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Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) today announced a second human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in Dallas County for 2023.
The female patient is a City of Dallas resident and was diagnosed with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND.)
As of July 22, 2023, there have not been any WNV-related fatalities in Dallas.
“Mosquito activity continues in Dallas County, and we are now reporting the second human case of West Nile Virus of the 2023 season. WNV is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, and people should be careful when going out outside to enjoy outdoor activities,” said Dr. Philip Huang, DCHHS Director.
DCHHS also reported this week:
- Positive Mosquito Traps = 85
- Positive Mosquito Pools = 81
As of July 18, 2023, the U.S. CDC reported 12 states had confirmed 47 WNV cases and 33 WNND in 2023. The majority of these cases were reported in Arizona.
In 2022, there were over 1,100 WNV cases in the U.S.
WNV infected mosquitoes can transmit WNV to humans, and severe infections can cause neurologic complications such as encephalitis. Milder symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle aches, says the CDC.
No vaccine or specific treatment for WNV is approved by the U.S. FDA.
The U.S. Department of State recently reissued a Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island nation in the West Indies east of Venezuela.
As of July 17, 2023, the State Department said visitors should exercise increased caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to civil unrest and crime.
And U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to the following areas in Port of Spain: Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah.
After dark, U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to downtown Port of Spain, Fort George Overlook, and all beaches.
For assistance, the U.S. Embassy Port of Spain is located at 15 Queen's Park West.
If you decide to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. government suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC suggests prospective visitors speak with a healthcare provider about travel vaccinations no less than one month before traveling.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative recently reported seven countries reported polio-related detections in mid-July 2023.
As of July 19, 2023, the following polio outbreaks were announced:
- Chad: five cVDPV2 cases
- Congo: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
- DR Congo: eight cVDPV1 cases, 16 cVDPV2 cases and two cVDPV2 positive environmental samples
- Madagascar: eight cVDPV1-positive environmental samples
- Somalia: three cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
- Tanzania: one cVDPV2 case
- Zambia: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample
The World Health Organization and UNICEF announced on July 18, 2023, they are working with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners to deliver the global Immunization Agenda 2030, a strategy for all countries and relevant global partners to achieve set goals on preventing diseases (such as polio) through immunization and delivering vaccines to everyone, everywhere, at every age.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today announced it recommended granting marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for ABRYSVO™, a bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc.
As of July 21, 2023, the EMA opinion was sent to the European Commission for the adoption of a decision on an EU-wide authorization.
Once granted, decisions about price and reimbursement will take place at the level of each EU Member State, taking into account the potential role/use of this medicine in the context of the national health system of that country.
Abrysvo is indicated for passive immunization of infants from birth through 6 months of age following the administration of the vaccine to the mother during pregnancy. This vaccine is also indicated for active immunization of adults aged 60 years and older.
The EMA says RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can cause severe consequences for children and older adults. In fact, RSV is a leading cause of pediatric hospitalisation in children in Europe.
RSV infections may cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia, leading to fatal respiratory distress.
Furthermore, RSV is a seasonal disease whose impact varies by country and time of year.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration Approved ABRYSVO for Older Adults on May 31, 2023, and should be available for the 2023-2024 RSV season.
While the 2023-2024 flu season has yet to begin in the United States, influenza-related cases and fatalities continue to be reported from last season.
During week #28, 689 patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza were admitted to a hospital in the U.S., reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
And 1.2% of patient visits reported through ILINet were due to respiratory illness, including fever plus a cough or sore throat.
On July 21, 2023, the U.S. CDC reported the National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance data showed eight death certificates listed influenza as the underlying cause.
Additionally, the CDC reported one additional influenza-associated pediatric death occurred during the 2022-2023 flu season. This death was associated with an influenza B virus with no lineage determined and occurred during week #28 (the week ending July 15, 2023).
A total of 163 influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurred during the 2022-2023 flu season, which surpasses the 47 deaths reported for the 2021-2022 season in the U.S.
The CDC says an annual flu shot is the best way to prevent influenza infection.
The recommended timing of vaccination is similar to last flu season. September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated.
For most people who need only one dose for the 2023-2024 season.
Note: All data in this CDC report are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CYFENDUS™ (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted) (AV7909) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis in adults when administered in conjunction with recommended antibacterial drugs.
The efficacy of the CYFENDUS™ vaccine for PEP is based solely on studies in animal models of inhalational anthrax.
Emergent's anthrax franchise includes the BioThrax® vaccine, which will continue to serve a critical purpose, as well as two treatments, Anthrasil®, a polyclonal antibody therapeutic, and raxibacumab, a monoclonal antibody therapeutic.
Dr. Kelly Warfield, Emergent's senior vice president, science and development, commented in a press release on July 20, 2023, "The 20-year journey from early development to approval is a major milestone that attests to Emergent's scientific and technical prowess and partnering capabilities."
"We are grateful for the yearslong collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and early support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
CYFENDUS vaccine is comprised of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed and an additional adjuvant. It has been demonstrated that using an additional adjuvant, two doses administered over 14 days elicit protective levels of an immune response, which can be especially important in response to a large-scale public health emergency involving anthrax.
In December 2018, the CYFENDUS vaccine was the subject of a pre-emergency use authorization package submitted to the FDA. The following year, the U.S. government procured this product for national preparedness efforts.
GC Biopharma recently announced that its flu vaccine GC FLU Quadrivalent Pre-filled syringe Intramuscular was approved by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).
As of July 18, 2023, this is the first approval the South Korea-based company had obtained for its flu vaccine from the Arab Republic of Egypt on the African continent. Egypt has one of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the African region.
Taking this EDA approval as an opportunity, GC Biopharma plans to expand its global presence further, which has been centering on Southeast Asia and Latin American regions to Africa and the Middle East.
Based on GC Biopharma's internationally recognized seasonal flu vaccine production technology, GC FLU has been expanding its export volume and number of markets yearly.
At the same time, the company will push ahead with entering into the private markets of individual countries based on its successful presence in the procurement markets of international organizations.
"The trend of moving away to quadrivalent flu vaccines is clear not only in the procurement market led by international organizations but also in the individual private markets," points out GC Biopharma in a press release on July 21, 2023, and further emphasizes, "We will target both international organizations' procurement markets as well as the private markets to draw synergy and boost our sales and profitability."
According to the company, the flu vaccine market divides into two parts: the procurement market of international organizations represented by the PAHO of WHO and the UNICEF; and the private markets of each country that supplies pharmaceuticals based on the approvals of respective authorities.
The WHO prequalified the GC FLU vaccine in 2016. There are nine manufacturers of WHO-prequalified influenza vaccines in 2023.
South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) today announced in a media statement that the year-long measles outbreak is effectively over.
However, sporadic measles cases are being reported in South Africa.
As of July 21, 2023, the NICD had tested 6,523 serum samples for measles since epidemiological week 40, 2022, of which 1,114 (17%) were confirmed positive.
Furthermore, the Limpopo province is currently completing a mop-up vaccination campaign.
The measles strain detected in Limpopo and North West province is genotype D8, similar to the strain in Zimbabwe in the 2022 measles outbreak.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Globally, about 30 countries have reported measles outbreaks in 2023.
The U.S. CDC reissued a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory in late June 2023, confirming travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated two weeks before departure or have not had measles in the past and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.
As of July 7, 2023, a total of 18 measles cases were reported by 12 jurisdictions in the U.S. Most of these cases were travel-related.
Various measles vaccines are available in the U.S. at health clinics and community pharmacies in 2023.
