Vaccine News

During 2024, the United States reported several measles outbreaks primarily related to unvaccinated international travelers. According to new reports, the State of Texas may lead this unfortunate list in 2025.

Today, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced two confirmed measles cases in Gaines County residents, located southwest of Lubbock, Texas. Both instances involve unvaccinated school-age children who were hospitalized in Lubbock.

As of January 30, 2025, these children have been discharged.

These newly identified cases are in addition to two confirmed measles cases reported in Harris County in 2025.

The Houston Health Department (HHD) identified two confirmed measles cases associated with international travel. Both adults were unvaccinated against measles.

HDD says anyone exposed to measles should monitor themselves for symptoms, including a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Symptoms can appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. If you show symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider to make arrangements for evaluation and treatment.

On January 23, 2025, HHD stated, 'Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional (measles) cases may occur.'

Houston and Harris County are home to about 5 million people and are gateway cities with two international airports.

Crockett Tidwell RPh, CDCES, CTH, informed Vax-Before-Travel News, "Measles is extremely contagious; nine9 out 10 people in the same room will become infected if they do not have immunity."

"All it takes is one international traveler to infect every vulnerable person they come in contact with when they come home," added Tidwell, Clinical Services Manager, International Society of Travel Medicine Certificate in Travel Health™.

To alert travelers of the global measles risk, the U.S. CDC recently updated a Travel Health Advisory, which identified 59 countries reported measles cases. The CDC recommends people speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options before visiting these countries in 2025.

Ocean Biomedical recently announced that its Scientific Co-founder, Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, MD, PhD, and his research team have received additional funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance their malaria vaccine research.

With the support of a $4.6 million non-governmental Foundation grant, Dr. Kurtis’ team is now testing three vaccine candidates in non-human primates. These candidates aim to block the malaria parasite’s ability to enter and exit red blood cells.

The research also explores the feasibility of using lipid-encapsulated messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology as a delivery mechanism.

In December 2024, Dr. Kurtis secured a $3.5 million NIH grant to identify vaccine targets further to protect against severe malaria in children.

Malaria remains a devastating global health challenge, claiming the lives of over 500,000 children annually in sub-Saharan Africa. 

As of January 30, 2025, two malaria vaccines are available in Africa. However, they are not available in the U.S.

Since the Zika virus was first recognized in Africa in 1947, it has been detected globally in 92 countries and territories. With its first case in 2016, India has been an unfortunate leader in Zika cases.

Last year, a total of 151 Zika virus disease (ZVD) cases were reported from three states in India: Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra states.

Maharashtra reported a cumulative total of 140 ZVD cases in 2024, the highest since 2021.

Located in India's western region, Mumbai is Maharashtra's capital, with about 13 million residents.

As of January 29, 2025, the World Health Organization News reported that, based on current ZVD information, no travel or trade restriction with India is recommended.

However, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions regarding Maharashtra's Zika outbreak in August 2024.

Last year, in the United States, the CDC reported 19 non-congenital Zika cases in U.S. residents (1 imported case in Texas).

The CDC says Zika is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes found throughout Puerto Rico.

Additionally, Zika is also transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, as well as through sexual contact, transfusion of blood and blood products, and possibly through organ transplantation.

A recent study concluded young children diagnosed with congenital Zika syndrome had a 13-fold higher risk of morbidity compared with those without.

There is no specific treatment available for Zika virus infection or disease.

Furthermore, Zika vaccines have not yet been approved.

The World Health Organization published its 46th situation report for the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox virus, including reports of new travel-related mpox cases due to clade Ib MPXV. 

As of January 28, 2025, the WHO confirmed new travel-related clade Ib MPXV cases had been detected in countries that had already detected travel-related cases, including China, Germany, Thailand, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States. Azerbaijan has reported its first case during this outbreak.

The outbreak of clade Ib continues predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda.

Outside Africa, 11 countries have detected clade Ib MPXV.

In the U. S., since May 2022, most reported mpox cases are clade II.

Additionally, mpox vaccinations are commercially available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

GSK plc and the University of Oxford (Oxford) today announced that they have entered a new research collaboration focused on the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination.

GSK will invest up to £50 million ($62m) over three years to support this early research.

Confirmed on January 27, 2025, the GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme will conduct translational research, exploring precancer biology to generate key insights on how cancer develops in humans that could inform new approaches to cancer vaccination.

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, commented in a press release, “This partnership represents a step forward in cancer research. By working with GSK to unite experts in clinical trials, immuno-oncology, vaccinology, and precancer research from across the University of Oxford, we aim to unlock the potential of cancer vaccines and bring hope to patients worldwide.”

According to the updated Annual Antrax Epidemiological Report, this rare Zoonotic disease continues to be detected in humans in Europe.

From 2018 to 2021, EU/EEA countries reported 11 confirmed cases.

However, for 2022, the Republic of Croatia reported seventeen anthrax cases (eight confirmed, nine probable), Romania reported three cases, and Spain reported two. And there were no fatalities in any of these countries.

The large outbreak of anthrax in cattle in Croatia was associated with human cases.

All confirmed cases for which information was provided presented with cutaneous anthrax (N=4) after exposure to farm animals (N=3) and were domestically acquired (N=4). 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated on January 22, 2025, that spore-forming bacteria cause anthrax and is not spread from person to person. 

The most at-risk populations for developing anthrax are those who are in close contact with animals and potentially contaminated animal products and those who live in endemic areas.

The ECDC says vaccines against anthrax are available and are approved in some EU/EEA countries. Guidelines recommend vaccination for people at risk, such as veterinarians, abattoir workers, those working with animal hides or furs, laboratory workers, and armed forces members in areas with a high risk of exposure.

In addition to pre-exposure prophylaxis with vaccines, the anthrax vaccine is also recommended for post-exposure prophylaxis.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration approved the anthrax vaccine (Emergent BioSolutions, CYFENDUS™), recommended for most adults at risk of exposure to anthrax bacteria.

It is also recommended for unvaccinated people of all ages who have been exposed to anthrax. These people should get three doses of anthrax vaccine together with recommended antibiotic drugs.

In the U.S., anthrax vaccines are not generally available at pharmacies.

A recent study confirmed the protection provided by two doses of the Hecolin® Hepatitis E vaccine, even during an epidemic, and the reduction in the incidence of the disease.

"Our results and others helped lead to recent approval by WHO's International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision of a stockpile of hepatitis E vaccines for emergencies, stated Andrew Azman, an epidemiologist at the UNIGE-HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases,  MSF and JHU, who led this research published by The Lancet, in a press release on January 14, 2025.

Hepatitis E, stemming from the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is a widespread liver ailment, contributing to around 20 million cases. Its impact is notably more severe in developing nations like India and Bangladesh than in developed nations.

Hepatitis E is a viral infection that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, with a mortality rate of up to 10-50%. Vertical transmission rates of the virus range from 27% to 78%.

"Symptoms of hepatitis E are similar to other diseases that cause acute jaundice, making it difficult to detect. While we don't have precise global burden estimates, some have put it at around 50,000 fatalities yearly," explains Azman.

"This (ICG) stockpile has the potential to save many lives, and we're looking forward to seeing it put into action. These results have also already contributed to the WHO recommendations on using a two-dose schedule", concluded Azman.

The Hecolin vaccine was licensed in some countries in 2011 and is typically given in three doses.

Since 2015, the World Health Organization has recommended its use in outbreak settings.

In the United States, hepatitis E is relatively underexplored, and vaccine development for this disease has not been a priority.