaks are assessed as very high. 

Since July 2024, AWD and cholera cases have surged in at least nine states, including Ayeyarwady, Bago, and Mandalay.

Mandalay, which faced a cholera outbreak in October 2024, remains at high risk for further outbreaks due to infrastructure damage and overcrowded shelters, significantly increasing the likelihood of cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks.

From June 22, 2024, to March 23, 2025, 12,195 AWD cases (not all confirmed as cholera) were reported, along with three deaths.

A vaccination campaign using oral cholera vaccine (OCV) has been conducted in Yangon, Mon, and Mandalay, providing 2.4 million doses.

As of April 7, 2025, the U.S. CDC says, 'OCV vaccination may be considered for children and adults traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.'

In the United States, OCVs such as DUKORAL® are available at travel clinics and pharmacies.

The WHO wrote, 'These deteriorating conditions, combined with overcrowded temporary shelters and reduced sanitation services, significantly increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne disease outbreaks in the affected areas.'

According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that has caused significant increases in severe flu-like illness across the globe.

For example, the WHO's Western Pacific Region continues to face a high burden of Dengue-like Illnesses in the Republic of Fiji, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean.

Dengue Situation Update #720, published on April 3, 2025, shows that Fiji has reported over 800 cases of Dengue each of the last two weeks. This data indicates a significant increase above the five-year median of 300 monthly cases in the early part of most years.

This year's Dengue outbreak may upset vacationers planning to visit this unique destination in 2025. Fiji visitors reached a new high of over 900,000 in 2024, an increase of 5.7% compared to last year.

To forewarn international visitors in 2025, the U.S. CDC includes Fiji in its reissued Global Dengue Travel Health Advisory, which says people should avoid being bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito.

Since the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization shared recommendations for use of the QDENGA® vaccine in October 2023, about 40 countries have authorized its use. However, the United States has yet to authorize this second-generation Dengue vaccine.

While the U.S. CDC reports a continued decrease in influenza cases during the tail end of the 2024-2025 flu season, several cities are treating patients impacted by this respiratory disease.

According to the Wlagreens Flu Index®, the first week to show an increase in flu activity was the week ending on January 18, 2025.

Currently, the top ten cities treating people for the flu are:

1. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas.
2. New Orleans, La.
3. Baton Rouge, La.
4. Lafayette, La.
5. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, N.M.)
6. Chicago, Ill.
7. Washington, D.C. (Hagerstown, Md.)
8. Houston, Texas.
9. Knoxville, Tenn.
10. Honolulu, Hawaii.

For 11 years, the Walgreens Flu Index has provided an early and accurate view of disease trends. The Index offers detailed insights into flu activity across different markets.

This Index is based on retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza at Walgreens locations nationwide. It is designed not to indicate the overall levels or severity of flu activity, but rather to highlight which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of influenza.

As of April 6, 2025, the CDC recommends flu shots for people at risk for this severe disease, especially for children. Unfortunately, there have been 168 influenza-associated deaths this flu season.

Flu shots remain available at most pharmacies throughout the United States.

In Réunion Island, a French department located in the Indian Ocean, an unexpected chikungunya outbreak has overwhelmed the local population.

Since August 2024, about 20,242 chikungunya cases and two related fatalities have been confirmed across the island.

As of April 2, 2025, 14 newborns have been hospitalized following infection with the chikungunya virus. The disease can have serious, even fatal, consequences for newborns and infants.

Due to the acceleration in the number of cases and the spread of outbreaks to almost the entire territory in 2025, the first phase of the free chikungunya vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 7, 2025. It will be carried out based on a medical prescription by a healthcare provider.

Accoring to ARS Réunion's media statement today, per the recommendations of the High Authority for Health and by decision of the health authorities, this first phase of the IXCHIQ® vaccination campaign primarily targets people aged 65 and over with comorbidities or chronic illnesses and who have not already contracted chikungunya.

The first 40,000 doses of Valneva's single-dose IXCHIQ® vaccine will not be available for pregnant women. Furthermore, this live attenuated vaccine is contraindicated in immunocompromised individuals. 

