Global disease outbreaks, factually summarised

On 11 June 2026, WHO was informed of a laboratory-confirmed case of Nipah virus infection reported in Kozhikode district, Kerala State. The case involves an adult male resident of Kozhikode who developed symptoms on 30 May 2026 and was admitted to hospital on 10 June 2026. Following confirmation of the case, extensive contact tracing was initiated, identifying a total of 104 contacts by 18 June 2026, including 45 health and care workers. No secondary cases have been reported, and health authorities have implemented measures for monitoring and infection control.

Globally, sylvatic yellow fever transmission in high-risk areas has been strongly influenced by rainfall, temperature, and mosquito ecology in 2025 and early 2026. In Africa, sustained transmission was noted in 26 countries, while the Americas recorded 241 cases and 100 deaths between late 2024 and early 2025. Despite the introduction of the yellow fever vaccine in most high-risk countries, vaccination coverage remains below the target of 80% in many regions, increasing vulnerability to outbreaks. The WHO assesses the risk of yellow fever transmission to be low globally and moderate in regions with historical transmission.

On May 2, 2026, WHO received a notification from the National IHR Focal Point of the United Kingdom regarding a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness aboard the Netherlands-flagged cruise ship M/V Hondius. As of July 2, a total of 13 cases (12 confirmed and one probable case) have been reported globally, including three deaths. Andes virus infection was confirmed in a probable case in Tristan da Cunha after disembarkation from the cruise ship, and early detection prevented further transmission of the virus. WHO advises all countries to document and apply lessons learned from this outbreak response to strengthen preparedness and response capacities for future public health emergencies.