Emerging Public Health Issues
Marburg Virus Disease in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania
On April 6, the CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. To date, no confirmed cases of MVD related to these outbreaks have been reported in the United States or other countries outside Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. The advisory provides information about these outbreaks to increase awareness of the risk of imported cases in the United States. It also summarizes CDC’s recommendations for case identification, testing, and clinical laboratory biosafety considerations in the United States.
Mpox Updates
STOMP Trial
CDC is conducting a Study of Tecovirimat (TPOXX) for Human Monkeypox Virus (STOMP) trial and is actively enrolling patients with presumed or confirmed mpox infection to assess TPOXX safety and efficacy in the treatment of mpox.
The nearest enrollment sites are at Duke University Medical Center (NC), Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (NC), Johns Hopkins (MD), and Vanderbilt Therapeutics (TN).
Helpful links:
VIRISMAP Trial
CDC and the National Institutes of Health are collaborating on the Virologic and Immunologic Characteristics of Severe Mpox in People with Advanced HIV (VIRISMAP) study that will examine the extent of mpox viral spread and immunologic markers in people with advanced HIV infection.
The study is currently enrolling people aged 18 years and older with HIV and CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3 who are hospitalized with probable or confirmed mpox. Clinicians who have patients with these criteria and are interested in participating can email poxvirus@cdc.gov. Additional information is available on the CDC Treatment Information for Healthcare Professionals page.
New Point of Care Mpox Molecular Test
On March 17, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Cue Mpox (Monkeypox) Molecular Test to be used in a point-of-care (POC) setting. The test is molecular-based test intended to detect monkeypox virus DNA in lesion swab specimens from individuals suspected of monkeypox by their healthcare provider.
Mpox Resources and Tools
The mpox vaccine locator widget is now live on the CDC mpox website.
Check out theVDH Mpox Webpage for Healthcare Providers.
Reminder: Updated Rabies Pre-Exposure Vaccination Recommendations
In May 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) revised the recommendations for persons whom rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is indicated. These individuals should receive 2 IM doses of human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV; Imovax/Sanofi Pasteur) or purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV; RabAvert/Bavarian Nordic) on days 0 and 7.
In addition, risk categories were defined and rabies antibody titers, as well as boosters, may be recommended. Please see CDC recommendations for more information.
|
