#Ebola disease caused by #Bundibugyo virus - #DRC (#WHO D.O.N., Oct. 8 '26)

 

Situation at a glance

    On 5 October 2026, WHO was informed about a laboratory-confirmed imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in Kenya with travel history from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    The patient travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya through Uganda. 

    The patient was hospitalized and treated in Kenya but subsequently died on 5 October. 

    Public health response measures have been initiated in Kenya and Uganda, including contact tracing. 

    Since the last Disease Outbreak News was published on 25 September 2026, the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to one additional health zone, Alimbongo health zone in North Kivu, adding to the geographic footprint of an outbreak that remains concentrated in the eastern part of the country. 

    As of 6 October 2026, the country has recorded 8728 confirmed cases and 4205 confirmed deaths, corresponding to a crude case fatality ratio (CFR) of 48.2%. 

    The cases have been reported from 64 health zones across seven provinces out of 26 provinces of the country: Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Sud Ubangi and Tshopo. 

    At the national level, transmission remains intense, although the burden is unevenly distributed. 

    In some areas, there are clear signs that the epidemic is slowing down, although in others it continues to grow. 

    Over the past three completed epidemiological weeks, new weekly cases nationwide have increased by 2.5% from 475 to 487, while new weekly deaths remain stable at 224 compared to 222. 

    The persistently high mortality, together with the large number of deaths occurring outside treatment centres, continues to point to delays in identifying illness and reaching appropriate care. 

    Since the last Disease Outbreak News, 264 of the 372 reported deaths occurred in communities and 108 in treatment centres. 

    On 1 October, the Netherlands reported the medical evacuation of a healthcare worker who tested positive by PCR for Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

     At the time of reporting, the patient has been undergoing treatment in the Netherlands.

Description of the situation

    Since the previous Disease Outbreak News was published on 25 September 2026, an additional 775 confirmed cases, including 379 confirmed deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  

    In the most recent 24-hour period, as of 6 October, 62 new confirmed cases were reported, with Ituri accounting for 33 cases and North Kivu for 30. 

    No new cases were reported in Bas-Uélé, South Kivu or Sud-Ubangi during that period. Across the preceding seven days, the average number of new cases rose to 72 per day. 

    As of 6 October, cumulative confirmed cases have reached 8728, including 4205 deaths and 2269 recoveries. The overall crude CFR is 48.2%.  

    Confirmed cases have now been identified in 64 health zones across seven provinces. 

    Forty-eight of the 64 affected zones reported at least one new case during the preceding 21 days, while 16 reported no recent cases. 

    Ituri remains the most extensively affected province, with 28 of 36 health zones reporting cases during this outbreak, followed by North Kivu (17/34), Haut-Uélé (7/13), Tshopo (7/23), Bas-Uélé (3/11), South Kivu (1/34) and Sud-Ubangi (1/16). 

    Alimbongo in North Kivu is the most recently affected health zone and reported four confirmed cases, including two deaths. 

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    Ituri remains the epicentre, with 6480 cumulative confirmed cases and 2989 deaths. 

    North Kivu follows with 1755 confirmed cases and 1013 deaths, and continues to record the highest provincial CFR, at 57.7%. 

    Haut-Uélé has reported 364 cases and 153 deaths, while Tshopo has recorded 51 cases and 17 deaths. 

    The less-affected provinces continue to report substantially fewer cases, but transmission persists in several of them. 

    The most affected health zones were Beni and Katwa in North Kivu, and Rwampara, Bunia and Mandima in Ituri. 

    The continued occurrence of cases across multiple provinces shows that the outbreak remains geographically active even as intensity varies between health zones. 

    Contact follow-up remains a major operational pressure and has fluctuated below the response target in recent weeks. 

    Coverage was 87.6% on 16 September, briefly above the target of 85%, but fell to 74.7% by 25 September. 

    Although coverage subsequently improved to 82.0% on 27 September, it remained below target and stood at 80.4% in the latest reporting period, with 23 741 of 29 535 contacts reached as of 4 October. 

    The current level therefore reflects a persistent gap in the ability to monitor exposed people consistently throughout the 21-day follow-up period.  

Figure 2: Number of confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by date of notification, as of 6 October 2026 

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Figure 3: Number of deaths among confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by date of notification, as of 6 October 2026. 

