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Recent data shows that of the 10.7 million tuberculosis (TB) cases reported last year, the highest number was in the South-East Asia region.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) global TB report published on November 12, 2025, India ranks ahead of Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and Pakistan in TB cases.
The positive news from the WHO is that India has achieved a significant TB milestone, recording a 21% decrease in TB incidence.
Since TB is a vaccine-preventable disease, and India has access to an ample supply, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination campaigns are scheduled to continue in 2026.
As of November 16, 2025, the U.S. CDC does not recommend BCG vaccination before visiting India.
Marburg virus disease has been detected in the South Ethiopia Region, the first of its kind in the country, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever.
As of November 14, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 9 cases in the outbreak affecting Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region.
In the African region, previous Marburg outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Marburg's initial outbreak was detected in Germany in 1967.
Marburg is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads among people through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.
The WHO and national authorities are scaling up the response, including community-wide screening, case isolation, treatment, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns to curb the spread of the Marburg virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses as Ebola virus disease.
Currently, no approved Marburg vaccines are available.
However, in April 2025, the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute recently launched a multi-site Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. for its Marburg vaccine candidate, based on the cAd3 platform.
Currently, about five other Marburg vaccine candidates are being tested in clinical research.
Updated on November 17, 2025 - Organisations undertaking business in Ebola or Marburg-affected areas should register with the UK Health Security Agency returning workers scheme.
The World Health Organization (WHO today announced that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the first signs of the Ebola virus were detected in a maternity ward in Bulape, located in the Kasai Province.
A pregnant woman arrived showing unusual symptoms of this severe disease. The midwife on duty at the time assisted the woman through labour.
While handling the needle used on the patient, she accidentally pricked herself. A few days later, the midwife passed away, along with the mother and newborn.
Antho, the head of the maternity ward, was also present, commented in a WHO press release on November 14, 2025, "Not only was I wearing gloves, but each time I touched the patient, I went out and washed my hands with soap and water."
"It was hard to lose Juliette (midwife). We'd worked together for a long time, and even in the toughest moments, she supported the team. Her loss has left a big void."
The ongoing Ebola response in the DRC has focused on strengthening infection prevention along with other key outbreak control measures. This area has previously reported several Ebola outbreaks.
In public health emergencies, the WHO says infection prevention and control are pivotal in saving lives.
Currently, the DRC has access to Ebola vaccines and antibody treatments.
Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today its interim financial results for the first nine months of 2025 and business progress for the third quarter of 2025.
On November 14, 2025, the Company stated that its revenue for the first nine months increased by 32% to DKK 4,793 million, reflecting a strong performance in both Travel Health and Public Preparedness.
Specifically, travel Health revenue increased by 23% to DKK 2,327 million compared to the first nine months of 2024, primarily driven by increased demand for rabies and Tickborne encephalitis vaccines, and supported by the gradual launch of the chikungunya vaccine, Vimkunya®.
Vimkunya is available in the USA, Germany, and France . The global launch has continued throughout the third quarter of 2025, where the vaccine also became available in the United Kingdom and Denmark in September. Vimkunya was also launched in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, and Spain in October.
On February 14, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Vimkunya for injection for individuals 12 years of age and older who are visiting chikungunya endemic areas such as Cuba.
This travel vaccine is commercailly offered at clinics and travel pharmacies in the USA.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently published results from a phase 2 clinical trial of the Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15.
The Valneva SE and Pfizer Inc.-funded study showed a strong immune response following a third booster dose, with a favorable safety profile.
These researchers wrote on November 7, 2025, that the results are consistent with those observed following previous annual booster doses, further supporting the expected benefits of a yearly vaccination before each Lyme season.
They concluded, 'The safety and robust anamnestic immune responses associated with VLA15 boosting support its use as a strategy to increase anti-OspA antibody levels before tick season among children, adolescents, and adults.'
This study's findings are essential to public health as the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 476,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, and 132,000 cases are reported annually in Europe.
As of November 14, 2025, VLA15 is the most advanced Lyme disease vaccine candidate.
Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) recently announced four new locally transmitted cases of dengue fever, one each in Xizhi District of New Taipei City, Fengshan District of Kaohsiung City, and Wandan Township of Pingtung County.
The TCDC estimates that there may be a hidden source of this mosquito-transmitted virus in these communities.
Taiwan's public is urged to cooperate with health authorities' prevention and control measures, implement mosquito-breeding site elimination and control measures, and seek medical attention immediately if they develop suspected symptoms.
According to statistics from the TCDC, as of November 10, 2025, there have been a total of 29 confirmed local dengue fever cases this year, residing in Kaohsiung City (14 cases), Taoyuan City (7 cases), Tainan City (3 cases), Pingtung County (2 cases), Yilan County, Taipei City, and New Taipei City (1 case each).
In addition, there have been a total of 223 imported cases, the third-highest number for the same period over the past six years. Most of these cases originated from Southeast Asian countries, with Indonesia (61 cases) being the most common, followed by Vietnam (56 cases), the Philippines (29 cases), and Thailand (23 cases).
The global dengue fever epidemic continues in 2025, with over 4.43 million cases already reported.
To alert international travelers to their health risk, the U.S. CDC has issued a Travel Health Notice regarding dengue outbreaks. As of November 13, 2025, the CDC has not included Taiwan.
From a disease prevention option, the second-generation QDENGA vaccine is authorized in a total of 41 countries.
Since the Zika virus disease was first detected in the Americas in May 2015, over 50 countries and territories in the region have reported cases transmitted by mosquitoes.
Unfortunately, the Federative Republic of Brazil has historically led in the number of cases.
As of November 13, 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported Brazil has confirmed 22,831 cases of Zika this year alone. Many of these cases are found in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which is home to over 6 million people.
The other countries with the highest case numbers in 2025 include Bolivia, with 1,024 cases, and Argentina, with 892 cases.
Additionally, near the southern border of the United States, Mexico has reported three cases of Zika in 2025, down from 30 cases reported last year.
The PAHO writes, 'While efforts are underway to improve the sensitivity of surveillance systems, a lack of detection is no guarantee that the Zika virus is not circulating or that local transmission has been interrupted.'
Currently, the U.S. CDC reports no geographic areas with an active Zika Travel Health Notice.
The PAHO and the CDC discourage pregnant women from visiting Zika-endemic areas.
From a disease-prevention perspective, one innovative Zika vaccine (VLA1601) is progressing through clinical trials in 2025.