Since 2023, IXCHIQ® has been approved by the U.S. FDA to treat chikungunya virus infections in adults at increased risk of exposure to the mosquito-transmitted disease. This indication now includes adolescents.

In March 2025, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions Travel Health Advisory regarding Réunion's situation. The CDC wrote, ' Vaccination against chikungunya is recommended for people traveling to a destination with a current chikungunya outbreak.'

As of April 4, 2025, IXCHIQ is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in various countries, including the United States.

With warm Caribbean waters and beautiful beaches, The Bahamas is a tourist favorite in 2025. Last year, over 11 million people visited the various islands in The Bahamas.

To ensure visitors departing from the United States are appropriately forewarned about risks 60 miles east of Florida, the State Department recently updated its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.

As of March 31, 2025, this Advisory stated that crime can occur anywhere in The Bahamas, with frequent reports in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Additionally, visitors should stay alert in the "Over the Hill" area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street.

And stay alert in vacation rental properties, especially where private security is not present.

Furthermore, boating is not well-regulated, as sexual assaults, injuries, and deaths have occurred. Moreover, never swim alone and beware of jet skis or other watercraft operating close to shore. 

Due to these risks, U.S. government employees are prohibited from using jet skis and personal watercraft rented from independent operators on New Providence and the Paradise Islands.

And be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in public restrooms, as sexual assaults have occurred on and near downtown Nassau beaches.

For local assistance, the U.S. Embassy Nassau is located at 42 Queen Street, Nassau, The Bahamas. You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital messages from the Embassy and make locating you in an emergency easier.

From a health risk perspective, the U.S. CDC recommends various routine and travel vaccinations before visiting the Bahamas in 2025. Unlike its Caribbean neighbors, no mosquito-transmitted, vaccine-preventable Chikungunya or Dengue cases were reported in 2025 or 2024.

Travel vaccines are offered at various clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

The Republic of Uganda's Ministry of Health today confirmed it is the 19th country in Africa to introduce an approved malaria vaccine into routine immunisation.

The R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine includes Novavax AB's proprietary saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant, will initially target 1.1 million children under two years in 105 high- and moderate-transmission districts across Uganda, with plans to expand nationwide.

About 2.278 million doses of malaria vaccines were distributed.

As of April 2, 2025, a malaria vaccination campaign was launched in Apac District, northern Uganda, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Alliance partners UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH, and CHAI.

The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, commented in a GAVI press release, “The vaccine's introduction marks a significant milestone in our fight against malaria. It is expected to prevent at least 800 cases of severe malaria among children daily and ease the financial burden on families, saving them approximately UGX 15,000 per case that would have been spent on treating severe malaria."

According to the WHO, despite the expenditure of $4 billion per year, malaria deaths and cases have not substantially changed over the last decade. An estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 related fatalities occurred worldwide in 2023.

Recently, Uganda's tourism sector has experienced a significant increase, with thousands of international visitors arriving monthly.

As of April 2025, malaria vaccines are not offered in the United States.

As the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season diminishes in 2025, most European adults are gaining access to an innovative vaccine.

Pfizer Inc. today announced that the European Commission (EC) has issued a decision amending the marketing authorization for ABRYSVO®, the company’s bivalent RSV prefusion F vaccine, to extend the indication to include prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in individuals 18 through 59 years of age.

This action by the EC expands the previous authorization for individuals aged 60 and older, and ABRYSVO now offers the broadest RSV vaccine indication in the EU.

“We are thrilled that ABRYSVO is now approved in the EU to help prevent RSV in adults aged 18 and older, which causes approximately 158,000 adult hospital admissions annually from RSV disease, a common respiratory virus with symptoms that can be severe or even life-threatening,” said Alexandre de Germay, Chief International Commercial Officer, Executive Vice President, Pfizer, in a press release on April 1, 2025.

In Europe, RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, in infants under six months of age, people over 65, and people with a compromised immune system, RSV can cause severe illness and death.

According to the ECDC on April 2, 2025, RSV activity peaked in the EU/EEA in week 52, 2024, and has since decreased, but has remained elevated, with considerable variation between countries.

Before visiting Europe, travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States offer RSV vaccination services.