At the 42nd meeting on 18 June 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 target of interruption and certification of WPV1 eradication by 2027 and interruption and certification of cVDPV2 elimination by 2029. Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea.

Since the last meeting of the Emergency Committee, new detections were reported as follows:
Wild poliovirus:

• Since the beginning of 2025, 13 WPV1 cases have been reported.
  
• WPV1 positive environmental samples were reported in 2025 in Afghanistan (30) and Pakistan (245).
  
• Both countries see a persisting upward trend.
  

Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV) in 2025:

• In 2025, 65 cVDPV2 cases and 2 cVDPV3 cases (all in Guinea), no cVDPV1 cases.
  
  

The Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus still remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended the extension of Temporary Recommendations for a further three months.

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.

According to media citing the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of 2025, a total of 95’729 malaria cases have been reported, a significant increase compared to 2024 (16’113 cases). The Zambezi region is the most affected (25’065 cases), followed by Kavango West region (18’4242), and the Andara and Outapi districts with 12’964 and 7’963 cases, respectively. The cases have declined sharply in the past three months.

Malaria risk is considered high year-round in the Zambezi region, while in other northern and northeastern regions of Namibia, it is seasonally high from September to May. The situation in Outapi district is less clear, as it is uncertain whether recent increases are due to imported cases from Angola or locally acquired infections. The Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine is working to obtain more detailed information for this region.

Paraguay declared a public health emergency in August 2025 after confirming its first locally transmitted outbreak of cases since 1998. By 14 Aug 2025, 12 cases were under investigation. The first case was diagnosed on 02 Aug 2025, in an unvaccinated traveler returning from abroad.

See also EpiNews as of 7 August 2025. The NYC Health Department is currently investigating a community cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Central Harlem (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039). As of August 19, there are: 108 confirmed cases, 5 deaths, 14 currently hospitalized.

Investigations are ongoing.

Legionella multiply especially in hot water systems, humidifiers, cooling towers, whirlpools and hydrotherapeutic facilities at water temperatures below 50°C.

Particularly at risk of severe illness are people older than 50, smokers, people with chronic lung disease diabetes, or weakened immune system such as transplant recipients and tumor patients.

China: Chikungunya cases in Guangdong Province have surpassed 8’000, with Foshan the most affected city. New daily cases are declining. Cases have also been detected in 12 other cities.

Macao: In July and August 2025, Macao reported increasing number of imported and two locally transmitted cases of chikungunya fever, marking a large epidemiological shift for the area where the virus is not endemic.

Thailand: On 04 Aug 2025, Thai government officials announced that chikungunya outbreaks had been detected in five provinces in Thailand: Chiang Mai, Bueng Kan, Loei, Nong Khai, and Lamphun. Data on case counts are not provided.

Persistent heavy rainfall and flooding have led to humid conditions that promote the proliferation of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, the main vectors of chikungunya.

A cluster of 21 Listeria monocytogenes cases with two deaths have been identified in France. Most cases occurred between the beginning of June and mid-July 2025. Four other countries report one genetically identical listeriosis case each (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherland and Norway).

The suspected food products are pasteurised cow's and goat's milk cheese from France available on the national and European markets, and for international export. Products have been recalled from the market, but due to the long incubation period of listeriosis (usually until 4 weeks but could last up to 8 weeks) more cases might occur.

Within one week, Italy reported more than 100 additional West Nile virus (WNV) cases, bringing the total to 275 confirmed cases with 19 deaths. The outbreak is most severe in the Lazio and Campania regions and is spreading into northern Italy. Neuroinvasive cases are substantial, with 126 reported and an estimated mortality rate of about 15.1%.

More info on outbreaks among equids and birds in Europe is available in the ECDC and EFSA monthly report.

Provinces with proven circulation of WNV in vectors, animals and humans (asymptomatic donors, fever and confirmed neuroinvasive cases):

A traveller was diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum malaria at the University Hospital in Geneva after visiting friends and relatives in Mumbai, India. He reported not having travelled outside Mumbai. Earlier in March 2025, he had visited Liberia, where he correctly took malaria chemoprophylaxis (Malarone®), making Liberia a less likely source of infection.

Media reports indicate that malaria cases in Mumbai doubled in June 2025 (884 cases) compared to June 2024 (443 cases), with a total of 3’490 cases reported so far this year.