Ebola (Bundibugyo virus): D.R. Congo reports 4,053 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths across five provinces; Uganda declared its outbreak over on 28 July after 20 cases. Exported healthcare-worker cases occurred in Germany, Czechia, France, and the UK. West Nile virus, Europe: 241 locally acquired cases across seven European countries, led by Italy (139) and Greece (61). Dengue, global situation: over 1.5 million cases globally, down from 2025. The Americas fell 61%; Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Malaysia showed marked rises. France reported one autochthonous case. Chikungunya, global situation: 219,522 cases and 81 deaths across 25 countries, declining monthly. Brazil dominates; the Philippines reported cases for the first time; France recorded seven autochthonous cases. Zika virus: travel-linked cases from Fiji identified in US and New Zealand travellers. Measles: 47,459 confirmed cases in the Americas, an eightfold increase versus 2025, concentrated in Guatemala and Mexico.
Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus, D.R. Congo and Uganda
As of 6 August 2026, the D.R. Congo has reported 4,053 confirmed cases and 1,850 deaths from Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, with 694 hospitalised in isolation and 53 of 140 health zones affected across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo provinces. Uganda declared the end of its outbreak on 28 July 2026 after 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with no new cases since 21 June. Exported cases in healthcare workers have been reported in Germany (two US citizens), Czechia, France, and the UK. No licensed vaccines or specific treatments exist for Bundibugyo virus, but Oxford University has launched the world's first Bundibugyo vaccine trial. ECDC assesses the risk to EU/EEA residents as very low.
West Nile Virus, Europe
Since the beginning of the 2026 transmission season, and as at 5 August, 59 areas affected by West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in seven countries across Europe. These seven countries have reported 241 locally acquired. human cases of WNV infection: Italy has reported 139, Greece 61, Spain 17, North Macedonia 13, Romania six, France four and Germany one case
Dengue, ECDC global update
As of 31 July 2026, over 1.5 million dengue cases and more than 500 deaths were reported globally across more than 90 countries, a decrease compared with 2025. The Americas recorded 1,373,756 cases by week 26, down 61% versus 2025 and 67% below the five-year average, with all four serotypes circulating. In South-East Asia, Sri Lanka (82,007) and Bangladesh (15,310, sharp July rise) exceeded 2025 levels, while India, Maldives, Thailand, and Timor-Leste showed mixed trends. In the Western Pacific, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia reported substantial activity. Africa reported 3,650 cases, mainly from Mali and Kenya. France recorded one autochthonous EU case.
Chikungunya, ECDC global update
As of 5 August 2026, ECDC reports 219,522 chikungunya cases and 81 deaths across 25 countries outside the EU/EEA since January 2026. Monthly incidence declined sharply, from 41,959 cases and 23 deaths in June to 6,746 cases and four deaths in July. Twelve countries have ongoing outbreaks, predominantly in the Americas (173,655 cases), with Brazil most affected, followed by Bolivia, Argentina, Costa Rica (up from 8 to 82 cases), and others. Asia reported 45,435 cases, led by India; the Philippines recorded its first 2026 cases (84). Africa reported around 432 cases, mainly in Mauritius. France reported seven autochthonous cases in Europe.
Zika virus disease, Oceania
As of 4 August 2026, three Zika infections were reported in travelers whose sole destination was Fiji, with symptom onsets in May 2025, March 2026, and June 2026. Two cases were confirmed by PCR and one by serology (IgM and neutralizing antibodies), without evidence of dengue co-infection. Clinical features in one patient included fever, headache, fatigue, rash, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, myalgia, and arthralgia. In New Zealand, three confirmed Zika cases were reported during surveillance week 30 (25–31 July 2026), with two linked to travel in Fiji and one to Indonesia
Measles, Global
PAHO/WHO reports a major resurgence of measles in the Americas, with 47,459 confirmed cases and 44 deaths between week 1 and week 28 of 2026, reported across 16 countries and one territory. This represents more than an eightfold increase compared with the same period in 2025 (5,123 cases) and the highest annual total in the Region in 22 years. Guatemala (30,371 cases, 26 deaths), Mexico (12,255 cases, 17 deaths), the United States (2,260 cases), and Peru (1,277 cases) account for 95% of confirmed cases. Globally, WHO recorded 186,168 cases across 165 Member States, with the Americas contributing 27% of confirmed cases. Incidence is highest in infants under one year (28.2/100,000), while the 20-29 age group represents the largest share of cases (31%).
