Last data update: Apr 22, 2024. (Total: 46599 publications since 2009)
Records 1-30 (of 52 Records) |
Query Trace: Hills SL [original query] |
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Recommendations for use of a booster dose of inactivated vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis vaccine: advisory committee on immunization practices, 2011
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Hills SL , Fischer M . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 60 (20) 661-3 Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is an important cause of encephalitis in Asia with a case fatality rate of 20%--30% and neurologic or psychiatric sequelae in 30%--50% of survivors (1). Travelers to JE-endemic countries and laboratory personnel who work with infectious JE virus are at potential risk for JE virus infection. In 2010, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated recommendations for prevention of JE. The updated recommendations included information on use of a new inactivated, Vero cell culture--derived JE vaccine (JE-VC [manufactured as Ixiaro]) that was licensed in the United States in 2009. Data on the need for and timing of booster doses with JE-VC were not available when the vaccine was licensed. This report summarizes new data on the persistence of neutralizing antibodies following primary vaccination with JE-VC and the safety and immunogenicity of a booster dose of JE-VC. The report also provides updated guidance to health-care personnel regarding use of a booster dose of JE-VC for U.S. travelers and laboratory personnel. ACIP recommends that if the primary series of JE-VC was administered >1 year previously, a booster dose may be given before potential JE virus exposure. |
Use of Japanese encephalitis vaccine in children: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices, 2013
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Bocchini JA , Rubin L , Fischer M , Hills SL , Staples JE . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013 62 (45) 898-900 On June 19, 2013, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to extend existing recommendations for use of inactivated Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (JE-VC) (Ixiaro, Intercell Biomedical) to include children aged 2 months through 16 years. The ACIP JE Vaccine Workgroup reviewed the epidemiology of JE in travelers and evaluated published and unpublished data on JE-VC immunogenicity and safety in adults and children. The evidence for benefits and risks associated with JE-VC vaccination of children was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. This report summarizes the evidence considered by ACIP and outlines the recommendations for use of JE-VC in children traveling to JE-endemic countries. |
Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2023
Hills SL , Poehling KA , Chen WH , Staples JE . MMWR Recomm Rep 2023 72 (5) 1-29 TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS (TBE) VIRUS IS FOCALLY ENDEMIC IN PARTS OF EUROPE AND ASIA. THE VIRUS IS PRIMARILY TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS BY THE BITES OF INFECTED: Ixodes species ticks but can also be acquired less frequently by alimentary transmission. Other rare modes of transmission include through breastfeeding, blood transfusion, solid organ transplantation, and slaughtering of viremic animals. TBE virus can cause acute neurologic disease, which usually results in hospitalization, often permanent neurologic or cognitive sequelae, and sometimes death. TBE virus infection is a risk for certain travelers and for laboratory workers who work with the virus. In August 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved Ticovac TBE vaccine for use among persons aged ≥1 year. This report summarizes the epidemiology of and risks for infection with TBE virus, provides information on the immunogenicity and safety of TBE vaccine, and summarizes the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for use of TBE vaccine among U.S. travelers and laboratory workers. |
Arboviral vaccines for use in pregnant travelers
Hills SL , Wong JM , Staples JE . Travel Med Infect Dis 2023 55 102624 Pregnant women traveling abroad can be exposed to a variety of arboviruses, primarily spread by mosquitoes or ticks. Some arboviral infections can be of particular concern for pregnant women or their fetuses. Vaccination is one preventive measure that can reduce the risk for infection. Several arboviral vaccines have been licensed for many years and can be used to prevent infection in travelers, namely Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and tick-borne encephalitis vaccines. Recommendations on use of these vaccines in pregnancy vary. Other arboviral vaccines have been licensed but are not indicated for use in pregnant travelers (e.g., dengue vaccines) or are in development (e.g., chikungunya, Zika vaccines). This review describes arboviral vaccines for travelers, focusing on women who are pregnant and those planning travel during pregnancy. |
Fatal case of heartland virus disease acquired in the Mid-Atlantic Region, United States
Liu S , Kannan S , Meeks M , Sanchez S , Girone KW , Broyhill JC , Martines RB , Bernick J , Flammia L , Murphy J , Hills SL , Burkhalter KL , Laven JJ , Gaines D , Hoffmann CJ . Emerg Infect Dis 2023 29 (5) 992-996 Heartland virus (HRTV) disease is an emerging tickborne illness in the midwestern and southern United States. We describe a reported fatal case of HRTV infection in the Maryland and Virginia region, states not widely recognized to have human HRTV disease cases. The range of HRTV could be expanding in the United States. |
Japanese encephalitis among adults: A review
Hills SL , Netravathi M , Solomon T . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023 108 (5) 860-864 Japanese encephalitis (JE) is becoming an increasingly important issue among adults. The reasons for this are multifactorial. During the past decades, new areas of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission have occurred in several locations, most notably in a markedly expanded area of Australia during 2021-2022. When JEV enters new areas, cases in adults frequently occur. This is unlike the typical pattern in endemic areas where the burden of disease is in children because most adults are protected through natural immunity following earlier exposure to the virus. Even in endemic areas, JEV has become relatively more important in adults because improved JE control through childhood immunization programs has resulted in a substantial decrease in pediatric JE cases and thus more prominence of adult JE cases. Finally, increases in tourism to JE risk areas have resulted in more exposure of adult travelers, who are usually non-immune, to infection in JE risk areas. In this review we describe the increasing importance of JE in adults in some areas and then consider the comparative clinical presentation and severity of illness among children and adults. |
