For more than a decade, researchers have been developing vaccines that use messenger RNA (mRNA) to treat cancer, though none have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), wrote Edward Winstead.
On April 26, 2023, the U.S. National Cancer Institute published an article that confirmed a few studies had compared mRNA cancer vaccine candidates using different technologies.
mRNA Vaccine Candidates Target HPV Cancers
Influenza Heads South for Summer
While the ending of the 2022-2023 flu season in the United States is good news for many, it also indicates that ever-evolving influenza viruses are heading to the Southern Hemisphere.
On May 3, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) published Influenza Update N° 444, which confirmed influenza detections decreased further in the Northern Hemisphere, while some countries in the South reported increased detections in recent weeks.
Influenza Heads South for Summer
While the ending of the 2022-2023 flu season in the United States is good news for many, it also indicates that ever-evolving influenza viruses are heading to the Southern Hemisphere.
On May 3, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) published Influenza Update N° 444, which confirmed influenza detections decreased further in the Northern Hemisphere, while some countries in the South reported increased detections in recent weeks.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Resigns as Pandemic Winds Down
Walensky will resign as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the end of June
Shortage of Research Monkeys Threatens U.S. Readiness for Health Emergencies
About 64 percent of NIH-funded researchers have had trouble getting primates for their work
WHO Declares COVID-19 Global Emergency Over
Since it began spreading, COVID-19 has killed at least 7 million people worldwide
UK Measles Outbreak Outpaces 2022
The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced there had been a significant increase in measles cases in the city of London and across the U.K.
On May 4, 2023, the UKHSA's Health Protection Report volume #17 reported that between January and April 20, 2023, there were 49 cases of measles compared to 54 cases in 2022.
Thirty-three (67%) cases were in London, and 40% were in children.
Twelve cases were imported or import-related, with the others reflecting community transmission in the U.K.
COVID-19 Related Fatalities Fall
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported that during 2022, the estimated 2022 U.S. age-adjusted death rate decreased by 5.3% compared to 2021.
Furthermore, the CDC announced on May 4, 2023, the three leading causes of death in 2022 were heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injury.
The number of deaths caused by unintentional injury was primarily driven by a high number of drug overdose deaths.
West Nile Virus is Endemic in Phoenix
Since the West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected during 2003 in Maricopa County, Arizona, it has become endemic.
According to recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, the recent fifth WNV outbreak was the largest and generated the most significant number of related fatalities.
In 2021, Maricopa County, which includes the city of Phoenix, reported 1,487 WNV cases, 1,014 hospitalizations, and 101 (7%) deaths.
This unfortunate data compared with only 3 WNV cases in 2020.
2021 to 2022 Saw Decrease in Age-Adjusted Death Rate in U.S.
Decrease also seen in estimated age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate, from 115.6 to 63.1 per 100,000 persons