35 pediatric cases and 22 deaths reported in Gujarat during the 2026 monsoon season.
First outbreak in nine years reaches 720 cases, prompting an emergency vaccination response.
75 cases and eight deaths reported in N'Djamena amid rapid case escalation.
313 confirmed cases and 24 deaths reported this year, with Dhi Qar most affected.
22 cases reported nationwide during the 2026 season, including 11 in Kyzylorda region.
Two confirmed cases, including one death, reported in Yumbe district in northern Uganda.
Record multistate outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce, with over 4100 confirmed cases and two deaths.
First autochthonous case in Northern Virginia, alongside local transmission in Florida and California.
Regional surges reported, including 259 cases in Udmurtia and a year-on-year doubling in Tatarstan.
51 confirmed cases in Campeche represent a nearly 12-fold year-on-year increase amid rising transmission.
2,792 new cases reported in July, with approximately 90 new cases reported daily.
47,459 confirmed cases and 44 deaths reported regionally in 2016 as of July 18.
5000 cases and one death reported nationwide in 2026 amid persistent vaccine hesitancy.
Six deaths among unvaccinated children under seven in Antsongobato amid national multi-district transmission.
One confirmed locally transmitted case in a Hinchinbrook resident who has since recovered.
224 confirmed cases and 17 total child deaths reported in 2026, a 96% increase.
Twelve new cVDPV2 cases reported across three provinces, bringing the 2026 total to 27.
118 confirmed animal cases and first spillover to a domestic cat requiring human prophylaxis.
87 confirmed animal cases in 2026, with a shift toward dogs and spread to Jerusalem.
Dozens of cases reported in Ibb province amid severe shortages of rabies vaccines.
Suspected human and livestock cases reported across national health facilities; further information requested.
Elevated wound-associated fatalities in Louisiana and 12 cases including one death in Florida.
Ten cases, including one death, reported this season alongside infected mosquitoes in central regions.
Cases reported among US and New Zealand travelers; local transmission is currently under investigation.
The ESCMID-AUMC Epi Alert, a strategic collaboration between the ESCMID Emerging Infections Subcommittee and the Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine of Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC) that integrates expertise and resources to advance emerging infectious diseases surveillance and intelligence sharing. This collaboration integrates ESCMID's extensive international network and emerging infections expertise with AUMC's proven surveillance capabilities, led by Dr. Abraham Goorhuis and the AUMC team and other collaborators form European Institutions.
The Epi Alert aims to be a weekly publication. The briefings are curated by infectious disease specialists prioritising data from trusted sources (such as Beacon, H-Radar, Outbreaknews, WHO, ECDC, CDC) based on potential impact, geographic region and urgency/relevancy to clinical practice. It aims to provide concise summaries for busy healthcare professionals with direct links for further investigation and transparency.
This integrated collaboration represents a significant milestone in ESCMID's commitment to emerging infections preparedness, strengthening our collective capacity to detect, analyse, and respond to infectious disease threats through international cooperation.
Disclaimer: The information in this epi-alert is a weekly summary of the information that is available on the internet, mainly the websites of Beacon, H-Radar, Outbreaknews, WHO, ECDC, CDC, and others. For this summary, we consider issues that are most relevant to the ESCMID members involved in clinical patient care. Therefore, this report is not comprehensive, but we strive to include all major global issues in this report on a weekly basis.