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Kenya

    On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Health of Kenya reported the first laboratory-confirmed imported case of BVD in Kenya.  

    According to an official statement from the Ministry of Health, the individual is an adult who lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    The patient became ill approximately one month ago and was treated in several hospitals while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    The patient travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kampala, Uganda, by road before arriving in Nairobi, Kenya by air on 3 October. 

    It is currently unclear if and when he was symptomatic during these travels, but upon arriving ill in Kenya, the patient was transported by a relative directly to Nairobi Hospital and isolated in the facility. 

    A sample collected from the patient on 5 October was positive for BDBV at both the National Virology Reference Laboratory and the Kenya Medical Research Institute Laboratory on the same day. The patient was given supportive treatment but subsequently died.  

    A safe and dignified burial has been conducted. Public health response actions were immediately initiated. Contact tracing is ongoing, including for the international flight.  

    Given the timelines of the illness, and the one month time from initial symptoms to death, it is presumed he was not initially sick with BVD, which does not usually have such a long progression from infection to symptoms and death, but became infected with BVD in a health facility or community while seeking care for another ailment.  

The Netherlands  

    On 1 October 2026, the Netherlands reported the medical evacuation of a healthcare worker who tested positive by PCR for BDBV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the patient was working on the Ebola disease outbreak response. 

    Following confirmation of the diagnosis, the patient was safely repatriated to the Netherlands under strict medical and infection-prevention procedures, in close coordination with the relevant health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Netherlands. 

    As with previous medically evacuated cases, this case will not be reported as a local case of BVD in the Netherlands. 

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Source: 

Link: https://www/who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak.news.item/2026-DON619

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#Bundibugyo Virus Disease #Outbreak in #DRC - Weekly Situation #Report No. 21, as of 4 Oct. '26 (#WHO, summary): 8,603 cases and 4,148 deaths in DRC

 

{Summary}

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Event description

    The ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic  Republic of the Congo has now extended to Kenya, the fourth country affected during the current outbreak, following earlier detections in  Uganda and France, where the events have since been controlled. 

    Kenya has reported its first confirmed case and associated death in a traveller arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This latest  development further underscores the regional and international dimensions of the outbreak and the continuing risk of cross-border spread.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The BVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand geographically, with Alimbongo Health Zone in Nord-Kivu Province  becoming the latest affected health zone, bringing the total number affected since  the start of the outbreak to 64 health zones across seven provinces. 

    Transmission remains increasingly heterogeneous across affected  provinces and health zones. 

    In the last week ending 4 October 2026, a further 487 confirmed cases and 224 confirmed deaths were reported, increasing the cumulative total to  8603 confirmed cases, including 4148 deaths [crude case fatality ratio (CFR): 48.2%]. 

    Ituri remains the principal focus, although its relative contribution  continues to decline, accounting for 75.0% of cumulative confirmed cases, while  substantial transmission continues in Nord-Kivu and persists in Haut-Uélé.

    At the national level, daily incidence remains high and fluctuating, with  the seven-day moving average rising again in early October following a decline  through the second half of September. This pattern continues to mask divergent provincial trajectories. 

    Ituri has declined substantially from its late-July/early-August peak but shows a recent upturn, while Nord-Kivu has rebounded sharply after a  temporary decline from its mid-September peak. 

    Transmission in HautUélé remains sustained but below its August peak,  while Tshopo continues to report intermittent activity from a low baseline. 

    Bas-Uélé and Sud-Ubangi report sporadic cases, with no recent  transmission evident in Sud-KivuOverall, the epidemic remains geographically  heterogeneous, with the recent national rebound driven particularly by renewed transmission in parts of Ituri and Nortrd-Kivu.

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    During the most recent 21 days (14 September – 4 October 2026), a total  of 1345 confirmed cases were reported nationally, compared with 1674 cases  during the preceding 21 days (24 August – 13 September), representing a  decrease of 329 cases (−19.7%). 

    

    Cases declined in the three principal transmission provinces: from 1004  to 791 (−21.2%) in Ituri, 553 to 448 (−19.0%) in Nord-Kivu, and 100 to 78  (−22.0%) in Haut-Uélé. 

    Consequently, Ituri accounted for 58.8% of cases reported during the  latest period and Nord-Kivu for 33.3%, compared with 60.0% and 33.0%,  respectively, during the preceding period. 

