CDC advisory details risk of severe arboviral disease in patients receiving B-cell medications

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aug. 11 released a health advisory on the risk of severe arboviral disease among patients receiving B-cell-depleting or B-cell-modulating medications. Arboviruses are mostly transmitted by mosquitos and ticks. West Nile virus is the most common arbovirus. Less common arboviruses include Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Powassan virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, La Crosse virus, Cache Valley virus and Potosi virus.  
 
Examples of B-cell-depleting or B-cell-modulating medications include rituximab and biosimilars, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab, obinutuzumab and ibritumomab tiuxetan. The risk of severe arboviral disease heightens from such drugs because patients may not form antibodies against a new infection. There are no approved treatments, prophylactic agents or human vaccines to prevent arboviral diseases endemic to the U.S, the CDC said. The advisory includes recommendations for health workers on treating patients with arboviral infections.