The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 4,686 confirmed cases and 2,186 deaths, making it the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the country. In Europe, a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in a livestock farmer from Albania's Tropojë District marks an expansion into a previously non-endemic area, while Spain has confirmed its fourth case of 2026 in Salamanca. West Nile virus transmission has now been identified in 77 areas across nine European countries, with 245 locally acquired cases and 12 deaths, and the Netherlands reporting its first human infection since 2020. In Asia, the US CDC issued a travel notice for Bali following clusters of Zika virus in returning travellers. Elsewhere, significant outbreaks include a surge in Japanese encephalitis in India and the growing multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US.
Ebola virus disease — Global
The outbreak continues to expand making it largest ever in the country. Cumulatively as of 12 August 2026, 4686 confirmed cases have been reported: 4665 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (including two cases diagnosed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequently treated in Germany), 20 in Uganda and one in France. A total of 2186 deaths have been reported, including two in Uganda. As of 12 August, at least 986 patients have recovered including 965 in the DRC, 18 from Uganda have recovered, two in Germany and one from France.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever — Europe
Spain has confirmed its fourth CCHF case of 2026, the thirteenth recorded in Salamanca province, which concentrates most of the roughly 20 cases identified nationally since surveillance began. In Albania, a livestock farmer from Tropojë District was diagnosed and has recovered, in a district not previously considered endemic, prompting entomological investigations; the country's last reported case was in Kukës County in 2023.
West Nile virus disease — Europe
Seven countries have reported 245 locally acquired human cases and 12 deaths: Italy (139 cases, five deaths), Greece (65 cases, six deaths), Spain (17), North Macedonia (13), Romania (six cases, one death), France (four) and Germany (one), with onsets between 12 May and 1 August. Six regions have reported locally acquired cases for the first time ever, in France, Germany, Italy and North Macedonia. A PCR-positive asymptomatic blood donor in Utrecht represents the first locally acquired human infection in the Netherlands since 2020.
Zika virus disease — Asia (Bali)
The US CDC has issued a travel notice for Bali following an increased number of Zika virus cases reported in returning travelers. International health authorities have noted small clusters of travel-associated cases linked to the island, although local authorities have not declared a public health epidemic. Pregnant women are advised to avoid travel to Bali if possible, and returning travelers are advised to practice safe sex or abstain for up to three months.
Largest Ebola outbreak ever reported with 4686 confirmed cases and 2186 deaths
First human infection since 2020 in an asymptomatic blood donor
US CDC issues travel notice following small clusters of cases in returning travelers.
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.