Federal Government Cancels Contract for Vaccines to Prepare for Pandemics
The US Department of Health and Human Services cancelled a $590 million contract with Moderna that it awarded in January 2025. The contract was awarded during the Biden Administration in an effort to support the advancement of a promising vaccine against Avian Flu (bird flu) as well as the development of vaccines against other viruses with the potential to cause pandemics. The termination of the agreement comes amid the ongoing spread of bird flu in US poultry farms, dairy herds, wild animals, and humans. Public health experts warn this decision leaves us more vulnerable to a possible avian flu pandemic, which has become more likely as the virus has evolved.
Full Story: CIDRAP, Reuters, NPR
Ethiopia Confirms First Mpox Infections Amid Regional Outbreaks
Ethiopia has confirmed its first three Mpox cases as the region experiences a surge of outbreaks. Health officials reported that individuals infected include a 3-week old baby and the child’s parents. With these cases, Ethiopia becomes the 25th African country to report an outbreak.
The vast majority of cases on the continent are in Sierra Leone, which accounts for 74% of new infections. Overall, Sierra Leone and Uganda comprise 93% of the region’s mpox infections.
Full Story: CIDRAP
