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The World Health Organisation Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO EMRO) recently reported one new case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) in Saudi Arabia. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been a total of 11 reported MERS cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including two fatalities.
Since 2012, as of August 8, 2025, a total of 2,639 cases of MERS, including 957 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.
According to the WHO-EMRO, the probability of sustained human-to-human transmission among the general population in Europe remains very low, and the impact of the disease on the general population is considered low.
This assumption is based on the fact that very few people are exposed to dromedary camels. Currently, the Saudi Arabian camel population is about 2 million.
Around 20% of all cases have reported contact with camels or their products.
The WHO states there have not been any reports of tourists riding camels becoming infected with MERS.
As of 2025, no approved MERS vaccine exists, but several vaccine candidates are being tested in human clinical trials. For example, the VTP-500 vaccine candidate has completed Phase I clinical trials in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
While the European CDC says Chikungunya is not endemic in mainland EU/EEA, outbreaks have been reported in 2025.
According to the latest ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report, as of August 6, 2025, France and Italy have reported locally acquired cases of chikungunya virus disease:
France's health authorities have identified 63 locally acquired cases of Chikungunya across 16 different local administrative units.
Currently, there are eleven active clusters. Notably, cases were reported for the first time in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, with three instances in one cluster. Additionally, three cases representing a new cluster were reported in Gard.
In the active clusters located in the departments of Corse-du-Sud, Isère, Hérault, and Bouches-du-Rhône, two new cases have been reported in each cluster.
The most significant clusters are in southern France, specifically in Salon-de-Provence, Grans, and Lambesc in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, as well as Grosseto-Prugna in the Corse-du-Sud department, with each cluster consisting of 13 cases.
In Italy, two clusters remain active.
For the current risk assessment of chikungunya virus disease in mainland EU/EEA, please visit the ECDC's dedicated chikungunya webpage.
Fortunately, chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in Europe and the United States.
The U.S. CDC advises international travelers to speak with a travel vaccine expert regarding immunization options. Chikungunya vaccines are commercailly offered at select retailers.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recently reported that environmental samples of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) had been identified in Israel.
On August 4, 2025, GPEI reported that Israel confirmed six cVDPV1 samples, five from Jerusalem and one from the Center.
The Jerusalem Post reported that wastewater samples collected from Bnei Brak, Ramle, Lod, and the Shafdan treatment facility followed detections in Jerusalem-area wastewater in April 2025.
Israeli health authorities urge all unvaccinated individuals to complete their polio vaccinations. Health providers are also instructed to intensify monitoring for signs of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP).
In February 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Health issued an official alert describing a local case of AFP.
Furthermore, the GPEI says the spread of the poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
"If a child's vaccination status is unknown, it can be checked on the personal government website via the digital vaccination booklet," the Health Ministry stated.
In March 2025, Israel discontinued offering the live attenuated polio vaccine (oral). It now provides the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
In the United States, the IPV vaccine has been utilized since 2000, and is available at most travel clinics and pharmacies.
As of August 8, 2025, the U.S. CDC suggests international travelers visiting polio-risk areas speak with a travel vaccine advisor about booster dose options.
While local cases of malaria are rarely reported in the United States, there were 10 cases across four states in 2023.
According to a news release, Washington State may soon be added to this list of affected areas.
On August 6, 2025, a press release announced that a resident of East Pierce County, who had not traveled recently, was diagnosed with malaria in early August. Dr. James Miller, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Officer, stated, "The risk of contracting malaria in Pierce County remains very low."
"Malaria is generally rare in the U.S., and the vast majority of cases occur after exposure to countries where malaria transmission is ongoing."
In the U.S., approximately 2,000 to 2,500 cases of malaria are reported each year, primarily linked to travel. In 2025, states like Florida have reported numerous travel-related cases (28), related principally to travelers from Cuba.
Previously, Florida reported local cases on both coasts.
It is important to note that malaria does not spread directly from person to person.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. The incubation period—the time from infection to the onset of symptoms—ranges from 7 to 30 days.
Malaria can be treated and cured with prescription antimalarial medications; however, if not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can become life-threatening.
In Africa, two approved vaccines that help prevent malaria are currently in use. However, as of August 7, 2025, these vaccines are not available in the U.S.
Bali, a province of the Republic of Indonesia, is once again confronted with an outbreak of rabies cases related to dog bites.
As of August 2025, visitors to Bali resort areas such as Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, and Jimbara have been warned about rabid dogs in these areas. Other areas include the Mengwi District, which covers Canggu's Pererenan Beach and Seseh.
However, the acting head of animal health, Anak Agung Istri Brahmi Witari, told the Courier Mail that 'no more than five dogs were responsible for the cases.'
In 2024, Bali confirmed that four people had died while testing positive for rabies following dog bites.
According to the U.S. CDC, dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Indonesia.
The CDC states that if rabies exposures occur while in Indonesia, rabies vaccines are typically available throughout most of the country. Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before visiting Indonesia in 2025.
In the U.S., rabies vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.
In addition to rabies, the CDC has included Indonesia in recent polio and measles Travel Health Advisories.
The World Health Organization (WHO) today published an update on the Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in India. Since 2018, Kerala has experienced nine outbreaks of the Nipah virus, which is part of a pattern of recurring spillovers.
As of August 6, 2025, Kerala State health officials have reported four cases to the WHO since mid-May, two of which have been fatal.
Of the latest four patients in India's southwest area, two are from Malappuram district, where previous cases had been reported. The other two are from Palakkad district, which had not seen any earlier cases.
According to the WHO, NiV infection is a bat-borne zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through infected animals, or food contaminated with saliva, urine, and excreta of infected animals.
Since 1998, NiV outbreaks have been reported in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Currently, the risk of international disease spread is considered low, as there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of NiV internationally in this event.
The WHO wrote that, with no licensed vaccine or treatment available, public health efforts should focus on raising awareness of risk factors and promoting preventive measures to reduce exposure to the virus, and on early case detection supported by adequate intensive supportive care.
In 2023, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations invested $$100 million in four Nipah vaccine candidates: Auro Vacc, PATH, Public Health Vaccines, the University of Tokyo, and the University of Oxford.
Recently, the U.S. government announced a project in 2025 that would support the development of a Nipah monoclonal antibody (MBP1F5), currently undergoing Phase 1 testing in India and Bangladesh.
The WHO's Western Pacific Region continues to face a high burden of mosquito-borne arboviral diseases in 2025, particularly dengue fever.
The Dengue Situation Update #726 states that dengue has become endemic in various Member States, which are favorite vacation destinations.
For example, Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services has reported 10,969 cases of dengue nationally. Eight deaths have been confirmed as directly attributed to the dengue outbreak, which has been driven predominantly by DENV-2.
According to local media reporting on August 4, 2025, Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu stated, "Ongoing awareness has been constantly done throughout, mainly in the Western Division and in the Northern Division."
To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC lists various countries reporting dengue outbreaks in 2025.
From a prevention perspective, in addition to avoiding mosquito bites, various countries in the Pacific Region offer the second-generation dengue vaccine. This vaccine is unavailable in the United States.
