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Clinical and public health laboratories reported increased influenza virus detections over the past few weeks, but US cases remains comparatively low to previous flu seasons.

CDC Influenza Surveillance Weekly Report

This approval of the non-live, recombinant sub-unit adjuvanted vaccine, Shingrix, is for the prevention of shingles in adults aged 18 years and older with increased risk of immunodeficiency or immunosuppression.

FDA Approves Vaccine to Prevent Shingles in Immunocompromised Adults

Along with a 1 reported case in Massachusetts, the

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has confirmed a person infected with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has died. The public health agency said the person was hospitalized due to severe central nervous system disease. The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified 3 human infections, including 2 fatalities. In the same statement, DHHS mentions there has been 1 confirmed case in Vermont this summer.

On August 16, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) released a statement discussing the confirmation of the first human case of EEE in the state this year. The confirmed case was discovered in an 80 year old man who was exposed to the vector borne disease in Worcester County. As a result, the risk level in the local communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster has been raised to critical, and in Dudley, Northbridge, and Uxbridge the risk is increased to high.

Additionally, the neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge, and Upton are now considered at moderate risk according to MDPH.

“This is the first time we have seen a person infected with EEE in Massachusetts since 2020,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, said in a statement. “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern. We want to remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in areas of the state where we are seeing EEE activity.

Though very rare, EEE is serious and a potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with 6 deaths, and 5 human cases with 1 death in 2020. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023.

EEE has a fatality rate of 33% to 70%, with most deaths occurring 2–10 days after the onset of symptoms.

In addition to a high mortality rate, long-term physical and mental complications, including permanent neurological deficits have been identified in many people who survive EEE.

Plymouth is approximately 40 miles south of Boston along the coast, and Worcester County is in the middle of the state, so the 2 areas are not in close proximity, but due to the elevated risk locally, the town of Plymouth decided to take action in response to outdoor parks. As of last Friday, all town public parks and fields are close daily from dusk until dawn.

“As Mass DPH has now elevated Plymouth’s EEE risk status to high, it is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk to exposure to EEE. The health and safety of our community, residents, and visitors remain our priority,” Plymouth’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Michelle Bratti, said in a statement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most people who are infected with the virus do not develop symptoms; however, for those that do, the date from the bite to the onset of the illness is 4 to 10 days. EEE can also result in fever or neurologic disease. The type of illness will depend on the age of the person and other factors. Those who are infected can develop meningitis.

There are no FDA-approved treatments for EEE and for patients who develop severe cases, they can be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment.

Over the weekend, MDPH detailed plans of spraying for mosquitos including aerially in areas of Plymouth County, and truck-mounted spraying in parts of Worcester County. As of Saturday, 10 communities in Massachusetts were raised to high or critical risk for EEE virus.

“The risk from EEE is high in parts of Plymouth County and critical in parts of Worcester County,” State Epidemiologist Catherine M. Brown, DVM, said in a statement. “In addition to recommending that people use mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient and clothing to reduce exposed skin, we also recommend that evening outdoor events be rescheduled to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn. The mosquitoes most likely to spread EEE are most active during the dusk to dawn hours.”

There are preventative strategies to avoid EEE, and the MDPH has listed such measures 

For those who live in Massachusetts and want more information on EEE, it can be found 

 or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

1.NH DHHS Identifies Person Infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in New Hampshire.The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. August 27, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024.
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/news-and-media/nh-dhhs-identifies-person-infected-eastern-equine-encephalitis-virus-new-hampshire
2. State health officials announce season’s first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Massachusetts. MDPH. August 16, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024.
https://www.mass.gov/news/state-health-officials-announce-seasons-first-human-case-of-eastern-equine-encephalitis-in-massachusetts
3.Plymouth to Close all Public Parks and Fields from Dusk to Dawn. Town of Plymouth. August 23, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. PDF.
4. Eastern Equine Encephalitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment. CDC. May 15, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment/index.html
5. State officials announce plans to spray for mosquitoes in sections of Worcester and Plymouth counties due to EEE. MDPH. August 24, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. 
https://www.mass.gov/news/state-officials-announce-plans-to-spray-for-mosquitoes-in-sections-of-worcester-and-plymouth-counties-due-to-eee



The town of Plymouth decided to prohibit people from using the parks from dusk to dawn due to concerns over eastern equine encephalitis after a man contracted the rare disease in the state.