Comparative frequency of specified adverse events following Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis and Vi capsular polysaccharide typhoid vaccines in U.S. military personnel, July 2011-August 2019
Seshadri S , Martin SW , Hills SL , Collins LC Jr . Vaccine 2023 41 (9) 1537-1540 Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (JE-VC; Ixiaro) was approved in the United States in 2009. The previous JE vaccine, an inactivated mouse brain-derived vaccine, had been associated with rare, but serious, allergic and neurologic adverse events (AE). Studies and AE surveillance have supported JE-VC's safety, but one evaluation among military personnel found elevated hypersensitivity and neurologic AE rates. However, co-administration of multiple vaccines to some personnel might have affected results. We retrospectively compared rates of hypersensitivity and neurologic AEs within 28 days following vaccination of military personnel with JE-VC or parenteral Vi capsular polysaccharide typhoid vaccine administered without other vaccines from July 1, 2011, through August 31, 2019. Rates of most events were similar between the vaccines. Only delayed hypersensitivity reactions occurred more frequently following JE-VC (rate ratio: 4.2, 95 % CI 1.2-15.3; p = 0.03), but rates were low for both vaccines. These results support JE-VC's safety. |
Japanese encephalitis in a U.S. traveler returning from Vietnam, 2022
Janatpour ZC , Boatwright MA , Yousif SM , Bonilla MF , Fitzpatrick KA , Hills SL , Decker CF . Travel Med Infect Dis 2023 52 102536 Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus which is endemic throughout most of Asia and parts of the Western Pacific [1,2]. Since the availability of a JE vaccine in the United States (U.S.) in 1993, a total of 13 JE cases in U.S. travelers or expatriates have been reported [[3], [4], [5], [6]]. We describe a case of severe JE in an unvaccinated returning traveler. | | A 37-year-old woman presented to Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with 4 days of headache, fever and confusion. The patient is a U.S. citizen and had been living in Abu Dhabi for the past 2 years. She had returned from a 2-week vacation to Vietnam, where she primarily stayed in urban locales. However, she did participate in a 2-day hike within the Sa Pa region of Northern Vietnam, where she stayed in unscreened lodging and sustained multiple mosquito bites despite using preventive measures. She had not received the JE vaccine prior to travel. Her symptoms began while still in country on day 13 of the 14-day trip. |
Improving community coverage of Japanese encephalitis vaccination: lessons learned from a mass campaign in Battambang Province, Cambodia
Thigpen MC , Sarath S , Soeung SC , Vichit O , Kitsutani P , Sandhu H , Gregory C , Fischer M , Morn C , Hills SL . BMC Public Health 2022 22 (1) 2244 A mass Japanese encephalitis (JE) immunization campaign for children aged 9 months through 12 years was conducted in 2013 in Battambang province, western Cambodia. Vaccinators working at almost 2,000 immunization posts in approximately 800 villages provided vaccinations to almost 310,000 children using one dose of Chengdu Institute of Biological Products' live, attenuated SA14-14-2 JE vaccine (CD-JEV), achieving a coverage rate of greater than 90%. Lessons learned, in general for mass vaccination campaigns and specifically for vaccination with CD-JEV, are described. These observations will be of benefit for public health officials and to help inform planning for future campaigns for JE or other vaccine-preventable diseases in Cambodia and elsewhere. |
An evaluation of adverse events following an immunization campaign with the live, attenuated SA14-14-2 Japanese encephalitis vaccine in Cambodia
Hills SL , Soeung SC , Sarath S , Morn C , Dara C , Fischer M , Thigpen MC . PLoS One 2022 17 (6) e0269480 INTRODUCTION: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the most common cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia. The SA14-14-2 JE vaccine manufactured by Chengdu Institute of Biological Products has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials and childhood routine immunization programs. However, there are few published reports describing results of surveillance for adverse events following immunization (AEFI) when the vaccine is used in mass campaigns. We describe the results of AEFI surveillance following a 2013 vaccination campaign among almost 310,000 children aged 9 months-12 years in Battambang Province, Cambodia. METHODS: Routine AEFI surveillance was strengthened by staff training and supplemented by active hospital surveillance. An AEFI was defined as any sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated (i.e., within 4 weeks) with receipt of the vaccine, irrespective of whether it was considered related to immunization. Data were collected on standardized forms and causality assessments were conducted for serious AEFI. RESULTS: Passive and active surveillance detected 28 AEFI for an overall incidence of 9.0 AEFI per 100,000 doses administered. The most frequent events were vasovagal episodes (n = 7, 25%) and rash (n = 6, 21%), and most other events were common childhood conditions such as fever and vomiting. Three AEFI were classified as serious, including one hypersensitivity reaction and two meningoencephalitis cases. Of these, the hypersensitivity event was the only serious AEFI classified as being consistent with a causal association to immunization. CONCLUSIONS: Most reported adverse events were conditions that commonly occur after other childhood vaccinations or independently of vaccination, and in the context of careful monitoring for serious AEFI only one serious event consistent with a causal association with immunization was identified. These results support the good safety profile of the SA14-14-2 JE vaccine, and provide reassuring data as the vaccine's use expands. |
Tick-borne encephalitis among US travellers, 2010-20
