Zika Breaking News

Vaccines are currently recommended to help protect individuals over 10 years old against disease-causing serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, B, C, W, and Y).

To address the current under-vaccination rate, a new meningococcal vaccine has now been recommended to reduce the number of injections.

GSK plc announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted to recommend the use of PENMENVY as part of the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, commented in a press release on April 15, 2025, "We welcome this positive recommendation that can help strengthen disease prevention efforts in the US. Pentavalent vaccines can reduce the number of injections required to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease, especially disease caused by serogroup B."

Although MenB is the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among this population, less than 13% of 17-year-olds received the recommended two-dose vaccination series; around 32% received at least one dose according to 2023 CDC survey data.

The CDC says IMD is an uncommon but serious illness that can lead to death for up to one in ten of those who contract it in as little as 24 hours from onset, despite treatment.

Adopted ACIP recommendations are published as official CDC recommendations.

With over 13 million adults at increased risk in the United States, GSK plc announced that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of recommending the use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines, including AREXVY in adults aged 50-59 who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease.

This action expands on ACIP’s previous vote in June 2024 to recommend RSV vaccines for adults aged 60-74.

AREXVY is indicated for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older, as well as individuals 50 through 59 years of age who are at increased risk for LRTD caused by RSV.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, commented in a press release on April 16, 2025, “RSV can have a significant impact for those with underlying medical conditions. We look forward to helping protect more people with RSV vaccination.”

The ACIP recommendations will be forwarded for review and approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Once approved, the final recommendations will be published to advise healthcare providers on the appropriate use of the vaccine and to inform insurance coverage.

Following yesterday's information session, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet today to discuss the final agenda items.

On April 16, 2025, H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH (ACIP Chair), Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, will lead discussions on chikungunya, meningococcal, and RSV vaccines. These presentations are available at this link.

The voting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory committee will consider various votes on Meningococcal, RSV, and Chikungunya vaccines. All vote language is subject to change.

ACIP includes up to 19 voting members responsible for making vaccine recommendations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary selects these members.

Traditionally, the CDC's Director considers ACIP recommendations before making final determinations. However, the CDC's Chief of Staff, Matthew Buzzelli, will fill this role.

This is the updated link to today's ACIP meeting on the YouTube channel.

Upon today's conclusion, ACIP meeting minutes are posted on the CDC website within 90–120 days of the meeting date. The agenda and presentations for the October 23-24, 2024, ACIP meeting are available at this link.

The rescheduled two-day meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the vaccine advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has published a final agenda for today's meeting.

On April 15, 2025, H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH (ACIP Chair), is scheduled to lead discussions on chikungunya, COVID-19, cytomegalovirus, Human papillomavirus, influenza, Lyme disease, meningococcal, mpox, pneumococcal, Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines for adults, and maternal and pediatric populations.

There is also a session focused on the current multi-state measles outbreak.

On April 16, 2025, the ACIP voting members will vote on Meningococcal Vaccines, Meningococcal Vaccines VFC, RSV vaccine for adults, and Chikungunya Vaccines topics.

ACIP meetings are open to the public via live webcast.

With over 1 million chikungunya cases reported over the last decade, the residents of the Federative Republic of Brazil have gained access to an effective vaccine that prevents this mosquito-transmitted disease.

Valneva SE today announced that the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has granted marketing authorization to its single-dose vaccine IXCHIQ®.

This innovative and safe vaccine prevents disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 18 and older.

Additionally, Valneva and Instituto Butantan confirmed they are working together to ensure fast access to chikungunya vaccines for the Brazilian market and other countries in the region as quickly as possible.

The Region of the Americas reported various outbreaks. Between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 3.7 million chikungunya cases in the Americas. Brazil has reported over 1 million cases in the past few years.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on April 14, 2025, "The ongoing outbreak in Brazil underscores the fact that containing chikungunya is an international public health priority."

Part of Valneva's endemic country strategy, this endeavor is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, with co-funding from the European Union and Instituto Butantan to support broader access to a chikungunya vaccine in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Esper Kallás, Director of Instituto Butantan, added, "The approval of the chikungunya vaccine is a great victory for Brazil, where over 150,000 people suffer from the disease yearly. It is an honor for Butantan to be able to contribute to ensuring that this vaccine reaches the population that needs it the most."

IXCHIQ® is the world's first licensed chikungunya vaccine. It is approved to prevent disease caused by the chikungunya virus in people aged 12 years and older in the EU and 18 years and older in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Label extension applications to adolescents were submitted in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

In the U.S., IXCHIQ is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is reported to have the highest malaria burden in the world, accounting for 39.3% of global malaria deaths in children under five years in 2023.

According to recent reporting by GAVI, while the country’s annual malaria death toll has declined over the past five years, the case count has risen, with 1.4 million more malaria infections reported in 2023 than in 2022.

Bordering both Benin and Niger in Nigeria’s northwest, the Kebbi state has the highest malaria prevalence in the country at 49% of young children and the highest mortality rate.

The state’s high malaria prevalence has been linked to several factors, including rice cultivation.

Since rice farming requires stagnant water, it is a perfect breeding ground for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Ahmad Muhammad Sani, a public health expert in Kebbi State, told GAVI on April 7, 2025, that he believes the malaria vaccine will help significantly lower malaria morbidity and mortality, especially when combined with existing preventive measures like the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor insecticide spraying.

Sani also encouraged parents to complete the four vaccine doses to protect children against malaria outbreaks.

“Some possible challenges relating to the vaccine effectiveness in this region include factors like high malaria transmission rates. Hence, full vaccination coverage is crucial. Parents should be aware that incomplete vaccine doses offer partial protection,” he said.

As of April 14, 2025, most malaria cases in the United States are travel-related. Two malaria vaccines are offered in Africa but are unavailable in the U.S.

When the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 Travel Health Advisory regarding an outbreak of chikungunya in France's Réunion in February 2025, most public health experts did not expect an overwhelming epidemic.

As of April 12, 2025, Réunion Island has become the leading chikungunya outbreak in the world.

Since the beginning of 2025, 27,521 confirmed cases of this mosquito-transmitted disease have been reported.

More concerning is data from ARS Réunion last week. 

From March 24 to 30, 2025, there were 6,289 confirmed cases and 54 hospitalizations in Le Tampon (800 cases), Saint-Paul (900 cases), Saint-Denis (750 cases), and Saint-Pierre (600 cases). 

ARS Réunion says people can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, or participating in a free vaccination program.

The first phase of the 40,000 vaccination campaign has been launched with the single-dose IXCHIQ® vaccine. It is available for people aged 65 and over with comorbidities and who have not previously contracted chikungunya.

Over the last few years, most chikungunya cases in the U.S. have been related to returning international travelers from tropical and subtropical regions. Diagnosing chikungunya is challenging, as people may also have been infected with dengue or Zika.

According to the U.S. CDC, vaccination against chikungunya is recommended for adults and some adolescents traveling to a destination with a current chikungunya outbreak, such as Réunion.