According to WHO, in week 09 and 10, 2026 (23 Feb to 8 March 2026): 18 out of 26 countries of the enhanced meningitis surveillance network shared their meningitis epidemiological data.

Epidemics (incidence ≥ 10/100’000 inhabitants):

• Central African Republic: Region 3
  
• Chad: Tanjile province (Guidari district)
  
• Niger: Niamey region (district Niamey 1)
  
  

Alerts (incidence ≥ 3 and <10/100’000 inhabitants):

• Burkina Faso: Sourou region
  
• Central African Republic: Region 3
  
• Chad: Tanjile province (Lai district)
  
• D.R. Congo: Kongo Central province, Sud-Ubangi province, Lomami province, Haut-Lomami province
  
• Ghana: North East region, Upper West region
  
• Niger: Niamey region (district Niamey 3), Agadez region (district of Bilma)
  
• Togo: Kara region
  

For previous epidemics and alerts, see news at www.healthytravel.ch.

Pathogens identified in 2026 (for updates, see LINK): S. pneumoniae 43%, N. meningitidis serogroup C 38.5%, N. meningitidis serogroup W 11%.

Namibia is experiencing a significant increase in malaria cases in early 2026, with more than 11’300 cases since 1.1.2026 – 73% of which were locally acquired – and 21 deaths. The 27% imported cases demonstrate high cross-border population mobility on the northern border. Transmission remains predominantly seasonal in the central and north-western regions, while north-eastern regions have endemic transmission with seasonal peaks. Transmission appears to be linked to post-rainy-season favourable conditions. 

From the PAHO epidemiological alert March 13, 2026: “In 2025, a total of 346 confirmed yellow fever cases and 143 deaths were reported across seven countries in the Region: Bolivia (8 cases, 2 deaths), Brazil (120 cases, 48 deaths), Colombia (125 cases, 46 deaths), Ecuador (11 cases, 8 deaths), Guyana (1 death), Peru (49 cases, 19 deaths), and Venezuela (32 cases, 19 deaths). During the first seven weeks of 2026, 34 human cases and 15 deaths have already been confirmed in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.

PAHO noted that the sylvatic transmission cycle of yellow fever, involving mosquito vectors and nonhuman primates as hosts, reactivates periodically in the region, which is an expected phenomenon. However, since late 2025, human cases have been detected in geographic areas without recent transmission and outside previously considered risk zones, such as São Paulo state in Brazil and the department of Tolima in Colombia.”

Most cases in 2025 and 2026 were reported in non-vaccinated people. 2025 is the year with the highest case numbers after the strong peaks in 2017 /2018. The figures result in a case-fatality rate of 41% in 2025.
PAHO recommends affected countries to maintain vaccination coverage of at least 95% in exposed populations.

Confirmed cases of yellow fever in humans by year in the Americas Region, between 2016 and 2026 (Source: 2026-march-13-phe-epidemiological-alert-yellow-fever-final.pdf):

Various linked conflicts in the Middle East including environmental health risks due to strikes on energy and water desalination infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf countries coupled with jeopardized health infrastructure, increase the risk of acute respiratory and cardiovascular illness as well as the potential for water-borne illnesses across the region. 

As of 18 March 2026, an outbreak of 20 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) – including two fatalities – have been reported in Kent (southern England). The cases were 17 – 21 years of age, some are students of the University of Kent. In addition, France reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) two confirmed cases who had attended the University of Kent. So far, six (of nine) cases have been confirmed to be meningococcal serogroup B. UKHSA investigations identified a nightclub in Canterbury as a possible exposure site between 5-7 March. A targeted vaccination program and provision of prophylactic antibiotics are underway through UKHSA and in close collaboration with the University of Kent and the aforementioned club.

Serogroup B accounted for 55% of IMD cases (total 2’263 cases, 202 fatalities) reported to ECDC in 2024. ECDC assesses the risk of IMD to the general population in the EU/EEA as very low. 

At the 44th meeting on 14 January 2025, the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR) reviewed the data on wild poliovirus (WPV1) and circulating vaccine derived polioviruses (cVDPV) in the context of the global targets to interrupt endemic WPV1 transmission in 2026 and to stop cVDPV2 outbreaks by 2028 with subsequent certification of WPV1 eradication and cVDPV2 elimination. Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Germany, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Namibia, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea.

Wild poliovirus (WPV):

• Since 1 October 2025, 9 new WPV1 cases have been reported from the two endemic countries, Afghanistan (5) and Pakistan (4).
  
• Cumulatively in 2025:
  
  • 40 WPV1 cases in Afghanistan (9), Pakistan (31).
    
  • WPV1 positive environmental samples sites: Afghanistan (64), Pakistan (608), Germany (1).
    
  • Germany: On 10 November 2025, the GPEI confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in an environmental sample collected through routine surveillance in Hamburg, Germany, on 7 October 2025. Genetic sequencing indicates that this WPV1 detection is linked to WPV1 previously identified in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in August 2025, suggesting a recent importation into Germany. An environmental sample collected from the same site on 13 October 2025 also showed the presence of WPV1. No further WPV1 detections have been reported in subsequent environmental samples collected after 13 October 2025. 
    

Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV):

• In 2025, a total of 192 cVDPV2 cases, 7 cVDPV3 cases, 3 cVDPV1 cases were reported.
  
• Since the last Emergency Committee meeting in October 2025:
  
  • New cVDPV1 outbreaks in Laos. In Algeria, Djibouti, DRC, and Israel, outbreaks are ongoing.
    
  • New cVDPV2 outbreaks are in Namibia, with ongoing outbreaks in 25 additional countries (see below).
    
  • cVDPV3 outbreaks in Cameroon, Chad, and Guinea are ongoing.
    

The Committee unanimously concluded that the risk of international spread of poliovirus continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended extending the Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.

The Committee, after a thorough review of the epidemiological and programmatic situation, unanimously concluded that the event does not constitute a pandemic emergency.

Risk categories and advice aimed at reducing the risk of international spread of WPV1 and cVDPVs:

1. States infected with WPV1, cVDPV1 or cVDPV3.
   
2. States infected with cVDPV2, with or without evidence of local transmission.
3. States previously infected by WPV1 or cVDPV within the last 24 months (last detection >13 months).

Chikungunya virus transmission is again increasing in Mayotte. Since 1 January 2026, more than 270 autochthonous confirmed cases have been reported, with an average of about 65 cases per week during the last two weeks of February.

Mayotte also experienced a chikungunya outbreak in 2025, with 1’270 confirmed cases and a peak of 232 cases in epidemiological week 21. The total number of cases was likely underestimated due to limited access to healthcare.