Hills SL , Broussard KR , Broyhill JC , Shastry LG , Cossaboom CM , White JL , Machesky KD , Kosoy O , Girone K , Klena JD , Backenson BP , Gould CV , Lind L , Hieronimus A , Gaines DN , Wong SJ , Choi MJ , Laven JJ , Staples JE , Fischer M . J Travel Med 2021 29 (2) BACKGROUND: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an arboviral disease that is focally endemic in parts of Europe and Asia. TBE cases among US travellers are rare, with previous reports of only six cases among civilian travellers through 2009 and nine military-related cases through 2020. A TBE vaccine was licenced in the USA in August 2021. Understanding TBE epidemiology and risks among US travellers can help with the counselling of travellers going to TBE-endemic areas. METHODS: Diagnostic testing for TBE in the USA is typically performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because no commercial testing is available. Diagnostic testing for TBE at CDC since 2010 was reviewed. For individuals with evidence of TBE virus infection, information was gathered on demographics, clinical presentations and risk factors for infection. RESULTS: From 2010-20, six patients with TBE were identified. Cases occurred among both paediatric and adult travellers and all were male. Patients were diagnosed with meningitis (n = 2) or encephalitis (n = 4); none died. Cases had travelled to various countries in Europe or Russia. Three cases reported visiting friends or relatives. Activities reported included hiking, camping, trail running, or working outdoors, and two cases had a recognized tick bite. CONCLUSIONS: TBE cases among US travellers are uncommon, with these six cases being the only known TBE cases among civilian travellers during this 11-year period. Nonetheless, given potential disease severity, pre-travel counselling for travellers to TBE-endemic areas should include information on measures to reduce the risk for TBE and other tick-borne diseases, including possible TBE vaccine use if a traveller's itinerary puts them at higher risk for infection. Clinicians should consider the diagnosis of TBE in a patient with a neurologic or febrile illness recently returned from a TBE-endemic country, particularly if a tick bite or possible tick exposure is reported. |
Frequency of Zika Virus Immunoglobulin M Antibody in Persons with West Nile Virus Infection
Hills SL , Laven J , Biggerstaff BJ , Kosoy O , Staples JE , Panella A . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021 21 (10) 817-821 West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are mosquito-borne viruses in the family Flaviviridae. Residents in, and travelers to, areas where the viruses are circulating are at risk for infection, and both viruses can cause an acute febrile illness. Given known cross-reactivity in flavivirus serologic assays, it is possible a patient with acute WNV infection could be misdiagnosed as having ZIKV infection if appropriate testing is not conducted. To understand how frequently persons with WNV infection have detectable cross-reactive ZIKV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody, we used archived serum samples from patients in the United States with recent WNV infection confirmed by a microsphere-based immunoassay test for IgM antibody and neutralizing antibody testing. Samples were tested for ZIKV IgM antibody with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ZIKV IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among 153 sera from patients with acute WNV infection, the ZIKV IgM antibody result was positive in 56 (37%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 29-44%) and equivocal in 28 (18%; 95% CI 13-25%). With 55% of samples having cross-reactive antibodies, it is important for health care providers to request appropriate testing based on the most likely cause of a patient's possible arboviral infection considering their clinical symptoms and signs, travel history, and place of residence. For cases where the epidemiology does not support the preliminary IgM findings, confirmatory neutralizing antibody testing should be performed. These measures will avoid an incorrect diagnosis of ZIKV infection, based on cross-reactive antibodies, in a person truly infected with WNV. |
La Crosse Virus Disease in the United States, 2003-2019
Vahey GM , Lindsey NP , Staples JE , Hills SL . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021 105 (3) 807-812 La Crosse virus (LACV) is an arthropod-borne virus that can cause a nonspecific febrile illness, meningitis, or encephalitis. We reviewed U.S. LACV surveillance data for 2003-2019, including human disease cases and nonhuman infections. Overall, 318 counties in 27 states, principally in the Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, and southeastern regions, reported LACV activity. A total of 1,281 human LACV disease cases were reported, including 1,183 (92%) neuroinvasive disease cases. The median age of cases was 8 years (range: 1 month-95 years); 1,130 (88%) were aged < 18 years, and 754 (59%) were male. The most common clinical syndromes were encephalitis (N = 960; 75%) and meningitis (N = 219, 17%). The case fatality rate was 1% (N = 15). A median of 74 cases (range: 35-130) was reported per year. The average annual national incidence of neuroinvasive disease cases was 0.02 per 100,000 persons. West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio had the highest average annual state incidences (0.16-0.61 per 100,000), accounting for 80% (N = 1,030) of cases. No animal LACV infections were reported. Nine states reported LACV-positive mosquito pools, including three states with no reported human disease cases. La Crosse virus is the most common cause of pediatric neuroinvasive arboviral disease in the United States. However, surveillance data likely underestimate LACV disease incidence. Healthcare providers should consider LACV disease in patients, especially children, with febrile illness, meningitis, or encephalitis in areas where the virus circulates and advise their patients on ways to prevent mosquito bites. |
The future of Japanese encephalitis vaccination: expert recommendations for achieving and maintaining optimal JE control