Concerns Over Mosquito-Borne Illness Causes Massachusetts Town to Create Curfew for Parks, Spraying in Counties

Peggy Lillis Foundation CEO Christian Lillis talks about how he became involved in advocacy around C diff and his motivation 

The Genesis of C diff Advocacy 

When Christian Lillis’ mother passed away suddenly at the age of 56 in 2010 from 

, he had to go through the process of getting her affairs in order. She did not have a will, and Christian had to go through the courts to become the executor of her will.

During the process he had spoken to someone within the pathologist’s department, and Christian naturally inquired about if his mother’s infection was reported to the state or federal agency.

“I'll never forget the person said: ‘people die from 

 every day in New York, it's not unusual. We don't report it to the state or the CDC.’ And my response to that was, a healthy 56-year-old woman going to the dentist and dying 6 days later isn't unusual to you?” Lillis said to the person. “And so that really is what made me dig into how 

 was reported, and to whom it was reported, and how easily the public could access that data and have that knowledge…I'm still angry over that conversation.”

The conversation stuck with him and motivated him into putting a spotlight on 

. That same year, Christian and his brother, Liam, started the 

Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF) for C diff Education and Advocacy

. Over the years, PLF has worked to help serve 

Fast forward to last month, and congresswoman Yvette Clark (D-NY)—who is Christian’s representative—introduced legislation, the Peggy Lillis 

 Inclusion Act, into the House of Representatives. The act calls for 

nationally notifiable infectious disease and condition

PLF was instrumental in getting the bill introduced. As part of its governmental advocacy, PLF have a Lobby Day in Washington DC every year where they speak to Congressional representatives and their aides.

“We have been meeting with her [Clark] over the years, keeping her up to date on what was going on with 

,” Lillis said. He also said there was a health inequity aspect that appealed to Clark and helped in getting her involved and sponsoring the bill.

“There's research showing that people of color, in particular, Black Americans get 

 at slightly lower rates than White Americans, but they have worse outcomes. And Congresswoman Clark has always been very interested in health equity and ensuring that people have access to treatment.”

The Prospective Bill and Getting it Passed

The bill as written, and if passed, would:

Require states to collect and report data on confirmed cases of 

Require Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish standardized data elements, including demographic information, clinical information, and laboratory results, for the reporting of cases of 


While getting the bill introduced is a very important step, it must goes through a long process in order to get passed and they still need congressional help to have a chance of doing so.

“We're looking at republican congressional representatives to find a republican cosponsor,” Lillis said. “In these partisan times, having an all-democratic bill or an all-republican bill doesn't tend to work, so our volunteers and board members who live in republican districts are in communication with their representatives, and now talking to them about the bill. We're hoping that we can announce a cosponsor in the next month or 2.”

Anyone can get involved in advocating for the bill by contacting their local representatives. For anyone interested in contacting Congress, people can go to 

 and send a message directly to their representative’s office.

This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation with Lillis. We will be publishing the next part of the conversation in the coming days.

Peggy Lillis Foundation CEO Christian Lillis talks about how he became involved in advocacy around C diff and his motivation in helping to  bring a bill to Congress to make the healthcare-associated infection a nationally notifiable infectious disease and condition.

