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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice regarding the Lassa Fever outbreak in the west African country of Nigeria.
On March 1, 2023, the CDC confirmed there is an outbreak of Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever, in several states in Nigeria.
Visitors to Nigeria should seek medical care immediately if they develop (during or after travel) fever, chills, headache, fatigue, bleeding, trouble breathing, vomiting, facial swelling, or pain in the chest, back, and abdomen.
Before the pandemic, about 5 million people visit Nigeria annually, with Niger and India as the most frequent countries of origin of tourists in Nigeria, reports Statista.
However, as of March 5, 2023, no Lassa fever vaccines are available.
But treatment with antiviral medicine is most effective during the early stages of illness.
According to recent reporting by the Austin Business Journal (ABJ), Elon Musk's car factory and rocket ship companies may become neighbors with significant developments, including a new airport.
The ABJ reported on February 16, 2023, a developer believes this corner of east Austin could soon be called World Trade Center Austin.
Positioned far away from Austin's current weirdness, this ambitious plan includes a mix of Las Vegas, Disney World, and Venice.
This area is also the home to the Circuit of The Americas, which has hosted racing, action sports, and music events since 2012.
Named Greenport Airport, the online information posted as of March 5, 2023, indicates an opening last year.
Austin's current airports include the expanded Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which offers a vast array of local Austin eateries and relaxing live music.
Additionally, the Austin Executive Airport is a first-class business facility ranked as a top Fixed Base Operator in Texas. And on Austin's western front, the Lakeway Airpark serves various public and private aviation needs.
From a health perspective, there are certified travel vaccination pharmacies in Austin meeting the needs of international travelers.
Carnival Cruise Line recently announced it is expanding its offerings with a fourth ship in Galveston, Texas.
The Carnival Miracle arrival will Texas-size sailings beginning in the fall of 2024 through the spring of 2025.
“We have always offered a great variety of cruises from Galveston, but by adding a fourth Carnival ship to homeport in Galveston and sailing these longer itineraries, we are giving our guests great new choices, especially for those who want to experience a wider variety of beautiful ports of call and more time to enjoy their time at sea,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a press release on March 2, 2023.
Carnival Miracle will reposition from San Francisco to Galveston in October 2024 and operate a spectacular Carnival Journeys voyage that visits Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and a Panama Canal transit.
Carnival Miracle will further diversify Carnival’s deployment from Galveston by joining:
- Carnival Breeze, which offers four- and five-day cruises;
- Carnival Dream, which sails primarily six- and eight-day cruises, and
- Carnival Jubilee features a rollercoaster, which arrives this December to begin week-long Western Caribbean sailings.
From a health perspective, while the COVID-19 pandemic has faded away in Texas, many cruise ship passengers should remain vigilant about noroviruses.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the United States, cases of norovirus occur most frequently during late fall, winter, and early spring.
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of norovirus is by practicing good hand hygiene.
The Norovirus Outbreak Map of confirmed outbreaks in the U.S. was updated in February 2023. And the Vessel Sanitation Program identifies various norovirus outbreaks onboard cruise ships.
Unfortunately, U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved a norovirus vaccine as of March 5, 2023.
The U.S. Department of State recently announced revised travel advisories for two counties located in Central America.
On March 1, 2023, the State Department reissued its Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for the Republic of Honduras.
This high-level advisory highlights civil unrest in areas such as the Gracias a Dios Department.
Separately, the State Department reissued its Level 3: Reconsider Travel to the Republic of Guatemala.
This Gualemalia alert identifies says do not travel to:
- San Marcos Department (except the city of San Marcos).
- Huehuetenango Department (except the city of Huehuetenango).
- Zone 18 and the city of Villa Nueva in Guatemala City.
Within both advisories, travelers to these countries are encouraged to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts in an emergency.
Previously, in support of the region's development, the United States Agency for International Development announced on February 15, 2023, it had awarded $42.5 million in new humanitarian funding for the people of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
This brings USAID's total humanitarian funding for these three countries to nearly $261 million since April 2021.
Additional travel advisories have been recently issued for Costa Rica and El Salvador.