Vannice KS , Hills SL , Schwartz LM , Barrett AD , Heffelfinger J , Hombach J , Letson GW , Solomon T , Marfin AA . NPJ Vaccines 2021 6 (1) 82 Vaccines against Japanese encephalitis (JE) have been available for decades. Currently, most JE-endemic countries have vaccination programs for their at-risk populations. Even so, JE remains the leading recognized cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. In 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and PATH co-convened a group of independent experts to review JE prevention and control successes, identify remaining scientific and operational issues that need to be addressed, discuss opportunities to further strengthen JE vaccination programs, and identify strategies and solutions to ensure sustainability of JE control during the next decade. This paper summarizes the key discussion points and recommendations to sustain and expand JE control. |
Case Series of Laboratory-Associated Zika Virus Disease, United States, 2016-2019
Hills SL , Morrison A , Stuck S , Sandhu K , Mason KL , Stanek D , Gabel J , Osborne MA , Schroeder BA , Rico E , Drenzek CL , Gallagher GR , Fiddner J , Heberlein-Larson LA , Brown CM , Fischer M . Emerg Infect Dis 2021 27 (5) 1296-1300 Zika virus diagnostic testing and laboratory research increased considerably when Zika virus began spreading through the Americas in 2015, increasing the risk for potential Zika virus exposure of laboratory workers and biomedical researchers. We report 4 cases of laboratory-associated Zika virus disease in the United States during 2016-2019. Of these, 2 were associated with needlestick injuries; for the other 2 cases, the route of transmission was undetermined. In laboratories in which work with Zika virus is performed, good laboratory biosafety practices must be implemented and practiced to reduce the risk for infection among laboratory personnel. |
Risk estimation of sexual transmission of Zika virus-United States, 2016-2017
Major CG , Paz-Bailey G , Hills SL , Rodriguez DM , Biggerstaff BJ , Johansson M . J Infect Dis 2021 224 (10) 1756-1764 BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted sexually, but the risk of sexual transmission remains unknown. Most evidence of sexual transmission is from partners of infected travelers returning from areas with ZIKV circulation. METHODS: We used data from the U.S. national arboviral disease surveillance system (ArboNET) on travel- and sexually-acquired ZIKV disease cases during 2016-2017 to develop individual-level simulations for estimating risk of male-to-female, male-to-male, and female-to-male sexual transmission of ZIKV via vaginal and/or anal intercourse. We specified parametric distributions to characterize individual-level variability of parameters for ZIKV persistence and sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Using ZIKV RNA persistence in semen/vaginal fluids to approximate infectiousness duration, male-to-male transmission had the highest estimated probability [1.3% (95% CI: 0.4-6.0) per anal sex act], followed by male-to-female and female-to-male transmission [0.4% (95% CI: 0.3-0.6) per vaginal/anal sex act and 0.1% (95% CI:0-0.8) per vaginal sex act, respectively]. Models using viral isolation in semen vs. RNA detection to approximate infectiousness duration predicted greater risk of sexual transmission. CONCLUSIONS: While likely insufficient to maintain sustained transmission, the estimated risk of ZIKV transmission through unprotected sex is not trivial and is especially important for pregnant women, as ZIKV infection can cause severe congenital disorders. |
Japanese encephalitis virus as cause of acute encephalitis, Bhutan
Wangchuk S , Tamang TD , Darnal JB , Pelden S , Lhazeen K , Mynak ML , Letson GW , Khare S , Leader BT , Marfin AA , Hills SL . Emerg Infect Dis 2020 26 (9) 2239-2242 In 2011, Bhutan's Royal Centre for Disease Control began Japanese encephalitis (JE) surveillance at 5 sentinel hospitals throughout Bhutan. During 2011-2018, a total of 20 JE cases were detected, indicating JE virus causes encephalitis in Bhutan. Maintaining JE surveillance will help improve understanding of JE epidemiology in this country. |
Immune response at 12-23months following a single dose of Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine in adults previously vaccinated with mouse brain-derived JE vaccine
Krow-Lucal ER , Laven J , Perry L , Biggerstaff BJ , Johnson BW , Hollis E , Fischer M , Woolpert T , Hills SL . Vaccine 2020 38 (44) 6899-6903 BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is an important cause of neurological disease in Asia. JE vaccine is recommended for travelers with higher JE risk itineraries. Inactivated Vero cell culture-derived JE vaccine (JE-VC) is the only JE vaccine currently available in the United States. An inactivated mouse brain-derived JE vaccine (JE-MB) previously was available but production was discontinued. One JE-VC dose administered to adults previously vaccinated with ≥3 doses of JE-MB provides good short-term protection for at least one month, but data on longer-term protection are limited. We evaluated non-inferiority of the JE virus neutralizing antibody response at 12-23 months in JE-MB-vaccinated adults administered one JE-VC dose compared with JE vaccine-naïve adults administered a JE-VC two-dose primary series. METHODS: We obtained archived sera from U.S. military personnel and performed a 50% plaque reduction neutralization test for anti-JE virus neutralizing antibodies. We compared the geometric mean titer (GMT) and seroprotection rate at 12-23 months after one JE-VC dose in previously JE-MB-vaccinated personnel and after the second JE-VC dose in previously JE vaccine-naïve personnel. Non-inferiority was concluded if the lower bound of the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) of the GMT ratio in previously vaccinated to vaccine-naïve personnel was >1/1.5. RESULTS: The GMT in previously JE-MB-vaccinated persons was 75 (95% CI 63-90) and in previously JE vaccine-naïve persons was 12 (95% CI 11-14), and seroprotection rates were 94% (235/250) and 54% (135/250), respectively. The ratio of GMTs was 6.3 (95% CI: 5.0-7.7), satisfying the criterion for non-inferiority. CONCLUSIONS: One JE-VC dose in previously JE-MB-vaccinated military personnel provides good protection for at least 1-2 years. The benefits of administration of a single JE-VC dose in previously JE-MB-vaccinated adults include a shorter time to completion of re-vaccination before travel, a decrease in the risk of adverse events, and reduced costs. |
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Within a Psychiatric Hospital and Considerations for Limiting Transmission Within Residential Psychiatric Facilities - Wyoming, 2020.
