Vaccine News

In August 2025, the New York State Health Department reported a small number of travel-associated Chikungunya Fever cases diagnosed in international travelers to countries such as France, with no identified local mosquito-borne transmission. 

New York advised healthcare providers on procedures for testing and reporting suspected cases of Chikungunya.

In related news, a Long Island resident recently tested positive for Chikungunya, marking what could be the first locally acquired case ever reported in New York state.

NY residents are encouraged to take preventive measures, such as avoiding mosquito bites, and to consult their healthcare provider before traveling to areas with a high risk of mosquito-borne diseases, which include dengue, malaria, and Zika.

On September 25, 2025, local media reported that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary ones responsible for Chikungunya virus transmission, are not naturally found in New York.

Currently, approved Chikungunya vaccination services are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in New York.

While most rabies cases in the United States are from a bite by an infected bat, a broad investigation was begun in Coffee County, Alabama, after a horse was confirmed positive for Rabies. This viral disease is almost always fatal if untreated.

The owner, family members, and a neighbor who was exposed have begun Rabies post-exposure treatment.

The horse's owners reported noticing scratch marks on her nose, and she began rubbing and showing irritation in that area. The ill horse stopped eating, symptoms worsened over the 72 hours before her death, and she became violent and started attacking and biting herself.

The owners assumed the scratches came from a fox or raccoon that she had approached. Other unvaccinated horses on the property are being observed for a period of time.  

Dr. Dee W. Jones, Alabama State Public Health Veterinarian, said in a press release on September 24, 2025, "Rabies is not as common in horses as in wildlife and domestic animals, but it is not rare. Rabies vaccines are available for horses and other livestock if recommended by a veterinarian. I encourage all horse owners to make Rabies a part of their annual vaccination, even though it is not legally required like in dogs and cats."

Vaccinating animals reduces the risk of rabies infection should exposure occur; thus, vaccinations protect animals, as well as their owners and caretakers.

Rabies prevention is multifaceted. It involves people taking precautions with wildlife, ensuring their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations, and consistently reporting any animal bites or other exposures to their medical provider and the state health department.

On September 23, 2025, a Facebook post reported a total of 134 confirmed yellow fever cases (resulting in 58 deaths) in the Republic of Colombia for 2025.

The majority of cases have been reported in the Tolima Department, with 114 cases and 43 deaths.

This department is located west of Bogota, Colombia's capital city.

Other yellow fever cases have been reported in Huila, Cauca, Nariño, Putumayo, Caldas, Meta, Vaupés, and Guaviare y Caquetá.

Published in early September, the U.S. CDC's Level 2 Travel Health Notice stated some of these cases have been reported in new areas that border areas where vaccination has historically been recommended (see map). Travelers to these newly affected areas are now recommended to get vaccinated.

A booster dose may be given to sure travelers or those who received their last dose of yellow fever vaccine at least 10 years previously and will be in a higher-risk setting, such as areas in Colombia where cases have been reported.

In the United States, yellow fever vaccines are commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published its 58th situation report on the multi-country outbreak of mpox, detailing the global epidemiological situation and providing an update on the continuing emergency in Africa, where over 90% of cases have been confirmed. Both clades of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate.

As of September 19, 2025, the WHO reported 59 countries across all WHO regions reported a total of 3,780 confirmed cases, including 15 deaths (case fatality ratio 0.4%) in August.

The Eastern Mediterranean and European regions reported an increase in cases in August compared to July 2025.

Nineteen countries in Africa have reported active mpox transmission in the past six weeks.

Clade IIb MPXV continues to be mostly reported in West Africa, Central African countries report both clade Ia and clade Ib MPXV, and East African countries report clade Ib MPXV.

Even though the WHO has downgraded the global Mpox situation, it continues to provide guidance and technical support to countries on targeted vaccination strategies. WHO is supporting countries on planning for the use of dose-sparing options (single dose or intradermal fractional dosing) of MVA-BN vaccine.

More than 1.1 million MVA-BN vaccine doses have been administered.

Mpox vaccination activities have started in 11 countries with the MVA-BN vaccine (Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Uganda). Most countries are implementing a single-dose strategy targeting population groups at high risk of exposure to the human-to-human transmitted virus.

