A prolonged diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria has caused 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths since 2022, exacerbated by low vaccination coverage. In Europe, four Frankfurt Airport workers contracted malaria, likely from an imported mosquito, highlighting the rare phenomenon of "airport malaria." Asia reports 7 confirmed Chandipura virus cases in children in Gujarat, India, resulting in 3 deaths, alongside widespread measles outbreaks in Bangladesh, which have caused 114,164 suspected cases and 771 deaths. Meanwhile, cholera continues to affect Africa, with Cameroon and Chad reporting outbreaks contributing to over 63,000 cases across 19 African Union states this year. In North America, the United States is managing a significant measles resurgence, with 2,260 confirmed cases across 44 jurisdictions, predominantly linked to outbreaks.
Diphtheria — Africa
An ongoing outbreak in Nigeria has resulted in 65,759 suspected cases and 2,229 deaths between 2022 and July 2026. A new suspected cluster was reported in Niger State in July 2026. The outbreak occurs against a backdrop of low vaccination coverage, with only 62% of Nigerian children receiving the recommended three doses of the DTP vaccine.
Malaria — Europe
Four workers at Frankfurt Airport have contracted malaria, likely transmitted by an imported Anopheles mosquito arriving via aircraft. "Sirport malaria" events are rare in Germany and can result in delayed diagnoses. The last similar case occurred at the same airport in 2023, and local health authorities are currently investigating the infections.
Chandipura virus disease — Asia
Seven confirmed cases of Chandipura virus infection have been reported in children in Gujarat, resulting in three deaths, with four patients requiring ventilatory support. Chandipura virus is an arbovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae, the same family as rabies virus, and can cause rapidly progressive acute encephalitis. It is transmitted primarily by sandflies, with no documented human-to-human transmission.
Cholera — Africa
Cameroon reported 121 total cases and 8 deaths, with Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa identified. In Chad, an outbreak of the same strain has spread causing 120 total cases and 4 deaths. The Central African Republic has declared its first cholera outbreak in 9 years, reaching 436 suspected cases with case fatality rate exceeding the WHO alert threshold. Continent-wide, 19 African Union Member States have reported 63,095 total cases and 1,229 deaths this year.
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.