Zika Breaking News

Xlear Inc. today announced it had supplemented the numerous scientific studies it has already provided the U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ)  and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the government's lawsuit against Xlear.

The DOJ-FTC sued Xlear alleging prior statements about nasal hygiene and COVID-19 lacked adequate substantiation.

As of February 27, 2023, Xlear stated in a press release it provided additional studies showing that simple nasal sprays are effective in helping reduce the transmission of (the SARS-CoV-2 virus) COVID-19 and reduce the severity of illness when used by individuals already infected with the virus. 

One of the studies Xlear provided to DOJ is a peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) involving 556 "high-risk healthcare professionals," finding that a nasal spray containing water, saline, and xylitol significantly reduced the transmission of COVID-19 and the severity of cases among those infected. 

Specifically, the study finds: "[The spray] significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to placebo [36 cases (13.1%) Vs. 97 cases (34.5%); OR 0.29 (95% CI; 0.18–0.45), p < 0.0001].

Fewer clinical symptoms were also seen in the test group [57 cases (17.6%) vs. 112 cases (34.6%); OR 0.40, (95% CI; 0.27–0.59), p < 0.0001].

No harmful effects were associated with taking the [nasal spray] . . . This represents a 62% relative risk reduction in infection rate."

"[T]he spray was administered up to three times per day with . . . 6–8 [hour] between doses."

The study concludes: "[The nasal spray] has been shown to significantly reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections in healthcare workers, with 62% fewer infections when compared to placebo."

The company says, 'This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.'

The Florida Health Department recently reported nine cases of dengue in persons with international travel. As of February 18, 2023, 25 travel-associated dengue fever cases have been reported in Florida.

In 2022, 906 travel-associated dengue cases were reported.

Regarding local dengue cases, only one person has been confirmed this year.

During 2022, 68 cases of locally acquired were reported in Florida.

Dengue is the primary cause of acute febrile illness in US travelers returning from South-central and Southeast Asia, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue is now endemic in over 100 countries. As many as 3.6 billion people, or 40% of the world's population, reside in dengue-endemic areas. Each year, an estimated 21,000 deaths are attributed to dengue.

While one dengue vaccine (Dengvaxia) is approved, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reviewing a second vaccine with an acceptable safety profile.

On February 24, 2023, the CDC vaccine committee discussed the QDENGA® Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine Candidate (TAK-003) from Takeda.

Currently, Qdenga is approved for use in Indonesia, the EU, and the UK.

Learn more about dengue...how to prevent it, and what to do if you think you are infected atCDC'ss dengue page for travelers.

The World Health Organization (WHO today reported the cumulative number of Marburg virus disease (MVD) cases in Equatorial Guinea is nine, including one confirmed case, four probable cases, and four suspected cases.

All these viral hemorrhagic fever cases have died as of February 21, 2023.

MVD previously had a case-fatality ratio of up to 88%. 

These MVD cases occurred between early January and February 7, 2023, in two villages in the Nsock Nsomo, eastern province of Kie-Ntem, Río Muni Region. 

And the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea confirmed one fatality was in a health facility, and there are no cases among healthcare workers.

However, thirty-four close contacts are currently under follow-up as of February 25, 2023.

Additionally, other African countries are on alert for MVD cases.

WHO assesses the risk posed by the MVD outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

To notify international travelers of their health risks, the U.S. CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice regarding Equatorial Guinea's MVD outbreak.

The CDC says Marburg virus disease symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

And there are no specific treatments or approved vaccines for MVD, says the WHO.

Recent news indicates Marburg vaccine candidates are accelerating their clinical research as of February 25, 2023.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) today announced it is aware of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak announced in Equatorial Guinea on February 13, 2023.

As of February 24, 2023, there are no cases of MVD in Nigeria.

However, the NCDC, relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and partners have taken proactive measures to mitigate the risk of cross-border importation.

Based on available data, the overall risk of importation of the Marburg virus and the impact on the health of Nigerians has been assessed as MODERATE for the following reasons:

• The extent of the outbreak in Equatorial Guinea has not yet been ascertained.
• The likelihood of importation to Nigeria is high due to the direct flight between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
• The proximity of Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria.
• The likelihood of spread in Nigeria following importation is high due to the gatherings and travel associated with upcoming national elections.
• The case fatality rate of MVD ranges between 24 to 88%.
• MVD does not currently have an effective drug for treatment or a licensed vaccine for prevention.

