According to an announcement today, a Lyme disease vaccine candidate may soon obtain approval in the U.S. This would be significant since Lyme disease remains a serious health risk to most people.
This vector-borne illness is considered common in the Northern Hemisphere.
Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to U.S. CDC.
Earlier today, Pfizer Inc. and Valneva SE reported antibody persistence data six months after completing a three-dose or a two-dose vaccination schedule with their Lyme disease vaccine candidate.
Lyme Disease Vax Candidate Posts Positive Antibody Persistence Data
Fewer Parents Talking to Child’s Regular Provider About Vaccines
Conversations less often about flu or COVID-19 vaccines versus school-required vaccines
Temporal Improvement Seen in Standard of Care for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Outcomes improved from Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial-2 to ACTT-3, although potential explanatory factors were similar
Overactive Bladder Common in Postacute COVID-19 Syndrome
COVID-19 may lead to new or worsening urinary symptoms in men and women
Polio Vaccination Doubts Remain
Polio was once a feared disease in the U.S. but was eradicated through an effective and safe vaccination program over the past decades, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, the Governor of New York recently extended Executive Order 21.1 until early November 2022 because genetically related poliovirus had been detected in wastewater collected from Kings, Nassau, Orange, Queens, Rockland, and Sullivan counties.
Increase Seen in Years of Life Lost Per COVID-19 Death in 2021
YLL increased 35.7 percent per COVID-19 death in 2021 versus 2020 as median age of COVID-19 deaths decreased
Medical Masks Similar to N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19
No significant difference seen with medical masks versus N95 respirators for health care personnel providing care to COVID-19 patients
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over…but It’s Never Over
"As I prepare to step down from my dual positions at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), where I have been a physician-scientist for 54 years and the director for 38 years, a bit of reflection is inevitable, wrote Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Monkeypox Disease Renamed
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today it would begin using the preferred term “Mpox” as a synonym for the monkeypox disease.
When the Mpox outbreak expanded in May 2022, several individuals and countries raised concerns and asked the WHO to propose a way to change the name.
Assigning names to new and existing diseases is the responsibility of WHO under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the WHO Family of International Health-Related Classifications through a consultative process that includes WHO Member States.
Studies Compare Various Treatments for COVID-19
Sotrovimab effective compared with molnupiravir; second study shows no effect for angiotensin receptor blockers in terms of illness severity
Vaccinations Urged this Holiday Season
Given the anticipated increase in respiratory infections this winter, America's healthcare professional organizations reminded the public of the importance of vaccinations and early treatment.
A strong recommendation from a trusted clinician is one of the most effective strategies to increase vaccine uptake, wrote these organizations on November 21, 2022.
Flu Shots Protect Heart Failure Patients
Numerous clinical research studies have been published supporting the U.S. CDC's strong recommendation that most people measurably benefit from influenza vaccination.
A new peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet Global Health has identified another specific benefit.
An international team led by McMaster University researchers found that influenza vaccination significantly reduces pneumonia and cardiovascular complications in people with heart failure.
mRNA-Based Influenza and COVID-19 Combo Vaccine Candidate Launches Study
Global leaders in vaccine innovation today announced the advancement of an mRNA-based vaccine candidate preventing both influenza and COVID-19 to a Phase 1 clinical trial.
The Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE vaccine candidate aims to address these severe respiratory diseases with one vaccine.
The vaccine candidate combines Pfizer's quadrivalent modRNA-based influenza vaccine candidate, qIRV (22/23), which is currently in Phase 3 clinical development, and Pfizer and BioNTech's authorized Omicron-adapted bivalent COVID-19 BNT162b2 (Original/Omicron BA.4/BA.5) vaccine.
Flu Shots Flopped Last Season
During the two-day U.S. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting led by Dr. Grace Lee, several presentations revealed significant vaccine progress and measurable health impact.
However, when Jessie Chung MPH, Samantha Olson MPH, and Nathaniel Lewis Ph.D. presented the preliminary influenza vaccine efficacy (VE) results from the last flu season, various ACIP members expressed shock and dismay.
$30 Million Awarded for Another Bird Flu Vaccine Candidate
A global leader in influenza prevention announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, had selected CSL Seqirus to manufacture and clinically assess a cell-based, adjuvanted pre-pandemic influenza vaccine candidate to support the U.S. government's pandemic preparedness activities.
Vaccines Offer the Best Protection Against Severe Influenza
With a potentially severe respiratory season ahead, data released today by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) indicates many Americans are unaware of their health risks.
The 2022 National Survey: Attitudes about Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease, and the Impacts of COVID-19, was released by the NFID on October 4, 2022, indicating only 49% of adults plan to get an influenza vaccination during the 2022-2023 flu season.
Real-World Data Show Cell-Based and Adjuvanted Flu Shots Can Reduce Influenza Burden
New data announced today from four real-world studies shows the impact that cell-based and adjuvanted influenza vaccines can have in reducing the burden of seasonal influenza on hospitals and health systems.
The data from CSL Seqirus were presented at OPTIONS for the Control of Influenza (OPTIONS XI), being held in the United Kingdom.
