Dear Dames and Knights, 

FEMERAID International would like to provide a brief update on current alerts regarding infectious diseases in Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa. As is often the case, various destinations are currently reporting outbreaks or increased activity of Ebola, cholera, measles, dengue fever, polio, diphtheria, West Nile virus, and other communicable diseases. This does not necessarily mean that travel should be avoided; however, it underscores the importance of proper preparation. Please observe the following simple precautions before setting out on your journey: 

• Ensure your routine vaccinations are up to date, particularly measles/MMR, polio, diphtheria/tetanus and seasonal influenza.

• Seek travel-health advice ideally 4–6 weeks before departure, especially when travelling to areas affected by outbreaks. 

• Consider destination-specific vaccinations and malaria prevention where indicated. 

• Carry a sufficient supply of your regular medication – preferably in your hand luggage – along with a basic personal medical kit. 

• Maintain strict food and water hygiene in areas where cholera or other diarrhoeal diseases have been reported. 

• Use effective protection against mosquitoes and ticks, including repellents and appropriate clothing. 

• Avoid unnecessary contact with sick people, animals, birds, floodwater or potentially contaminated water, depending on the local health alert. 

• Ensure you have adequate travel health insurance and access to medical care at your destination. 

• For destinations experiencing severe outbreaks (such as Ebola), carefully consider the necessity of the trip and seek specific medical advice from the FEMERAID team before departure. 

These alerts are subject to rapid change and are monitored daily by the FEMERAID medical team. The summary below is intended to raise awareness and encourage preparation, not to cause alarm. Good preparation, appropriate vaccinations, and simple preventive measures remain our best protection while travelling. I wish all our Knights and Dames safe travels and good health wherever your mission may take you. See you in Malta in November! 

Cameroon: Cholera outbreak in Far-North region, select safe food and water, consider vaccination 

Central African Republic: Cholera outbreak along Oubangui river, select safe food and water, consider vaccination 

Chad: Cholera outbreak in Lac and Ndjamena regions, select safe food and water, consider vaccination 

Congo (DRC): Cholera outbreak, select safe food and water, consider vaccination. Ebola outbreak growing, consider deferring non-essential travel, obtain itinerary-specific advice. Congo: Increase in cholera, select safe food and water, consider vaccination 

Liberia: Ongoing measles infections, check vaccination status 

Madagascar: Ongoing risk of mpox, avoid contact with sick people 

Malawi: Increasing measles infections, check vaccination status 

Niger: Polio detected in Zinder region, booster recommended, carry proof of vaccination Nigeria: Ongoing diphtheria risk, ensure vaccination is up to date 

Rwanda: Increased risk of Rift Valley fever, avoid contact with animals, prevent mosquito bites Senegal: Diphtheria in Kedougou region, ensure vaccination is up to date 

Somalia: Ongoing diphtheria outbreak, ensure vaccination is up to date 

Uganda: Ebola infections, maintain strict hygiene, consider deferring non-essential travel Zimbabwe: Cholera outbreak, select safe food and water, consider vaccination 

Canada: Legionnaires’ disease in Toronto, seek medical attention if symptoms develop Colombia: Ipiales (Narino department): Select safe food, water amid diarrhoeal outbreak. Monitor developments amid increased health risks following earthquake. 

Costa Rica: Chikungunya outbreak, avoid mosquito bites 

Cuba: Limited healthcare services, shortages of medicines and safe water, defer non-essential travel 

Mexico: Increase in rickettsiosis in northern states, prevent tick bites 

Peru: Ongoing measles outbreak in Arequipa and Puno departments, check vaccination status United States: Human infections with swine-origin flu variant in Michigan state, avoid contact with pigs, follow hygiene measures. Vibriosis infections in Florida, protect skin wounds, avoid raw shellfish. West Nile virus infections increasing in California state, avoid mosquito bites. 

Australia: Influenza increasing, ensure vaccination is up to date, follow hygiene measures Bangladesh: Human bird flu infection in Sylhet division, avoid contact with birds, follow hygiene measures. Increase in dengue infections, avoid mosquito bites. Measles outbreak, ensure vaccination is up to date. 

Cambodia: Ongoing dengue activity, avoid mosquito bites 

China: Increasing hand, foot and mouth disease in Guangdong province, pay attention to hygiene Fiji: Zika, assess individual infection risk, avoid mosquito bites 

India: Influenza in Delhi and Karnataka, ensure vaccination is up to date, follow hygiene measures 

Indonesia: Zika in Bali province, assess individual infection risk, avoid mosquito bites Malaysia: Increase in dengue infections, avoid mosquito bites 

Marshall Islands: Dengue outbreak in Majuro Atoll, avoid mosquito bites 

New Zealand: Increase in influenza, ensure vaccination is up to date, follow hygiene measures Papua New Guinea: Measles outbreak, ensure vaccination is up to date. Rubella outbreak confirmed, ensure vaccination is up to date. 

Philippines: Increased dengue in Zamboanga City, avoid mosquito bites. Increased risk of leptospirosis in Metro Manila, avoid contact with contaminated water. 

South Korea: Increase in hand, foot and mouth disease, pay attention to hygiene 

Austria: Legionnaires’ outbreak in Linz, seek medical attention if symptoms develop 

Bulgaria: Increase in measles, ensure vaccination is up to date 

Czech Republic: Ongoing Lyme disease activity, avoid tick bites 

France: Legionnaires’ disease in Savoie department, seek medical attention if symptoms develop Greece: Increase in West Nile virus, avoid mosquito bites 

North Macedonia: West Nile virus infections increasing, prevent mosquito bites 

Romania: Heatwave, minimise exposure and stay well-hydrated. West Nile virus infections in multiple counties, avoid mosquito bites. Serbia: Heatwave, minimise exposure and stay well-hydrated Spain: West Nile virus infections increasing in Badajoz and Seville provinces, avoid mosquito bites 

Iraq: Increase in Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, avoid contact with animals 

Libya: Poliovirus in wastewater in Sabha district, booster recommended, carry proof of vaccination 

Yemen: Increase in dengue, avoid mosquito bites 

15 September 2026