The impact of including patients with advanced disease and the role of comprehensive care in the PALM 007 clinical trial, which evaluated the antiviral tecovirimat for treating monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

SIGA Technologies' Trial Results Benefits Mpox Treatment Despite Not Meeting Primary Endpoint

Early this morning, SIGA Technologies announced the results of the PALM 007 clinical trial, which assessed antiviral tecovirimat for treating monkeypox (mpox) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) did not achieve its primary objective of showing a statistically significant improvement in lesion resolution compared to a placebo. Regardless, tecovirimat's safety profile was consistent with the placebo's and aligned with previous studies' findings.

Jay Varma, MD, Chief Medical Officer at SIGA Technologies, discussed findings from the trial with 

. He acknowledged that although the primary goal was not met, he explained that the trial showed benefits in patients treated early or those with severe disease. Varma elaborated on a few reasons supporting this:

“Firstly, regarding early treatment, this study was designed with certain humanitarian considerations in mind. Instead of targeting the study solely towards those most likely to show a benefit from the drug, it included patients who could present much later in the course of their illness. For example, about 20 to 30% of patients presented more than seven days after the rash began. This significantly diluted the impact of the study findings. So, including patients who were unlikely to benefit much was a major reason why the primary endpoint wasn’t met,” Varma said.

Varma compared tecovirimat to other antivirals for infections like flu or COVID-19, noting that these drugs don’t kill viruses but prevent them from spreading through the body. He continued with his second point about patient benefits:

“The study was initially designed based on historical data about how quickly lesions resolve, under routine conditions. In this study, all patients were hospitalized, provided with food, nutrition, and treatment for other illnesses. This comprehensive care improved their outcomes by about 25 to 50%, with patients resolving their illnesses approximately two days faster than historically. This created a challenge in demonstrating a benefit in patients who might have had milder disease, which is why the treatment benefit was mainly observed in patients with severe disease or those treated early.”

Varma made an analogy of how regulatory agencies and clinical or public health agencies evaluate a drug. “Regulatory agencies, like referees in a sports game, focus on rule adherence. In contrast, doctors and public health agencies consider the broader performance and value. When evaluating the total data, it’s clear that the drug has value, particularly for patients treated early or those with severe disease.”

Regarding the new mpox strain, clade I, Varma commented on its transmission modes. 

Everything we know about the mpox strain circulating in the DRC, known as clade I, shows it’s still quite similar to the clade 2 strain spreading elsewhere. We don’t think respiratory transmission is a major factor at present, viruses evolve, and anything is possible, but respiratory transmission isn’t considered a primary driver right now,” Varma said. “The main difference between the two clades is the severity of illness. Clade I generally causes more severe disease compared to clade II, which can be less severe or occur in people with advanced AIDS or other immune suppression. Smallpox, a related virus, represents the most severe end of this continuum.”

Future research is ongoing with trials such as STOMP, UNITY, Platinum-CAN, and EPOXI to assess tecovirimat’s efficacy under various conditions. It’s essential to use lessons from this trial to improve these ongoing studies. Varma highlighted key factors for future research:

“It's crucial for patients and observers to understand that this study isn't the final word on the drug or on mpox. Based on everything we know about the drug’s biology and safety, it’s important to study it further for the endpoints mentioned, and also in different patient populations.”

It's important to note the differences in affected populations: in the DRC, most diagnoses are among children, usually without HIV, who likely contracted the infection through close skin-to-skin contact or possibly from animals. In contrast, in the US and Europe, the affected population is primarily adult men who are gay, bisexual or have other sexual partners, with many also living with HIV.

“Lesions often present differently, with more in the genital or anal areas and they tend to be extremely painful. Therefore, future research should also focus on patient-centered endpoints, like pain and discomfort relief, as observational data from compassionate use indicates that pain and discomfort resolve faster with the drug.”

SIGA Technologies and NIAID are analyzing these studies to better understand the benefits of tecovirimat. Together, these trials aim to deepen knowledge of tecovirimat and refine its application for managing mpox.

“SIGA is taking is partnering with governments worldwide and large multilateral organizations like WHO to ensure the drug is available for two main purposes. First, to support research and ensure high-quality data to confirm the drug’s effectiveness and target population. Second, to provide the drug for compassionate use, especially for those with severe disease or advanced immune suppression. We want to make sure it’s available while critical data is being collected.”

