Vaccine News

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the 27th Emergency Situational Update regarding cholera outbreaks.

The WHO reported that from January 2025 to May 25 2025, a cumulative total of 211,678 cholera cases and 2,754 related fatalities were reported from 26 countries.

Three WHO regions, with the African Region recording the highest numbers, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the South-East Asia Region.

In May 2025, the South-East Asia Region reported 257 new cholera cases from Myanmar.

Since cholera is a vaccine-preventable disease, the WHO recommends oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) for travelers visiting countries where outbreaks are occurring.

As of June 22, 2025, the WHO has prequalified Vaxchora®, Dukoral®, Shanchol™, Euvichol®, and Euvichol-S OCVs.

In January 2025, the WHO stated that OCV production had reached 6.2 million doses. However, as of May 2025, the OCV stockpile consisted of 5.7 million doses, which is below the minimum emergency threshold of five million.

The WHO says that, during the current cholera outbreak, only one OCV dose course has been implemented in reactive vaccination campaigns.

As of June 22, 2025, there are ample supplies of OCVs at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

According to a recent World Health Organization report, the Western Pacific Region is facing significant dengue outbreaks for the second consecutive year. 

Since dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, countries such as the Republic of Singapore are conducting clinical trials pursuing the use of a third-generation vaccine.

On June 18, 2025, MSD (Merck & Co.) announced the initiation of the MOBILIZE-1 Phase 3 clinical trial (V181-005) evaluating the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a single dose of V181, a quadrivalent vaccine candiate, for the prevention of dengue disease caused by any of the four dengue virus serotypes, regardless of prior dengue exposure.

Recruitment for this late-stage trial has begun, and the first participants are now enrolling in Singapore.

The study is planned to include more than 30 trial sites in dengue-endemic areas in the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Dr. Abdullahi Sheriff, Managing Director, MSD in Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei, commented in a press release, “We are grateful to the scientific community in Singapore for their commitment to scientific excellence and partnership throughout this journey."

"Singapore and the surrounding countries in Southeast Asia are areas with a risk for dengue, making it a serious public health threat."

Throughout 2024 and during the first half of 2025, dengue cases and related fatalities have been reported in most countries in the Region of the Americas, including the United States. 

The global need for additional dengue vaccines is substantial. As of June 20, 2025, the second-generation QDENGA vaccine is in limited supply worldwide and is unavailable in the U.S.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently confirmed that many air travelers fail to realize that defying the crew's instructions not only puts everyone's safety at risk but also poses a significant liability for airlines.

IATA figures indicate an increase in the rate of reported unruly passenger incidents.

Based on over 24,500 incident reports from more than 50 operators globally, there was one incident for every 480 flights in 2023, compared to one incident for every 568 flights in 2022.

To address one aspect of these concerns, the Türkiye Cumhuriyeti issued a warning on May 6, 2025, stating that potential disciplinary action may be taken against airline passengers who stand up before the plane has come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign has been turned off.

The "Passenger Announcements Circular" No. UOD - 2025/01 empowers Turkish Airlines, the country's flag carrier, to impose fines on violators of around $70 per violation.

In the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of air travel. 

As of June 19, 2025, TSA regulations are designed to protect passengers and airline staff by minimizing potential threats at airports and on flights.

The TSA's Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger prescreening program that enhances security by identifying low- and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport, matching their names against trusted traveler lists and watchlists.

The TSA has reported that in June 2025, over 2.6 million people flew an airplane each day in the U.S.

According to a recent statement by Edivilson Brum, the head of the Rio Grande do Sul state’s agriculture department, Brazil is poised to declare commercial flocks free of the avian influenza (bird flu) virus.

The 28-day countdown for reclaiming Brazil's disease-free status began on May 22, 2025.

According to a government article, the 28-day sanitary quarantine ended on June 18, 2025, a period technically referred to as a sanitary vacuum.

Over the period, more than 4,000 vehicles were stopped at sanitary checkpoints set up in the region to control the transportation of animals, animal products, and feed. Surveillance visits to rural properties were conducted within two established zones: one located three kilometers away and the other ten kilometers from the outbreak.

With the end of restrictions and the absence of new outbreaks, Brazil will be able to declare itself to the WHO as a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a crucial step in maintaining international confidence and strengthening Brazilian exports of poultry products.

Although the quarantine has ended, health surveillance remains active in Rio Grande do Sul, which is home to one of the largest poultry farms in Brazil.

All measures adopted in Montenegro followed national protocols and guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced that a woman from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital, has died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to the Kingdom of Morocco, located in northern Africa.

Currently, the UK's list of rabies-risk areas does not include Monaco.

The UKHSA stated on June 18, 2025, that there is no risk to the broader public about this case, as there is no documented evidence of rabies transmission between people in England. Rabies virus is transmitted through bites and scratches from an infected animal.

Once infected, rabies is nearly always fatal.

Furthermore, rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the United Kingdom; however, some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus, as is the case in the United States. 

Dr. Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, at UKHSA, commented in a press release, "If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies."

When administered promptly after exposure, a course of rabies post-exposure treatment is highly effective in preventing the disease. If such an exposure occurs abroad, the traveller should also consult their doctor on return.

The UKHSA and the U.S. CDC suggest that international travelers speak with a travel vaccine consultant regarding rabies immunization options.

As of 2025, the WHO has pre-qualified human rabies vaccines, including Bavarian Nordic's RabAvert vaccine, which is commercially available in the United States.

Local media reported that Bahamian Health Minister Michel Darville announced that The Bahamas is preparing to cancel its contracts with Cuban health professionals.

According to Reuters on June 16, 2025, the reason for the cancellation is that negotiations are underway with the US government.

The NGO Archivo Cuba has reported that Cuban specialist medical advisors in the Bahamas were paid $12,000 per month, while biomedical engineers received $$5,000. 

As of June 16, 2025, the U.S. CDC says 'check the vaccines, such as measles or typhoid, and medicines list, and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to The Bahamas. 

Previously, the U.S. and Canadian governments issued travel advisories regarding jet ski activities in the Bahamas. 

The Holy Father today urged all young people to participate in the great Jubilee event, dedicated specially to them, as it will be a unique and unforgettable week of celebration, spirituality, reconciliation, and sharing.

On June 15, 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed a large gathering of children, young people, and adults who had come to Rome for the Jubilee of Sport.

This year's Jubilee will take place from July 28 to August 3, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

Following the first Jubilee of 1300, Pope Boniface VIII established the frequency of Jubilee celebrations as every 100 years. Following a plea from the people of Rome to Pope Clement VI, the frequency was reduced to every 50 years.

After the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy, the Jubilees were resumed in 1875.

According to the European CDC, no infectious disease events of relevance to the EU/EEA were detected during the Jubilee from June 9 to June 13, 2025.

The ECDC states that the probability of EU/EEA citizens contracting communicable diseases during the Jubilee 2025 is low if general preventive measures are implemented.