Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS.
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Ebola Virus
ABC News: Scientists warn of weakening health systems and urge stronger outbreak detection
West African laboratory scientists are urging governments to strengthen their capacity to detect disease outbreaks to prevent another major crisis.
Monday, September 21
DW: DR Congo outbreak not slowing, MSF warns
Doctors Without Borders has warned against premature optimism amid the DRC's largest-ever Ebola outbreak. "The outbreak is not shrinking, it is moving," an MSF official said, entering new and more underprepared regions.
Monday, September 21
CIDRAP: Ebola outbreak in DR Congo grows to 7,200 cases as government officials suggest transmission has peaked
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has hit another milestone, with 7,200 cases confirmed by the government today and spread of the virus to a seventh province, South Ubangi, late last week.
Tuesday, September 15
Reuters: UN sees some progress in Congo Ebola fight, but too early to call peak
U.N. officials said on Tuesday that efforts to curb Ebola in eastern Congo were beginning to show results but stressed that the epidemic remained "massive" and would take months to bring under control.
Tuesday, September 15
Measles
STLPR: Possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium and multiple St. Louis-area bars, health officials warn
Health officials are warning of possible measles exposures this month at Busch Stadium and several bars and businesses in the St. Louis area.
Tuesday, September 22
CIDRAP: Measles- Updated guideline provides advice for reducing pain, fear during vaccination
For many children—and some adults—vaccination feels scary and stressful. A revised guideline published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) provides recommendations on how to make the situation less distressing.
Tuesday, September 22
CBS News: Possible measles exposure reported at Philadelphia International Airport not related to CHOP case
Health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport last weekend.
Monday, September 21
CIDRAP: Pennsylvania woman dies of measles complications, the state's third such fatality this year
A third person in Pennsylvania has reportedly died due to complications associated with measles.
Tuesday, September 15
H5N1
Medical Daily: Three More Minnesota Poultry Flocks Test Positive for H5N1 as Fall Waterfowl Migration Brings Virus South
Minnesota animal health officials have confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at three more commercial poultry operations, adding about 118,000 birds to the state's fall total during the weeks when ducks and geese begin moving south.
Monday, September 21
Mongabay: H5N1 bird flu jumps to marine mammals and wildlife in Australia
H5N1 avian influenza is spreading rapidly across southeastern Australia owing to infected wild bird species, including little penguins, magpies, crested terns and pelicans.
Monday, September 21
Global Defense: New Antibody Test Detects H5N1 Exposure Across Birds, Cattle, and Humans With a Single Assay
German researchers develop a luminescence-based ELISA that could close a critical gap in H5N1 surveillance across species
Tuesday, September 15
PhysOrg: First DDT, now the flu: Peregrine falcons in San Francisco Bay Area hit hard by H5N1 variant
A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research, titled "Rapid Decline of Nesting Peregrine Falcons in the San Francisco Bay Region of California Synchronous with an Outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza," reports an alarming decrease in the number of occupied territories for a population of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) that has maintained a long-standing presence in coastal California.
Thursday, September 3
Dengue Fever
FOX: Tropical disease spread by mosquitoes claims first recorded death in southern US state
Florida recorded its first confirmed dengue fever death of 2026 earlier this month, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Tuesday, September 22
NDTV LifeLine: Dengue Cases Rise In Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi: What Is Driving The Spike?
Dengue can change over the course of the illness, so people who have been diagnosed or are strongly suspected to have dengue should follow medical advice regarding follow-up and monitoring.
Tuesday, September 15
The Telegraph: Asia on high alert as El Niño threatens new dengue epidemic
Higher temperatures mean more mosquitoes, and with them will come a new surge in “break-bone” fever, say experts.
Tuesday, September 15
Fox Tampa Bay: Locally acquired cases surge to 65 across Bay Area
Locally acquired dengue fever cases have surged across the Bay Area, with 65 cases now reported in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, according to the latest Florida Department of Health surveillance report.
Tuesday, September 8
Mpox
Outbreak News Today: South Africa reports rise in mpox, most in Cape Town
The South Africa Department of Health reports a rapid increase in laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in the past few weeks. As of 17 September 2026, the country has recorded 18 confirmed and one probable case, prompting officials to urge the public to remain vigilant of mpox symptoms.
Tuesday, September 22
The Telegraph: The world has a new weapon to fight mpox
Two years ago, in the same region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that is currently the epicentre of the Bundibugyo Ebola disease outbreak, an outbreak of a different kind was causing global concern.
Tuesday, September 8
ABC Denver7: Colorado sees summer surge in Mpox infections
Colorado is nearing last year's total number of Mpox cases after health officials reported a recent uptick in infections, including seven cases since late July. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recorded 18 cases this year, compared with 21 reported statewide in all of 2025.
Wednesday, August 26
COVID-19
USA Today: What's going on with COVID? The latest on strains, cases, symptoms.
Just as Americans are dealing with the tail end of the "summer surge," the fast-approaching respiratory illness season has COVID-19 on the minds of health care providers once again.
Monday, September 21
Salt Lake City Tribune: The updated COVID-19 vaccines have just been approved. Here’s what you can expect.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are being shipped to pharmacies and medical offices around the country after the Food and Drug Administration’s approval last week.
Tuesday, September 8
Denver Post: Colorado is seeing a COVID bump. Should you get the booster now?
Colorado is seeing either a later-than-usual COVID-19 bump or an earlier-than-expected start to the fall and winter respiratory-illness season, complicating decisions for people trying to time their vaccinations.
Tuesday, September 8
Additional News
GCHS Resources
Region 7 Infectious Disease Briefings
The GCHS in collaboration with the Region VII Disaster Health Response Ecosystem (R7DHRE) conducts biweekly meetings with local and state public health and healthcare representatives. These meetings focus on reviewing and discussing recent developments related to current infectious disease challenges. James V. Lawler, MD, MPH, FIDSA, presents comprehensive updates on data and advancements at local, state, national, and international levels. Additionally, regional experts offer insights into current outbreaks and clinical situations within Region 7.
To learn more and register for the briefings, visit our Health Emergencies page.