The US CDC has updated the areas at risk for chikungunya on 05 February 2026 (red = new compared to last update 13 Jan 202):
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:
Since 1 October 2025, cases of Shigella and Salmonella infection have been reported in travellers returning to England, Scotland and Wales from the Cape Verde Islands. Out of 158 confirmed Shigella cases, most (112) reported recent travel to Cape Verde, mainly to the Santa Maria and Boa Vista areas. Out of 43 confirmed Salmonella cases from three separate clusters, 32 people reported travel to Cape Verde.
The ECDC also reported an upsurge in Shigella cases in travellers returning to four EU countries (the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Ireland). An outbreak of Shigella was also reported in Cape Verde in 2022.
While no nationwide outbreak has been officially declared, this travel-associated signal highlights ongoing food- and water-borne infection risks in tourist settings. Older adults, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women and children under five may be at greater risk of complications, including sepsis.
Since late December 2025, heavy rains across Southern Africa have led to a surge in malaria cases.
Botswana: Botswana has recorded 197 malaria cases during the 2025/26 season, including 176 locally acquired and 21 imported cases. In week 3 of 2026 alone, 56 locally transmitted cases were reported.
Likewise in February 2025, following heavy flooding, a significant surge in malaria cases was seen with more than 2’000 in 2025 compared to 290 cases in 2024.
Namibia: Health authorities report a significant surge in malaria during the first four weeks of 2026, with 8’760 confirmed cases, up from 5’229 in the same period last year. Katima Mulilo is the hardest hit (1’448 cases), followed by Outapi (1,287 cases). In total, 20 districts have crossed the epidemic threshold, including Andara, Nyangana, Ncamagoro, Nkurenkuru, Eenhana, Engela, Okongo, Grootfontein, Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Omuthiya, Tsandi, Outapi, Okahao, Opuwo, Oshikuku, and Oshakati.
South Africa: Mpumalanga’s Health Department warns of a malaria spike after floods, with 314 cases in January 2026 compared to 69 cases in 2025, mainly in Ehlanzeni District’s Nkomazi, Mbombela, and Bushbuckridge.
Given the heavy rain falls and early upsurge in malaria cases in areas outside the seasonal chemoprophylaxis zone (see marked districts below), the Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine has enlarged the region in Namibia where seasonal chemoprophylaxis is recommended. For Botswana and South Africa, the recommendations remain the same. New recommendations, see maps with marks:
In 2025, the Americas reported 14’891 confirmed measles cases and 29 deaths, a 32-fold increase from 2024 and the highest total since 2019, with most deaths occurring in Indigenous populations. For details, see LINK.
Measles spread quickly and can be dangerous - protection is simple: get vaccinated!
Swiss recommendations: All persons born after 1963 who have no documented protection against the infection (antibodies or 2 documented vaccinations) should be vaccinated twice with MMR vaccine at one month interval. In the event of an epidemic in the region or contact with a measles case, vaccination is recommended from the age of 6 months.
Avoid contact with animals and do not feed them! Travellers are advised to get a pre-exposure vaccination considering the circulation of counterfeit rabies vaccines in Philippines.
Behavior after exposure: After an animal bite/scratch: immediately wash the wound with running 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!
Those who received a rabies vaccine in Philippines should promptly consult their healthcare provider to assess the need for revaccination. In some cases, traveling to another country may be necessary to obtain a dependable source of rabies vaccine.
The risk for the general population is considered as low due to the high vaccination coverage in Germany. However, unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals may be at risk for polio.
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.
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.
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