The U.S. CDC recently stated that clade II mpox has become endemic in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

To ensure the United States has an ample supply of vaccines, Emergent BioSolutions Inc. recently announced a $56 million contract to supply ACAM2000® (Smallpox and Mpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live) to the U.S. government.

Deliveries are expected to begin in September.

In the United States, the MVA-BN (JYNNEOS) vaccine remains available at health clinics as of September 22, 2025.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently reported that health authorities in Bangkok, Thailand, issued an alert regarding human rabies cases following the detection of sick animals in some regions of the city.

From 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, a total of eight human deaths from rabies were reported in the Kingdom of Thailand.

The ECDC wrote on September 19, 2025, the alert included recommendations included if a person has been bitten or scratched by a dog, cat, bat or other mammal in an area where rabies virus is circulating, they are advised to seek medical help immediately, as the timely prophylaxis in the event of exposure to a potentially infected animal is of utmost importance and knowledge of the epidemiological situation is vital to decide on appropriate post-exposure measures.

Treatment consists of local wound care, vaccination, and passive immunisation with immunoglobulin, if indicated.

To be effective, treatment has to be administered as soon as possible after exposure.

On September 22, 2025, the Public Health Veterinary Office, in collaboration with the Prawet District Office, the Wat Pak Bo Public Health Service Center 22, and public health volunteers, conducted a rabies vaccination campaign.

The ECDC wrote that the probability of infection for travellers in Thailand's endemic areas is very low if basic preventive measures are followed, such as avoiding contact with wild and domestic animals, including pets.

In 2024, Bangkok welcomed approximately 30 million international visitors.

Those planning outdoor activities in high-risk zones or remote areas should receive an individual risk assessment and be offered pre-exposure rabies vaccination, if appropriate.

The U.S. CDC writes that rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of Thailand.

However, please consult with a travel vaccine provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.

In the United States, most rabies cases are associated with bat bites, rather than those caused by dogs or cats.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Health Advisory regarding the ongoing spread of the Oropouche virus in the Region of the Americas.

As of September 18, 2025, the CDC is reporting cases of Oropouche in Brazil, Cuba, Panama, and Peru.

For example, the Panama Ministry of Health reported that 10 human cases of locally acquired Oropouche virus disease had been detected in various districts of the Veraguas region, including Santiago, La Pena, Atalaya, and Rodrigo Luque.

Between January and the end of July 2025, about 501 cases, including one death, were reported in Panama by the Pan American Health Organization.

In the United States, states such as Florida reported 103 cases of Oropouche fever in 2024 in people who traveled to Cuba. The Florida counties reporting cases were led by Miami-Dade (61).

The CDC states that travelers to affected areas should take steps to prevent bug bites, infected midges, and mosquitoes.

This virus can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Recent scientific reports have found evidence of Oropouche virus and viral RNA in patients' bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal fluids.

Currently, there are no Oropouche vaccines available for disease prevention in 2025.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued Health Alert Network Health Advisory CDCHAN-00524 focused on the 16th outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Currently, no suspected, probable, or confirmed EVD cases related to this EVD outbreak have been reported in the United States or outside of the Bulape and Mweka health zones within the Kasai Province, DRC.

The CDC stated on September 18, 2025, that the risk of spread to the United States is currently considered low.

As a precaution, this Health Advisory summarizes CDC recommendations for U.S. public health departments, clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers about potential EVD case identification, testing, and biosafety considerations in clinical laboratories.

An Ebola vaccine (ERVEBO®) is approved for preventing Zaire Ebola virus disease; it should only be given to patients who meet specific criteria.

Two approved treatments are currently available to treat Ebola virus infection: Inmazeb™ and Ebanga™.

To alert international travelers, on September 8, 2025, the CDC issued a Level 1, Travel Health Notice, for people traveling to the DRC.

The CDC recommends that all travelers to the affected health zones in DRC avoid contact with ill people during travel and monitor themselves for symptoms of EVD while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving.

Travelers who develop symptoms during this time should self-isolate and contact their local health authorities or a healthcare provider.

At this time, the CDC is not recommending additional assessments or monitoring of travelers arriving from the DRC by jurisdictional health departments, unless specified in the existing guidance provided.