When the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the use of malaria vaccines, it assumed other therapeutics would be needed to reduce the number of mosquito-borne transmitted disease.
Recent data from the WHO indicates Malaria remains a leading cause of mortality among children in Africa, and recent advances in control have stagnated.
Malaria Monoclonal Antibody Provides Some Protection
New World Screwworm Confirmed in Nuevo Leon
Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed yesterday a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
This area in Mexico is located near Laredo, Texas, one of the world's busiest commercial thoroughfares.
UK Vaccination Campaign Protects Newborns this Winter
The UK Department of Health and Social Care has today announced a new national vaccination campaign, 'Stay Strong'. Get Vaccinated, to protect newborn babies.
This national campaign urges vaccination to protect newborns during the winter of 2025-2026.
Each year, some 600,000 women give birth in England. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals hundreds of thousands of pregnant women missed vital vaccines last winter,
Expectant mothers are being urged to get vaccinated against flu, RSV, and whooping cough (pertussis).
Should Canada and Mexico Visitors Verify Measles Immunity
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Region of the Americas to strengthen vaccination efforts, improve surveillance, and accelerate outbreak response following a rise in measles cases in 2025
As of September 12, 2025, there has been a 31-fold increase in measles cases compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest epidemiological update from PAHO.
New Vaccine Panel Recommends Doctor Consults Before COVID Shots
Guidance may limit pharmacy access, where most Americans got last year’s vaccine
CDC Advisers Limit MMRV Combo Vaccine, Delay Hepatitis B Vote
The panel’s vote sparked criticism from many pediatricians and health leaders
West Coast States Issue Their Own COVID, Flu, RSV Vaccine Rules
California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington recommend COVID shots for young children, older adults and pregnant women
Is Chagas Disease Endemic in the USA
Researchers from Texas A&M University, the University of Florida, and the Texas Department of State Health Services recently stated that the time is now to recognize Chagas disease as endemic in the United States.
The multi-institutional team's perspective article, published in the September volume of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases, highlights growing evidence that suggests endemic transmission.
ACIP Meeting Presentation Slides for September 18-19, 2025
The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has posted a final agenda and presentation slides for its meeting on September 18-19, 2025.
The key topics on the ACIP agenda include Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Vaccines, Hepatitis B Vaccine, and Updates to 2024-2025 COVID-19 Implementation Considerations.
Nonadherence to Cervical Cancer Screening Increased After COVID-19 Pandemic
Greatest increases seen among underrepresented communities including Black adults and those with lower education
Dental Floss-Based Vaccination Found Effective
Since many children and about 10% adults have a fear of needles and cite this concern for avoiding vaccines, clinically known as trypanophobia, recent research has identified another immunization option.
Researchers have confirmed that the oral cavity is a convenient location for vaccination and is the target area for an innovative needle-free vaccine.
Flu Shots to Remove Thimerosal
Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy has signed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations to remove the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from all influenza vaccines distributed in the United States.
This marks the final step in removing mercury from all vaccines administered to Americans.
Universal Vaccine Platform for Pandemic-Prone Viruses Announced
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced the development of the next-generation, universal vaccine platform, Generation Gold Standard.
This innovation uses a beta-propiolactone (BPL)-inactivated, whole-virus platform.
Building Better Flu Shots Based on Antibody Responses and Genetics
A vaccine that combines antigens from different flu strains could trigger a more protective immune response than a traditional influenza vaccine, wrote the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH).
Published on January 14, 2025, the NIH says findings from a recent study indicate a new method could enhance the effectiveness of annual flu shots.
The NIH explained seasonal flu shots contain hemagglutinin (HA) molecules from various viral strains. But even when the strains in the vaccine exactly match those in circulation, the vaccines have limited efficacy.
Texas' Updated Respiratory Disease Dashboard Offers Real-Time Vaccination Insights
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today announced that it has updated its Interactive Respiratory Disease Dashboard to include updated hospitalization reporting and more visual features.
DSHS's dashboard, launched in January 2024, also includes information on emergency department visits, fatalities from influenza, and other respiratory viruses and is accessible through the Texas Health Data website.
It's the Best Week to Protect Yourself from the Flu
As the flu season picks up, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) will be observed December 2-6, 2024, a reminder for most everyone that there’s still time to get a flu shot this season.
National Influenza Vaccination Week is a national awareness week highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination for yourself and others.
Flu Shots Help Stop Spreading Influenza at Home
With Thanksgiving gatherings planned for late this week, a new study suggests that everyone should get their annual flu shots.
A recent study concluded that the risk of secondary influenza among unvaccinated household contacts is approximately 15% to 20% after a person infected with the influenza virus introduces it into households.