    However, the overall 21-day decline masks a recent reversal in  trajectory, with cases increasing again during the latest week, particularly in Ituri  and Nord-Kivu. The decline over the longer comparison period should therefore be interpreted cautiously and does not yet indicate sustained epidemic contraction.

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    During the same period, 638 confirmed deaths were reported nationally,    compared with 830 deaths during the preceding 21 days, representing a decrease  of 192 deaths (−23.1%). 

    

    Deaths declined from 495 to 385 (−22.2%) in Ituri and from 299 to 208  (−30.4%) in Nord-Kivu. In contrast, deaths increased from 31 to 37 (+19.4%) in  Haut-Uélé, while Tshopo reported seven deaths compared with two during the preceding period. 

    Consequently, Ituri accounted for 60.3% of deaths during the latest period  and Nord-Kivu for 32.6%, compared with 59.6% and 36.0%, respectively,  during the preceding period. However, as with cases, the overall 21-day decline  masks a recent reversal in trajectory, with reported deaths increasing again during the latest week.

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    Transmission remained active in nearly three-quarters of all health zones affected since the start of the outbreak. 

    

    Of the 64 health zones affected to date, 46 reported at least one new  confirmed case in the last 21 days. 

    

    Encouragingly, 18 health zones have not reported a new confirmed case  in the last 21 days. These include Adja, Aru, Ariwara, Aungba, Boga, Drodro,  Kambala, Logo and Mahagi in Ituri; Goma in Nord-Kivu; Gombari in Haut-Uélé;  Bafwasende, Lubunga, Tshopo and Wanie-Rukula in Tshopo; Miti-Murhesa in Sud- Kivu; and Buta and Ganga in Bas-Uélé. 

    Provincial trends continue to mask important differences between health  zones. 

    In Ituri, the most pronounced increase  occurred in Mandima, where cases  rose from 15 to 129 (+760.0%), while Mambasa increased from 3 to 20 and Nia- Nia from 46 to 72 (+56.5%). 

    In contrast, cases declined in several established transmission hotspots, including Bunia, from 285 to 196 (−31.2%), Nizi, from 120 to 54  (−55.0%), Mangala, from 116 to 52 (−55.2%), Lita, from 65 to 32 (−50.8%),  and Komanda, from 76 to 40 (−47.4%). 

    Rwampara remained a major focus despite a more modest decline, from  106 to 95 cases (−10.4%).

    Nord-Kivu showed continued broad-based intensification, with Beni  increasingly driving transmission. Cases in Beni increased from 111 during the  preceding 21 days to 165 during the most recent period (+48.6%), while  Butembo declined from 101 to 41 (−59.4%) and Musienene from 46 to 22  (−52.2%). Katwa also declined substantially, from 175 to 77 cases (−56.0%),  although it remained an important focus of transmission. Haut-Uélé declined  overall, driven largely by a sharp reduction in Isiro (−82.8%), while transmission  remained relatively stable in Wamba and Pawa. However, the first case in Dungu  indicates continued geographic expansion despite the provincial decline.

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    Weekly confirmed deaths generally declined after peaking at 364 in mid-August, reaching 192 during 21–27 September.

    However, this trend reversed in the latest week, with deaths increasing  by 16.7% to 224 during 28 September–4 October. 

    The latest increase occurred in both settings, with community deaths  rising from 123 to 150 (+22.0%) and deaths in treatment facilities increasing  from 69 to 74 (+7.2%). 

    Consequently, the proportion of deaths occurring in the community  increased from 64.1% to 67.0%, continuing an upward trend from 61.3% during  14 – 20 September. The latest increase in both community and facility deaths  indicates a reversal of the declining mortality trend observed during the preceding  weeks, with two-thirds of confirmed deaths continuing to occur in the  community.

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Kenya

    A confirmed case of BVD has been reported in Kenya. The case is a 40-year-old Kenyan male and resident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  

    Preliminary investigations indicate that he travelled from Buta in Bas-Uélé  Province to Kisangani, Tshopo Province, arriving on 20 September 2026, where symptom onset was reportedly noted. 

    He subsequently travelled to Beni, Nord-Kivu Province, on 1 October,  stayed overnight, and continued by road to Kampala, Uganda, on 2 October. 

