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Experimental Vaccine LASSARAB Shows Promise in Human Trials

Experimental Vaccine LASSARAB Shows Promise in Human Trials

Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine have reported successful results from the first human clinical trial of LASSARAB, an experimental vaccine designed to protect against both Lassa fever and rabies. The trial, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrated that the vaccine was well tolerated and induced strong immune responses in healthy adult volunteers. Lassa fever is a severe disease endemic to parts of West Africa, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The LASSARAB vaccine uses an inactivated rabies virus vector to express the Lassa virus glycoprotein, leveraging the rabies vaccine's established safety and distribution networks.
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Institut Pasteur Launches ACT-CHIK to Advance Chikungunya Vaccine Development in Africa

Institut Pasteur Launches ACT-CHIK to Advance Chikungunya Vaccine Development in Africa

Institut Pasteur has initiated a four-year research project named ACT-CHIK, aimed at advancing the development of a chikungunya vaccine in Africa. Funded by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, the project has received €15.3 million to support large-scale Phase Ib/III clinical trials in Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. The vaccine, MV-CHIK, is a measles-virus-based candidate originally developed at Institut Pasteur. The initiative seeks to address the growing burden of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, by generating critical clinical data and preparing for regional vaccine manufacturing. The project also aims to transfer vaccine manufacturing technology to the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Africa’s only WHO-prequalified vaccine manufacturer.
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University of Maryland Researchers Develop Promising Dual Lassa-Rabies Vaccine

University of Maryland Researchers Develop Promising Dual Lassa-Rabies Vaccine

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health have reported promising interim results from a clinical trial testing a new dual vaccine against Lassa fever and rabies. The vaccine, known as LASSARAB, was found to be safe and induced immune responses against both viruses. This development is significant as there are currently no vaccines available for Lassa fever, a disease identified by the World Health Organization as a public health threat in Western Africa. The trial involved 54 healthy adult volunteers from the Baltimore area, who received different doses of the vaccine. The results showed that LASSARAB was safe, with no serious adverse events reported, and it induced robust antibody responses against both Lassa and rabies viruses.
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WHO Reports Rapid Increase in Ebola Cases in DRC and Uganda

WHO Reports Rapid Increase in Ebola Cases in DRC and Uganda

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a rapid increase in Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda since late May. An additional 390 confirmed cases and 74 deaths have been recorded, bringing the total to 515 cases and 91 deaths in the DRC. The outbreak is concentrated in the Ituri province but has spread across 25 health zones. Improved testing and diagnosis have contributed to the rise in reported cases. The WHO assesses the risk of transmission as very high in the DRC and high in neighboring countries.
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Institut Pasteur Launches ACT-CHIK to Accelerate Chikungunya Vaccine Development in Africa

Institut Pasteur Launches ACT-CHIK to Accelerate Chikungunya Vaccine Development in Africa

Institut Pasteur has initiated ACT-CHIK, a four-year research project aimed at advancing the development of a chikungunya vaccine in Africa. Funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program, the project will conduct large-scale clinical trials in four African countries and prepare for technology transfer to an African vaccine manufacturer. Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has seen a rise in cases across Africa, exacerbated by climate change. The project seeks to address the underdiagnosis and under-reporting of the disease and improve vaccine accessibility in endemic regions.
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WHO Reports Over 100 Deaths in Congo's Ebola Outbreak Amid Conflict Challenges

WHO Reports Over 100 Deaths in Congo's Ebola Outbreak Amid Conflict Challenges

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that more than 100 people have died from Ebola in eastern Congo, following an outbreak declared on May 15. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has resulted in 550 confirmed cases, with 101 deaths and 19 recoveries. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing armed conflict in the region, which disrupts surveillance and response activities. The outbreak is concentrated in the Ituri province, with cases also reported in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and has spread to Uganda. Efforts to contain the virus are hindered by attacks on health workers, skepticism among locals, and logistical challenges in reaching remote areas. The WHO assesses the risk of further spread in Africa and globally as low, but emphasizes the need for medical support for patients.
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Highly effective prevention drug arrives in South Africa, which has world's highest HIV burden

Highly effective prevention drug arrives in South Africa, which has world's highest HIV burden

South Africa is rolling out lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug for HIV prevention that the president calls a turning point in a country with the world’s highest burden of HIV
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AI-Developed Universal Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Future Pandemics

AI-Developed Universal Vaccine Shows Promise in Preventing Future Pandemics

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the biotechnology company DIOSynVax, have developed a 'universal vaccine' using artificial intelligence. This vaccine aims to provide immunity against a wide range of viruses by targeting common features across entire virus families. The vaccine, which has undergone its first human trial, was found to be safe and capable of triggering an immune response. This innovative approach could potentially prevent pandemics by offering broad protection against thousands of viral variants, including Ebola. The vaccine's development marks a significant shift from traditional methods, which rely on antigens from specific virus strains.
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Health experts to screen US wastewater for disease outbreaks during World Cup

Health experts to screen US wastewater for disease outbreaks during World Cup

By Steve Gorman June 8 (Reuters) - Epidemiologists will be busy this summer sifting through sewage and social media with the goal of keeping soccer fans and the public safe from severe illness during the World Cup, one of the largest and most globally diverse mass gatherings ever anticipated.
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South Africa Launches $72 Million Initiative for HIV Prevention with Lenacapavir

South Africa Launches $72 Million Initiative for HIV Prevention with Lenacapavir

South Africa has announced a significant initiative to combat its status as the country with the world's largest HIV epidemic. President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed a R1.3 billion ($72 million) plan to roll out Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention. This drug, a first-of-its-class capsid inhibitor, works by blocking the virus's outer shell, preventing it from multiplying and invading human cells. The initiative is supported by both South African government funding and international organizations like The Global Fund and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. The rollout will initially target 360 public health clinics across 24 high-burden districts, aiming to reach nearly one million people by 2027, focusing on high-risk groups such as adolescent girls, young women, and pregnant mothers.
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World Cup 2026 Poses Health Risks with Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Respiratory Infections

World Cup 2026 Poses Health Risks with Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Respiratory Infections

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is raising concerns among health experts about the potential spread of infectious diseases. The event, which will draw millions of fans, creates an environment conducive to the transmission of diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and the Oropouche virus, particularly in southern U.S. and Mexican host cities during peak mosquito season. Dengue cases in the U.S. reached a record high in 2024, with a significant increase in locally acquired cases. Additionally, respiratory infections like measles, flu, and COVID-19 are expected to pose significant risks due to the large gatherings. The U.S. has implemented travel restrictions and health monitoring to mitigate these risks.