Outbreak travel alerts as 19 countries hit with viruses and diseases | Travel News | Travel

As of May 2026, numerous disease outbreaks and epidemics are affecting countries worldwide. These range from common respiratory viruses that circulate widely to severe zoonotic diseases that pose considerable health risks in specific regions. Several major international outbreaks currently active in 2026 include COVID-19, cholera, dengue fever, measles, and MPX, according to authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Additional active regional and emerging outbreaks include Nipah virus, yellow fever, meningococcal disease, chikungunya, and avian influenza, spanning numerous nations. The WHO has identified eight high-threat pathogens under close observation that demand urgent, continuous surveillance owing to their epidemic potential. These comprise Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, MERS-CoV, SARS, Nipah virus, Rift Valley fever, and Zika virus.

For the most up-to-date, real-time travel guidance and localised outbreak information, consult the CDC Current Outbreak List or Travel Health Pro. The latter frequently refreshes its website with the latest outbreak data; the complete list is available online here. Nevertheless, below is a brief summary of the most recent developments as of May 1 that affect 19 nations.

1. Mpox in Denmark, Poland (ex Slovakia), Madagascar and Pakistan

On 27 April 2026, the number of confirmed clade Ib mpox cases in Denmark has risen to four. One case has reported no travel history abroad, indicating locally acquired infection. On 13 April 2026, Poland recorded its first confirmed case of clade I mpox. The clade subtype remains unspecified. The patient is an adult male with a travel history to Slovakia. No further transmission linked to this case has been reported, reports the Mirror.

Between 18 December 2025 and 25 April 2026, Madagascar reported a total of 1,196 confirmed mpox cases and three deaths. Clade Ib mpox has been identified amongst confirmed cases.

As of 14 April 2026, Sindh Province has recorded 122 suspected mpox cases, of which 25 have been confirmed. Cases have emerged from Khairpur district, Sukkur and Karachi. Nine fatalities have been recorded, with newborn babies amongst those affected. No further details regarding the clade are currently available. For more information about Mpox, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

2. Yellow fever in Ecuador

On 25 April 2026, Ecuador’s Ministry of Health reported a fatal human case of yellow fever in an 11-year-old child in Joya de los Sachas Canton, Orellana Province. This marks the first human case of yellow fever in Ecuador in nine months. For more information about yellow fever, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

You can check your risk of yellow fever, vaccine recommendations and any certificate requirements at your destination with the Travel Health Pro Country Information pages. Advice on general health risks, prevention advice, other vaccine recommendations, and malaria advice is also available on these pages. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for all travellers.

3. CVDPV2 in Malawi

In the week ending 22 April 2026, one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported from Southern Province, Malawi, collected on 19 February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

4. Measles in Bangladesh

Between 15 March and 14 April 2026, a total of 19,161 suspected and 2,973 confirmed measles cases, with 30 (166 suspected) confirmed measles-related deaths, have been reported from Bangladesh. The highest number of suspected cases have been reported from Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Khulna. Children under five years account for the majority of reported cases. For more information about measles, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

5. Dengue in Martinique, Maldives and Tonga

As of 29 March 2026, 1,009 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Martinique since the start of 2026. DENV3 has been recorded. Also, as of 15 April 2026, 1,908 cases of dengue have been reported in the Maldives since the start of 2026. This represents an increase compared to the same period in previous years. Cases have been recorded across all Atolls.

As of 20 April 2026, a total of 24 laboratory confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Tonga for 2026. The Ministry of Health has declared a dengue outbreak following an increase in confirmed and suspected cases, along with evidence of community transmission across Eua, Ha’apai and Tongatapu. For more information about dengue, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

6. Dengue, yellow fever and Zika in Bolivia

As of 22 March 2026, 36,007 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This marks a substantial rise compared to the same period in 2025. Serotypes DENV1 and DENV2 have been identified. Additionally, between 1 January and 21 April 2026, a total of five cases of yellow fever have been recorded in Bolivia, resulting in two deaths.

As of 28 March 2026, a total of 1,168 cases of Zika virus disease have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This represents a considerable increase compared to the equivalent period in 2025. A total of 1,224 cases were recorded throughout the whole of 2025. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

7. CVDPV1 in South Sudan

As of 20 April 2026, two cVDPV1 cases were reported from the Upper Nile region. Onset of paralysis in both cases was February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

8. Zika in France (ex Indonesia)

Between July 2025 and March 2026, 11 travel-associated cases of Zika virus disease were reported in France, linked to travel to Indonesia, including all four cases detected in early 2026. The majority of cases were connected to travel to Bali and neighbouring islands. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

9. Oropouche virus disease in Colombia

As of 19 March 2026, a total of 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease (OROV) were recorded in Colombia throughout 2025. For further details regarding the Oropouche virus, including its symptoms, visit Gov.uk.

10. Undiagnosed illness in Burundi

As of 11 April 2026, a total of 35 cases of an undiagnosed illness, including five deaths, have been reported in Mpanda district, in the north of Burundi. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in urine and fatigue. Certain severe cases have additionally presented with anaemia and jaundice. Laboratory testing has thus far returned negative results for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Investigations remain ongoing.

11. Influenza A(H9N2) in Italy ex Senegal

On 10 April 2026, the World Health Organization reported the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) in Italy. The case was in an adult returning from Senegal. This also marks the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) documented in the European Region. For further details regarding bird flu, including its symptoms, visit the NHS website.

12. Lassa fever in Nigeria

In 2026, up to 29 March, 3,831 suspected, 663 confirmed and five probable cases, and 167 deaths have been reported across 22 states. Of all confirmed cases 85% were reported from five states (Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue). For further details regarding Lassa fever, including its symptoms, visit Gov.uk.

13. Hantavirus in Argentina

Between 1 January and 28 March 2026, 32 confirmed cases of hantavirus infection and eight deaths have been reported. Cases have been recorded across the following provinces: Buenos Aires, Salta, Chubut, Río Negro, Entre Ríos and Jujuy. For further details regarding Hantavirus, including symptoms, visit Gov.uk.