    After an overnight stay in Kampala, he travelled by air from Entebbe,  Uganda to Nairobi, Kenya on 3 October 2026, arriving at approximately 13:10,  and proceeded directly to a healthcare facility accompanied by family members,  where he was isolated. 

    He presented with fever, chills, intense fatigue and weakness, muscle  pain, painful swallowing, sore throat, and bleeding under the skin at injection  sites. 

    Samples collected on 3 October tested positive for Bundibugyo virus at the  National Virology Reference Laboratory of the Kenya Medical Research Institute 

(KEMRI), with laboratory confirmation reported on 5 October 2026. 

    He died later that day while undergoing care. Safe and dignified burial has  been conducted.

    A total of 28 contacts, including family members and healthcare workers,  have so far been listed. An additional 23 passengers and crew members who  travelled on the same flight as the case from Kampala, Uganda, to Nairobi, Kenya, are being traced. 

    Contacts already identified are being quarantined while further  investigations are ongoing to establish the detailed travel itinerary of the case and  identify all persons who may have been exposed in the Democratic Republic  

of the Congo, Uganda, and Kenya.

Risk Assessment

    The risk of further spread remains very high within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reflecting sustained transmission, continued geographic  expansion, high mortality, population mobility, insecurity and persistent response 

challenges. 

    The risk is considered high for neighbouring countries sharing land  borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and low elsewhere in Africa and globally. 

    The second IHR Emergency Committee, convened on 18 August 2026, also  reviewed the evolving situation and emphasized that the outbreak remains far  from controlled, and continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

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Situation interpretation

    The outbreak of BVD remains uncontrolled despite expanded response capacity. 

    

    Recent increases in cases and deaths, shifting transmission hotspots,  persistent community deaths, suboptimal contact follow-up and delayed isolation 

indicate continuing gaps in breaking transmission chains. 

    The confirmed exportation to Kenya following travel through Uganda  further demonstrates the growing cross-border risk and its associated regional  consequences. 

    The immediate priorities should be to improve response performance across the different response pillars while strengthening crossborder coordination and preparedness.

Source: 

Link: https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/publication/ebola-bundibugyo-virus-disease-outbreak-5

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#Russia denies second case of #pneumonia of unknown cause

 

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[#Russia Denies Second Case of Pneumonia of Unknown Cause#] 

    On October 8th local time, the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) issued a statement denying online reports that a staff member at the Siberian and Far Eastern Institute for Plague Prevention in Irkutsk had died of "pneumonia of unknown cause" and that a second case had emerged among those who had been in contact with her. 

    The statement indicated that medical observation of all contacts of the aforementioned staff member had been completed, and no health abnormalities related to infectious diseases had been found. 

    Nearly 5,000 laboratory tests had not detected any dangerous pathogens. 

    The statement confirmed that the health and epidemic prevention situation in Irkutsk Oblast, Irkutsk City, and Sherekhov City was calm. 

    The institute in question is located in Irkutsk City, and the staff member died in Sherekhov City. 

    The statement also stated that the WHO had not confirmed any new cases. 

    At the request of the WHO, the agency has provided full information on the measures taken. 

    Previously, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on the social media platform X that the patient had died on October 2nd after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia. 

    Since the initial report by independent media, the WHO has been actively monitoring the situation regarding this death. 

    Russian health authorities have informed the WHO that no cases of plague have been reported recently in the Irkutsk region, and no high-threat pathogens have been detected in tests of those who had contact with the patient. (CCTV News video @Knews)

Source: 

Link: https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2026-10-08/doc-iniupnux4339084.shtml?from=pcsearch

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#Italy, #WNV & #Usutu Virus in Humans - Weekly #Surveillance #Report (ISS, Oct. 8 '26): 754 cases and 57 deaths so far

 

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Summary

    ° Since the beginning of the arboviral season and as of October 7 '26, 754 confirmed human cases of infection with West Nile Virus have been reported (they were 727 in the last week report);

    ° Of these:

        § 401 were West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (among them, five were imported: 1 from Maldives, 1 France, 1 Belgium, 1 Greece and 1 the Netherlands), 

        § 94 werer asymptomatic cases in blood donors; 

        § 253 were West Nile Fever Cases; 

        § 5 were unspecified cases; 

        § 1 was an asymptomatic case.

