While there are no approved herpes vaccines available in 2023, the U.S. government recently funded research being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) confirmed on November 1, 2023, that it had awarded $504,170 to a research project led by Neal A. DeLuca.
The ongoing theme of this innovative program is to study the virus-cell interactions that affect Herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene expression.

The multi-country cholera outbreak has recently expanded to reach the 29th country this year, with the African region remaining the most affected, with 16 countries reporting cholera cases.
In the Caribbean, both the Dominican Republic and Haiti have reported cholera outbreaks this year.
In 2023, 603,731 cholera cases and 3,804 deaths have been reported.

A new air passenger screening program announced today will provide early detection of influenza, RSV, and about thirty respiratory viruses.
Confirmed on November 6, 2023, the U.S. CDC's Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program has tested about 360,000 air travelers from more than 135 countries.
Individual samples collected from air travelers provide the most granular and reliable data for detecting pathogens. All samples are voluntary and de-identified.

The best news concerning the 2023-2024 flu season in the United States is that most people have yet to be impacted by an influenza virus. 
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six states reported a moderate level of seasonal flu cases as of November 3, 2023, and two areas (Alaska and Puerto Rico) reported more intensive influenza outbreaks.

About one-hour drive east of San Francisco, an apparent tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has been active for several years.
Contra Costa Health (CCH) today announced that anyone who has spent time inside California Grand Casino since 2018 should consider getting a TB test.
CCH's recommendation is in response to recent casino staff and customers being confirmed with TB at the 5900 block of Pacheco Boulevard location.

The first study to address a World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen, gonorrhea, recently found positive preliminary findings that offer hope for patients, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance to current regimens.
If approved, zoliflodacin will be the first new antibiotic for treating 'super-gonorrhea' in decades.

According to a new poll from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, vaccine confidence has significantly decreased over the past two years.
This health survey, announced today, found that the number of Americans who think vaccines approved for use are safe dropped to 71% from 77% in April 2021.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease impacting modern cities in 2023, such as London, England. 
Over the last two years, the 5% annual rate increase goal outlined in the joint UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England TB action plan for England, 2021 to 2026 has not been achieved.
The UKHSA announced on October 26, 2023, there was an 8.1% increase in TB notifications this year compared with the same period in 2022 (3,628 versus 3,402).

Since the Florida Keys began releasing genetically modified mosquitoes a few years ago, various countries have joined this innovative approach to reducing the incidence of diseases such as dengue and Zika.
When infected with Wolbachia, mosquitoes are much less likely to transmit travel-related diseases.
Researchers hope the modified mosquitoes will interbreed with the wild population wherever they are released and pass the bacteria on to their offspring.

Recent reports from various health agencies confirmed the 2023-2024 flu season is off to a slow start in the Northern Hemisphere.
This follows a de minimus flu season in the Southern Hemisphere in countries such as Australia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally.
As of October 27, 2023, outpatient respiratory illness is below baseline, and all 10 HHS regions are below their respective baselines.