ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract Global efforts to eradicate smallpox—an Orthopoxvirus infection—began in the mid-20th century, with the last naturally occurring case reported in 1977. This was achieved through global solidarity efforts that expanded the smallpox eradication vaccination program . Approximately 50 years following the cessation of mass smallpox vaccination and in the absence of access to a sustainable boosting program , the population immunologically naïve to Orthopoxviruses has increased significantly. With increasing global movements and travels, we argue that the emergence of two back-to-back yet distinct mpox epidemics in the 21st century is a sign of humanity’s lost herd immunity to Orthopoxviruses. This needs concerted efforts to restore. Source: Viruses,  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/9/1257 ____

  New human cases {1,2}:  -- From 2 July to 25 August 2025 , based on reporting date, the detection of influenza A( H5N1 ) in five humans and influenza A(H9N2) in two humans were reported officially.   Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals :  - High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry animal species continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).{3}  - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.{4}  Risk assessment {5}:  - Sustained human to human transmission has not been reported from these events.  - Based on information available at the time of this risk assessment update , the overall public health risk from currently known influenza A viruses detected at the human-animal interface has not changed and remains low .  - The occurrence of sus...

Overall global risk and confidence * Overall risk :  Global  - Moderate     Confidence in available information : Global - Low   Overall risk statement As of mid-2025, the global public health risk from COVID-19 has changed from high to moderate , with declining deaths and hospitalizations since 2022 due to high population immunity , improved clinical management , and similar virulence .  Most SARSCoV-2 variants now belong to the JN.1 Omicron sublineages , which show immune escape but do not result in increased disease severity.  Nonetheless, surveillance gaps , reduced genomic sequencing and sharing of sequence information, and limited reporting, especially from low- and middle-income countries , undermine accurate risk assessment .  SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate widely , as indicated by sentinel testing and wastewater surveillance , often co-circulating with influenza and RSV .  PostCOVID-19 condition is estimated to affect ...

  09/09/2025 -  Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil  In an unprecedented response to the rapid global spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), stakeholders and experts from across the poultry sector, public health, science, and policy spheres have convened in Brazil in a landmark meeting .  This first-ever global multisectoral dialogue aims to forge coordinated defense against the escalating threat to animal and human health and agricultural livelihoods. Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu , is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily infects birds. The virus belongs to the Type A influenza family, which is known for its ability to mutate and change rapidly. Since 2020, HPAI has expanded rapidly across continents , devastating poultry flocks , impacting biodiversity , trade and food security , and raising concerns over its potential to spark a human pandemic . The currently circulating avian influenza panzootic is now widespread, and represents one of t...

  Situation at a glance On 1 September 2025, WHO received an alert from the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) regarding suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province, DRC .  The first known index case was a pregnant woman who presented at Bulape General Reference Hospital on 20 August 2025 with symptoms of high fever, bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhage and extreme weakness . She died on 25 August from multiple organ failure .  On 4 September 2025 , following confirmatory laboratory testing, the Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of EVD .  Ebola virus disease is a serious , often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood or secretions of infected wildlife and then spreads through human-to-human transmission .  As of 4 September 2025, 28 suspected cases, including 15 deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 54%), have been reported from three ar...

  {Summary} Situation at a glance The global cholera situation continues to deteriorate , driven by conflict and poverty, posing a significant public health challenge across multiple WHO regions.  Between 1 January and 17 August 2025, a total of 409 222 cholera/Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) cases and 4738 deaths were reported globally, from 31 countries , with six of the 31 countries reporting case fatality rates above 1%, indicating serious gaps in case management and delayed access to care.  Cholera is resurging in a number of countries , including some that had not reported substantial case numbers in years, like Chad and the Republic of Congo , while other countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo , South Sudan , and Sudan , are experiencing outbreaks that are continuing from 2024, with significant geographic expansion. This complicates containment efforts and strains fragile health systems.  Conflict, mass displacement, disasters from natural hazard...

  Highlights     • All clades of monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate in several countries.  - When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, they continue to pose a risk of sustained community transmission .  - Since the last edition of this report , one country, Senegal , has reported mpox for the first time . Efforts to identify the clade are underway.  • Furthermore, Türkiye has reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV for the first time and the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported its first cases of mpox due to clade IIb MPXV.   • In July 2025, 47 countries in five (out of six) WHO regions reported a total of 3924 confirmed cases , including 30 deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR] 0.8% ).  - The South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions reported an increase in cases in July 2025, while the African Region, European Region and the Region of the Americas reported a decrease....

  {Excerpt} Highlights -- All clades of monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate in several countries.  - When mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is not interrupted, they continue to pose a risk of sustained community transmission .   -- Since the last edition of this report, one new country, the Gambia , has reported an mpox case for the first time.  - Genomic sequencing analysis has identified clade IIb MPXV.  -- Furthermore, Mozambique, has reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV for the first time.   -- Twenty-one countries in Africa have reported ongoing mpox transmission in the past six weeks.  - Clade IIb MPXV continues to be reported in West Africa, while Central African countries report both clade Ia and clade Ib MPXV, and East African countries report clade Ib MPXV.  -- The recent overall downward trend of confirmed cases across the continent is driven by the decline in cases in Sie...

{Excerpts} The Forty-second meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) on the international spread of poliovirus was convened by the WHO Director-General on 18 June 2025 with committee members and advisers meeting via video conference with affected countries, supported by the WHO Secretariat.   The Emergency Committee reviewed the data on wild poliovirus ( WPV1 ) and circulating vaccine derived polioviruses ( cVDPV ) in the context of the global target of interruption and certification of WPV1 eradication by 2027 and interruption and certification of cVDPV2 elimination by 2029.  Technical updates were received about the situation in the following countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Nigeria, Pakistan , and Papua New Guinea . (...) Conclusion The Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) a...

  New human cases {2}:  -- From 28 May to 1 July 2025 , based on reporting date, the detection of influenza A( H5N1 ) in nine humans , influenza A( H9N2 ) in three humans and influenza A( H10N3 ) in one human were reported officially. Additionally, one human case of infection with an influenza A(H5N1) virus was detected.  Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals :  -- High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).{3} The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.{4}  Risk assessment {5}:  -- Sustained human to human transmission has not been reported from these events.  -- Based on information available at the time of the risk assessment, the overall public health risk from currently known influenza viruses circulating at t...