Spatial analysis of COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates in northwest Iran for future epidemic preparedness (Scientific Reports 2025;15:7450)
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for effective public health strategies to combat infectious diseases. This study examines the epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution of COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Zanjan Province, northwest Iran, to inform future epidemic preparedness. Using data from 39,739 hospitalized COVID-19 cases recorded between February 2020 and September 2021, sourced from the Medical Care Monitoring Center, we conducted descriptive and geospatial analyses. Demographic, clinical, and spatial variables were analyzed using logistic regression and advanced spatial techniques, including Kernel Density Estimation and Local Moran’s I, to identify risk factors and disease hotspots. Results revealed that women accounted for 52% of cases, with higher incidence rates, while men exhibited higher mortality rates (7.86% vs. 7.80%). Urban areas, particularly the provincial capital, were identified as hotspots, with the highest patient density (20,384 cases per 10 km²). Comorbidities such as HIV/AIDS (OR: 4.85), chronic liver disease (OR: 3.6), chronic blood diseases (OR: 2.8), and cancer (OR: 2.5) significantly increased mortality risk, with ventilator use showing the highest odds ratio for death (OR = 91). Vaccination significantly reduced mortality, with fully vaccinated individuals experiencing a 6.3% mortality rate compared to 8.1% in unvaccinated individuals. Spatial analysis highlighted population density and mobility as key drivers of disease spread. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating spatial and epidemiological data to enhance pandemic preparedness. Targeted interventions in urban hotspots, early detection systems, and prioritizing vaccination for high-risk populations are critical for mitigating future outbreaks. This study provides a foundation for evidence-based public health strategies to strengthen global epidemic response and improve preparedness for future health crises. Read More
CDC report adds to evidence that HPV vaccine is preventing cervical cancer in U.S. women (MMWR 2025;74(6):96-101)
A new government report adds to evidence that the HPV vaccine, once called dangerous by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is preventing cervical cancer in young women. The report comes after Kennedy pledged to give a family member any fees he might earn from HPV vaccine litigation. In a 2019 video posted on the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense website, Kennedy called Gardasil “the most dangerous vaccine ever invented.” The report found that from 2008 to 2022, rates for precancerous lesions decreased about 80% among 20- to 24-year-old women who were screened for cervical cancer. The estimates were published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is very common and is spread through sex. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear up without treatment. Others develop into cancer, about 37,000 cases a year, according to the CDC. Women in their 20s are the group most likely to have been given the HPV vaccine, which has been recommended in the U.S. since 2006 for girls at age 11 or 12 and since 2011 for boys the same age. Catch-up shots are recommended for anyone through age 26 who hasn’t been vaccinated. Read More
Climate warming and influenza dynamics: the modulating effects of seasonal temperature increases on epidemic patterns (NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science 2025;72)
The underexplored impact of climate change on influenza outbreak severity and duration hampers our understanding of how climate-driven changes affect transmission dynamics. Our study employs the SIRS (Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible) model to simulate incremental temperature rises (2.5 °C, 5 °C, 7.5 °C, and 10 °C) in winter and summer. Results show warming significantly influences infections across seasonal, interannual, and decadal scales. Higher temperatures significantly impact infection rates, especially in autumn and winter, with long-lasting effects extending 5-6 years. Sustained warming lowers the total infection numbers compared to pre-warming levels. When winter and summer experience simultaneous warming, infection fluctuations during the warming period are mainly driven by winter warming. Winter warming also lowers the peak-to-trough infection ratio, reducing epidemic intensity fluctuations. Additionally, parameter choices can significantly affect the impact of warming on infection rates. Warming of varying intensity and duration can significantly impact influenza outbreaks, potentially altering their seasonal patterns in a global warming context. Read More
Changes in Respiratory Viral Testing Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic (JAMA Netw Open 2025;8(3):e250168)
Between 2016 and 2023, children and adolescents presenting to the emergency department or hospitalized with a respiratory illness had a 4.6-fold increase (from 13.6% in 2016 to a peak of 62.2% in 2022) in respiratory pathogen testing, with the largest increase observed in patients seen and discharged from the emergency department (a 6.7-fold increase [from 8.8% in 2016 to a peak of 59.3% in 2022]). While this rise in testing was driven initially by COVID-19–only testing, multitarget viral panels currently comprise the majority of viral testing performed. As expected with any rise in utilization, the authors found a corresponding 3.7-fold increase (from a low of $20.6 million in 2016 to a high of $111.0 million in 2022) in inflation-adjusted costs for viral pathogen testing at these visits, including a significant 8.6-fold increase (from a low of $34.2 in 2017 to a high of $128.2 in 2022) in per-encounter costs for viral pathogen testing for patients discharged from the emergency department. In total, over $83 million was spent on respiratory pathogen testing for patients with respiratory illnesses in 2023 alone. Read More
Evaluation of Influenza Vaccine Clinical Decision Support Systems Bundle for Hospitalized Children. (Hospital Pediatrics Mar 5, 2025)
Hospitalized children are at increased risk of influenza-related complications; however, influenza vaccine coverage remains low among this group. This study evaluated the effectiveness of clinical decision support (CDS) strategies to improve influenza vaccination rates among hospitalized children, who are at higher risk of complications. Using a retrospective cohort analysis from 2018 to 2022, three CDS tools—prechecked vaccine orders, conditional discharge alerts, and vaccine status notifications—significantly increased vaccination rates compared to no intervention. However, rates declined in later years, possibly due to waning CDS effectiveness, COVID-19 impacts, or increased vaccine hesitancy. CDS shows promise but requires ongoing optimization. Read More
Effects and interaction of humidex and air pollution on influenza: A national analysis of 319 cities in mainland China. (J Hazardous Materials 2025)
