Vaccine News

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Jan 12, 2025 • 12:10 pm CST
Google Maps - Jan. 12, 2025

When the U.S. Department of State recently updated its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution for the Central American country of Belize, it also highlighted various risks.

On December 30, 2024, the State Department advised travelers to exercise caution when exploring the south side of Belize City due to civil unrest. This area (south of Haulover Creek Canal and continuing south to Fabers Road) does not overlap with the typical tourism areas. 

When visiting Belize in 2025, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts and make locating you in an emergency easier. You can also see the local U.S. Embassy.

Belize is located on the Caribbean's east coast, just south of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. In 2024, about 560,000 people visited the country.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses continued to impact Belize in 2024.

At the end of 2024, the PAHO confirmed 36 Chikungunya, 1,148 Dengue, and 31 Zika cases.

In 2024, the CDC stated that there had been evidence of Chikungunya virus transmission in Belize within the last five years. To prevent this disease, the new Chikungunya vaccine is an option for certain travelers.

As of January 12, 2025, the U.S. FDA-approved IXCHIQ® single-dose Chikungunya vaccine is commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies.

Jan 12, 2025 • 10:10 am CST
US CDC December 2024

While Chikungunya and Dengue virus outbreaks reached records in the Region of the Americas in 2024, a little-known virus with similar symptoms has been spreading, causing complications in diagnosis.

Oropouche virus, primarily transmitted through bites from infected midges, has expanded its range over the past year, reaching Central America and the Caribbean.

Research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases in December 2024 estimates that up to 5 million people in the Americas are at risk of exposure to the virus.

To confuse a diagnosis, Oropouche infections can appear clinically similar to Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika. A reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction test is only administered after a negative dengue result.

Still, once confirmed, no treatment or preventive vaccine for Oropouche is available as of January 2025.

To alert international travelers to this health risk, the U.S. CDC updated its Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Advisory on December 18, 2024. The CDC lists nine countries that have reported Oropouche cases.

And in Brazil, the CDC issued a Level 2 Advisory for Espírito Santo.

In Florida, about 103 international travelers have been diagnosed with this infection.

Symptoms of Oropouche infection include headache, fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, or sensitivity to light. Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis.

Furthermore, the CDC says the Oropouche virus has been found in semen and may spread through sex.

Jan 11, 2025 • 2:28 pm CST
US Dept of State January 11, 2024

Throughout the record-setting dengue virus outbreak in the Region of the Americas, the Republic of Nicaragua reported 92,022 cases in 2024.

According to a study published on January 10, 2025, all four virus serotypes impacted Nicaragua's dengue outbreak. Based on 19 years of data from the Pediatric Dengue Cohort and Pediatric Dengue Hospital-based Studies in Managua, the relationship between serotype and immune status and dengue severity became very clear.

Of the 2,644 cases with serotype results by RT-PCR, 559 corresponded to DENV1, 1,002 to DENV2, 760 to DENV3, and 323 to DENV4.

Severe disease was more prevalent among secondary DENV2 and DENV4 cases, while similar disease severity was observed in both primary and secondary DENV1 and DENV3 cases.

These researchers wrote, 'These findings demonstrate differences in dengue severity by serotype and immune status and emphasize the critical need for a dengue vaccine with balanced effectiveness against all four serotypes, as existing vaccines show variable efficacy by serotype and serostatus.'

Nicaragua's southern neighbor, the Republic of Colombia, reported similar dengue virus types in 2024.

In the United States, dengue virus serotype 3 was most often identified among travel-associated and locally acquired dengue cases in Florida in 2022-2023.

As of January 11, 2025, the leading dengue vaccine available in the Americas does not meet this requirement. However, vaccine candidates currently conducting research may need this clinical need.

There are no dengue vaccines currently offered in the United States.

Overall, more than 12 million dengue cases were reported in the Americas last year, about 300% more than in 2023.

In the U.S., 53 jurisdictions reported 9,255 dengue cases as of December 31, 2024. The unfortunate leaders in local dengue transmission were  Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Puerto Rico.

Jan 10, 2025 • 5:41 am CST
Google Maps January 10, 2025

New South West (NSW) Health recently reminded international travelers and Australian residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites during the summer of 2025 following Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) detections.

In this year's first results, JEV was detected in mosquitoes in NSW's Moree area as of January 7, 2025. This area is located northwest of Sydney and west of Brisbane.

JEV was previously detected in mosquitoes in the Griffith area and feral pigs in the Narromine Shire local government area in December 2024.

