A surge in rabies cases in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has been confirmed, with the first human case of the year 2025 reported. So far, 76 animals have been reported affected.
Areas affected by rabies until June 2025:
Prevention: Avoid contact with animals and do not feed them! Travelers are advised to get a pre-exposure vaccination, especially those at higher risk, such as individuals working with animals, riding two-wheelers, visiting remote areas, young children, cave explorers, or anyone who may come into contact with bats.
Behavior after exposure: After an animal bite/scratch: immediately wash the wound with water and soap for 15 minutes, then disinfect and in any case visit a high-quality medical center for post-exposure vaccination as soon as possible!
Leptospirosis: Leptospires are transmitted via the urine of rodents (especially rats), e.g. in water residues (rivulets, puddles, etc.) or mud. Transmission to humans occurs through direct or indirect contact with rodent urine via small skin lesions or mucosal surfaces. The clinical picture ranges from flu-like general symptoms to aseptic meningitis and sepsis. Vaccination is not available for travellers.
Prevention: Wear waterproof protective clothing/boots when wading through water! Cuts or scratches should be covered with waterproof bandages. Vaccination is not available for travelers.
As of the week ending 29 June 2025, Japan continues to experience an ongoing pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak, with case numbers once again on the rise: A total of 3’353 cases were reported during that week alone — the highest weekly count recorded since the current surveillance system was introduced in 2018.
Cumulatively, 39’672 pertussis cases have been reported in Japan so far in 2025.
This is a reminder that a travel medicine consultation is an opportunity to check pertussis vaccination status.
Swiss recommendations: After the basic immunization against pertussis, booster doses are recommended in adolescents (11-15 years) and adults (25-29 years). Booster vaccination is also indicated in every pregnancy. In addition, adolescents and adults of all ages should receive a pertussis vaccination if there is regular contact with infants under 6 months of age due to work or family and the last vaccination against pertussis was 10 years ago or longer.
New South Wales has confirmed its first fatal case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) in a man in his 50s, marking the fourth known human case in Australia, all of which have been fatal.
The case highlights the critical importance of avoiding contact with bats and underscores the need for immediate post-exposure prophylaxi.
Germany: On 3 July 2025, German public health authorities reported detections of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in wastewater samples from multiple federal states:
Genetic sequencing shows the viruses closely match the cVDPV2 cluster previously detected in early 2025 in Spain, Poland, Germany, Finland, and the UK.
As of 3 July 2025, no clinical cases of poliomyelitis have been reported in the EU/EEA, and sustained human-to-human transmission within Germany has not been confirmed.
The large geographical spread in the EU/EEA, the fact that detections occurred over several months, and the identification of specific genetic sub-clusters suggest at least some degree of local transmission.
For all individuals, including refugees and migrants: Routine vaccination against polio according to national guidelines is important (Swiss FOPH recommendations | STIKO, Germany recommendations).
Travellers going to countries where wild poliovirus or polio vaccine virus is endemic should get vaccinated against polio, see recommendations on the country pages at www.healthytravel.ch.
To date in 2025, public health authorities in France have reported 14 cases of locally acquired chikungunya virus disease in seven different local administrative units. All clusters are currently classified as active. This week authorities reported the first locally acquired chikungunya virus disease case from the Bas-Rhin department. The other departments have reported locally acquired chikungunya virus disease or dengue cases in previous years.
Locally transmitted Chikungunya cases as of 2 July 2025 (for updates see LINK):
More locally acquired cases are expected in the upcoming summer season.
Optimal mosquito protection 24/7, also in cities (also against other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue). The Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine does not recommend chikungunya vaccination for travelers visiting mainland France or Corsica.
0