$34 Million Funds Sixth Avian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Award
As the United States continues reporting avian influenza cases in animals and people, the U.S. government is making another investment in pandemic prevention vaccines.
The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses and their transmission to animals and humans poses a significant global public health threat.
Vaccinated Children Can Die From Influenza
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases recently reported two additional flu-related deaths, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the 2023-2024 season to 199.
As of September 18, 2024, this number equals the previous high reported during the 2019-2020 flu season. It's a profoundly tragic reminder that influenza can cause severe illness, even after a child has been vaccinated.
Digital Platform Helps Simplify Access to U.S. Healthcare
A recent American Academy of Physician Associates poll found that 65% of Americans say coordinating and managing healthcare is overwhelming and time-consuming, and 73% feel that the healthcare system fails to meet their needs.
Further, most patients want more digital options for managing their care.
Over-Touristed Destinations Include U.S. Hot Spots
There are many cities around the world included in people's bucket-list locations to visit during their lifetime.
According to a team at MoneyTransfers.com, they ranked the most visited cities and countries in the world, and some of the rankings might surprise an avid traveler.
This Most "Over-Touristed" Cities in the World list was published on September 7, 2023.
Malaria Arrives in Maryland
The Maryland Department of Health announced a positive case of locally acquired malaria in a person living in the National Capital Region. This new Maryland patient was hospitalized and is reported to be recovering.
This person did not travel recently outside the United States or visit Florida or Texas, where locally acquired malaria outbreaks have been reported.
South Africa's Measles Outbreak Continues
Over the past year, the Republic of South Africa has been confronted with a significant measles outbreak. Even with an aggressive vaccination program, new measles cases continue to be reported.
As of August 16, 2023, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has tested 6,616 serum samples for measles since epidemiological week 40, 2022, of which 1124 (17%) were confirmed positive.
Recently, the percentage of samples testing positive decreased to 9% in week #31.
Airport Dos and Don’ts for Labor Day Travelers
As the summer travel season 2023 approaches the Labor Day holiday, U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are eager to share their top "dos and don'ts" for air travelers.
Since airline travelers have resumed activity levels last seen in 2019, TSA officers have an insider's view of what results in a smooth screening process and what doesn't.
Additionally, the TSA has identified six tips and six things they never do when flying.
Travel tips:
COVID-19 Fatalities Decrease Globally
While many people thought the COVID-19 pandemic had ended, new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates another SARS-CoV-2 variant is impacting more people.
During the past few months, the EG.5 (Eris) variant spiked COVID-19 cases in India but has recently subsided.
And in the U.S., Eris is the fasting-growing COVID-19 subvariant responsible for around 17% of current COVID cases, according to the U.S. CDC.
South Florida's Dengue Outbreak Continues in August 2023
As the summer of 2023 comes to a close in South Florida, various mosquito-borne diseases continue to infect people.
During the period of July 30 to August 5, 2023, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported the following arboviral activity:
International Travel-Associated Dengue: Forty-three cases of dengue were reported this week in persons with international travel. In 2023, 190 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported.
Measles Elimination Requires Pre-Trip Vaccinations
The United States has maintained the elimination of measles since 2000, despite several outbreaks in various states such as Ohio.
Most measles outbreaks occur when unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people travel to and from the U.S., says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Measles cases worldwide increased by about 80% during 2022.
For example, India recently reported 57,550 measles cases over the past year.
Cholera Outbreaks Continue in 2023
Over the past month, the multi-country cholera outbreak has reached India, which has reported over 600 cases, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
In total, 25 countries have reported cases since the beginning of 2023, and the WHO assesses the risk at the global level as very high.
For example, the Republic of Haiti has reported over 40,000 cholera cases, including 253 deaths, this year.
Philippines Aviation Backed by the U.S.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently affirmed its commitment to provide additional training and equipment to the Republic of the Philippines’ Office for Transportation Security (OTS).
During a courtesy visit to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, TSA Assistant Administrator for International Operations Gary Renfrow noted on August 1, 2023, the improved aviation security in the Philippines and assured the transport chief of continued support for capacity development efforts for airport authorities.
West Nile Virus Confirmed in Wine Country
France's Agence régionale de santé Nouvelle-Aquitaine (ARS) recenlty confirmed a patient had been infected with West Nile virus (WNV) in New Aquitaine.
This WNV patient is from Bordeaux, and ARS is investigating four suspected cases.
Previously, human infections with WNV were reported in France's Mediterranean (PACA and Occitanie regions).
"Their state of health does not inspire concern, and they are on the way to recovery," said the ARS statement on August 1, 2023.