Callaghan AW , Chard AN , Arnold P , Loveland C , Hull N , Saraiya M , Saydah S , Dumont W , Frakes LG , Johnson D , Peltier R , Van Houten C , Trujillo AA , Moore J , Rose DA , Honein MA , Carrington D , Harrist A , Hills SL . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 69 (26) 825-829 In the United States, approximately 180,000 patients receive mental health services each day at approximately 4,000 inpatient and residential psychiatric facilities (1). SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can spread rapidly within congregate residential settings (2-4), including psychiatric facilities. On April 13, 2020, two patients were transferred to Wyoming's state psychiatric hospital from a private psychiatric hospital that had confirmed COVID-19 cases among its residents and staff members (5). Although both patients were asymptomatic at the time of transfer and one had a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 at the originating facility, they were both isolated and received testing upon arrival at the state facility. On April 16, 2020, the test results indicated that both patients had SARS-CoV-2 infection. In response, the state hospital implemented expanded COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures (e.g., enhanced screening, testing, and management of new patient admissions) and adapted some standard IPC measures to facilitate implementation within the psychiatric patient population (e.g., use of modified face coverings). To assess the likely effectiveness of these procedures and determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among patients and health care personnel (HCP) (6) at the state hospital, a point prevalence survey was conducted. On May 1, 2020, 18 days after the patients' arrival, 46 (61%) of 76 patients and 171 (61%) of 282 HCP had nasopharyngeal swabs collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. All patients and HCP who received testing had negative test results, suggesting that the hospital's expanded IPC strategies might have been effective in preventing the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection within the facility. In congregate residential settings, prompt identification of COVID-19 cases and application of strong IPC procedures are critical to ensuring the protection of other patients and staff members. Although standard guidance exists for other congregate facilities (7) and for HCP in general (8), modifications and nonstandard solutions might be needed to account for the specific needs of psychiatric facilities, their patients, and staff members. |
Investigation of Japanese encephalitis virus as a cause of acute encephalitis in southern Pakistan, April 2015-January 2018
Fatima T , Rais A , Khan E , Hills SL , Chambers TV , Hotwani A , Qureshi S , Shafquat S , Malik S , Qamar F , Mir F , Marfin AA , Zaidi A , Khowaja AR , Shakoor S . PLoS One 2020 15 (6) e0234584 BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) occurs in fewer than 1% of JE virus (JEV) infections, often with catastrophic sequelae including death and neuropsychiatric disability. JEV transmission in Pakistan was documented in 1980s and 1990s, but recent evidence is lacking. Our objective was to investigate JEV as a cause of acute encephalitis in Pakistan. METHODS: Persons aged >/=1 month with possible JE admitted to two acute care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan from April 2015 to January 2018 were enrolled. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or serum samples were tested for JEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) using the InBios JE DetectTM assay. Positive or equivocal samples had confirmatory testing using plaque reduction neutralization tests. RESULTS: Among 227 patients, testing was performed on CSF in 174 (77%) and on serum in 53 (23%) patients. Six of eight patient samples positive or equivocal for JEV IgM had sufficient volume for confirmatory testing. One patient had evidence of recent West Nile virus (WNV) neurologic infection based on CSF testing. One patient each had recent dengue virus (DENV) infection and WNV infection based on serum results. Recent flavivirus infections were identified in two persons, one each based on CSF and serum results. Specific flaviviruses could not be identified due to serologic cross-reactivity. For the sixth person, JEV neutralizing antibodies were confirmed in CSF but there was insufficient volume for further testing. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital-based JE surveillance in Karachi, Pakistan could not confirm or exclude local JEV transmission. Nonetheless, Pakistan remains at risk for JE due to presence of the mosquito vector, amplifying hosts, and rice irrigation. Laboratory surveillance for JE should continue among persons with acute encephalitis. However, in view of serological cross-reactivity, confirmatory testing of JE IgM positive samples at a reference laboratory is essential. |
Assessment of immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ratios to identify West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis virus infections during concurrent outbreaks of West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus diseases, Arizona 2015
