Vaccine News

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) recently confirmed its first case of clade I mpox in an adult with no recent travel to regions where this virus is typically found. The individual was hospitalized and is now recovering at home.

This is the second clade I mpox case in LA County and the second in the nation without known travel to another country where clade I is typically found.

The City of Long Beach also announced a separate clade I mpox case this week.

As of October 16, 2025, LACDPH is collaborating closely with the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate these mpox cases as swiftly and effectively as possible. Enhanced surveillance and contact tracing are underway to identify any additional cases and potential sources of the infection and to prevent further transmission.

Two clades of the mpox virus cause Mpox: clade I and clade II. Both clades may present with flu-like symptoms followed by a rash, and can be spread through close person contact (sex, massage or cuddling) and within households or by sharing personal items.

So far in 2025, LACDPH has reported 118 cases of clade II mpox.

"The identification of cases of clade I mpox, which may cause more severe illness than the more common clade II, is concerning," said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer, in a press release. 

"Mpox continues to be spread largely through close, intimate contact with symptomatic people, mainly during sexual activity. Early detection, testing, and vaccination are vital to controlling the spread of this virus."

"Getting both doses of the JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccine provides the best protection against mpox."

This Mpox vaccine is offered at various clinics and pharmacies in the USA.

Although the Republic of Cabo Verde, an island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, was certified as malaria-free in January 2024, recent data show that the risk of this mosquito-borne disease remains in 2025.

As of late August 2025, a total of 16 locally acquired cases of malaria have been reported in the City of Praia, which has over 130,000 residents.

The African CDC wrote that with the onset of the rainy season, it is crucial to intensify epidemiological surveillance, promote early case detection, and ensure a swift response to prevent outbreaks and protect the population.

This study, published by PLOS Global Public Health, provides an overview of the central historical moments of malaria in Cabo Verde, from control to certification. It presents data from the last 35 years of malaria in the country (1988–2022), the distribution of these cases by islands and municipalities, the instituted control measures, lessons learnt, and some challenges for the future prevention of malaria reintroduction in Cabo Verde.

As of October 15, 2025, malaria vaccines are available in select African countries.

And the U.S. CDC recommends various routine and travel vaccinations before visiting Cabo Verde.

The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a case of neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, on the island of Kaua'i. Rat lungworm disease, caused by a parasitic roundworm, has become endemic in all islands of the state of Hawai'i.

 As of October 13, 2025, the DOH was not able to identify an exact source of infection. This individual had no history of travel to other neighbor islands or outside the state or country. The last Kauaʻi case was in 2019.

Earlier in 2025, Maui County and Hawaiʻi County reported cases to the DOH.

From January 2014 to the present, 102 cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported statewide, with 78 from Hawai'i County, 13 from Maui County, seven from Honolulu County, and four from Kaua'i County (including the case reported in this release).

In 2024, there were seven cases reported.

Hawaiʻi residents make up 84% of that count. Seventy-three percent of those with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis were hospitalized.

“Thoroughly inspecting and washing all fresh fruits and vegetables under clean, running water is the most effective way to reduce the risk of rat lungworm disease,” said Dr. Sarah Kemble, state epidemiologist, in a press release.

“Small slugs and snails on produce can be difficult to see. Cooking food thoroughly also kills the parasite that causes rat lungworm disease.”

The DOH advises that people should control snail, slug, and rat populations around homes, gardens, and farms. Get rid of snails, slugs, and rats safely by clearing debris where they might live. Consider using traps and baits. Cover and protect catchment tanks, as slugs can crawl up the tank and get into the water.0

Neuroangiostrongyliasis can have debilitating effects on an infected person's brain and spinal cord. Early diagnosis helps target treatment to reduce the long-term effects associated with this disease. Individuals with symptoms should consult their healthcare provider promptly.

For more information about rat lungworm disease and how to prevent its spread, visit: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/rat-lungworm-neuroangiost...

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the Republic of the Maldives has validated the Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B, while maintaining its earlier validation for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis.

This makes the Maldives the first country in the world to achieve 'triple elimination'.

Mother-to-child transmission leads to infections that affect millions worldwide. In the WHO South-East Asia Region alone, provisional estimates indicate that in 2024, more than 23,000 pregnant women had syphilis and over 8000 infants were born with congenital syphilis.

About 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women require treatment to prevent transmission to their babies, while hepatitis B continues to affect more than 42 million people in the Region.

"Maldives' achievement is a testament to its unwavering commitment towards universal health coverage, to provide quality and equitable care across its dispersed islands to all, including migrants," said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, in a press release on October 13, 2025.

"This landmark feat is an important step towards 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,' for improving maternal and newborn health by ending preventable deaths and prioritizing long-term well-being. I congratulate the Maldives and look forward to the country pioneering progress in many other areas, while sustaining these gains."

Located in the eastern Arabian Sea, within the northern Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a tourist favorite destination.

As of October 14, 2025, the U.S. CDC recommends various routine and travel vaccinations before visiting the Maldives this year.

The Costa Rican Ministry of Health recently reported a positive case of yellow fever following the results issued by the laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health.

This is a 29-year-old American patient who arrived from the Amazon region of Peru on October 8, 2025. According to available information, the patient had not been vaccinated against yellow fever. She is currently hospitalized in a Costa Rican Social Security Fund hospital, where she is receiving specialized medical care.

In a media release on October 12, 2025, the Health Ministry wrote It's worth noting that the patient's partner, who has been vaccinated against yellow fever, tested negative for the disease after undergoing laboratory tests.

The institution also reiterates the importance of all people planning to visit countries endemic for yellow fever, such as Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, and tropical African countries, getting vaccinated at least 10 days before their trip.

A yellow fever vaccination (YF-VAX or Stamaril) certificate may be required at the airport for those visiting Costa Rica.

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its yellow fever vaccine recommendations for certain travelers.

UNICEF, the WHO, and Gavi warned in April 2025 that vaccination disparities persist in Bangladesh, raising serious concerns about the long-term health of most children.

Despite the remarkable progress of the country's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), children remain under-immunized, and about 1.5% have received no vaccines at all. 

According to Reuters reporting, Bangladesh launched a nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign on October 12, 2025, to immunize approximately 50 million children. 

The month-long campaign, conducted free of charge under the government's EPI, targets children between nine months and 15 years old. 

The U.S. CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travelers visiting Bangladesh, particularly those staying with friends or relatives or exploring smaller cities or rural areas.

Additionally, the CDC has highlighted health risks related to Chikungunya, Dengue, and Measles when visiting this Southeast Asia country in 2025.