Amtrak recently announced its newest train service, the Berkshire Flyer, which will soon pass between Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield, MA, with several scenic stops along the way.
The Berkshire Flyer will make it easy for the public to take advantage of opportunities to visit museums, attend concerts, visit unique shops, and enjoy outdoor recreation.
See the Mountains On Amtrak’s Newest Summer Train
Entering the USA Now Costs More
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that the fee for travelers intending to visit the United States with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has increased.
Effective on May 26, 2022, the ESTA travel promotion fee was increased from $10 to $17, in addition to a $4 operational charge.
The good news is individuals with an approved ESTA do not have to re-apply for up to two years.
Cholera Elimination Campaign Launches in Malawi
The WHO Africa announced today that the country of Malawi successfully launched a cholera vaccination campaign targeting more than 1.9 million children.
Local health authorities, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, will carry out the two-round campaign in eight cholera hotspot districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Mulanje, Blantyre, Machinga, Mangochi, and Balaka.
The first round started on May 23, 2022, and will be followed by a second-round two to six weeks later.
Less Severe Monkeypox Virus Confirmed in Europe
Over the past three weeks, the global monkeypox outbreak has raised many questions. Finally, an essential clinical opinion has just been answered.
A non-peer-reviewed study from Lisbon, Portugal, published on May 19, 2022, is the first draft genome sequence of the monkeypox virus associated with the ongoing outbreak. This sequence was obtained from a male patient collected on May 4th from skin lesions.
A first rapid phylogenetic analysis of the draft genome indicates that the 2022 version belongs to the West African clade.
Rabid Dogs Reported in Haiti
According to a recent U.S. CDC announcement, the Caribbean country of Haiti has been confronted again with an outbreak of dogs infected with the rabies virus.
The CDC issued a Watch – Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions alert to international travelers of their potential health risks on May 5, 2022.
The CDC says ‘To prevent contracting rabies while in Haiti, travelers should avoid all contact with dogs and cats. Rabid dogs may be infectious for several days before showing signs of rabies.’
More Monkeypox Cases Confirmed in England
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently announced six additional individuals had been diagnosed with monkeypox in London. On May 14, 2022, the UKHSA confirmed these cases live together in the same household.
And on May 16, 2022, four new monkeypox cases were confirmed in England. Where and how they acquired their infection remains under investigation.
U.S. Airports Digitally Prepare for Summer 2022
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, that it is prepared for passenger screening activity that may match and occasionally exceed those of 2019.
As of May 13, 2022, TSA data reflects airport checkpoint screening has returned to about 90%.
However, the continued recovery from the low travel volumes may require more patience and planning than was necessary before the pandemic.
Australia’s Japanese Encephalitis Outbreak Turns Fatal
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported Australia’s recent Japanese Encephalitis (JE) outbreak continues spreading unabated.
The first human JE case was reported in early March 2022 from Queensland.
As of April 28, 2022, Australian health authorities reported a cumulative 37 human cases of Japanese encephalitis (25 laboratory-confirmed cases and 12 probable cases) and 3 related fatalities in four Australian states.
This outbreak represents the first locally-acquired JE cases detected on the Australian mainland since 1998.
Africa’s Yellow Fever Outbreaks Can Be Reduced with Vaccines
Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) marks African Vaccination Week in the last week of April. The week provides the opportunity to showcase how innovative vaccines protect us, young and old, against more than twenty-five vaccine-preventable diseases.
This year’s theme, “Long Life for All,” highlights the life-saving potential of vaccines such as for yellow fever.
Yellow fever is an epidemic-prone mosquito-borne vaccine-preventable disease caused by an arbovirus transmitted to humans by the bites of infected Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes.
Vaccinations Successfully Stop Polio Spreading in Tajikistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently led an outbreak response assessment in mid-April 2022, concluding that poliovirus is no longer circulating in Tajikistan.
And the WHO recommended an official closure of the polio outbreak on April 28, 2022.
The outbreak in Tajikistan marked the first detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the WHO European Region.
Detection of just one polio case from a wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus is considered an outbreak and requires an immediate and comprehensive response, says the WHO.