Vaccine News

In June 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) renewed its global alert regarding the poliovirus emergency, highlighting several countries facing significant health risks.

According to a WHO Disease Outbreak News published on August 20, 205, Israel is confronting an unquantified health risk that has been detected in Jerusalem and the Central Region.

On August 4, 2025, Israel notified WHO of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreak.

Between February and July 2025, nine genetically linked virus isolates were found in environmental samples from seven sites. However, no human cases of paralytic polio have been reported.

Vaccine-derived poliovirus is a well-documented strain of poliovirus mutated from the strain contained initially in oral polio vaccines.

The WHO stated Israel discontinued routine use of the bivalent oral polio vaccine in March 2025 but continues to administer four doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) as part of the routine immunization schedule up to 12 months of age.

The WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage for three doses of IPV in 2024 were 98%.

Unfortunately, polio vaccination coverage in Jerusalem is notably lower and below the WHO's recommended coverage threshold, which is necessary to maintain sufficient population immunity and prevent poliovirus transmission between people.

The WHO currently assesses the risk of international spread associated with this cVDPV1 detection as low due to high overall population immunity, robust poliovirus surveillance, and response capacity.

To alert international travelers visiting Israel, the U.S. CDC's updated Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions, Travel Health Advisory, includes Israel.

The CDC writes, 'Before travel to any destination listed, adults who previously completed the routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.'

In the United States, the IPV polio vaccine is offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.

Since the beginning of 2025, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported West Nile virus infections in eight countries: Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, and Spain.

Case numbers reported so far this year are slightly above the average for the past decade, says the ECDC.

However, these figures remain lower than those seen in 2024 and 2018 when West Nile virus (WNV) circulation was particularly intense, with 382 and 385 cases reported by this point in the year, respectively.

While the geographical distribution has been centered in northern Italy, the ECDC's data is now indicating the southern coast of France has become an outbreak zone.

As of August 19, 2025, 13 human cases of vector-borne West Nile virus infection have been identified in six departments of mainland France.

The affected regions are PACA, Occitanie, Corsica, and, for the first time, Île-de-France.

As the summer holiday season ends in 2025, the hospitalisation rate has been notably high, with 100% of reported cases requiring hospitalization this year, compared to 93% over the past decade, according to the ECDC.

The case fatality rate so far this year stands at 7%, which is similar to the 11% observed in the previous decade.

Additionally, neurological manifestations have been reported in 56% of cases this year, compared to 66% in the past decade. Generally, cases with more severe symptoms are more likely to be diagnosed, leading to an expectation of a dominance of neurological cases.

As of August 21, 2025, the U.S. CDC's Travel Health Advisory for France does not identify WNV as a risk.

Both the ECDC and other health agencies recommend avoiding mosquito bites as the best strategy to reduce this health risk, as there are currently no approved vaccines available.

As of mid-2025, the Philippines has recorded over 123,000 dengue cases nationwide from January to June, and at least 437 dengue-related deaths, with the majority occurring among children.

While the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) considers the situation manageable, as of August 20, 2025, the data reflects a 7% increase. 

In Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, dengue cases surged by 35% compared to the same period last year. Dr. Vincent Jess Montejo of the City Health Office assured the public that the situation is not alarming.

"It's not an immediate health problem that we should be concerned about… not panic-level," Dr. Montejo said in a Facebook post.

The DOH says the case increase rate has prompted intensified vector control and public awareness campaigns.

Although there is a second-generation dengue vaccine available in numerious countries, the Philippine FDA has not yet approved it, nor the U.S. FDA.

To alert international travelers of this severe health risk, the U.S. CDC included the Philippines in its recent Level 1 Travel Health Advisory.

The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH Hillsborough) recently informed residents of a confirmed human case of locally-acquired dengue fever.

According to data published by the state (Week 33) on August 19, 2025, this is the 14th local dengue case reported in 2025. Previous dengue cases have been confirmed in the east coast near Melbourne (11) and Miami (2).

DOH-Hillsborough and Hillsborough County Mosquito Control stated in a media release that they are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts by conducting aerial spraying to reduce the spread of this mosquito-transmitted virus to other people.

This area of Florida includes cities such as Tampa and has a local population of over 1.4 million.

Additionally, Florida has reported 154 dengue cases among international travelers, many of whom had recently visited Cuba.

As of August 20, 2025, dengue vaccines are not offered in Florida.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently urged countries in the Americas to strengthen immunization activities as measles cases continue to rise in the region.

As of August 8, 2025, a total of 10,139 confirmed measles cases and 18 related deaths have been reported across ten countries, representing a 34-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Countries with the highest case numbers include Canada (4,548 cases), Mexico (3,911 cases), and the United States (1,356 cases).

In Mexico, most deaths have occurred in indigenous people between 1 and 54 years of age.

However, in the U.S., the state of Texas recently declared its measles outbreak had ended.

The current outbreaks are associated with two genotypes of the measles virus and linked to low vaccination coverage, with 71% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals.

One genotype has been identified in outbreaks across eight countries, particularly among Mennonite communities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Belize, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. 

In 2024, coverage with the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the region reached 89% (two percentage points higher than in 2023), while the second dose increased from 76% to 79%.

"Measles is preventable with two doses of a vaccine, which is proven to be very safe and effective. To stop these outbreaks, countries must urgently strengthen routine immunization and conduct targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk communities," said Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager of the Special Program for Comprehensive Immunization at PAHO, in a press release on August 15, 2025.

Worldwide, measles cases continue to be reported in numerious countries in 2025. To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC published a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory in May, recommending MMR vaccination before visiting outbreak areas.

As summer draws to a close in August 2025, millions of beachgoers flock to New Jersey's extensive coastline. While many vacationers enjoy the waves and surfing at the shore, this year, mosquito bites may become a popular topic of conversation.

According to news posted today, the New Jersey Departments of Health (NJDOH) and Environmental Protection are investigating a case of malaria in a resident of Morris County with no international travel history.

NJDOH wrote on August 18, 2025, that it is possible the resident was infected by a virus-carrying mosquito with malaria in New Jersey.

If confirmed, this would be the first known locally acquired case of malaria in New Jersey since 1991.

"While risk to the general public is low, it's important to take the necessary precautions to prevent locally acquired malaria in New Jersey. The most effective ways are to prevent mosquito bites in the first place and to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of malaria in returning travelers,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown, in a press release."

“Anyone traveling to countries with widespread malaria should take appropriate steps to prevent malaria while traveling and monitor for symptoms.”

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite transmitted by certain mosquitoes and is widespread in many tropical and subtropical countries.

For example, the state of Florida has reported numerious travel-related malaria cases involving travelers visiting Cuba in 2025.

While approved for use in Africa, malaria vaccines are currently unavailable in the United States.

Since first detected in the Plurinational State of Bolivia in 2015, the Chikungunya virus has increasingly spread throughout this South American Country.

As of August 18, 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported over 4,700 CHIKV cases and one related fatality.

Last year, the PAHO reported 505 CHIKV cases.

To alert international travelers planning visits to Bolivia, specifically the department of Santa Cruz, the U.S. CDC recently issued a Level 2 Travel Health Advisory.

The CDC stated that if you are pregnant, you should reconsider travel to the affected areas, particularly if you are close to delivering your baby. 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.

The CDC says vaccination is recommended for travelers who are visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak. Two chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in the United States.

These CHIKV vaccines are commercially offered at certified retailers.

The U.S. State Department recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program when visiting Bolivia to receive digital alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.