This study investigates the effects of humidex and air pollution on influenza and their interactions, using multi-city surveillance data in China. Daily data on reported influenza cases, meteorological factors and air pollution from 319 cities in mainland China over the study period of 2014–2019 were collected. A two-stage analytical framework, comprising distributed lag non-linear model and multivariate meta-analysis, was employed to assess the associations between humidex, air pollution and influenza. Hierarchical and joint effect models were employed to examine their interaction. Nationally, an approximately L-shaped relationship between humidex and influenza was observed, with the highest relative risk (RR) of 2.603 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.195–3.086). Per interquartile range increases in PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 were associated with influenza risk increments of 0.035 (95 % CI: 0.010–0.061), 0.029 (95 % CI: 0.003–0.055), 0.191 (95 % CI: 0.152–0.231), 0.239 (95 % CI: 0.166–0.317), 0.038 (95 % CI: 0.001–0.076) and −0.171 (95 % CI: −0.238–-0.099), respectively. A synergistic interaction effect was identified between low humidex and high air pollution as well as different air pollutants. Subgroup analyses indicated females and individuals aged 7–18 years old exhibited higher risks. Stronger effects were observed during winter season and in large cities. This study underscores the urgent need for tailored interventions to mitigate the health impacts in regions with concurrent low humidex and high air pollution. Read More
Assessment of knowledge about seasonal influenza and practice of influenza vaccination in a sample of Iraqi diabetic patients (Pharmacia 2025;72:1-9)
A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult diabetic Iraqi patients. The data was collected by a well-trained community pharmacist using a paper-based, structured questionnaire. Most participants understood influenza well and answered the knowledge part of the questionnaire effectively. Over 50% of the participants had heard or knew about the influenza vaccine, and 43.2% agreed that seasonal influenza is a mild condition and does not require the administration of any vaccine. The vast majority of participants (75.7%) agreed with the statement that they would take a vaccine if it were a good vaccine for preventing influenza. Less than one-third of participants (32.4%) previously received the influenza vaccine. The recommendation of a friend or family member, followed by physician instruction, significantly influenced most vaccine participants (47.2% and 44.4%, respectively). On the other hand, the most frequent cause of avoiding vaccination was the perception of seasonal influenza as a mild illness (57.3%). In conclusion, most participants had good knowledge about seasonal influenza and its vaccines. The highest percentage of participants, less than that in the knowledge part, revealed positive attitudes towards seasonal influenza and its vaccines. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of participants had not taken influenza vaccines previously because most considered seasonal influenza a mild illness. Read More
Neurologic Complications of Influenza and Potential Protective Vaccine Effects (Influenza Other Resp Viruses 2025, Mar 19(3):e70071)
Influenza is a common respiratory infection affecting persons of all ages and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Respiratory complications are well known, but important nonpulmonary complications are less well recognized. Neurologic complications following influenza infection may accompany the acute illness or may be chronic in nature. The acute complications such as seizures, encephalitis, myelitis and Guillain Barre Syndrome are well documented but fortunately are uncommon. However, stroke and dementia are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and there is increasing evidence linking these devasting illnesses with influenza. In addition, influenza vaccine has been associated with protective effects against stroke and dementia risk. Read More
Evaluating the Immunogenicity of an Intranasal Microparticle Combination Vaccine for COVID-19 and Influenza (Vaccines 2025;13(3):282)
Infectious respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza frequently mutate, leading to the emergence of variants. This necessitates continuous updates to FDA-approved vaccines with booster shots targeting the circulating variants. Vaccine hesitancy and needle injections create inconvenience and contribute to reduced global vaccination rates. To address the burden of frequent painful injections, this manuscript explores the potential of non-invasive intranasal (IN) vaccine administration as an effective alternative to intramuscular shots. Further, as a proof-of-concept, an inactivated combination vaccine for COVID-19 and influenza was tested to eliminate the need for separate vaccinations. The methods involved encapsulating antigens and adjuvants in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer matrices, achieving over 85% entrapment. The vaccine was evaluated in vitro for cytotoxicity and immunogenicity before being administered to 6–8-week-old Swiss Webster mice at weeks 0, 3, and 6. The mice were then assessed for antibody levels and cellular responses. The intranasal microparticle (IN-MP) vaccine induced an innate immune response, autophagy, and were non-cytotoxic in vitro. In vivo, the vaccine led to high levels of virus-specific serum IgM, IgG, and IgA binding antibodies, as well as elevated IgG and IgA levels in the lung wash samples. The antibodies generated demonstrated neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. Furthermore, the IN-MP vaccine prompted increased antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses in the vaccinated mice. The IN-MP combination vaccine produced immune responses comparable to or higher than the IM route, indicating its potential as an alternative to IM injections. Read More
Development of broadly protective coronavirus vaccines: A joint NIAID-CEPI workshop report. (Vaccine 2025;54:126909)
CEPI-NIAID Collaboration convened a workshop on September 21 and 22, 2023, entitled BPCVs: Supporting a Pathway Toward Clinical Development, referred to in this report as “the Workshop.” In addition to collaboration members and awardees, the Workshop included representatives from the U.S. government, World Health Organization (WHO), policy makers, and philanthropic organizations, as well as regulators from the U.S., Canada, and the European Union (EU). The objectives of this Workshop were to: 1) explore case studies of regulatory pathways to licensure to inform regulatory strategies for BPCVs; 2) help streamline research pathways (preclinical and clinical) by defining the data needed to enable clinical development; and 3) provide a forum for CEPI- and NIAID-funded BPCV developers to engage regulators on regulatory questions in an informal setting. This report provides a summary of the themes that emerged at the Workshop through presentations, panel discussions, and dialogue with participants. Read More