Zika Breaking News

Local media recently reported a case of Ebola virus disease in The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 8, 2023. The last Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred in 2022.

“Regarding Ebola virus disease surveillance, we received a sample that turned out to be positive from the Kyondo health zone and in the Butembo site. We have received four samples, and among the four, one is positive,” commented Damulo Luhavo, the communicator of the provincial health division of Butembo.

Luhavo called on the local population to continue to be vaccinated. 

As of May 13, 2023, various Ebola vaccines and Monoclonal Antibody therapies are available.

This news article did not disclose which type of Ebola, Sudan or Zaire, was detected.

CNA reported yesterday another young woman living in Taiwan was diagnosed with the A H1N2 variant (H1N2v) of the novel swine influenza virus.

As of May 11, 2023, this is only the third swine flu case ever seen in Taiwan, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

This zoonotic influenza case came into contact with swine from working at a pig farm. But the virus was not detected in any of the pigs on the farm where the girl worked.

Close contacts were identified, but none tested positive for the H1N2v virus.

Taiwan's first human H1N2v infection was reported in April 2021.

Unlike swine flu, avian influenza Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAPI) viruses have been detected in birds, mammals (cats, bears, dogs), and humans during 2022-2023.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Report issued on March 17, 2023, confirmed the current risk to the public from HPAI A(H5N1) viruses remains low.

However, continued sporadic human infections are anticipated because of the potential for influenza viruses to evolve.

As of April 6, 2023, about 240 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from four countries within the Western Pacific Region since January 2003.

Of these bird flu cases, 135 were fatal, resulting in a case fatality rate of 56%.

Should a human pandemic occur in 2023, the U.S. government has already stockpiled U.S. FDA-approved bird flu vaccines, and other development efforts have been funded as of May 12, 2023.

Furthermore, the CDC says annual flu shots are not designed to protect people against either bird or swine flu infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) External Situation Report #2 confirmed yesterday that the Kingdom of Eswatini reported its first cholera case in April 2023, related to cross-border transmission from Mozambique and a second case without travel history. 

In total, 24 countries have reported cholera cases since the beginning of 2023.

The overall capacity to respond to multiple and simultaneous outbreaks continues to be strained due to the global lack of resources, including shortages of the oral cholera vaccine.

Based on the current situation, the WHO assessed on May 11, 2023, the risk at the global level is very high.

Cholera outbreak news is posted by Vax-Before-Travel.

Before visiting Eswatini in southeast Africa, the U.S. CDC suggests various travel vaccinations, including yellow fever.

Data published by Sanofi today from the HARMONIE Phase 3b clinical trial show an 83.21% (95% CI 67.77 to 92.04; P<0.001) reduction in hospitalizations due to RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in younger infants who received a single dose of Beyfortus® (Nirsevimab).

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a multi-dose, injectable monoclonal antibody (mAbs) therapy in 1998, this new therapy has been authorized in Canada, Europe, and the U.K. as of May 12, 2023.

The Hospitalized RSV Monoclonal Antibody Prevention (HARMONIE) study is a large (8,000), multi-country interventional clinical trial aiming to determine the efficacy and safety of a single intramuscular dose of nirsevimab, with data collected in a real-world setting during the 2022-2023 RSV season. 

The data from HARMONIE also show that nirsevimab reduced the incidence of hospitalizations due to severe RSV-related LRTD (patients whose oxygen level is under 90% and require oxygen supplementation) by 75.71% (95% CI 32.75 to 92.91; P<0.001).

Additionally, nirsevimab demonstrated a reduction of 58.04% (95% CI 39.69 to 71.19; P<0.001) in the incidence of all-cause LRTD hospitalization compared to infants who received no RSV intervention.  

Throughout HARMONIE, nirsevimab maintained a favorable safety profile, consistent with the pivotal trial results.

In a press release, Dr. Simon Drysdale, Consultant Pediatrician in Infectious Diseases at St. George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Co-Chief Investigator of HARMONIE, stated, “RSV-related chest infections lead to high numbers of infants under 12 months old being hospitalized every year."

"These data reinforce the potential public health benefit of nirsevimab in helping reduce the strain on hospitals caused each year by RSV.”

Additional RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody news are posted by Precision Vaccinations. 

The recent Aboviral Diseases Report of the Puerto Rico Department of Health indicates the Zika virus has returned in 2023.

As of May 5, 2023, Report #17 data indicates 21 probable Zika cases were confirmed in 2023.

Since its first detection in March 2014, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has confirmed local transmission of Zika in all countries and territories in the Region of the Americas, except for continental Chile, Uruguay, and Canada.

In 2022, Barbados had the highest Zika incidence and case fatality rate. Other Zika outbreak countries were Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

Zika is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, says the PAHO. About 25% of infected people may develop symptoms. The illness is usually mild, lasting between two and seven days.

However, the Puerto Rico Department of Health and the U.S. CDC surveyed women who gave birth to infants from August to December 2016.

This survey determined there are no known ways to prevent the adverse effects of Zika infection during pregnancy.

One is Microcephaly, a condition where a baby's head is much smaller than expected. 

As of May 11, 2023, there are no approved vaccines to prevent Zika infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the Fifth Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the Multi-Country Outbreak of Mpox decided to end the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

As of May 11, 2023, data sources indicate about 87,000 Mpox cases have been confirmed globally, with 30,395 cases and 42 related fatalities in the U.S. since early May 2022.

The WHO committee stated having considered the significant decline in the global spread of mpox and the gains achieved in the control of the outbreak in many countries; the Committee advised that the event requires a transition from a PHEIC to a robust, proactive and sustainable mpox response and control program.

The Committee emphasized the need for long-term attention and support, including financial aid, particularly for countries where Mpox occurs regularly, and advised that Standing Recommendations would now be a more appropriate tool to manage the immediate, short, and long-term public health risks posed by Mpox.

In the U.S., an initial Mpox outbreak was declared in August 2022. On October 27, 2022, the Mpox public health emergency in San Francisco ended, followed by New York City in November 2022.

And on January 31, 2023, the U.S. HHS did not renew the Mpox public health emergency declaration.

However, recent Mpox outbreaks have been reported in Chicago.

Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously approved vaccines can prevent certain sexually transmitted diseases such as Mpox.

And the oral TPOXX® (Tecovirimat) treatment remains available in the U.S.

Takeda today announced its dengue vaccine QDENGA® had received several approvals, including one by Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency in March 2023 for use in individuals between 4 years and 60 years to protect against all four serotypes.

Brazil's approval marks the first approval of QDENGA in Latin America, where dengue is endemic in various countries.

Recently, Costa Rica confirmed a unique dengue outbreak.

QDENGA is the only dengue vaccine approved for use regardless of previous exposure and without needing pre-vaccination testing.

Takeda's press release on May 11, 2023, confirmed it continues progressing with additional regulatory filings, such as the U.S.

The U.S. CDC published provisional data as of May 5, 2023, indicating the U.S. States, led by Florida, have reported 98 dengue cases in 2023, and U.S. Territories have confirmed 238 dengue cases this year.