Epi Alert

Highlights

Ebola disease outbreak cause by Bundibugo virus, D.R. Congo
The Ebola outbreak in DRC, caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), was declared on 15 May 2026 and has been a PHEIC since 17 May. As of 15 October, DRC reported 9,277 confirmed cases and 4,478 deaths, with 65 new cases on 14 October alone. Ituri (6,806 cases) and North Kivu (1,991) are worst affected. In total, 65 of 167 health zones across seven provinces are involved, and only 78% of contacts are under follow-up. Two cases have been confirmed in North Ubangi, on the border with the Central African Republic, making it the eighth affected province. Kenya’s index patient, a Kenyan living in DRC, arrived via Uganda on 3 October and died two days later. By 17 October, Kenya had seven confirmed cases, including three health workers who treated the first patient. All new cases were already in quarantine when symptoms began. The ministry reports 128 of 130 contacts quarantined and no evidence of community transmission. On 18 October, an eighth case was confirmed: a 49-year-old man, not a health worker.

Measles, Americas
PAHO’s 8 October 2026 assessment rates the regional measles risk in the Americas as very high. From 4 January to 3 October, 17 countries reported 55,792 confirmed cases and 77 deaths, 4.8 times the comparable 2025 period. Guatemala (34,355), Mexico (13,595), the US (3,887), Peru (2,553) and Canada (1,121) account for 99.5% of cases, all with community transmission. Most deaths occurred in Guatemala (50) and Mexico (23). In Guatemala, the mortality rate among infants was 17 times the overall rate. Regional MMR coverage in 2025 was 88% for the first dose and 85% for the second, and 1.6 million children went unvaccinated. Modelling shows transmission declining in Guatemala and Mexico but rising in the US. More recent US national data show 4,410 confirmed cases in 2026, nearly double the 2,289 for all of 2025. Cases span 47 jurisdictions and 42 new outbreaks, and 96% are outbreak-associated. Two deaths are provisionally reported, although Pennsylvania reports five measles-associated deaths, three still under review. Cases have risen from 59 (2023) to 285 (2024), 2,289 (2025) and 4,410 so far.

Dengue, global updates
As of 8 October, 2,929 suspected dengue cases have been reported in Chad, of which 213 were PCR-confirmed, with 7 deaths. N’Djamena accounts for 173 confirmed cases (81%). In Sudan, 927 cases were registered North Darfur, between September and 16 October. Ecuador reported 38,607 cases as of 3 October (211.62 per 100,000), already 2% above the 2025 full-year total, with DENV-3 now predominating, replacing the DENV-2 dominance of 2024–2025. Florida reported 368 locally acquired cases as of 10 October, compared with 62 in all of 2025. Most were in Hillsborough (310) and Pinellas (37), and nearly all were DENV-2.In Europe, Italy has 70 locally acquired cases in seven active clusters, including a new one in Rome.

West Nile virus, Europe and USA
Europe is experiencing its most intense West Nile virus (WNV) season on record. As of 7 October 2026, EU countries reported 1,715 locally acquired human cases and 130 deaths. By 14 October, ECDC counted 1,926 autochthonous cases across 19 European countries. Italy is most affected (748 cases), and Greece and France recorded national highs. The virus is moving north. The Netherlands has reported 59 human cases and Belgium 15, its first locally acquired infections ever. On 15 October, Flanders reported two deaths among 14 confirmed infections, both in patients at high risk of severe disease. Local circulation there had been ongoing for months. In the US, 1,328 cases (76% neuroinvasive) have been reported in 2026

Yellow fever, Côte d'Ivoire
As of 15 October 2026, 23 yellow fever cases and 11 deaths have been reported in Boukani, located in northeastern Côte d'Ivoire. A request for information has been issued to obtain further details regarding diagnostic testing and the epidemiological investigation.