Epi Alert

Summary: 7 July 2026

A major Bundibugyo virus outbreak continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with 1,502 confirmed cases and 473 deaths in the DRC, while France reported an exported case in a healthcare worker. In Western Uganda, at least two confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease have been reported. Cholera transmission persists in Africa, including an epidemic in the DRC’s Kwango Province and sustained activity in Zimbabwe. Mpox activity remains widespread across 24 African countries, with Madagascar reporting 145 new laboratory-confirmed cases. Dengue cases are surging in Asia and Africa, notably in Sri Lanka (58,810 cases) and Kenya (1,583 suspected cases). Elsewhere, Western Australia reported 170 diphtheria cases, predominantly among Aboriginal populations, and Yemen recorded over 400 human rabies cases in Taiz Governorate amid severe vaccine shortages.

Highlights

Ebola virus disease — Africa
An outbreak of Bundibugyo virus continues to spread in the DRC and Uganda, with 1502 confirmed cases and 473 deaths reported in the DRC as of 4 July 2026. The outbreak has expanded to a fourth DRC province, Haut-Uélé, while France reported an exported case in a returning healthcare worker. Containment is challenged by a lack of approved vaccines or treatments, healthcare worker infections, and infrequent hemorrhagic signs, though a clinical trial has opened enrolment.

Marburg virus disease — Africa
An outbreak has been reported in western Uganda with at least two confirmed cases as of 30 June 2026. Additionally, the US Embassy issued an alert regarding a potential case in the region. Marburg virus disease is endemic in Uganda, with the majority of outbreaks historically discovered in the western part of the country.

Cholera — Africa
Cholera activity continues in Africa, with an epidemic declared in Kwango Province, DRC (136 cases, 10 deaths; CFR 7.4%), while Zimbabwe has reported sustained transmission with 99 cases and three deaths across seven districts, centred on the Penhalonga mining area.

Dengue — Asia
Dengue activity is increasing across several regions, with a sharp rise reported in Bangladesh ahead of the seasonal peak, 58,810 cases and 39 deaths in Sri Lanka through 3 July 2026, and 1,583 suspected cases with five deaths in Garissa County, Kenya, during epidemiological weeks 1–25. In Sri Lanka, transmission is concentrated in Colombo and Gampaha, which together account for about 40% of national cases, while Kenya has activated its national public health emergency operations centre to coordinate surveillance, case management, laboratory testing, and community response.

Mpox — Africa
Mpox activity continues across Africa, with 28,266 cases reported from 24 countries in 2026, including 4,552 laboratory-confirmed cases and 22 deaths (CFR 0.72%). Since the previous update, 192 new laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths have been reported from Angola, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, and South Sudan, with Madagascar accounting for most new confirmed infections (145 cases).