We inform you about the latest infectious disease outbreaks from overseas. Read the previous articles.
Information as of April 7, 2025
An animal source of mpox emerges — and it’s a squirrel|08 April 2025 |Nature
Researchers solve the mystery of a disease outbreak through long-term surveillance of wildlife in Africa.
Epidemiological Alert – Yellow fever in the Americas Region – 26 March 2025|26 Mar 2025 |Pan American Health Organization
Given the increase in human cases of yellow fever in 2025 in countries of the Americas Region, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) calls on Member States with areas at risk to continue their efforts to strengthen surveillance in endemic areas, vaccinate at-risk populations, and take the necessary actions to ensure that travelers going to areas where vaccination is recommended are properly informed and protected against yellow fever. In addition, PAHO/WHO highlights the need to strengthen clinical management, with emphasis on the detection and timely treatment of severe cases. PAHO/WHO also recommends the availability of reserve vaccine doses, in accordance with the availability of vaccines in each country, to guarantee a rapid response to possible outbreaks.
Zimbabwe strengthens polio surveillance with new environmental laboratory|27 March 2025|African Region
Harare – Zimbabwe is strengthening its capacity to detect and respond to poliovirus with the establishment of a new Environmental Surveillance unit in its National Polio Laboratory. This milestone marks a significant boost to the country’s public health infrastructure, allowing for earlier detection of poliovirus and more effective outbreak response efforts.
Epidemiological alert – Hand, foot, and mouth disease – 26 March 2025|28 Mar 2025 |Pan American Health Organization
With the onset of the seasonal season of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in several countries and territories of the Americas Region, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) urges Member States to strengthen the prevention and control of hand, foot, and mouth disease, especially in children, due to their high vulnerability and the risk of serious complications in the central nervous system (CNS), especially in the context of outbreaks related to enterovirus A71.
Uganda launches largest malaria vaccine introduction to date |02 April 2025|African Region
Apac, Uganda – Today, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and alliance partners, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), PATH and CHAI rolled out a malaria vaccination campaign in Apac District, northern Uganda. This makes Uganda the 19th country in Africa to introduce the malaria vaccine into routine immunisation and it is the largest vaccine rollout to date in terms of target districts and population.
Cholera|28 March 2025|Angola
Figure 1. Number of cholera cases by epidemiological week of reporting (n=8543), as of 23 March 2025. Data source: República de Angola. Boletim de Cólera
Source:https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON562
Measles|27 March 2025|United States of America
From 1 January to 20 March 2025, 378 cases have been reported from 17 States including: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. Two deaths have also been reported, one confirmed in Texas and one under investigation in New Mexico. The majority of cases are in children who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. The hospitalization rate is 17%.