The NCDC's risk assessment also shows that Nigeria has the technical, human (health workforce), and diagnostic capacity to respond effectively during an MVD outbreak.

To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions alert in mid-February 2023, confirming MVD is a viral hemorrhagic fever.

Its symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Infection with the Marburg virus is often fatal.

Furthermore, there is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for MVD.

Cambodia's Secretary of State of the Ministry of Health today confirmed that an emergency response found 12 people infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAPI) A(H5N1) in Prey Veng province.

As reported by the Khmer Times on February 23, 2023,  this news follows a recent death of an 11-year-old girl from 'bird flu' in Roleang village, Romlech commune, Sithor Kandal district, Prey Veng province.

Panharith Seng, director of the Prey Veng provincial health department, told VOA Khmer on February 23, 2023, that chickens and ducks found in the area where the girl lived had recently died of the H5N1 virus.

According to the Ministry of Health, the girl is the first person to die of H5N1 since 2014.

The Ministry of Health added that bird flu has been endemic in Cambodia since 2005, with a total of 57 infections and 38 deaths.

As of February 2, 2023, the World Health Organization reported a total of 240 cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had been reported from four countries within the Western Pacific Region since January 2003.

Of these cases, 135 were fatal. 

Globally, seven human influenza A H5N1 2.3.4.4b infections were reported in Ecuador, China, Vietnam, the U.K., Spain (2), and Colorado during 2022-2023.

Bird Flu (Avian influenza) is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that occur naturally among birds and domestic poultry.

The Eurasian H5N1 strain appeared in North America in January 2022 and has impacted 47 states, leading to the loss of over 58 million birds as of early February 2023.

Additionally, bird flu infections have been confirmed in various mammals, such as bears, foxes, and seals.

In the event of a human-based bird flu outbreak, the U.S. government has already approved the Audenza™ vaccine.

And the U.S. CDC had not issued a travel alert regarding Cambodia's bird flu outbreak.

This is an active event with VOA updates inserted. As of February 24, 2023, Cambodia reported a second human case of H5N1 bird flu.

Breaking bird flu news is posted here.

Update: Feb. 26, 2023 - This case was Clade 2.3.2.1c avian influenza virus has been endemic in Southeast Asia for ~10 years, and human-human transmission ability has not been established.

In a review article recently published in Vaccines Journal referenced over 25 studies and discussed multiple injection delivery methods, including PharmaJet's needle-free precision delivery systems.

This study found that needle-free delivery enhanced the clinical performance of DNA-based vaccines.

Currently, 250 vaccine programs are invested in DNA vaccines and therapeutics because of their potential benefits.

"We are enthused to see that pre-clinical results have translated into more effective clinical responses in human trials," said Chris Cappello, President and CEO of PharmaJet, in a press release on February 23, 2023. 

"We currently have eighty-three studies ongoing with novel pharmaceuticals focusing on nucleic acid technology and other new vaccine technology platforms."

"We believe that our precision delivery devices have the potential to increase the performance and therefore the probability of regulatory success of many of these candidate vaccines."

Several DNA candidate vaccines in combination with PharmaJet devices are in development, including for a COVID-19 bivalent booster, HIV, Zika, influenza, poxvirus, hantavirus, and dengue infections.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced it had renewed and expanded its Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions focused on polio outbreaks and the continued detections of poliovirus.

On February 21, 2023, the CDC stated some international destinations have circulating poliovirus.

At present, only two countries remain with the indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus type 1, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

And before traveling to any at-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

Furthermore, children should also be up to date on their routine polio vaccines.

Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system. 

Because the virus that causes polio lives in the feces of an infected person, people infected with the disease can spread it to others. People can also be infected if they drink water or eat food contaminated with infected feces.

In 2022, poliovirus was detected in wastewater systems in travel hotspots, including New York, London, Canada, and Israel.

In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function. And polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain.

Polio is a vaccine-preventable disease, says the CDC.

Approved polio vaccines are generally available in the U.S. at travel clinics and pharmacies.