Pertussis – Japan & Ecuador: Japan reports over 82,795 pertussis cases in 2025, marking record national levels with widespread macrolide resistance and severe infections among infants. In Ecuador, 2,632 confirmed cases and 43 deaths have been recorded this year which is a two-fold increase compared to last year, indicating significant national circulation. These data highlight ongoing global pertussis activity and underscore the importance of vaccination and antibiotic stewardship.
Dengue – Region of the Americas & Viet Nam: The Americas continue to experience extensive dengue transmission (PAHO, EW 40), with 99,508 cases in Mexico, 34,755 in Ecuador, 2,690 in Puerto Rico, and a notable rise in DENV-3 activity in Brazil. In Viet Nam, over 93,000 cases have been reported— which is a 146% increase compared to 2024. Circulating DENV-3 and high regional incidence raise concerns for secondary infections and severe disease.
Chagas disease – Brazil (Amapá & Bahia): Multiple confirmed acute cases linked to oral transmission through contaminated food and beverages (e.g., açaí, sugarcane juice). Oral transmission remains a recurrent pattern in the Amazon region. Clinicians should suspect acute Chagas caused by the infection of a protozoan parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) in patients with fever and myocarditis after consuming locally prepared juices or foods.
Rift Valley fever – West Africa (Mauritania & Senegal): Cases of Rift Valley fever continues to rise in Senegal and Mauritania, West Africa. Because of this, the CDC issued a Travel Health Notice Level 1, practice usual precautions. Travelers should avoid mosquito bites and contact with animal products. Currently, no human vaccine is available.
Q fever – Australia: Australia has reported 951 Q fever cases over the past year, a marked increase compared with the five-year rolling mean of 566.2 cases (2019–2024). The rise underscores the importance of vaccination and awareness among at-risk occupational groups, including farmers, abattoir workers, and veterinarians.
This week’s Epi Alert features a record number of pertussis cases in Japan and Ecuador, marked by widespread macrolide resistance and severe infections among infants. Dengue remains widespread across the Americas and Asia, with high DENV-3 activity in Brazil and a sharp case increase in Viet Nam. In Brazil, new acute Chagas disease cases linked to oral transmission emphasize the importance of food safety in endemic regions. Rift Valley fever cases continue to rise in Mauritania and Senegal, prompting a CDC travel notice, while Australia reports a marked increase in Q fever cases compared with recent years.
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.
The Epi Alert aims for weekly publication, with frequency adapted to emerging threats. The briefings are curated by infectious disease specialists prioritising data from trusted sources (WHO, ECDC, CDC, ProMED) 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 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.
The recent re-emergence of avian influenza (H5N1) in parts of Asia, including isolated human cases in Cambodia and India, highlights the need for continued vigilance. While sustained human-to-human transmission has not been observed, the current situation warrants close monitoring. Strengthening surveillance, improving poultry vaccination strategies, and promoting regional One Health collaborations can support risk assessment and management, including early containment efforts.
Since the previous update on 5 May 2025, and as of 12 May 2025, nine new MERS-CoV cases—including two deaths—have been reported by health authorities in Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number of cases this year to ten.
Seven of the recent cases were part of the same cluster in Riyadh, including one patient with no history of contact with camels and six healthcare workers who acquired nosocomial infections from that patient in early May.
The risk of sustained human-to-human transmission in Europe remains very low. However, the current MERS-CoV situation is concerning, as this rise in cases comes just two weeks ahead of the Mecca pilgrimage—a period typically associated with high international travel.
Since April 2012, and as of 12 May 2025, a total of 2,638 confirmed MERS cases—including 957 deaths—have been reported globally.
A Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak is evolving in Rwanda, East Africa. As of 7 October 2024, over 40 confirmed MVD cases have been reported, mainly in healthcare facilities in Kigali, with many healthcare workers affected. This outbreak represents a spread from known endemic areas to urban settings, including nosocomial transmission in Kigali hospitals. While outbreaks are typically limited to remote areas, this one spans across Rwanda, with potential for satellite cases and further spread. No vaccines or treatments are currently available.
This compilation includes the latest news, publications, and resources, covering recent developments such as vaccine distribution in Africa and WHO policy updates. It provides links to '2022-2024 Mpox Outbreak: Global Trends,' which features interactive dashboards and epidemiological data. This update offers a brief overview of the developments of the mpox situation for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
As of August 2024, the world is facing a significant mpox outbreak, primarily affecting countries in Central and East Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries, with cases reported across several regions. The outbreak is characterised by the sustained human-to-human transmission of the clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV).
This ESCMID EIS mpox commentary provides up-to-date, evidence-based information on mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) for healthcare professionals, researchers, and public health officials.
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