Curren EJ , Venkat H , Sunenshine R , Fitzpatrick K , Kosoy O , Krow-Lucal E , Zabel K , Adams L , Kretschmer M , Fischer M , Hills SL . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 20 (8) 619-623 West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) are closely related mosquito-borne flaviviruses that cause clinical disease ranging from febrile illness to encephalitis. The standard for serological diagnosis is immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing followed by confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) to differentiate the infecting virus. However, the PRNT is time-consuming and requires manipulation of live virus. During concurrent WNV and SLEV outbreaks in Arizona in 2015, we assessed use of a diagnostic algorithm to simplify testing. It incorporated WNV and SLEV ratios based on positive-to-negative (P/N) values derived from the IgM antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We compared each sample's ratio-based result with the confirmed WNV or SLEV sample result indicated by PRNT or PCR testing. We analyzed data from 70 patients with 77 serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples, including 53 patients with confirmed WNV infection and 17 patients with confirmed SLEV infection. Both WNV and SLEV ratios had specificity >/=95%, indicating a high likelihood that each ratio was correctly identifying the infecting virus. The SLEV ratio sensitivity of 30% was much lower than the WNV ratio sensitivity of 91%, likely because of higher cross-reactivity of SLEV antibodies and generation of lower P/N values. The standard for serological diagnosis of WNV and SLEV infections remains IgM testing followed by PRNT. However, these results suggest the ratios could potentially be used as part of a diagnostic algorithm in outbreaks to substantially reduce the need for PRNTs. |
Comparative economic analysis of strategies for Japanese encephalitis vaccination of U.S. travelers
Carias C , Hills SL , Kahn EB , Adhikari BB , Fischer M , Meltzer MI . Vaccine 2020 38 (17) 3351-3357 BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of encephalitis in Asia. For most travelers, JE risk is very low but varies based on several factors, including travel duration, location, and activities. To aid public health officials, health care providers, and travelers evaluate the worth of administering/ receiving pre-travel JE vaccinations, we estimated the numbers-needed-to-treat to prevent a case and the cost-effectiveness ratios of JE vaccination for U.S. travelers in different risk categories. METHODS: We used a decision tree model to estimate cost per case averted from a societal and traveler perspective for hypothetical cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Risk Category I included travelers planning to spend >/=1 month in JE-endemic areas, Risk Category II were shorter-term (<1 month) travelers spending >/=20% of their time doing outdoor activities in rural areas, and Risk Category III were all remaining travelers. We performed sensitivity analyses including examining changes in cost-effectiveness with 10- and 100-fold increases in incidence and medical treatment costs. RESULTS: The numbers-needed-to-treat to prevent a case and cost per case averted were approximately 0.7 million and $0.6 billion for Risk Category I, 1.6 million and $1.2 billion for Risk Category II, and 9.8 million and $7.6 billion for Risk Category III. Increases of 10-fold and 100-fold in disease incidence proportionately decreased cost-effectiveness ratios. Similar levels of increases in medical treatment costs resulted in negligible changes in cost-effectiveness ratios. CONCLUSION: Numbers-needed-to-treat and cost-effectiveness ratios associated with preventing JE cases in U.S. travelers by vaccination varied greatly by risk category and disease incidence. While cost effectiveness ratios are not the sole rationale for decision-making regarding JE vaccination, the results presented here can aid in making such decisions under very different risk and cost scenarios. |
Perceptions among the U.S. population of value of Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination for travel to JE-endemic countries
Hills SL , Fischer M , Biggerstaff BJ . Vaccine 2020 38 (9) 2117-2121 INTRODUCTION: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a rare but potentially severe disease among travelers. JE vaccine in the United States costs $500-$600 for a 2-dose series and is safe and effective but rare serious adverse events can occur. Our survey investigated likelihood of vaccine receipt for travel. METHODS: An electronically-administered survey was conducted among U.S. adults. Participants were presented a hypothetical scenario on travel to a JE-endemic country and JE vaccine characteristics and responded on likelihood of vaccination. RESULTS: Overall, 6384 (59%) of 10,904 persons completed the questions. Population estimates indicated 32% would be likely and 42% were unlikely to be vaccinated, and 26% were unsure. Among those likely to get vaccinated, important factors were disease risk and severity, and vaccine safety. Among those unlikely, cost, disease risk, and possibility of serious side effects ranked highest. CONCLUSIONS: There is population heterogeneity in perception of JE disease risk and value of vaccination. |
Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing on Filter Paper-Dried Serum for Laboratory-Based Dengue Surveillance-American Samoa, 2018.
