Global Snapshot of Active Outbreaks and Health Threats as of August 2026

The most consequential active outbreak is Bundibugyo-virus Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while major ongoing risks also include mpox, cholera, meningitis-belt epidemics, vector-borne outbreaks, and foodborne outbreaks. Agency reporting reviewed in the past seven days includes ECDC’s 8–14 August threat report and PAHO’s 7 August measles alert; China CDC reported an inhalational anthrax investigation, whereas India NCDC’s public materials did not show a new outbreak-specific notice during this period.

Ebola disease (Bundibugyo virus), Democratic Republic of the Congo, with associated cases in Uganda, France, and Germany — Active. As of 12 August, 4,686 confirmed cases and 2,186 deaths had been reported: 4,665 cases and 2,184 deaths in DRC, 20 cases in Uganda, and one in France; the overall crude case-fatality ratio was 46.8%. At least 986 people had recovered. The event remains an acute international health emergency, requiring intensive case finding, isolation and supportive care, laboratory confirmation, contact follow-up, infection-prevention measures, safe burials, risk communication, and cross-border coordination.

Mpox, multi-country situation — Active, with widening clade Ib geographic detection. The multi-country mpox situation remains active, although its international emergency designation was lifted in September 2025. Recent surveillance identified the first two confirmed clade Ib cases in Costa Rica on 31 July and a first clade Ib case in Ghana; through 30 June, 100 clade Ib cases had been reported outside established circulation areas, largely with direct or indirect travel links. Control priorities remain rapid diagnosis and sequencing, case isolation and clinical care, contact notification, targeted vaccination of populations at highest risk, and travel-linked surveillance.

Marburg virus disease, Ethiopia — Closed. The previously tracked Ethiopian Marburg outbreak was declared over on 26 January 2026 after 14 confirmed cases and nine deaths, with no subsequent cases reported. No active Marburg outbreak is identified in the current sources reviewed. Sustained surveillance, rapid viral-hemorrhagic-fever testing, infection prevention and control, contact management, and preparedness at referral facilities remain appropriate because re-emergence risk persists in endemic settings.

Measles, Region of the Americas — Active. PAHO issued an epidemiological alert on 7 August, indicating ongoing regional concern and a need to maintain high population immunity and sensitive surveillance. Earlier 2026 reporting documented 1,031 additional confirmed cases in the first three weeks across seven countries, including 740 in Mexico and 171 in the United States, a 43-fold increase from the comparable 2025 period. PAHO recommends intensified case detection and laboratory investigation, rapid outbreak response, and vaccination to close immunity gaps, especially among under-immunized communities and travelers.

Yellow fever, South America — Active regional transmission. PAHO reported sustained transmission beyond traditional Amazon-basin hotspots in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. During the first seven weeks of 2026, 34 human cases and 15 deaths were confirmed across those countries. Response priorities are vaccination of eligible populations in risk areas, prompt investigation of suspected cases, strengthened epizootic and human surveillance, mosquito control where appropriate, and ensuring travelers to risk areas are appropriately immunized.

European threats — Active seasonal and travel-associated events. ECDC’s latest Communicable Disease Threats Report, covering 8–14 August, included updates on Ebola, chikungunya, dengue, West Nile virus infection, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Vibrio infections, mpox, and respiratory-virus epidemiology. The breadth of events reflects summer vector, environmental, and travel-associated risk rather than a single Europe-wide epidemic. ECDC’s core control measures are timely surveillance and reporting, vector control and personal bite prevention, blood- and organ-safety measures where relevant, targeted clinical awareness, and cross-border information sharing.

China — Inhalational anthrax investigation, Henan Province — Active investigation. China CDC Weekly reported the first confirmed inhalational anthrax case in China attributed to inhalation of wind-blown dust containing Bacillus anthracis spores, with the investigation tracing exposure to an endemic-area environmental source. The available recent report does not indicate a large community outbreak or provide a current outbreak total. Response actions include rapid diagnostic confirmation, environmental and source tracing, assessment of exposed people, appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis or treatment when indicated, and strengthened surveillance in endemic or exposure-linked areas.

India — No newly posted national outbreak-specific report found in the past seven days. India’s NCDC public-facing material reviewed did not identify a new outbreak report in the requested seven-day window. Its Integrated Disease Surveillance Program reports 411 outbreaks through epidemiologic week 10 of 2026, most commonly acute diarrheal disease, food poisoning, chickenpox, measles, dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and cholera, underscoring a continuing broad surveillance burden rather than a newly described national emergency. Core measures include district-level event detection, rapid-response teams, laboratory support, and water, sanitation, vector-control, and immunization interventions according to pathogen.

Cholera — Active globally, but no new comparable seven-day consolidated situation report identified. Cholera remains a continuing outbreak risk in multiple fragile and climate-affected settings, and India’s 2026 surveillance lists cholera among frequently reported outbreak causes. The sources reviewed did not yield a new, standardized global case total in the past week, so a global aggregate should not be inferred. Control depends on immediate access to oral or intravenous rehydration and antibiotics for severe cases, safe water and sanitation, household and community hygiene measures, case surveillance, and targeted oral cholera vaccination alongside long-term WASH investment.

Meningococcal meningitis, African meningitis belt — Active risk, no new regional case total located. The reviewed current sources did not provide a new seven-day, region-wide case count for a meningococcal meningitis outbreak in the African meningitis belt. Meningitis remains a recurrent seasonal and humanitarian emergency threat in the region, requiring strengthened alert thresholds, prompt lumbar-puncture confirmation and serogrouping, free and rapid treatment, reactive vaccination with the appropriate vaccine formulation, and enhanced cross-border surveillance. No previously tracked meningitis outbreak was identified as newly declared over in the available current sources.

Foodborne disease, United States — Salmonella Javiana linked to jalapeño peppers — Active. CDC is investigating 345 illnesses in 27 states, including 36 hospitalizations and no deaths, with illness onset from 19 June through 20 July. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence links the outbreak to jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors; subsequent recalls include jalapeños and products containing them. The outbreak remains under investigation. Consumers and businesses should not eat, sell, or serve recalled products, should clean potentially contaminated surfaces, and should follow recall notices.

Foodborne disease, United States — Multiple ongoing multistate investigations. As of 12 August, CDC listed seven active multistate Listeria investigations and 22 active Salmonella investigations; examples include outbreaks associated with soft cheese, shell eggs, moringa products, and “super greens” supplement powders. A separate soft-cheese-linked Listeria outbreak remains under investigation. These investigations emphasize product traceback, recall execution, whole-genome-sequencing-supported case linkage, and heightened protection for people at risk of severe listeriosis, including pregnant people, older adults, and immunocompromised persons.