NSW Health's Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr. Jeremy McAnulty, said in a media release, "Mosquitoes thrive in warm conditions, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Ross River, and Barmah Forest viruses in parts of NSW."

“Each year from November to April, NSW Health undertakes surveillance across the state to provide important information about when mosquito-borne disease risk is elevated," Dr McAnulty added.

“These detections indicate the risk for mosquito-borne virus transmission is widespread, particularly in the 55 NSW local government areas at higher risk of JE in the inland regions."

“I encourage anyone planning to spend time outdoors in these higher-risk areas to take steps to protect against mosquito bites."

According to the World Health Organization, JEV is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in many Asian and Western Pacific Ocean countries. Twenty-four countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions have endemic JEV transmission, exposing more than 3 billion people to risks of infection.

The JE vaccine (JESPECT®) will be available in 2025 through local General Practitioners, Aboriginal health services, and pharmacists for people who live or regularly work in these areas. Information on eligibility for a free JE vaccine is available on the NSW Health website.

In the United States, Valneva SE's IXIARO® Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

Jan 10, 2025 • 4:45 am CST
Google Maps 2025

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative recently reported one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2)-positive environmental sample was detected in wastewater in the United Kingdom.

As of January 8, 2025, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says there is no evidence of community transmission, and the polio risk to the public in London is low.

Poliovirus surveillance is undertaken at 26 sites in the UK, with monthly sampling.

During November 2024, VDPV2 was detected in 1 sample from East Worthing Sewage Treatment Works (which covers some of West Sussex local authority and adjacent areas), in 2 samples from Leeds Knostrop Sewage Treatment Works, and 1 sample from the London Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.

As part of routine surveillance, poliovirus is detected occasionally in the UK. Brief detections do not require any public health action, as these are generally one-off findings due to:

Individuals being vaccinated overseas with the live attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV) enter the UK and ‘shed’ traces of the ‘vaccine-like’ poliovirus in their feces. Immunosuppressed individuals may also shed the virus for an extended period.

And visitors entering the UK from a country where vaccine-derived polioviruses have been circulating.

The same circulating VDPV2 strain has also been recently found in sewage samples from sites in other European countries in 2024. Several countries offer OPV on exit as part of their response to polio outbreaks.

The UK switched from the OPV to the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in 2004.

In the United States, the IPV has been offered since 2000.

The U.S. CDC recommends that international travelers be fully vaccinated against polio before visiting countries of concern. In 2025, travel clinics and pharmacies will offer the IPV.

Jan 9, 2025 • 1:42 pm CST
from Pixabay 2025

Most health experts agree that preventing vaccine-preventable diseases is key to international travel in 2025.

A new analysis by Harvard Medical School researchers demonstrates that travel clinics and pharmacies have successfully contributed to administering vaccines against pneumococcus and influenza.

This study was published yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases on January 8, 2025, and revealed that 19% of vaccine-eligible travelers either received a pneumococcal vaccine or were referred to another provider to receive it.

And 40% of travelers received the influenza vaccination at their pre-travel visit or were referred to another provider.

However, there were missed opportunities for vaccination.

Over a span of 10 years, 68% of eligible international travelers were not offered the pneumococcal vaccine, and 15% were not offered the flu vaccine, even if their travel destination was in the midst of a respiratory season outbreak.

These deficiencies could be related to the differences between the seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

These researchers' findings suggest that influenza vaccines are less likely to be offered to travelers during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, even if they are available and the person is heading to a Southern destination.

Another potential barrier is a lack of insurance coverage for the administration of non-travel vaccines. To resolve this constraint, many pharmaceutical firms offer discount programs.

As of January 9, 2025, various routine and travel vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

Jan 9, 2025 • 11:05 am CST
from Pixabay 2025

Merck today announced China's National Medical Products Administration approved GARDASIL® Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) for use in males 9-26 years of age to help prevent certain HPV-related cancers and diseases.

This approval makes GARDASIL the first HPV vaccine approved for use in males in China as of January 8, 2025.

GARDASIL is now indicated in China to prevent anal cancers caused by HPV Types 16 and 18, genital warts (condyloma acuminata) caused by HPV Types 6 and 11, and the following precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18: grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 anal intraepithelial neoplasia.

Joseph Romanelli, president, Human Health International, Merck, commented in a press release, “Since first approval, our HPV vaccines have helped protect over 50 million females in China from certain HPV-related cancers and diseases. With this expanded approval, we look forward to helping protect this new population of Chinese males from certain HPV-related cancers and diseases.”

Gardasil and other HPV vaccines will be in use by various countries in 2025.

