The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert due to the increase in yellow fever cases in the Region of the Americas. Between January and May 25, 2025, a total of 235 confirmed human cases were reported, including 96 deaths (case fatality rate: 41%), across five countries: Bolivia (4 cases, 2 deaths), Brazil (111 cases, 44 deaths), Colombia (74 cases, 31 deaths), Ecuador (8 cases, 6 deaths), and Peru (38 cases, 13 deaths). In response, PAHO urges Member States to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, ensure access to yellow fever vaccination for at-risk populations, and reinforce the capacity of health services for timely case detection, diagnosis, and management.

Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Perú, Ecuador

The World Health Organization has certified Suriname as a malaria-free country. This makes it the first country in the Amazon region to receive this important certification, which reflects the efforts of an entire nation to combat this serious disease. This means improvements in the health of the population, the economy and, of course, local tourism.

Suriname

A measles outbreak is impacting the Mennonite community in the Santa Cruz region. The outbreak is attributed to a lack of vaccinations within the community, allowing the virus to spread rapidly. Authorities are investigating additional suspected cases.

Bolivia

Kerala is experiencing a significant increase in hepatitis A infections, particularly in districts such as Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur. This trend is raising growing concern in the field of public health, especially with the arrival of the monsoon season. As of April 16, 2025, a total of 3,227 confirmed cases and 16 deaths have been reported across the state. Given that the incubation period of the hepatitis A virus ranges from 2 to 6 weeks, health authorities anticipate a further rise in cases, especially following reports of events where contaminated food and water were consumed.

India

A Spanish tourist contracted rabies in Ethiopia; the man was bitten by a dog during his trip in July 2024. Rabies, which is fatal once symptoms appear, is preventable through post-exposure treatment.

Etiopía

Since mid-February 2025, an increase in test positivity rates reaching 11% has been observed from sentinel sites in Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions, but the finding is broadly consistent with last year´s observations in the same period; however, seasonality is not yet clear. Countries in the African Region, European Region, and the Region of the Americas are currently reporting low levels of SARS-CoV-2 activity. The global public health risk associated with COVID remains high, but with evidence of a decreasing impact on human health. SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, and between January and May 2025, there were shifts in global SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics. Current approved COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against the current dominant variants, particularly for severe disease and death. Guidelines for vaccination and other recommendations continue to be as per those provided by WHO SAGE in November 2023.