SIGA. Topline Results from PALM 007 Study of SIGA’s Tecovirimat in Treatment of Mpox Released. GlobalNewswire. Published August 15, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/15/2930825/9738/en/Topline-Results-from-PALM-007-Study-of-SIGA-s-Tecovirimat-in-Treatment-of-Mpox-Released.html

The impact of including patients with advanced disease and the role of comprehensive care in the PALM 007 clinical trial, which evaluated the antiviral tecovirimat for treating monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.



In the current state of the mpox outbreak, individuals with advanced HIV face a higher risk of severe illness, making vaccination and targeted public health measures essential.

HIV and Mpox: Risks, Prevention, and Vaccine Access

As mpox cases continue to rise, individuals with HIV are increasingly represented among those affected. While the direct impact of HIV on the likelihood of contracting mpox virus is unclear, it is well-established that people with advanced HIV, particularly those who are immunocompromised, face a higher risk of severe illness and death if they contract mpox. This heightened vulnerability underscores the importance of following prevention strategies, including vaccination, to safeguard health. Understanding how mpox spreads and the available preventive measures is essential for managing this dual health challenge effectively.

Leo Moore, MD, MSHPM, an internal medicine, HIV medicine, and lifestyle medicine physician based in Los Angeles, California, emphasizes the varying risks for people with HIV. He explains,

“I think about those who are either living with HIV on treatment, have low viral loads or suppressed viral loads, and have strong immune systems, versus those who are not on medication, who have high viral loads and low white blood cell counts. Those patients are at increased risk for severe cases of mpox. So those are the patients that I'm particularly concerned about when I think about this new mpox strain.”

Mpox is caused by different strains, each with varying levels of severity and transmission. Clade I is associated with more severe disease and higher fatality rates compared to clade II. As a result, clade I necessitates more extensive public health measures, such as widespread vaccination and strict isolation, particularly for vulnerable populations like those with advanced HIV. Clade II generally leads to milder disease, lower fatality rates, and less transmission, which allows for more targeted public health responses, including surveillance and localized containment.

Moore comments, “The potential for clade I to spread to the United States increases the risk for those who have uncontrolled HIV.” Understanding these differences is important for effective resource allocation and response strategies.

Our discussion also touched on the commercialization of the Jynneos vaccine and its impact on vaccine accessibility. According to the CDC’s updated mpox guidance, Jynneos is recommended for immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV or primary immunodeficiency.

Moore raises concerns about the commercialization of vaccines, particularly following the period of federal government provision at no cost. “It decreases availability for those who are uninsured or underinsured. I'm particularly concerned about that in states where Medicaid has not been expanded because we know that patients without Medicaid or other health insurance are unlikely to access the medication. It’s going to be much more difficult for them to find it for free or on a sliding scale,” he said.

Fortunately, individuals with HIV will still have access to Jynneos after its commercialization. The updated guidance confirms that Jynneos will remain available for individuals with HIV and other immunocompromised conditions, with provisions to ensure accessibility.

For HIV-positive patients with mpox, initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) alongside mpox treatment is essential. Jynneos, as well as post-exposure prophylaxis and antiviral treatments, have minimal interactions with ART and immunosuppressive medications.

Bavarian Nordic is scaling up manufacturing to meet anticipated orders and ensure surge capacity. The majority of mpox cases in Africa have been reported in individuals under 18 years old. Bavarian Nordic is working to expand vaccine access to adolescents and younger children through clinical studies and regulatory approvals.

Moore comments on international efforts: “Providing vaccines to countries in Africa is important and needs to be done. I also want to ensure that in our country there is an opportunity and an access point for those who are uninsured and underinsured because we know that as this has spread to 

, it’s likely in other countries, and it’s only a matter of time before it reaches the US.”