    ° The number of provinces with WNV circulation is now 85 in 20 Regions.

    ° In addition, 57 fatal cases have been reported. The case-fatality rate in the WNND cases is now 14.1% (in 2025 it was 19.2%).

    ° Since the start of arboviral season, 18 human cases of infection with Usutu virus were recorded: 8 in Lombardy, 1 Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 1 Emilia-Romagna, 2 Marche, 3 Latium, 1 Piedmont, 2 Veneto).

Trend in Reported WNV Monthly Cases

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Source: 

Link: https://www.epicentro.iss.it/westnile/bollettino/Bollettino_WND_2026_11.pdf

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#Serological and transcriptomic response of African fruit #bats to immune challenge with recombinant #vaccines expressing #Ebola or #Nipah virus #antigens

 

Abstract

Bats are hosts to diverse zoonotic viruses which can cause high case fatality rates in humans. Since detecting viruses in bats is difficult, antibodies are often used for surveillance, though their significance remains unclear in the absence of in vivo immunological studies. To address this knowledge gap, we measured antibody production and gene expression in bats following injection with vaccines encoding either a Nipah virus G glycoprotein or an Ebola virus GP glycoprotein. We selected two African bat species with overlapping ranges, Eidolon helvum (confirmed reservoir of henipaviruses) and Epomophorus gambianus (putative reservoir of filoviruses). Using a Luminex-based multiplex microsphere immunoassay and a pseudotype virus neutralization assay, we observed an increase in antibodies against the Nipah glycoprotein in most bats that received the Nipah vaccine. In contrast, we could only detect anti-Ebola glycoprotein antibodies in one bat species, Ep. gambianus, in response to the Ebola vaccine. Transcriptomic analysis in Ei. helvum revealed that genes involved in ISGylation and T-cell differentiation pathways were differentially expressed in response to the Ebola, but not the Nipah, vaccine. These results demonstrate species-specific differences in responses to antigen exposure, offering insights into bat adaptive immune systems and providing calibration for serological data from wild bats.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.252189

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#Taiwan CDC #statement regarding a suspected #plague incident in #Russia, in response to #WHO's information (Oct. 8 '26)

 

    The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated on October 8, 2026, regarding recent international media reports of a death from pneumonia of unknown cause reported on October 2, 2026, at the Irkutsk Plague Control Institute in Siberia, Russia, followed by a second suspected plague death on October 6. 

    To closely monitor the international epidemic situation, the CDC, through its counterpart in Taiwan's International Health Regulations (IHR), inquired with the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 6 to verify relevant epidemic information.

    The CDC indicated that the WHO officially responded on October 7. According to information provided by the WHO, Russian authorities informed the WHO on October 6 that no plague cases had been reported in the Irkutsk region recently. 

    Regarding the severe pneumonia case involving an employee of the Irkutsk Plague Control Institute, the country has launched an epidemiological investigation and initiated relevant prevention and control measures. All contacts have been identified and tested, and no high-threat pathogens have been detected so far.

    The WHO stated that due to incomplete information regarding the case, it is currently insufficient to draw empirical conclusions regarding whether this event poses a potential risk to the public, and caution is needed while conducting dynamic risk assessments. 

    The WHO Director-General also issued a public statement on October 6th, formally requesting Russian authorities to clarify the exact cause of the first case of severe pneumonia, the pathogen that led to the implementation of large-scale public health measures, and to provide specific explanations regarding media reports of a second case of pneumonia of unknown cause. 

    The WHO will continue to maintain contact with Russian authorities and actively verify the veracity of media reports.

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that Taiwan has not reported any cases of plague since 1953. 

    Furthermore, according to WHO statistics, between 2019 and 2025, a total of 3,860 suspected cases of plague have been reported in 10 countries globally, of which 2,646 were confirmed cases, resulting in 423 deaths (a case fatality rate of 11% for suspected cases). 

    Approximately 98% of confirmed cases globally were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar; neighboring countries such as China reported 19 confirmed cases, and Mongolia reported 17 confirmed cases.

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) emphasized that it has been closely monitoring the development of the outbreak, strengthening quarantine measures such as fever screening at borders, and has established relevant testing capacity and an infectious disease prevention and control medical network in Taiwan. 

