Quick takes: H5N1 avian flu in Arizona cattle, malaria vaccine price cut

News brief
Topics
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Malaria
  • The US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the nation's first H5N1 avian flu detection in dairy cattle in 3 weeks, in a herd from Arizona, raising the national total to 1,074 infected dairy herds. Arizona has had a spate of recent H5N1 outbreaks in egg-laying poultry, along with detections in wild birds.
  • Bharat Biotech will be reducing the price of the world's first malaria vaccine—RTS,S, developed by GSK, PATH, and their partners—by more than half, to less than $5 in stages by 2028. "This price reduction is driven by process improvements, expanded production capacity, cost-effective manufacturing, and minimal profit margins," GSK said in a news release today. In 2021, RTS,S became the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization.

North Carolina, Oregon confirm first measles cases

News brief
Topics
Measles
measles
Wikimedia Commons/CDC

North Carolina has reported its first measles case of the year. The child was visiting Forsyth and Guilford counties from a country where measles outbreaks have recently been reported, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Oregon has also confirmed its first measles case of the year, in an unvaccinated adult from Multnomah County who recently returned from international travel.

"The individual was hospitalized in the Portland metro area with a rash and conjunctivitis June 19 and was discharged June 21," Oregon Health Authority said in a press release. "County public health officials and hospital staff believe no patients were exposed. The person is recovering."

After reporting its first measles case on June 20, Utah now has three cases, but they are not linked to each other. The first reported patient was an unvaccinated adult from Utah County with no travel outside the state. Authorities said this indicates transmission occurred in Utah. The two new cases are also in unvaccinated adults, another from Utah County and the other from the southwest health district.

Bolivia declares national measles emergency 

In international measles developments, Bolivia has announced a national emergency for measles after recording 60 cases, mainly in the Santa Cruz area, with the first case reported in April following exposure to a sick traveler from Russia.

Canada's latest weekly measles update noted 221 new measles cases in its most recent reporting week, from five jurisdictions, with most cases reported in Alberta and Ontario. So far in 2025, Canadian officials have reported 3,381 measles cases, with 3,081 of them confirmed and 300 probable.

This week's top reads

  1. H5N1 avian flu infects a fifth patient in Cambodia

    The patient's neighbor had chickens, but no illnesses or deaths were reported in the flock.

    Lisa Schnirring

  2. CDC warns of deadly Listeria outbreak tied to packaged meals

    A pregnant woman who was sickened has also reported fetal loss following her infection.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    packaged food

  3. Vaccine RCT spreadsheet aims to show the data, dispel myths about vaccines

    In an effort to combat misinformation, a group of volunteers have compiled a growing list of randomized controlled trials conducted for licensed vaccines.

    Chris Dall
    Vaccine vial and syringe

  4. US adds 17 more measles cases as Georgia, Iowa report new infections

    With 1,214 confirmed cases, the US is inching closer to the highest number of cases reported in a single year since the disease was eliminated from the country in 2000.

    Chris Dall
    MMR vaccine

  5. Viewpoint: CDC's upcoming vaccine advisory meeting set up to sow distrust in vaccines

    This week's meeting of ACIP is likely to mark its end—for now—as a vaccine advisory body.

    Vaccine Integrity Project Staff and Advisers
    Bandaid after flu vaccination

  6. CDC respiratory virus official resigns as former ACIP members warn of immunization progress rollback

    Former ACIP members pushed back on claims of public mistrust and warned dismantling has critically weakened US vaccination programs.

    Lisa Schnirring
    CDC headquarters

  7. Fungal spores may help predict COVID-19, influenza activity

    The authors said the findings may help develop environmental risk alerts.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  8. Study: Vaccinated COVID patients with kidney injury less likely to require dialysis

    Among the participants in the present study, 972 developed acute kidney injury.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    kidneys

  9. Cytomegalovirus reactivates in significant proportion of COVID-19 patients

    30.6% of ICU patients experienced CMV reactivation.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  10. ACIP draft agenda revives anti-vaccine boilerplate topics

    The group is expected to vote on thimerosal, despite no evidence of harm, and will discuss the MMRV use in young children.

    Lisa Schnirring
    meeting

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