China's National Medical Products Administration has approved Pegbing, an injectable drug developed by Amoytop Biotech, as the world's first domestically developed drug designed to achieve a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B. This marks a significant advancement in the global fight against the liver infection.
More than 150 unvaccinated students in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, are under a 21-day quarantine after exposure to measles. This local action comes as the U.S. records its highest number of measles cases in over three decades, driven by declining vaccination rates.
The Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) is set to launch its 2025 Flu Vaccination Campaign on October 13. The campaign targets individuals aged 50+, those with long-term conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers, offering vaccines at the Primary Care Centre, schools, and a Mobile Health Unit to enhance community protection.
Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi, alongside Americans Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Their groundbreaking work on regulatory T cells and peripheral immune tolerance has revolutionized understanding of autoimmune diseases and opened new avenues for cancer and transplantation treatments.
Serbia is nearing the complete eradication of rabies in wild animals, a significant public health achievement following over a decade of intensive, EU-backed oral vaccination campaigns. Since 2010, these efforts have drastically reduced rabies cases, with the last reported instance in wild animals occurring in 2018, marking a major milestone in the country's fight against the deadly zoonotic disease.
Alberta has reported its first measles-related death since outbreaks began in March, a premature baby whose mother contracted the disease during pregnancy. This tragic event underscores the severe risks of measles, particularly for vulnerable populations, amidst a significant rise in cases across Canada.
A joint vaccination campaign against Covid-19 and seasonal flu is set to commence on October 14, 2025, across mainland France, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana. The initiative targets vulnerable populations and healthcare workers, utilizing updated Covid-19 vaccines.
The United Kingdom is experiencing a significant shortage of 250mg mefloquine (Lariam) antimalarial tablets, with Neon Healthcare confirming unavailability until January 2026. This disruption impacts UK travelers, particularly those for whom mefloquine is a primary choice for malaria prevention, necessitating consultation with health professionals for alternative prophylaxis.
Santé Publique France has announced a third autochthonous measles case in Reunion, contributing to a total of 828 cases across France in the first eight months of 2025. This development raises concerns about viral circulation, with a significant number of cases leading to hospitalizations and complications.
Mozambican authorities have re-declared a cholera outbreak in Moma district, Nampula province, after 36 new cases were recorded between September 3 and 21. No deaths have been reported in this new wave, with 34 patients already discharged. This re-declaration follows a previous cessation of the outbreak in the district.
A collaborative effort by Lífskraftur, the Icelandic Cancer Society, and 66°North has launched a nationwide campaign in Iceland on September 21, 2025, to eliminate cervical cancer. The initiative focuses on raising funds for vaccines, increasing public awareness, and promoting regular screenings to combat a disease that affects approximately 20 women annually in the country.
Advisers to the CDC, appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have altered COVID-19 vaccine guidance, now framing vaccination as an individual choice rather than a universal recommendation. The panel also changed recommendations for childhood MMRV vaccines and postponed a decision on hepatitis B shots.
Bulgaria initiated its autumn-winter 2025/26 COVID-19 immunization campaign on September 18, 2025, with vaccine administration set to begin nationwide on September 23. The campaign offers 47,520 doses of free mRNA vaccines targeting the LP.8.1 variant, prioritizing vulnerable groups and aiming to bolster public health ahead of the colder months.
Former CDC Director Susan Monarez testified before the Senate, alleging she was fired for refusing to comply with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s directives to alter vaccine policy without scientific backing. She warned his actions risk restricting children's vaccine access and could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions as Health and Human Services secretary have raised concerns about vaccine access, with regulatory changes and funding cuts creating confusion and division among states. This has led to a patchwork of state-level policies, as some states move to restrict vaccine access while others work to maintain or expand it.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused federal bureaucrats of covering up scientific data that contradicted the government's narrative, citing numerous examples of suppressed research. He specifically pointed to a CDC study on the measles vaccine and autism, alleging data manipulation and intentional withholding of findings.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denied pressuring the former CDC director to preapprove vaccine recommendations, but the former director claims he demanded her resignation and preapproval of the panel's decisions. This conflict arose after Kennedy replaced the vaccine advisory panel with vaccine skeptics, leading to the director's firing.
Three senior officials at the CDC have resigned in protest against changes to vaccine policy and advisory procedures initiated by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Their departure highlights growing discontent within public health agencies as they fear these changes will undermine established safety protocols and increase vaccine skepticism.
In an interview on "Face the Nation," Dr. Céline Gounder addressed the recent upheavals at the CDC, including leadership departures and their impact on public health and vaccine policy. She highlighted that these changes create a leadership vacuum that threatens the standard processes for vaccine recommendations, creating confusion for the public.
The Trump administration's policies, including budget cuts and vaccine skepticism, are hindering autism research efforts, according to scientists. Researchers fear these actions will undermine years of progress and potentially discourage parents from seeking diagnoses due to concerns about data privacy and the administration's stance.
