Travel Vaccine Breaking News

NSW Health today announced a Western Sydney infant infectious with measles spent time in locations in Parramatta and Westmead on March 27, 2023.

The infant, too young to be vaccinated against measles, acquired the infection in India before returning to Sydney.

NSW Health also confirmed a local measles case in September 2022.

Dr. Christine Selvey, Director of Communicable Diseases, NSW Health, commented in a press release on March 29, 2023, "Measles is a highly contagious infection, and the most vulnerable are infants under 12 months, who are too young to be vaccinated against it, other members of the community who are not fully vaccinated and people with a weakened immune system."

Measles cases increased worldwide by about 80% during 2022 compared with 2021.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that quickly spreads in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone unwell with the disease.

"It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it is essential to stay vigilant if you've been in the above locations, and if you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP to ensure you do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients," Dr. Selvey added.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the intramuscular route of administration for M-M-R®II and ProQuad®. In addition, the FDA approved the Priorix vaccine for use in the U.S.

Measles outbreak news for 2023 is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

With the new slogan "health for all, everyone's task," Equatorial Guinea Health intends to involve the entire population in the surveillance of the Marburg virus, reported ahoraEG.com.

A new action plan will require passengers, especially those coming from the city of Bata, with over 200,000 residents, to fill out a form to enter location information so that they can be located quickly and on time in case of any suspicion.

Obama Nve has indicated that filling out the Marburg virus control form is a civic duty for anyone, "we want to beg the population that we are going to demand that they fill out a small file, not to bother because we do it to safeguard public health in our country."

As of March 29, 2023, about 459 contacts have been followed up since the Marburg outbreak was declared in mid-February 2023.

In an interview on national television, the member of the Technical Committee for Health Emergencies, Maricamen Andeme Ela, assured that we are in a drastic situation because we have not wanted to comply with the measures imposed since the appearance of the first case, "Marburg exists, and we are seeing it, and unfortunately, it is taking human lives."

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at a media briefing on March 29, 2023, included the number of officially reported Marburg cases remaining at nine, with seven deaths, in three provinces. 

However, the WHO is aware of additional cases, and we have asked the government to report these cases.

Breaking news regarding the Marburg outbreaks in Burundi, Tanzania, and Africa is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

According to various Tweets and local media news articles published today, the Republic of Burundi reported multiple fatalities related to an unknown disease.

Since Burundi is located near the Republic of Tanzania, which confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus last week, health authorities throughout central Africa are on high alert.

Recently, the U.S. CDC published updated travel alerts for Marburg outbreaks in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea. Additional Marburg outbreak news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

As Spring Break 2023 became unruly in southern Florida, one city took action to reduce risks for everyone.

On March 22, 2023, Alina T. Hudak, the City Manager for the City of Miami Beach, determined that there is reason to believe that there exists a continuing clear and present danger of the general public disorder, widespread disobedience of the law, and substantial injury to persons or property, all of which constitute an imminent threat to public peace or order, and to the general welfare of the City of Miami Beach.

Accordingly, 'I hereby declare a State of Emergency in the City until March 27, 2023.'

Mayor Dan Gelber told the Guardian on March 25, 2023, that "enhanced safety measures" would be in effect, including sobriety checkpoints and mobile license plate readers in the Miami Beach area.

According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) latest checkpoint travel numbers, airport security screening activity has returned to the levels last seen in 2019.

As of March 23, 2023, the TSA is screening over 2.4 million people per day at airports in the U.S.

The TSA Strategy guides the agency through TSA's 25th anniversary and identifies three strategic priorities:

• Improve Security,
• Safeguard the Transportation System, and
• Accelerate Action, and Commit to Our People.

The Secretary of Homeland Security recently announced 1,341 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary's Awards winners, which honor employees from 43 states, countries, territories, and districts.

These individuals, the most significant number ever recognized, were selected for their extraordinary achievements and commitment to the DHS mission.

In 2022, DHS launched a hiring initiative recruiting hundreds of experts in digital user experience and design for the Customer Experience Program.

DHS is working to improve the overall experience for those accessing government services and benefits by accepting mobile driver's licenses, reducing processing times for immigration benefits, and simplifying FEMA policies when applying for assistance.

According to media statements made by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mitoha Ondo Ayecaba, Marburg virus disease (MVD) cases have reached the city of Bata as of March 23, 2023.

Bata is a coastal city in the Litoral province of Equatorial Guinea with an urban population exceeding 225,000 residents.

Two of the eight new confirmed Marburg cases were reported from the province of Kié-Ntem, four from the Litoral,  and two from Centre- Sur provinces.

The areas reporting cases are about 150 kilometers apart, suggesting wider transmission of the deadly virus.

In total, 27 MVD fatalities have been reported in Equatorial Guinea in 2023. 

The other MVD outbreak in central Africa is in Tanzania, which announced eight cases, including five related fatalities last week.

And more than 160 contacts have been identified and are being monitored.

The World Health Organization recently assessed the risk posed by the Marburg outbreaks as very high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

And the Europan CDC stated the most likely route of introducing MVD into the EU/EEA would be via infected travelers. While importation of the virus cannot be excluded, it is currently doubtful to occur.

Should an MVD case be imported, the likelihood of the spread within Europe is considered to be very low.

As of March 26, 2023, neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the European Medicines Agency had approved a Marburg vaccine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that since the first Disease Outbreak News published on February 25, 2023, eight additional laboratory-confirmed Marburg virus disease (MVD) cases have been reported in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Two of the eight new confirmed cases were reported from the province of Kié-Ntem, four from the Litoral,  and two from Centre- Sur provinces. The areas reporting cases are about 150 kilometers apart, suggesting wider virus transmission.

This brings the total to nine laboratory-confirmed cases and 20 probable cases during the MVD outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.

Seven laboratory-confirmed patients and all probable cases have died from MVD.

Marburg is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of a person infected with the virus, says the WHO.

As of March 22, 2023, the WHO assesses the risk posed by this MVD outbreak as very high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

Other African countries, such as Tanzania, are reporting MVD cases or people under surveillance.

The U.S. CDC updated its Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions notice to alert international travelers on March 23, 2023.

As of March 24, 2023, there is no MVD-targeted vaccine authorized.