To continue, there is an HIV stigma that circulates negative beliefs about people with HIV, including assumptions about who can contract the virus and judgments about prevention actions. Discrimination is behaviors based on these beliefs, such as refusing to provide healthcare, avoiding social interaction, or using derogatory terms.

Addressing stigmas, Moore shares effective ways that patients can form their own safe space to communicate their concerns or symptoms to their clinician without judgment, “Tell us what you're experiencing and show us if you have any lesions. I also think it's important for patients to be empowered to pull up an article on their phone if they need to or show pictures of what they're seeing that they think is similar to what's on their body as well.” Effective patient-clinician communication is vital for optimal care.

Moore concludes, “For those who are indicated for this vaccine (Jynneos), those who are men who have sex with men, transgender or non-binary persons who've had at least one STI or have multiple sex partners, or if they're the partners of people who fall into those categories, they should get two doses of the Jynneos vaccine, and they should get it as soon as possible.”

Mpox and HIV. CDC. Updated April 22, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/prevention/hiv.html#:~:text=We%20do%20not%20know%20if,death%20if%20they%20get%20mpox

Shafaati M, Zandi M. State-of-the-art on monkeypox virus: an emerging zoonotic disease. Infection. 2022 Dec;50(6):1425-30

Clinical Considerations for Treatment and Prophylaxis of Mpox in People Who are Immunocompromised. CDC. Updated June 13, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/clinicians/people-with-HIV.html

Bavarian Nordic Provides Statement on Mpox Vaccine Supply and Collaboration with African and Global Stakeholders. Bavarian Nordic news statement. August 17, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.bavarian-nordic.com/investor/news/news.aspx?news=6970

Let's Stop HIV Together. CDC. Last reviewed February 7, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/stophivtogether/hiv-stigma/index.html#:~:text=HIV%20stigma%20is%20negative%20attitudes,believed%20to%20be%20socially%20unacceptable

The Benefits of Making  C diff a Nationally Notifiable Infectious Disease

Earlier this summer, congresswoman Yvette Clark (D-NY) introduced legislation into the House of Representatives, which calls for 

 to be recognized as a nationally notifiable infectious disease and condition. The bill titled, the Peggy Lillis 

 Inclusion Act, specifically would do the following:

The bill is named in honor of Peggy Lillis, a single mother and kindergarten teacher in New York City who lost her life to a 

infection after being sick for only 6 days. This tragedy led her 2 sons, Christian and Liam, to cofound the 

Peggy Lillis Foundation for C diff Education and Advocacy

“While she might be a little slightly embarrassed by the idea that her name is running around Congress, I think that she would ultimately be proud, you know of myself and my brother and all the people who are have joined together to get this done in her name,” Lillis said of what his mom would think of the bill being named after her.

Christian and the organization played a large part in advocating for the bill’s introduction and had an 

 and her office for years before the congresswoman decided to sponsor the bill.

Beyond the significance of collecting data of 

, Lillis says this should work towards changing the approach to clinical care.

“We are still undercounting the morbidity and mortality of this disease. And so in my ideal world, we report every infection, first because it's important for our scientific endeavors, but also because all of those people should count,” Lillis said. “This is a preventable infection, and anybody who dies from it, we should be aware of that, and we should make sure that their death counts towards changing policy.”

He says this is also a larger conversation around antimicrobial stewardship and the development of new antibiotics.

“I'm sure the people watching this are going to know that we don't have a strong antibiotic pipeline,” Lillis said. “And I think the more that we can show that these infectious diseases are killing Americans, the more of an argument we have for producing more of these drugs.”



, Christian talks about his personal experience in how he became involved in C diff advocacy.

In the second part of our interview with Christian Lillis, cofounder and CEO of the Peggy Lillis Foundation, he discusses what the passage of the Peggy Lillis Clostridioides difficile Inclusion Act would do for reporting of the infection as well as the potential ancillary effects around antibiotic development and antimicrobial resistance.   

Armand Butera

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