Taiwan detects local Clade Ib mpox as U.S. measles deaths and WHO polio warnings expose vaccine gaps

Moki

3 min read·2026/08/26

Moki

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Today’s health agenda is dominated by vaccine-preventable and vaccine-managed threats: Taiwan reported its first local Clade Ib mpox cases, the U.S. recorded two measles deaths, and WHO extended polio emergency recommendations while tracking a severe Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Regulators also advanced diabetes monitoring, rare-disease treatment and personalized mRNA cancer therapy.

Image / cdc.gov.tw

Taiwan reports first local Clade Ib mpox cases before schools reopen

Taiwan CDC reported two locally acquired Clade Ib mpox cases in August, both in men in their 30s who had not received mpox vaccination before onset. Taiwan has recorded 28 mpox cases this year through August 23, including 19 local and nine imported cases, and 544 cases since mpox became a category 2 notifiable disease in 2022. Vaccination remains incomplete: 110,971 people had received at least one dose by the end of July, 79,216 had completed two doses, and 31,755 still needed a second dose. As schools reopen, Taiwan CDC also warned of COVID-19, influenza, enterovirus and dengue risks.

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Image / AP News

U.S. measles outbreak records the first two deaths of 2026

Pennsylvania officials said two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died after contracting measles, the first U.S. measles-associated deaths reported this year. AP and Reuters reported 2,777 confirmed U.S. cases in 2026, the highest annual burden since the 1989–1991 resurgence. Pennsylvania has recorded 393 cases across 28 counties, including 185 in Lancaster County. State kindergarten MMR two-dose coverage was 93.2% in 2025–26, while Lancaster County was 87.6%, below the roughly 95% level generally needed to prevent sustained spread.

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Image / who.int

WHO extends polio emergency measures and updates Ebola Bundibugyo advice

WHO said the risk of international spread of polioviruses remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and recommended extending temporary recommendations for another three months, while concluding that the event is not a pandemic emergency. Four wild poliovirus type 1 cases have been reported so far in 2026, and 32 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus cases had been reported globally across 12 countries as of April 30. WHO’s August 20 Ebola Bundibugyo risk assessment reported 4,566 confirmed cases and 2,128 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by August 13.

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FDA clears dual glucose–ketone monitoring and the first wAIHA drug

FDA authorized Abbott’s Libre Duo 10 Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System for people aged two and older with diabetes, calling it the first U.S. wearable that continuously monitors ketones and the first device worldwide to combine continuous ketone and glucose monitoring in one product. FDA also approved Janssen Biotech’s Imaavy for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia in adults and children aged 12 and older currently or previously treated with corticosteroids. In a 24-week trial, 24% of patients receiving 30 mg/kg every four weeks had a durable hemoglobin response, compared with 8% on placebo.

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Image / nature.com

Personalized mRNA melanoma therapy reaches a Phase 3 milestone

Moderna and Merck reported positive topline Phase 3 results for intismeran autogene plus pembrolizumab after complete resection of stage IIB–IV melanoma. The companies said the combination improved recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival compared with pembrolizumab alone. Nature and STAT described the result as an important proof-of-principle for personalized mRNA cancer vaccines. The treatment is still investigational; full data, overall survival follow-up, manufacturing speed, cost and tumor-sampling logistics remain central questions before routine use.

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