On 26 Jan 2026, Ethiopia officially declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak, following 42 consecutive days with no new confirmed cases.
The outbreak was confirmed on 14 Nov 2025 declared and resulted in 14 laboratory-confirmed cases and nine deaths. There were five deaths that were probable cases. The outbreak affected four districts—Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region.
Rapid scaling of surveillance, contact tracing, risk communication, and border screening curbed transmission, while early access to investigational vaccines and therapeutics strengthened outbreak response.
Two German travelers developed laboratory-confirmed Chikungunya virus infection after independent trips to Seychelles (Mahé and La Digue) in January 2026. Both cases were confirmed by positive PCR results for chikungunya virus in serum samples.
According to the Ministry of Health of Seychelles, chikungunya cases have been rising nationwide since mid-December 2025. The rainy season, which typically occurs from November to March, creates favorable conditions for mosquito breeding.
In 2025, a chikungunya cases were detected in June and July in travellers after a stay in Seychelles.
Seychelles is not currently listed as an area with a chikungunya outbreak by the US CDC. However, the detection of two independent travel-associated cases from Seychelles within an eight-day period suggests active local transmission.
Prevention: Optimal mosquito protection 24/7, also in cities, see factsheet: This also protects you against other mosquito-borne diseases. Vaccination against chikungunya is not licensed in Switzerland.
For vaccination recommendations, see ECTM statement.
Six confirmed cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, since November 2025, with three cases occurring within a single household and the source of infection for the remaining cases yet to be identified.
The cluster occurred in advance of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, from 16 to 25 Jan 2026, which draws tens of thousands of visitors and significantly increases pressure on local accommodations and food services, creating conditions that can facilitate disease transmission.
The US CDC has updated the areas at risk for chikungunya. As of 13 Jan 2026, there is a chikungunya travel health notice for outbreaks in (red = new compared to last update 16 Dec 2025):
Countries considered to have an elevated risk for chikungunya include:
In addition to optimal mosquito bite prevention, the Swiss ECTM recommendation include:
Chikungunya vaccination is recommended for:
Chikungunya vaccination may be considered for:
Of note:
According to WHO, on week 02, 2026: 14 out of 26 countries of the enhanced meningitis surveillance network shared their meningitis epidemiological data. For previous epidemics and alerts, see news at www.healthytravel.ch.
Epidemics:
Alert:
Pathogens identified in 2026 (for updates, see LINK).
Vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menveo® or Menquadfi ®) is recommended as follows:
If no alert or epidemic is reported, vaccination is recommended for travel to the ‘meningitis belt’ during the dry season (typically occurring from December to June) across sub-Saharan Africa if:
In addition, ensure all patients with an indication for pneumococcal vaccination are vaccinated according to the Swiss vaccination plan.
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