Should Flu Shots Wait for Influenza's Arrival
The latest influenza data published by the U.S. CDC today collaborates recent findings announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.K.
'The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has … likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission,' says the WHO.
The CDC's new FLUVIEW report focused on the 2021-2022 Influenza Season and clinical laboratory data, revealing whether influenza activity is increasing or decreasing in the USA.
Will the Flu Arrive by October 2022?
According to the latest U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, the 2022-2023 influenza viruses have yet to arrive in the USA.
While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round, the exact timing and duration of flu seasons vary. Influenza activity often increases in October, with peak activity between December and February, says the CDC.
Influenza Antiviral Works Before and After Annual Flu Shots
As the flu season approaches from the Southern Hemisphere this year, plenty of U.S. FDA-approved influenza vaccines are available to protect people.
However, anyone can get the flu before they are vaccinated, and occasionally even after.
To help reduce the severity of influenza in children, the FDA recently extended the use of a leading oral antiviral medicine.
London Remains Focused on Polio Vaccinations
The U.K. Health Services Agency (UKHSA) recently published an update highlighting actions in response to detecting a VDPV2 in London sewage samples.
The UKHSA stated on November 14, 2022, primary care colleagues and immunization providers should ensure their patients are up to date with their polio-containing vaccines.
And offer catch-up vaccination to anyone who is un/under-vaccinated.
In the greater London area, an Inactivated Polio Vaccine booster campaign was launched targeting children aged one.
Cholera Vaccines Arrive in Syria
Since the recent cholera outbreak was declared in Syria in September 2022, tens of thousands of suspected acute watery diarrhea (AWD) cases have been reported in all governorates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced some positive news on November 29, 2022, trucks carrying about two million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) have arrived in Damascus, Syria.
These OCVs will be used in an immunization campaign starting on December 4, 2022, to reach vulnerable people in the highly affected governorates: Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa Al -Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor.
The Recreational Potential Index Influences Behaviors
Since the recent pandemic limited a person's mobility and social life, people's recreational behavior made them seek more contact with nature closer to home.
As a result, locating recreational spaces in the vicinity of cities gained importance.
A new Scientific Reports study proposed a methodology for assessing the tourist and recreational potential of areas (METPRET) in the vicinity of cities with the potential to meet the needs for tourism and recreation.
Millions of Children Susceptible to Measles
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported about forty million children are currently susceptible to the growing measles risk.
On November 23, 2022, the WHO announced a record twenty-five million children missed their first measle vaccine dose, and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose,
This decline is a significant setback in global progress toward achieving and maintaining measles elimination and leaves millions of children susceptible to infection, stated the WHO.
New Dengue Vaccine Resolves Old Dilemma
One of the worlds leading mosquito-borne viruses has increased globally over the past two decades and is endemic in more than 125 countries.
The good news is dengue has had a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccine available for a few years.
However, deploying the Dengvaxia vaccine comes with very specific requirements to prevent dengue infections.
Dengue is caused by any of four dengue virus serotypes, each of which can cause dengue fever or severe dengue.
Monkeypox Outbreak Recedes in the U.K.
The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed today the epidemiological situation of the monkeypox virus outbreak.
Cases of monkeypox (MPX) infection have been confirmed in England since May 6, 2022.
As of November 21, 2022, there were 3,570 confirmed and 150 highly probable monkeypox cases detected in the U.K.
Of these, 96 were in Scotland, 34 were in Northern Ireland, 47 were in Wales, and 3,543 (69%) were in England.
There are no reported deaths in the U.K.
Double Facial Recognition Launches in Real-Time
As the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continues deploying innovative technologies in Digital ID, air travelers are enjoying safer and more effortless screening experiences.
For example, catching a flight at Denver's international airport (DEN) requires a new, real-time photo comparison of the traveler.
The TSA recently announced the next generation of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) verifies the traveler's photo on the credential against the in-person, real-time image.
Should Florida Vaccinate Children Against Dengue
One of the world's most complex mosquito-borne viral diseases is making a more significant impact in the U.S. this year. Annually, Dengue is transmitted to about 100 million humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Before 1970, only nine countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics, says the World Health Organization.
Since then, Dengue has become endemic in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Haiti's Latest Cholera Outbreak Subsides
After more than three years without a reported cholera case in the Republic of Haiti, national authorities said a new outbreak began in October 2022.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Situation Report #6, cholera cases continue to spread, but at a reduced rate, to new areas of Haiti's capital.
As of November 15, 2022, the Department of Epidemiology, Laboratories, and Research confirmed 821 cases of Cholera across 27 municipalities.
The most affected communes in the Ouest department are Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Cité Soleil, and Carrefour.
Ebola Screening Activated in the U.K.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) recently announced they would follow the U.S. in screening certain air travelers from the Republic of Uganda.
The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed on November 14, 2022, all workers returning to the U.K. from areas affected by Ebola should be risk assessed.
Most departing flights to the U.K. are from Kampala, the country's capital city, and land at London Heathrow Airport.
This action is related to Uganda's Sudan Ebolavirus (SUDV) outbreak.