Jan 8, 2025 • 12:00 pm CST
WHO -DOB - Jan. 7, 2025

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today announced that the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an increase in respiratory viral infections this season in northern China, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections, seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Since December 2024, human metapneumovirus has affected all age groups in China. According to the ECDC, it usually causes mild to moderate respiratory illness, but the infection can sometimes be severe in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.

As of January 8, 2025, the ECDC 'considers that the current epidemiological situation in China reflects a seasonal rise in respiratory infections caused by common respiratory pathogens and does not pose any specific concern for the EU/EEA (Europe).

According to the WHO, countries including India and the United Kingdom have also reported seasonal rise in cases of hMPV. Based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises against travel or trade restrictions related to current trends in acute respiratory infections.

Currently, there is no vaccine for hMPV, but annual flu shots and RSV vaccines are available at most pharmacies in the U.S.

 

Jan 8, 2025 • 11:29 am CST
UK FCDO 2025

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) today announced new advice against all travel within 20km of the Arab Republic of Egypt-Libya border, except for El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel.

On January 8, 2025, the U.K. confirmed travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO

Previously, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Advisory on October 15, 2024, indicating visiting Egypt was a Level 3, Reconsider Travel status due to the U.S. Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens.

And some areas in Egypt have increased risk, such as:

The Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula,

The Western Desert,

Egyptian border areas.

The State Department advised keeping travel documents up to date and easily accessible and making contingency plans to leave the country without U.S. government assistance.

If you visit Egypt in 2025, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts and make locating you in an emergency easier.=

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC advises awareness of current health issues in Egypt, such as Variant Poliovirus Type 2.

The WHO’s International Travel and Health recommends that all travelers to polio-affected areas be fully vaccinated against polio. Residents (and visitors for more than four weeks) from infected areas should receive an additional dose of OPV or inactivated polio vaccine within one to twelve months of travel.

In the U.S., polio vaccinations are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.

Jan 8, 2025 • 5:30 am CST
Micron Biomedical, Inc. 2025

Micron Biomedical today announced the company secured a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that brings total grant funding from the organization to $43 million.

As of January 7, 2025, the Gates grant will support Micron’s efforts in increasing access to a measles-rubella vaccine and activities to support a phase 2 clinical trial in infants.

Micron’s technology has been recognized for its potential to have a positive global impact and be game-changing in hard-to-reach settings, such as in Africa. Micron's “peel-and-stick” microarray technology is applied to the skin and allows for the self-administration of pharmaceuticals (vaccines) by pressing a button.

A study published in The Lancet on May 11, 2024, involving Micron’s needle-free microarray technology, was the first to demonstrate the safety, immunogenicity, and acceptability of a vaccine delivered to children via any needle-free microarray technology. The research involved the leading commercially available MR vaccine.

Micron Biomedical is a clinical-stage life science company on a rapid path to commercializing its proprietary dissolvable, microarray technology.

Jan 8, 2025 • 4:04 am CST
ModeX Therapeutics Inc. 2025

ModeX Therapeutics Inc. today announced the dosing of the first participant in the Phase I clinical trial of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) vaccine candidate, MDX2201.

The U.S. CDC says EBV, a member of the herpes virus family (human herpesvirus 4), is one of the most common human viruses. Most people (90%) are infected with EBV at some point during their lives. EBV infection can affect a person's brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

As of January 8, 2025, there are no U.S. FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for EBV or herpes infections.

This EBV vaccine is based on ModeX’s ferritin nanoparticle platform. Its surface can express as many as 24 copies of a recombinant antigen, enhancing the presentation of key virus components and stimulating durable protective immunity.

MDX2201 presents antigens from four viral proteins involved in viral entry into host cells. These include a recombinant antigen designed from the proteins gH, gL, and gp42 and an antigen derived from gp350.

This combination, using ModeX’s multi-targeted approach, inhibits infection in two cell types: B and epithelial cells. This contrasts with efforts previously focused on gp350 alone.

“EBV infection can cause serious illness and pose long-term risks of cancer and autoimmunity..... Our nanoparticle vaccine aims to stimulate protective immunity in patients and prevent these diseases,” said Gary Nabel, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ModeX and Chief Innovation Officer of OPKO, in a press release on January 7, 2025.

This study's (V350-001) estimated completion date is November 18, 2026.

MDX2201 is being developed in collaboration with Merck.

 

Jan 7, 2025 • 1:12 pm CST
Clarametyx Biosciences 2025

Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) today announced it awarded Clarametyx Biosciences $2.6 million to develop an anti-biofilm vaccine. 

