Vaccine News

The World Health Organization published its 46th situation report for the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox virus, including reports of new travel-related mpox cases due to clade Ib MPXV. 

As of January 28, 2025, the WHO confirmed new travel-related clade Ib MPXV cases had been detected in countries that had already detected travel-related cases, including China, Germany, Thailand, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States. Azerbaijan has reported its first case during this outbreak.

The outbreak of clade Ib continues predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda.

Outside Africa, 11 countries have detected clade Ib MPXV.

In the U. S., since May 2022, most reported mpox cases are clade II.

Additionally, mpox vaccinations are commercially available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

GSK plc and the University of Oxford (Oxford) today announced that they have entered a new research collaboration focused on the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination.

GSK will invest up to £50 million ($62m) over three years to support this early research.

Confirmed on January 27, 2025, the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme will conduct translational research, exploring precancer biology to generate key insights on how cancer develops in humans that could inform new approaches to cancer vaccination.

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, commented in a press release, “This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology, and precancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.”

According to the updated Annual Antrax Epidemiological Report, this rare Zoonotic disease continues to be detected in humans in Europe.

From 2018 to 2021, EU/EEA countries reported 11 confirmed cases.

However, for 2022, the Republic of Croatia reported seventeen anthrax cases (eight confirmed, nine probable), Romania reported three cases, and Spain reported two. And there were no fatalities in any of these countries.

The large outbreak of anthrax in cattle in Croatia was associated with human cases.

All confirmed cases for which information was provided presented with cutaneous anthrax (N=4) after exposure to farm animals (N=3) and were domestically acquired (N=4). 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated on January 22, 2025, that spore-forming bacteria cause anthrax and is not spread from person to person. 

The most at-risk populations for developing anthrax are those who are in close contact with animals and potentially contaminated animal products and those who live in endemic areas.

The ECDC says vaccines against anthrax are available and are approved in some EU/EEA countries. Guidelines recommend vaccination for people at risk, such as veterinarians, abattoir workers, those working with animal hides or furs, laboratory workers, and armed forces members in areas with a high risk of exposure.

In addition to pre-exposure prophylaxis with vaccines, the anthrax vaccine is also recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration approved the anthrax vaccine (Emergent BioSolutions, CYFENDUS™), recommended for most adults at risk of exposure to anthrax bacteria.

It is also recommended for unvaccinated people of all ages who have been exposed to anthrax. These people should get three doses of anthrax vaccine together with recommended antibiotic drugs.

In the U.S., anthrax vaccines are not generally available at pharmacies.

A recent study confirmed the protection provided by two doses of the Hecolin® Hepatitis E vaccine, even during an epidemic, and the reduction in the incidence of the disease.

"Our results and others helped lead to recent approval by WHO's International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision of a stockpile of hepatitis E vaccines for emergencies, stated Andrew Azman, an epidemiologist at the UNIGE-HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases,  MSF and JHU, who led this research published by The Lancet, in a press release on January 14, 2025.

Hepatitis E, stemming from the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is a widespread liver ailment, contributing to around 20 million cases. Its impact is notably more severe in developing nations like India and Bangladesh than in developed nations.

Hepatitis E is a viral infection that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, with a mortality rate of up to 10-50%. Vertical transmission rates of the virus range from 27% to 78%.

"Symptoms of hepatitis E are similar to other diseases that cause acute jaundice, making it difficult to detect. While we don't have precise global burden estimates, some have put it at around 50,000 fatalities yearly," explains Azman.

"This (ICG) stockpile has the potential to save many lives, and we're looking forward to seeing it put into action. These results have also already contributed to the WHO recommendations on using a two-dose schedule", concluded Azman.

The Hecolin vaccine was licensed in some countries in 2011 and is typically given in three doses.

Since 2015, the World Health Organization has recommended its use in outbreak settings.

In the United States, hepatitis E is relatively underexplored, and vaccine development for this disease has not been a priority.

The Kingdom of Morocco has had a measles outbreak since September 2023. According to health officials, about 25,000 measles cases and 120 related fatalities have been reported in the northwest African country as of early 2025.

In January 2025 alone, the Ministry of Health reported over 3,000 measles cases.

Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas informed HESPRESS that most fatalities have occurred among children under five and older adults.

Mohamed El Youbi, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at Morocco's Ministry of Health and Social Protection, described the situation as an epidemic, citing the unprecedented spread of the disease. "We previously recorded just three to four cases annually."

At a press briefing, Baitas urged parents and civil society groups to support the vaccination campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. "Vaccination remains the most effective way to combat such diseases."

The Health Ministry confirmed measles vaccination campaigns would continue in 2025.

Morocco is one of the leading destinations for international tourists traveling to Africa. It surpasses Egypt, with about 17 million visitors last year.

As of 2024, Morocco is not listed by the U.S. CDC's Global Measles Travel Health Advisory, identifying 59 other countries. 

The CDC recommends that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine, including an early dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the current cholera outbreak in the Republic of South Sudan has recorded 21,000 cases and 367 deaths.

As of January 22, 2025, this cholera outbreak, which the government declared in October 2024, has been reported across seven states. The leading counties in this East African country are Rubkona, with 47% of total cases, followed by Juba, at around 10%.

The government launched oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns in four high-risk counties in January 2025 to address the rising number of cholera cases.

With support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, around 4 million vaccine doses have been approved, and around 910,000 doses have been administered.

The WHO previously prequalified several OCVs.

The WHO has recorded seven cholera pandemics over the past two centuries. The current (7th) cholera epidemic is considered to have started in 1961 and continues in forty-five countries in 2025, with a case fatality rate of 0.6%.

In 2025, cholera vaccination is recommended when visiting cholera outbreaks. Additionally, due to outbreaks in the region, the U.S. CDC recommends protecting visitors to South Sudan against measles and polio.

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

The World Health Organization's Disease Outbreak News recently reported a fatal case of Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF) from the La Paz Department in the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

As of January 20, 2025, no secondary cases have been reported.

The WHO defines Chapare hemorrhagic fever as an acute viral illness caused by the Chapare virus. The rodent-borne Chapare virus is an Arenavirus that can cause hemorrhagic fevers like Ebolaviruses.

Initially identified in Cochabamba in 2003, five documented outbreaks have occurred within Bolivia.

The most recent outbreak occurred in 2024, with one laboratory-confirmed case within the La Paz Department. This area in Bolivia, which has a population of about 3 million, is a neighbor of Peru.

As of January 22, 2025, the WHO says there is no significant risk of the disease spreading internationally. Person-to-person transmission of the Chapare virus is possible but remains rare in the general population. 

The U.S. CDC says CHHF is a rare, deadly viral disease. About 20% to 60% of people with the disease die.

Furthermore, there are no treatments or preventive vaccines available for CHHF.

When visiting Bolivia in 2025, the CDC recommends several travel vaccinations, such as chikungunya and yellow fever. These vaccines are offered at many travel clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.