Curren EJ , Tufa AJ , Hancock WT , Biggerstaff BJ , Vaifanua-Leo JS , Montalbo CA , Sharp TM , Fischer M , Hills SL , Gould CV . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 102 (3) 622-624 Laboratory-based surveillance for arboviral diseases is challenging in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the use of filter paper-dried sera for detection of dengue virus (DENV) RNA during an outbreak in American Samoa. Matched liquid and filter paper-dried sera were collected from patients with suspected dengue and shipped to a reference laboratory for diagnostic testing. RNA was extracted from each sample and tested for DENV RNA by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of 18 RT-PCR-positive liquid specimens, 14 matched filter paper-dried specimens were positive for a sensitivity of 78% (95% CI, 55-91%). Of 82 RT-PCR-negative liquid specimens, all filter paper-dried specimens were negative for a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 96-100%). Shipping of filter paper-dried specimens was similarly timely but less expensive than shipping liquid sera. Using filter paper-dried serum or blood can be a cost-effective and sustainable approach to surveillance of dengue and other arboviral diseases in resource-limited settings. |
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Hills SL , Walter EB , Atmar RL , Fischer M . MMWR Recomm Rep 2019 68 (2) 1-27 This report updates the 2010 recommendations from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding prevention of Japanese encephalitis (JE) among U.S. travelers and laboratory workers (Fischer M, Lindsey N, Staples JE, Hills S. Japanese encephalitis vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2010;59[No. RR-1]). The report summarizes the epidemiology of JE, describes the JE vaccine that is licensed and available in the United States, and provides recommendations for its use among travelers and laboratory workers. JE virus, a mosquitoborne flavivirus, is the most common vaccine-preventable cause of encephalitis in Asia. JE occurs throughout most of Asia and parts of the western Pacific. Approximately 20%--30% of patients die, and 30%--50% of survivors have neurologic, cognitive, or behavioral sequelae. No antiviral treatment is available. Inactivated Vero cell culture--derived JE vaccine (Ixiaro [JE-VC]) is the only JE vaccine that is licensed and available in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed JE-VC for use in persons aged ≥17 years; in 2013, licensure was extended to include children aged ≥2 months. Most travelers to countries where the disease is endemic are at very low risk for JE. However, some travelers are at increased risk for infection on the basis of their travel plans. Factors that increase the risk for JE virus exposure include 1) traveling for a longer period; 2) travel during the JE virus transmission season; 3) spending time in rural areas; 4) participating in extensive outdoor activities; and 5) staying in accommodations without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets. All travelers to countries where JE is endemic should be advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce the risk for JE and other vectorborne diseases. For some persons who might be at increased risk for JE, the vaccine can further reduce the risk for infection. The decision about whether to vaccinate should be individualized and consider the 1) risks related to the specific travel itinerary, 2) likelihood of future travel to countries where JE is endemic, 3) high morbidity and mortality of JE, 4) availability of an effective vaccine, 5) possibility (but low probability) of serious adverse events after vaccination, and 6) the traveler's personal perception and tolerance of risk. JE vaccine is recommended for persons moving to a JE-endemic country to take up residence, longer-term (e.g., ≥1 month) travelers to JE-endemic areas, and frequent travelers to JE-endemic areas. JE vaccine also should be considered for shorter-term (e.g., <1 month) travelers with an increased risk for JE on the basis of planned travel duration, season, location, activities, and accommodations and for travelers to JE-endemic areas who are uncertain about their specific travel duration, destinations, or activities. JE vaccine is not recommended for travelers with very low-risk itineraries, such as shorter-term travel limited to urban areas or outside of a well-defined JE virus transmission season. |
West Nile virus and other nationally notifiable arboviral diseases - United States, 2017
Curren EJ , Lehman J , Kolsin J , Walker WL , Martin SW , Staples JE , Hills SL , Gould CV , Rabe IB , Fischer M , Lindsey NP . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018 67 (41) 1137-1142 Arthropodborne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes or ticks. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of domestically acquired arboviral disease in the continental United States (1). Other arboviruses, including Jamestown Canyon, La Crosse, Powassan, St. Louis encephalitis, and eastern equine encephalitis viruses, cause sporadic cases of disease and occasional outbreaks. This report summarizes surveillance data reported to CDC from U.S. states in 2017 for nationally notifiable arboviruses. It excludes dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses because, in the continental United States, these viruses are acquired primarily through travel. In 2017, 48 states and the District of Columbia (DC) reported 2,291 cases of domestic arboviral disease, including 2,097 (92%) WNV disease cases. Among the WNV disease cases, 1,425 (68%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis), for a national rate of 0.44 cases per 100,000 population. More Jamestown Canyon and Powassan virus disease cases were reported in 2017 than in any previous year. Because arboviral diseases continue to cause serious illness, maintaining surveillance is important to direct and promote prevention activities. |
St. Louis encephalitis virus disease in the United States, 2003-2017
Curren EJ , Lindsey NP , Fischer M , Hills SL . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018 99 (4) 1074-1079 St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), an arthropod-borne flavivirus, can cause disease presentations ranging from mild febrile illness through severe encephalitis. We reviewed U.S. national SLEV surveillance data for 2003 through 2017, including human disease cases and nonhuman infections. Over the 15-year period, 198 counties from 33 states and the District of Columbia reported SLEV activity; 97 (49%) of those counties reported SLEV activity only in nonhuman species. A total of 193 human cases of SLEV disease were reported, including 148 cases of neuroinvasive disease. A median of 10 cases were reported per year. The national average annual incidence of reported neuroinvasive disease cases was 0.03 per million. States with the highest average annual incidence of reported neuroinvasive disease cases were Arkansas, Arizona, and Mississippi. No large outbreaks occurred during the reporting period. The most commonly reported clinical syndromes were encephalitis (N = 116, 60%), febrile illness (N = 35, 18%), and meningitis (N = 25, 13%). Median age of cases was 57 years (range 2-89 years). The case fatality rate was 6% (11/193) and all deaths were among patients aged > 45 years with neuroinvasive disease. Nonhuman surveillance data indicated wider SLEV activity in California, Nevada, and Florida than the human data alone suggested. Prevention depends on community efforts to reduce mosquito populations and personal protective measures to decrease exposure to mosquitoes. |