    The relevant treatment drugs are also readily available and stably supplied antibiotics in domestic clinical medicine, which can be used for diagnosis, treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis. 

    The public is urged not to panic excessively.

Source: 

Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/ZSgA4XCBC3WbeC0Wb8Em-g?typeid=9

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#Australia, #H5 avian #influenza events in #wildlife (Dept. of Agriculture, Oct. 8 '26)

 

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Event data

    ° 694 Positive events

    ° 59,314 Hotline reports

    As of 4pm AEST, 7 October 2026, Australia has 694 confirmed events of H5 bird flu in wildlife.

        § 10 in Western Australia (WA)

        § 328 in South Australia (SA)

        § 68 in New South Wales (NSW)

        § 2 in Queensland (QLD)

        § 236 in Victoria (VIC)

        § 49 in Tasmania (TAS)

        § 1 in Other Territories*

{*} Jervis Bay Territory (Commonwealth jurisdiction)

    As H5 bird flu is confirmed in more locations and species in Australia it will not be necessary to continue testing all species in known areas of transmission, or to test every animal involved in an investigation. 

    Reporting will be targeted to provide a clear picture of the national H5 bird flu situation in wildlife in Australia and key developments.

Data disclaimer

    Data reflects information provided by state and territory governments to the Australian Government as at 17:00 AEST daily. The Australian Government publishes this information for national reporting purposes. Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and currency of the data remains with the relevant state or territory government. Due to differences in reporting timing, information on the national dashboard may differ from information published on state or territory government websites.

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Source: 

Link: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu/latest-data#h1_bird_flu

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Integrated in vivo and transcriptomic analyses of lethal #Oropouche virus #infection reveal suppression of pathogenic host responses by #antiviral therapy

 

Abstract

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus responsible for large outbreaks of febrile illness in Central and South America, with increasing reports of severe neurological disease and fatal outcomes. Despite its growing public health impact, no approved antiviral therapies or vaccines are currently available. Here, we show that favipiravir, a broad-spectrum nucleoside analogue, robustly suppresses OROV replication and disease in vivo. In a lethal Syrian hamster model, favipiravir treatment provided complete protection against OROV infection, preventing viral dissemination to peripheral organs and the central nervous system, and remained highly effective when administration was initiated after infection. In contrast, insufficient antiviral control resulted in viral neuroinvasion and fatality. To define host responses associated with OROV pathogenesis and their modulation by antiviral therapy, we performed transcriptomic profiling of liver and brain tissues. OROV infection induced interferon-driven inflammatory programs accompanied by marked disruption of metabolic and tissue homeostatic pathways, whereas these transcriptional signatures were largely abrogated by favipiravir treatment. Together, our findings identify favipiravir as a potent antiviral candidate against OROV and provide the first in vivo, tissue-resolved transcriptomic framework of OROV infection, linking effective viral suppression with the prevention of neuroinvasion and pathogenic host responses. These results highlight antiviral intervention as a viable strategy to mitigate OROV-associated disease and mortality.

Source: 

Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1014647

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#WHO DG's opening #remarks at the media #briefing {about suspected #plague cases in #Russia & #Ebola Bundibugyo in #DRC} (WHO, 7 October 2026, extracts)

{Excerpts}

7 October 2026 | Remarks | Geneva 

    Good morning, good afternoon and good evening.

    Last Friday, the 2nd of October, the first media reports emerged of a suspected case of pneumonic plague in a laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute in the Russian Federation.

    The lab worker died after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Initial media reports suggested pneumonic plague following an accidental lab exposure.

    WHO is aware that the Russian government held a meeting on the 2nd of October because they suspected a resident of the Irkutsk oblast had contracted a dangerous infection.

    On Saturday, WHO asked the Russian Federation for more information, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.

    Yesterday, the Russian Federation responded, saying that no case of plague had recently been reported in the Irkutsk oblast, and that they had placed about 200 contacts in quarantine.

    However, WHO has requested further information on the laboratory tests conducted on the individual who died and the contacts, more detail on what prompted the public health measures, and details about the health status of the contacts.

    We have also sought verification of media reports of a second employee with pneumonia of undetermined cause.

    WHO has offered technical support related to plague and lab biosafety and biosecurity.

    As we don’t yet have the full picture of this event, we are not able to conduct a full risk assessment.

