Travel Health Pro has shared the latest outbreaks people need to be aware of
As of May 2026, there are many disease outbreaks and epidemics worldwide. This includes common respiratory viruses that are spreading widely and some serious zoonotic diseases that pose a significant health risk in certain places. Some of the major global outbreaks that are still going on in 2026 are COVID-19, cholera, dengue fever, measles, and MPX, according to officials like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Other ongoing outbreaks in different regions and emerging areas include the Nipah virus, yellow fever, meningococcal disease, chikungunya, and avian influenza in several countries. The WHO has identified eight dangerous pathogens that require close monitoring because they could cause epidemics. These pathogens are Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, MERS-CoV, SARS, Nipah virus, Rift Valley fever, and Zika virus.
For the best and most up-to-date travel info and local outbreaks, check out the CDC Current Outbreak List or Travel Health Pro. The second one keeps its website updated with the newest outbreaks; you can see the complete list online here. But, here’s a quick summary of the latest info, which impacts 19 countries, as of May 1.
1. Mpox in Denmark, Poland (ex Slovakia), Madagascar and Pakistan
On 27 April 2026, the number of confirmed clade Ib mpox cases in Denmark has increased to four. One case has reported no travel history abroad, indicating locally acquired infection.
On 13 April 2026, the first detection of clade I mpox in Poland was confirmed. The clade subtype is unspecified. The case is an adult male who had a travel history to Slovakia. No onward transmission associated with this case has been reported.
Between 18 December 2025 and 25 April 2026, a total of 1,196 confirmed mpox cases and three deaths have been reported in Madagascar. Clade Ib mpox has been detected among confirmed cases.
As of 14 April 2026, 122 suspected mpox cases (25 confirmed) have been reported in Sindh Province. Cases have been reported from Khairpur district, Sukkur and Karachi. Nine deaths have been recorded, and newborn babies have been among those affected. No further information regarding the clade is available at present.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with an infected animal, another person, or contaminated items. The virus can enter the body through cuts in the skin (even if they aren’t visible), the breathing passages, or mucous membranes (such as the eyes, nose, or mouth).
The incubation period, the time from when a person becomes infected to when they first show symptoms, lasts five to 21 days. Symptoms typically start with fever, headache, muscle or back pain, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and feeling very tired. During this period, a person might be contagious. For more information about Mpox, visit the NHS website.
2. Yellow fever in Ecuador
On 25 April 2026, Ecuador’s Ministry of Health reported a fatal human case of yellow fever in an 11-year-old child in Joya de los Sachas Canton, Orellana Province. This is the first human case of yellow fever in Ecuador in nine months. For more information about yellow fever, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
3. CVDPV2 in Malawi
In the week ending 22 April 2026, one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported from Southern Province, Malawi, collected on 19 February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
4. Measles in Bangladesh
Between 15 March and 14 April 2026, a total of 19,161 suspected and 2,973 confirmed measles cases, with 30 (166 suspected) confirmed measles-related deaths, have been reported from Bangladesh. The highest number of suspected cases have been reported from Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Khulna. Children under five years account for the majority of reported cases. For more information about measles, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
5. Dengue in Martinique, Maldives and Tonga
As of 29 March 2026, 1,009 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Martinique since the start of 2026. DENV3 has been recorded. Also, as of 15 April 2026, 1,908 cases of dengue have been reported in the Maldives since the start of 2026. This represents an increase compared to the same period in previous years. Cases has been recorded across all Atolls.
As of 20 April 2026, a total of 24 laboratory confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Tonga for 2026. The Ministry of Health has declared a dengue outbreak following an increase in confirmed and suspected cases, along with evidence of community transmission across Eua, Ha‘apai and Tongatapu. For more information about dengue, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
6. Dengue, yellow fever and Zika in Bolivia
As of 22 March 2026, 36,007 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This represents a large increase compared to the same period in 2025. Serotypes DENV1 and DENV2 have been recorded. Also, b etween 1 January and 21 April 2026, a total of five cases of yellow fever have been reported in Bolivia with two deaths.
As of 28 March 2026, a total of 1,168 cases of Zika virus disease have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This represents a large increase compared to the same period in 2025. 1,224 cases were recorded for the whole of 2025. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
7. CVDPV1 in South Sudan
As of 20 April 2026, two cVDPV1 cases were reported from the Upper Nile region. Onset of paralysis in both cases was February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
8. Zika in France (ex Indonesia)
Between July 2025 and March 2026, 11 travel-associated cases of Zika virus disease were reported in France, linked to travel to Indonesia, including all four cases detected in early 2026. Most cases were associated with travel to Bali and neighbouring islands. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
9. Oropouche virus disease in Colombia
As of 19 March 2026, a total of 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease (OROV) were reported in Colombia during 2025. For more information about the oropouche virus, including symptoms, visit Gov.uk.
10. Undiagnosed illness in Burundi
As of 11 April 2026, a total of 35 cases of an undiagnosed illness, including five deaths, have been reported in Mpanda district, in the north of Burundi. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in urine and fatigue. Some severe cases have also presented with anaemia and jaundice. Currently, laboratory testing is negative for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Investigations are ongoing.
11. Influenza A(H9N2) in Italy ex Senegal
On 10 April 2026, the World Health Organization reported the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) in Italy. The case was in an adult returning from Senegal. This is also the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) reported in the European Region. For more information about the bird flu, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
