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CDC recommendation on Vaxchora for adult travel

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Vaxchora, the only vaccine available in the US for active immunisation against cholera, for use in adults to any area of active cholera transmission.

The recommendation states that Vaxchora should be used in adults (18-64 years old) travelling to an area of active cholera transmission. This recommendation is the same one unanimously voted for by the CDC's ACIP in June 2016. This recommendation has been adopted by the CDC and published in the May 12, 2017 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the CDC's primary vehicle for publication of authoritative public health information and recommendations for healthcare providers, epidemiologists and others.

"Cholera represents a rising global public health challenge," said Jason Harris, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. "Its prevalence has increased since the start of the millennium and outbreaks continue to have devastating effects. In addition, the number of countries where cholera is endemic has increased and the disease is now endemic in over 60 countries."

There are an estimated three million cholera cases per year around the world and more than 8 million U.S. travelers per year going to countries where cholera occurs. More than 80 percent of reported U.S. cases are associated with travel to cholera-endemic countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.1 Of the top 20 international destinations of U.S. travelers; five are to cholera-endemic countries, including the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, China, India and the Philippines. Additionally, in recent years, there has been a rapid spread and re-emergence of cholera in the Americas, with cases reported in Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador and Haiti. Despite this, cholera remains underreported.

"Cholera has shown itself to be an emerging pathogen in the Western hemisphere," said Bradley A. Connor, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College, Attending Physician at the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Campus and Medical Director, The New York Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine. "The recent outbreak in Haiti demonstrated that cholera can evolve to become an even larger issue in areas we haven't seen before. These new CDC guidelines will help educate healthcare providers who see travelers to consider vaccination for those who may be at risk for contracting cholera."

Vaxchora, a single-dose vaccine, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2016 for active immunization against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1. The approval was based on positive results from a 10-and 90-day cholera challenge trial that demonstrated vaccine efficacy of 90.3% at 10 days and 79.5% at three months post-vaccination, as well as two safety and immunogenicity trials in healthy adults.

Cholera, transmitted by ingestion of food and water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, is an important cause of diarrhea that may be severe and life-threatening in some individuals. If untreated, death may result in 24 hours.1 A recent report from the CDC suggests that the true number of cholera cases in the U.S. is at least 30 times higher than observed by national surveillance systems.3 Non-vaccine intervention to prevent cholera infection is the avoidance of contaminated water and food, but studies have shown that 98 percent of travelers do not comply with these precautions when traveling.4

Vaxchora is an oral vaccine indicated for active immunization against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1. Vaxchora is approved for use in adults 18 through 64 years of age traveling to cholera-affected areas. The effectiveness of Vaxchora has not been established in persons living in cholera-affected areas or in persons who have pre-existing immunity due to previous exposure to Vibrio cholerae or receipt of a cholera vaccine. Vaxchora has not been shown to protect against disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O139 or other non-O1 serogroups.

Vaxchora is contraindicated in people with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any ingredient of Vaxchora or to a previous dose of any cholera vaccine. The safety and effectiveness of Vaxchora have not been established in immunocompromised persons. Vaxchora may be shed in the stool of recipients for at least seven days. There is a potential for transmission of the vaccine strain to non-vaccinated close contacts (e.g., household contacts). Use caution when considering whether to administer Vaxchora to individuals with immunocompromised close contacts. The most common adverse reactions (incidence >3%) were: tiredness (31%), headache (29%), abdominal pain (19%), nausea/vomiting (18%), lack of appetite (17%) and diarrhea (4%).

[link url="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6618a6.htm?s_cid=mm6618a6_w"]CDC Guideline[/link]

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