    Timely, complete and transparent information sharing under the International Health Regulations is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public health risks.

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    Now to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    The number of confirmed cases has now reached 8665, with 4178 confirmed deaths.

    In some areas, there are clear signs that the epidemic is slowing down, although in others it is continuing to grow.

    Since the outbreak began, contact tracing has improved significantly, around 2000 alerts are reported every day, and about 5 million people have been reached through community engagement activities.  

    Clinical trials of therapeutics are progressing, with more than 600 people enrolled;

    A vaccine trial is expected to start later this month, and we are working on ensuring access to these products should they prove efficacious in trials.

    These advances are the result of hard work over many months, by communities and partners under the leadership of the government.

    But we continue to face significant challenges.

    The majority of deaths still happen in the community instead of in treatment centres, and contact tracing is still not at the level needed.

    And we cannot forget that this epidemic is unfolding in an area beset by a prolonged humanitarian crisis.

    While transmission is going down overall, new hotspots continue to appear, including in areas close to the border with South Sudan.

    And as you know, Kenya yesterday reported a case of Ebola in a Kenyan citizen who fell ill in DRC, was treated at several facilities there, then travelled to the Kenyan capital Nairobi via the Ugandan capital Kampala.

    Immediately upon arrival in Nairobi, he was taken to hospital where he was isolated and Ebola was confirmed. He received care but died on Monday this week.

    Kenyan authorities are monitoring 55 contacts, including passengers and crew who were with the patient on the flight from Kampala to Nairobi.

    Yesterday, I spoke to the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the case and the measures that Kenya had taken to prepare for an event like this.

    I commend the Kenyan government for its prompt action and for reporting the case to WHO under the International Health Regulations in a timely way.

    WHO advises against blanket travel or trade restrictions, which are less effective than screening, contact tracing and other measures. 

    Transparency should be rewarded, not punished.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/news-room/speeches/item/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing---7-october-2026

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Suspicion of #plague in a #Russia #laboratory resurfaces; #WHO demands explanation for {a possible} second death (Sina, Oct. 7 '26)

 

{Extracts, edited}

Suspicion of a plague leak from a Russian laboratory is escalating? A "second death" has been reported, and the WHO has demanded an explanation from Russia. #OverseasNews#

　　A staff member at a plague research facility in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia, recently died. The laboratory worker died after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia, leading to speculation that it might be related to pneumonic plague.

    The recent news of a second death from pneumonia of unknown cause in the region has once again drawn attention. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus publicly stated that the WHO has requested further information from Russia to verify the reports and clarify the specific circumstances of the two cases.

    According to foreign media reports, the British newspaper Daily Mail, citing local media sources, claims that another person may have died in the Irkutsk region. However, this claim has not yet been confirmed by Russian health authorities or the WHO.

    The local independent media outlet Baikal also reported that recent reports about the "plague" have begun to decrease, with some media outlets deleting related content.

    According to other reports, the Baikalsk city government had previously issued a notice advising residents to temporarily avoid traveling to Sherekhov. The notice stated that due to "unofficial information," cases of plague might have been discovered in the area. However, the notice was reportedly deleted approximately two hours after its release.

    The WHO has asked Russia to explain the situation of the "second case".

    WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently stated on the social media platform X that the WHO has been monitoring the death of a laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Institute of Virology and Epidemiology since related media reports emerged.

    According to a previous notification from the Russian health authorities to the WHO, the staff member died on October 2 after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia.

    Some media outlets previously reported that the death may have been related to accidental exposure in the laboratory and pneumonic plague, but this claim has not yet been confirmed by authoritative departments.

    The Russian health authorities have informed the WHO that no new cases of plague have been registered in the region recently. Russia has launched an epidemiological investigation and implemented preventative and control measures, including medical observation and testing of identified contacts.

    The Russian side stated that no high-risk pathogens were found among the relevant contacts, and all confirmed contacts have completed medical observation.

    However, the WHO still requests Russia to provide more information, including the specific cause of the staff member's severe pneumonia, the pathogen that prompted Russia to take public health measures, and the specific details of the so-called "second employee with unexplained pneumonia" reported in the media.

    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that timely, complete, and transparent information sharing is crucial for clarifying conflicting reports and accurately assessing potential public health risks.

    There is still a lack of authoritative evidence regarding a "laboratory leak".