From a health perspective, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests various travel vaccinations before visiting Central America.
These vaccines include yellow fever, measles, and influenza.
Travel vaccination services are offered at certified health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.
Updated with links on March 6, 2023.
The U.S. CDC published a health advisory on March 2, 2023, confirming Paraguay's ongoing chikungunya virus outbreak.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health recently reported a total of 71,478 suspect chikungunya cases in Paraguay (Asunción) since an outbreak began in October 2022.
In 2022, the number of chikungunya cases (273,685) reported to the Pan American Health Organization more than doubled the average annual number of cases.
To notify international travelers of potential health risks, the CDC issued a Watch - Level 1 travel alert regarding Paraguay's chikungunya outbreak on February 22, 2023.
Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The incubation period is typically 3–7 days.
Unfortuantely, the U.S. FDA has not authorized a chikungunya preventive vaccine as of March 3, 2023.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently reviewed Valneva SE's VLA1553 chikungunya vaccine candidate.
The good news is VLA1553 has been assigned an FDA Prescription Drug User Fee Act date at the end of August 2023.
Other chikungunya vaccine development news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.
According to recent media reports, four children in Israel have been diagnosed with polio.
The JPost reported the Health Ministry announced in early March 2023 that an unvaccinated child from the Safed region in Galilee was found positive for polio at the Ziv Medical Center.
And on March 2, 2023, the Times of Israel reported an Israel Health Ministry statement confirming three additional children who had been in contact with the infected child and tested positive for poliovirus.
The Ministry did not reveal the vaccination status of these three children.
In June 2022, the Ministry reported that vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) was detected in the sewage in the Jerusalem area. This strain has spread to many places in Israel, from Ramat HaGolan, in the north, to Beer Sheva in the south.
Unfortunately, about 150,000 children in Israel have not been vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine, and therefore they are not protected from pediatric paralysis should they be infected with the virus.
Polio is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that affects children and can cause paralysis and related fatalities. The live attenuated oral vaccine (bOPV) currently administered in Israel does not cover the VDPV2 strain.
This is a breaking news story, and relevant updates will be published at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Polio.
The U.S. CDC today published Health Alert Network Advisory #CDCHAN-00487, notifying public health authorities and providers there is a substantial increase in chikungunya virus cases in the Republic of Paraguay.
As of February 24, 2023, Paraguay's Ministry of Health reported a total of 71,478 suspect chikungunya cases in Paraguay since an outbreak began in October 2022.
Most of the chikungunya cases have been reported in the capital district of Asunción and the neighboring Central department.
Travelers returning from these areas should seek medical care if they develop fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
The CDC warned on March 2, 2023, that Paraguay's virus outbreak could spill over into neighboring countries, such as Argentina, Bolivia, and Uraguay.
The South American country of Paraguay is a popular tourist destination, welcoming about one million tourists annually.
To notify international travelers of potential health risks, the CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions alert regarding Paraguay's chikungunya outbreak on February 22, 2023.
The CDC suggests considering chikungunya infection in travelers returning from Paraguay with acute onset of fever and polyarthralgia.
In late 2013, the first local transmission of the chikungunya virus in the Americas was identified in Caribbean countries and territories.
The virus then spread throughout most of the Americas.
In 2022, the number of chikungunya cases (273,685) reported to the Pan American Health Organization more than doubled the average annual number of cases.
Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and humans are the primary reservoir during epidemics.
Most people infected with chikungunya become symptomatic, and the incubation period is typically 3–7 days.
Unfortunately, chikungunya and dengue viruses cocirculate in Paraguay, are transmitted by the same mosquitoes, and have similar clinical presentations during acute illness.
Diagnostic testing is available through commercial laboratories, some state health departments, and the CDC. Chikungunya virus disease is a notifiable disease in the U.S.
Moreover, the U.S. FDA has not authorized a chikungunya preventive vaccine as of March 3, 2023.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently met on February 23, 2023, and reviewed Valneva SE's VLA1553 monovalent, single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine candidate.
VLA1553 has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date at the end of August 2023.
