Zika Breaking News

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published Influenza Update N° 440, influenza activity continued to decrease following a peak in late 2022.

As of March 6, 2023, influenza A viruses predominated, and the proportion of influenza B virus detections increased during the current reporting period.

In the countries of North America, most indicators of influenza activity decreased to levels similar to or below levels typically observed towards the end of the season.

In Europe, overall influenza detections remained stable, and influenza positivity from sentinel sites increased in the most recent week, remaining above the epidemic threshold at the regional level.

Out of 39 countries, 18 reported high or moderate intensity, and over half continued to report widespread influenza case activity.

Other indicators of influenza activity remained stable or decreased in most countries, while a few countries reported increases.

Various types of flu shots remain available in the U.S. and Europe as of March 9, 2022.

As of February 25, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed about 173.26 million flu shots had been distributed in the U.S. during this season. 

Additional 2022-2023 flu season news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Flu.

ModeX Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced it entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop MDX-2201, a preclinical nanoparticle vaccine candidate targeting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Under the terms of the agreement, ModeX and Merck will jointly advance MDX-2201 to a U.S. FDA Investigational New Drug application filing, after which Merck will be responsible for clinical and regulatory activities and product commercialization.

MDX-2201 is based on ModeX’s ferritin nanoparticle vaccine platform, which can express as many as 24 copies of a recombinant antigen on its surface to enhance the presentation of key virus components and stimulate durable protective immunity.

MDX-2201 presents antigens from four viral proteins involved in viral entry into host cells.

These include a recombinant antigen designed from the proteins gH, gL, and gp42 and an antigen derived from gp350.

By using ModeX’s multi-targeted approach, this combination inhibits infection in two cell types, B cells and epithelial cells, contrasting with efforts previously focused on gp350 alone.

“At Merck, we have a proud legacy of developing vaccines, including several that have the potential to help protect against certain types of cancer,” said Tarit Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., Vice President, Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Discovery, Merck Research Laboratories, in a press release on March 8, 2023.

EBV is a member of the herpes virus family and is one of the most common human viruses.

EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis and is associated with other illnesses, including specific types of cancer and multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately, there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for EBV infection.

However, Moderna Inc. has been conducting a phase 1 clinical study for its mRNA-1189 vaccine candidate.

The viral proteins in mRNA-1189 are expressed in their native membrane-bound form for recognition by the immune system. 

When Uber Inc. reintroduced its ride-sharing service in Cancun, Mexico, in 2023, most international travelers were excited to use a known transportation service.

Uber customers have digital access to the same features while traveling at home, including safety features such as 24/7 support, GPS tracking, and emergency assistance.

And after a long day at the beach, Uber delivers Cancun cuisine with just a few taps.

However, according to USA Today reporting on March 6, 2023, local cab services contest Uber's availability.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State issued a security notice regarding incidents involving Uber drivers in Quintana Roo and Cancun. 

However, official complaints against Uber drivers do occur, and past disputes between these services and local taxi unions have occasionally turned violent, resulting in injuries to U.S. citizens in some instances, says the State Department.

U.S. citizens are reminded of guidance provided on Travel.State.gov, specifically about using application-based transportation services in Mexico.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC recommends several vaccinations before visiting Mexico.

And the dengue virus transmission has been documented in Yucatan, Mexico, since 1979. Dengue is reported in 28 of 32 states in Mexico.

And dengue is an ongoing risk when enjoying Cancun's beaches!

Visitors to areas of risk should protect themselves from dengue infection by preventing mosquito bites. 

There are two authorized dengue vaccines, but access requires testing. 

Note: This news article is not paid content.

The Annals of Internal Medicine today published a systematic review and meta-analysis of three randomized clinical trials in adults with prediabetes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes (T2D). 

Published on March 7, 2023, this analysis concluded vitamin D usage effectively decreased the risk of developing TD2.

This data found vitamin D use reduced the risk for diabetes by 15% (hazard ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75 to 0.96]) in adjusted analyses, with a 3-year absolute risk reduction of 3.3% (CI, 0.6% to 6.0%).

Among participants assigned to the vitamin D group who maintained an intratrial mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of at least 125 nmol/L (≥50 ng/mL) compared with 50 to 74 nmol/L (20 to 29 ng/mL) during follow-up, cholecalciferol reduced risk for diabetes by 76% (hazard ratio, 0.24 [CI, 0.16 to 0.36]), with a 3-year absolute risk reduction of 18.1% (CI, 11.7% to 24.6%).

And Vitamin D increased the likelihood of regression to normal glucose regulation by 30% (rate ratio, 1.30 [CI, 1.16 to 1.46]).

Furthermore, there was no evidence of a difference in the rate ratios for adverse events (kidney stones: 1.17 [CI, 0.69 to 1.99]; hypercalcemia: 2.34 [CI, 0.83 to 6.66]; hypercalciuria: 1.65 [CI, 0.83 to 3.28]; death: 0.85 [CI, 0.31 to 2.36]).

This study's limitations included 'people with prediabetes do not apply to the general population.'

The CDC says approximately 96 million American adults have prediabetes. However, more than 80% of those with prediabetes don't know they have it. 

This study had no external funding, and the researchers did not disclose any industry conflicts of interest.

In May 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's Mounjaro injection to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes as an addition to diet and exercise. Mounjaro is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes. 

As of March 7, 2023, no FDA-approved vaccine prevents diabetes.

Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had accepted Eisai’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for LEQEMBI™, supporting the conversion of the accelerated approval of LEQEMBI to an FDA traditional approval.

The LEQEMBI application has been granted Priority Review, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of July 6, 2023.

As of March 6, 2023, the FDA plans to hold an Advisory Committee meeting to discuss this humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 monoclonal antibody application but has not publicly announced the meeting date.

LEQEMBI was approved under accelerated approval in the U.S. and was on January 18, 2023.

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on a reduction in amyloid beta plaques observed in patients treated with LEQEMBI.

The accelerated approval was based on data demonstrating that LEQEMBI reduced the accumulation of Aβ plaque in the brain, a defining AD feature.

Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.

There are no safety or effectiveness data on initiating treatment at earlier or later stages of the disease than were studied.

Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit.

The FDA has not approved any AD vaccine candidates as of March 6, 2023.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice regarding the Lassa Fever outbreak in the west African country of Nigeria.

On March 1, 2023, the CDC confirmed there is an outbreak of Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever, in several states in Nigeria.

Visitors to Nigeria should seek medical care immediately if they develop (during or after travel) fever, chills, headache, fatigue, bleeding, trouble breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, or pain in the chest, back, and abdomen.

Before the pandemic, about 5 million people visit Nigeria annually, with Niger and India as the most frequent countries of origin of tourists in Nigeria, reports Statista. 

However, as of March 5, 2023, no Lassa fever vaccines are available.

But treatment with antiviral medicine is most effective during the early stages of illness.