    Earlier reports indicated that Darya Shipilova, a female researcher at a plague research institution in Sherekhov, Irkutsk Oblast, accidentally broke a test tube containing pneumonic plague pathogens while collecting samples on September 25 and died on October 2.

    The report also stated that approximately 200 people were identified as close contacts, and some were placed under quarantine or medical observation.

    However, it should be noted that the claims of "test tube rupture leading to pneumonic plague infection," "laboratory leak," and "a second death" all have varying degrees of information gaps and cannot yet be considered as confirmed.

    The most pressing question now is whether Russia will release the final test results for the deceased, as well as the specific details of the so-called "second case."

    Until this crucial information is clarified, it remains to be further investigated whether this incident is a case of ordinary severe pneumonia or involves high-risk pathogens such as plague.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://k.sina.com.cn/article_7295511724_1b2d8acac04001jmsw.html?from=pcsearch

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Zoonotic #influenza #H5 #vaccination in #humans in #EU/EEA - Assessment - 7 October 2026 (ECDC, summary)

 

{Summary}

Zoonotic influenza A(H5) vaccination in humans in the EU/EEA | Assessment

7 October 2026

    Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) continues to circulate widely in wild birds and cause outbreaks in poultry and other animals across Europe. 

    Despite extensive circulation, human infections remain rare and no human cases have been confirmed in the EU/EEA to date. 

    Considering this, ECDC assesses the risk from A(H5N1) viruses circulating in Europe as low for the general population and low to moderate for people occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.  

Key findings

    ° Twenty-seven of 30 EU/EEA countries responded to the survey on influenza A(H5) vaccination in humans – national plans and implementation status in EU/EEA. 

        § Eight countries reported having national A(H5) vaccination recommendations in place, eight were currently developing them, and 11 had no plans at the time of the survey. 

    ° Implementation of the plans remained limited: five countries had started vaccination campaigns (Austria, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Portugal) and three planned to do so within one year. 

        § Priority groups most commonly included in the cohort to be vaccinated were veterinarians and animal-health staff, culling teams, laboratory staff and workers in farming and the poultry sector.  

    ° Most countries reported that they are monitoring or planning to monitor vaccine uptake; the majority through immunisation registries. 

    ° Reported vaccine uptake in reporting countries was generally low outside laboratory settings, but data were incomplete and not comparable across countries.  

    ° Overall, results were heterogeneous in the EU/EEA due to variation in national recommendations, implementation plans, delivery arrangements and uptake monitoring.  

        § For preparedness purposes, countries would benefit from clearly defined programme objectives and scenario-based triggers, tested delivery pathways, targeted communication and uptake-monitoring plans. 

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/zoonotic-influenza-ah5-vaccination-humans-eueea

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#Belgium - #Influenza A #H5N1 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

{Excerpts}

(...)

{Vlaanderen Region} 

    ° The birds in the infected aviary have been euthanized (Somateria mollissima, Anas bernieri, Lophodytes cucullatus, Mergellus albellus, brasiliensis brasiliensis, Spatula hottentota, Anas melleri, Aix galericulata) . 

    ° The other birds have not been culled but are being monitored (derogation from Regulation 2020/687, Article 13.2.d) 05/10/2026 

    ° Birds in other aviaries (ibises and geese) were showing symptoms and tested positive for the H5N1 virus. It was therefore decided to euthanise all the animals.

    ° The captive birds in the two infected aviaries were euthanized, as were the three hens in an uninfected aviary. 

    ° The other birds were not culled but are being monitored (derogation from Regulation 2020/687, Article 13.2.d: animals of high genetic, cultural or educational value, duly justified). ; 

    ° PRIMARY OUTBREAK (Tongeren: secondary outbreak linked to the purchase of ducks in Balen)

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7868

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#Iceland - #Influenza A #H5N5 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification

 

{Extracts}

(...)

    ° Pursuant to Article 10.4.1.4 of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the notification reported herein relates to infection in wild birds, which are not considered poultry under the WOAH definition, and therefore does not affect the HPAI-free status of Iceland.

(...)

    ° Wild Birds in the Norðurland vestra Region:

        § Black-headed Gull, 

        § Lesser Black-backed Gull, 

        § Great black-backed Gull, 

        § Great Skua 

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7884

____