Clarametyx's CMTX-301 is a pathogen-agnostic vaccine candidate designed to prevent bacterial biofilm formation and allow the body's immune response to clear infections without antibiotics.

Biofilms enable bacteria to infect medical devices and human tissues, shielding them from natural clearance mechanisms. Bacterial biofilms are increasingly recognized to be involved in clinical infections in many body systems, including the auditory, cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary, reproductive, respiratory, and urinary systems.

"CARB-X is proud to continue supporting Clarametyx Biosciences in work to combat biofilm-associated infections, a major challenge in the fight against antibiotic resistance," said Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X, in a press release on January 7, 2025. 

"With their novel anti-biofilm vaccine, CMTX-301, Clarametyx is taking an innovative approach that could transform how we prevent and treat these difficult-to-address infections. We look forward to seeing the impact of this program as it advances through clinical development."

CARB-X provided an initial overview of Clarametyx's work on novel anti-biofilm technologies.

Jan 7, 2025 • 11:48 am CST
Penn Museum 2025

The Lunar New Year, commonly known as the Chinese New Year, is celebrated in various ways by different cultures worldwide.

This year, the year of the Snake, official celebrations begin on January 29, 2025. Numerous festivals are expected to attract many international visitors through mid-February.

However, travelers must be aware of unique health issues in every destination, even in different areas of the same country.

Lunar New Year is an important festival observed by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. Celebrations retain traditional customs such as feasts, gift exchanges, lantern lighting, and offers to ancestors.

For example, the Penn Museum winds into the Year of the Snake with its 44th annual CultureFest on January 25, 2025.

"Over the years, our collaboration has brought the richness of Asian heritage to diverse audiences, creating opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together," commented Holly Meng, President and CEO of the American Center for Asian Students, in a press release.

According to the U.K. Travel Health Pro reporting on January 6, 2025, when large gatherings occur, infectious diseases such as measles and respiratory infections can easily spread, quickly affecting large groups.

Additionally, the U.S. CDC says illnesses spread by mosquitoes, such as chikungunya, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis, are common throughout Asia and countries in the Pacific, so it is essential to prevent mosquito and insect bites. 

The CDC suggests that anyone attending these celebrations speak with a travel vaccine expert before boarding an airplane.

Jan 7, 2025 • 4:43 am CST
from Pixabay 2025

The Louisiana Department of Health today reported a patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Louisiana and the United States recently died.

Due to patient confidentiality and respect for the family, this will be the final update about the patient. 

The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions. The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.

This report was not a case of H5N1 person-to-person spreading.

LDH’s extensive public health investigation has identified no additional H5N1 cases nor evidence of person-to-person transmission. This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.

HAPI avian influenza (bird flu) is widespread globally and has been causing outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, mammals, and dairy cows for a few years. There have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2022. 

As of January 7, 2025, the U.S. CDC says the current public health risk for H5N1 to the general public remains low. However, people who work with birds, poultry, or cows or have recreational exposure to them are at higher risk. 

Furthermore, the best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses. Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings or bring sick wild animals into your home.

While one avian influenza vaccine has been approved for human use (Audenz™) by the U.S. FDA, and several vaccine candidates are in the U.S. stockpile, they are not CDC-authorized for use, nor are they commercially available in the U.S. 

Jan 7, 2025 • 4:24 am CST
from Pixabay 2025

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently announced that pertussis (whooping cough) cases are increasing throughout the state. It urged pregnant women and infant caregivers to receive tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccinations.

CDPH reported receiving reports of more than 2,000 patients, including 62 infants hospitalized during the last ten months of 2024. One of the hospitalized infants died from the pertussis infection.

This data represents about a 500% increase in cases than in 2023 when 400 pertussis cases were confirmed.

Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer stated in a press release on January 3, 2025, "Infants are particularly vulnerable (the bacterial disease), and that's why CDPH especially encourages people who are pregnant to receive the Tdap vaccine in their third trimester, which will pass along protective antibodies to the baby." 

Throughout the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that six times as many pertussis cases were reported in 2024 compared to 2023.

Caused by Bordetella pertussis, people with whooping cough have severe coughing attacks that can last for months, according to the CDC. Infants too young for vaccination are at the most significant risk for hospitalization and death. Early signs of whooping cough are similar to common cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose and low-grade fever. Babies with whooping cough may have trouble breathing, turn blue, or stop breathing. 

The CDC and CDPH recommend speaking with your doctor or pharmacist in 2025 about which vaccines are right for you and your family.