The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are recommending a pause in the use of Ixchiq® (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in individuals 60 years of age and older while the Agencies investigate postmarketing reports of serious adverse events, including neurologic and cardiac events, in individuals who have received the vaccine.

As of May 7, 2025, 17 serious adverse events, including two that resulted in death, have been reported in individuals 62 through 89 years of age who received Ixchiq during postmarketing use globally. Six of these reports have been from the United States (U.S.). Most U.S. and foreign serious adverse events that have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), co-managed by FDA and CDC, have been in individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions. Adverse events reported to VAERS may not be causally related to vaccination. Approximately 80’000 doses of Ixchiq® have been distributed globally.

More details, see LINK. For the statement of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) see EpiNews as of 8 May 2025.

Since late 2023, Morocco has faced a widespread measles outbreak that began in the Souss Massa region and gradually spread nationwide. Between 1 October 2023 and 13 April 2025, over 25’000 suspected cases were reported across all 12 regions, including 13’706 confirmed cases and 184 deaths. During the week ending 27 April 2025, Morocco reported 995 suspected measles cases, representing an incidence rate of 2.7 per 100,000 population.

Although the outbreak peaked in late January 2025, a steady decline in cases has been observed over the past ten weeks.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a significant increase in malaria cases and fatalities. Compared to the previous year, cases have surged by 180%, from 21’309 in 2024 to 59’647 during the same period in 2025.

The outbreak is largely attributed to a combination of environmental and behavioral factors. Increased rainfall, humidity and temperatures have created favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. At the same time, more people are engaging in outdoor activities such as artisanal mining and farming, and cross-border trading.

Since 2023, Brazil has experienced a notable rise in hepatitis A cases among adults, prompting the Ministry of Health to broaden vaccine access. While the disease was traditionally more common in children lacking proper sanitation, recent trends show a shift toward adult infections, with sexual transmission - especially through anal sex - emerging as a key mode of contagion. In 2023, about 69.5% of cases occurred in adult men.

The Czech Republic is experiencing a growing surge in hepatitis A cases, with no signs of slowing. In the first four months of 2025 alone, 450 infections and 6 deaths have been reported—compared to 636 cases and 2 deaths during all of 2024.

Health officials warn the true number of infections is likely much higher, given the challenges in tracking the virus spread. The highest number of hepatitis A cases in 2025 have been reported in Prague, the surrounding Central Bohemian region, and the Moravia-Silesian region, which borders Poland and Slovakia. According to officials, the virus is spreading primarily among children, teenagers, young adults, and individuals engaged in "risky behavior." In Prague, nearly one in three patients are homeless, with many also struggling with drug use.

The year 2025 is considered a Holy Jubilee year. It will take place in Rome, Italy, and the Vatican City State, in 2025. Also known as a Holy Year, the Jubilee is one of the Catholic Church’s major global events, expected to draw more than 30 million visitors, spread out across the year, until its end on 6 January 2026. Traditionally held every 25 years, it is a period during which pilgrims travel to Rome and the Vatican and visit certain designated churches and attend religious services.

Das Chikungunya-Virus breitet sich erneut im südwestlichen Indischen Ozean aus.

Mayotte: Bis zum 2. Mai 2025 wurden insgesamt 89 Fälle von Chikungunya in Mayotte gemeldet. Darunter sind 28 lokal übertragene Fälle. Der letzte Ausbruch von Chikungunya ereignete sich in 2006.

Mauritius hat mindestens 17 Fälle gemeldet.
 

La Réunion: Seit Beginn des Jahres 2025 wurden auf der Insel bis zum 30. April 2025 über 44.000 bestätigte Chikungunya-Fälle (darunter 9 Todesfälle) gemeldet. Der Ausbruch dauert an und ist auf ganz Réunion verbreitet.

Medienberichten zufolge starb ein 35-jähriger Einwohner von Uljanowsk (Russland) an den Folgen einer Malariaerkrankung, nachdem er im Februar 2025 von einer Reise nach Sansibar zurückgekehrt war. Zunächst wurde er wegen einer Grippe behandelt, später wurde im Krankenhaus eine Malaria diagnostiziert, der er trotz medizinischer Versorgung erlag. Weder er noch seine schwangere Frau hatten die empfohlene medikamentöse Prophylaxe gegen Malaria eingenommen.

Malaria ist sowohl auf Sansibar als auch auf dem tansanischen Festland sehr verbreitet; die Infektionsraten sind in den letzten Jahren gestiegen.

Am 28. April 2025 meldete der Gesundheitsminister Ecuadors drei bestätigte Fälle von Gelbfieber, ein vierter Fall wird derzeit untersucht. Der erste Fall wurde in der Provinz Zamora Chinchipe im südöstlichen Teil des Amazonasbeckens festgestellt.

In anderen Ländern Südamerikas ist in diesem Jahr ein Anstieg der Gelbfieberfälle zu verzeichnen, siehe EpiNews 1.5.2025. Als Reaktion darauf hat Ecuador angekündigt, dass Reisende, die in das Land einreisen, ab dem 12. Mai 2025 einen Gelbfieber-Impfpass vorlegen müssen. Diese Anforderung gilt für:

• Reisende mit peruanischer, kolumbianischer, bolivianischer oder brasilianischer Staatsangehörigkeit oder Wohnsitz in diesen Ländern.
• Reisende unabhängig von ihrer Staatsangehörigkeit oder ihrem Wohnsitz, die sich vor der Einreise nach Ecuador länger als 10 Tage in einem dieser Länder (Bolivien, Brasilien, Columbien, Peru) aufgehalten haben oder durch eines dieser Länder gereist sind.