Adverse events following vaccination with an inactivated, Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the United States, 2012-2016
Walker WL , Hills SL , Miller ER , Fischer M , Rabe IB . Vaccine 2018 36 (29) 4369-4374 BACKGROUND: In March 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed an inactivated Vero cell culture-derived Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JE-VC [IXIARO(R)]) for use in persons aged >/=17years. In 2013, licensure was extended to include children aged >/=2months. A previous analysis reviewed adverse events reported to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from May 2009 through April 2012. METHODS: We reviewed adverse events reported to VAERS following JE-VC administered from May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2016. Adverse event reporting rates were calculated using 802,229 doses distributed. RESULTS: During the 4-year period, 119 adverse event reports were received for a reporting rate of 14.8 per 100,000 doses distributed. Nine (8%) adverse events were classified as serious for a reporting rate of 1.1 per 100,000 distributed. The most commonly reported event was hypersensitivity (n=24; 20%) for a rate of 3.0 per 100,000 doses distributed; 1 anaphylaxis event was reported. Ten (8%) neurologic events were reported for a rate of 1.2 per 100,000 doses distributed; 2 events were classified as seizures. Sixty-three (53%) adverse events occurred after a first dose of JE-VC. Eighty (67%) adverse events occurred after administration of JE-VC with other vaccines. Eleven (9%) adverse events were reported in children; 1 was considered serious. CONCLUSIONS: These data continue to support the generally favorable safety profile of JE-VC. Reporting rates of adverse events were similar to those of the previous analysis. Although reporting rates of adverse events in children could not be calculated, there were low numbers of reported events in this age group. Post-licensure adverse event surveillance for this relatively new vaccine continues to be important to monitor adverse event reporting rates and identify possible rare serious events. |
Breast milk transmission of flaviviruses in the context of Zika virus: A systematic review.
Mann TZ , Haddad LB , Williams TR , Hills SL , Read JS , Dee DL , Dziuban EJ , Perez-Padilla J , Jamieson DJ , Honein MA , Shapiro-Mendoza CK . Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2018 32 (4) 358-368 BACKGROUND: Since the Zika virus epidemic in the Americas began in 2015, Zika virus transmission has occurred throughout the Americas. However, limited information exists regarding possible risks of transmission of Zika virus and other flaviviruses through breast feeding and human milk. We conducted a systematic review of the evidence regarding flaviviruses detection in and transmission through milk, specifically regarding Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Powassan virus, West Nile virus, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Popline, Virtual Health Library, and WorldCat were searched through June 2017. Two authors independently screened potential studies for inclusion and extracted data. Human and nonhuman (animal) studies describing: 1) confirmed or suspected cases of mother-to-child transmission through milk; or 2) the presence of flavivirus genomic material in milk. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included, four animal models and thirteen observational studies. Dengue virus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus viral ribonucleic acid was detected in human milk, including infectious Zika virus and dengue virus viral particles. Human breast-feeding transmission was confirmed for only yellow fever virus. There was evidence of milk-related transmission of dengue virus, Powassan virus, and West Nile virus in animal studies. CONCLUSIONS: Because the health advantages of breast feeding are considered greater than the potential risk of transmission, the World Health Organization recommends that mothers with possible or confirmed Zika virus infection or exposure continue to breast feed. This review did not identify any data that might alter this recommendation. |
Powassan virus disease in the United States, 2006-2016
Krow-Lucal ER , Lindsey NP , Fischer M , Hills SL . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 18 (6) 286-290 BACKGROUND: Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne flavivirus that causes rare, but often severe, disease in humans. POWV neuroinvasive disease was added to the U.S. nationally notifiable disease list in 2001 and nonneuroinvasive disease was added in 2004. The only previous review of the epidemiology of POWV disease in the United States based on cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) covered the period from 1999 through 2005. METHODS: We describe the epidemiology and clinical features of laboratory-confirmed POWV disease cases reported to CDC from 2006 through 2016. RESULTS: There were 99 cases of POWV disease reported during the 11-year period, including 89 neuroinvasive and 10 nonneuroinvasive disease cases. There was a median of seven cases per year (range: 1-22), with the highest numbers of cases reported in 2011 (n = 16), 2013 (n = 15), and 2016 (n = 22). Cases occurred throughout the year, but peaked in May and June. Cases were reported primarily from northeastern and north-central states. Overall, 72 (73%) cases were in males and the median age was 62 years (range: 3 months-87 years). Of the 11 (11%) cases who died, all were aged >50 years. The average annual incidence of neuroinvasive POWV disease was 0.0025 cases per 100,000 persons. CONCLUSIONS: POWV disease can be a severe disease and has been diagnosed with increased frequency in recent years. However, this might reflect increased disease awareness, improved test availability, and enhanced surveillance efforts. Clinicians should consider POWV disease in patients presenting with acute encephalitis or aseptic meningitis who are resident in, or have traveled to, an appropriate geographic region. |
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