Disease outbreaks: latest events

Story so far

1. 24 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Ebola spreads to a fourth country as Kenya reports a second death

   On Friday, Kenya announced a second Ebola death, saying there is no evidence of community spread; the outbreak now spans four countries. Switzerland says the patient in Nigeria is a Swiss diplomat's wife who is believed to have been infected in Uganda, contradicting Uganda's earlier account. On Saturday, the WHO announced the start of a clinical trial of multiple Ebola vaccines in DR Congo. Separately, the CDC reported 4,588 US measles cases.

   US reports 178 more measles cases, total 4,588 amid at least 43… · WHO announces start of Ebola vaccine clinical trial in DR Congo

2. 23 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Kenya reports second Ebola death as outbreak now spans four African countries

   On Friday Kenya announced a second Ebola death but said there is no evidence of community spread. The outbreak has now reached four countries across eastern, central and western Africa. Switzerland's foreign ministry said the patient in Nigeria is a Swiss diplomat's wife who is believed to have caught the virus in Uganda and did not visit DR Congo, which contradicts Uganda's earlier account. Officials say the Nigeria and Kenya patients both travelled through Entebbe airport on 3 October.

   Kenya announces second Ebola death, says no evidence of community… · Ebola patient in Nigeria is Swiss woman who did not visit DR Congo,… · Nigeria and Kenya Ebola patients may have crossed paths at Uganda…

3. 22 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   WHO says Ebola now spans three African countries after Nigeria's first case

   The WHO said on Thursday the Ebola outbreak has become more complex and now spans three African countries, as health officials investigate where Nigeria's first patient was infected. Officials said earlier in the week that the case in Abuja matches the Bundibugyo strain behind DR Congo's deadliest outbreak. Separately, a report on Thursday said the US faces its largest measles outbreak since elimination was declared in 2000, and France reported the first human case of Shamonda virus.

   Ebola outbreak reaches widest expansion ever as Nigeria reports… · WHO warns Ebola outbreak is now more complex, present in three… · US faces largest measles outbreak since elimination was declared in…

4. 21 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Nigeria confirms first Ebola case in Abuja as Kenya's count reaches nine

   Nigeria recorded its first Ebola case on Tuesday, in Abuja, with Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate saying the patient was a woman who had recently flown in from Uganda. Officials said on Wednesday she is the wife of a diplomat based in Abuja and had holidayed in Kampala. Kenya confirmed its ninth case on Tuesday, a 24-year-old man already in quarantine.

   Nigeria's first Ebola patient had holidayed in Uganda, officials say

5. 20 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Nigeria records first Ebola case in Abuja as Kenya's count reaches nine

   On Tuesday, Nigeria's health minister said the country had its first Ebola case, a woman who had recently flown to Abuja from Uganda. Kenya confirmed its ninth case, a 24-year-old man already in quarantine. The regional Bundibugyo outbreak, the second-largest in history, has killed more than 4,300 and sickened more than 9,000. Separately, the CDC added a third US measles death this year, with cases above 4,400.

   Nigeria records first Ebola case, in capital Abuja · CDC reports third US measles death this year as cases pass 4,400 · Kenya confirms ninth Ebola case amid regional spread concerns

6. 19 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Kenya confirms a third Ebola case as regional outbreak passes 4,300 deaths

   On Monday a third person in Kenya was reported to have tested positive for Bundibugyo ebolavirus in the country's first cluster of cases. The regional outbreak, the second-largest in history, has killed more than 4,300 and sickened more than 9,000. Separately, Kenyan authorities reported an eighth case on Monday, saying the patient was likely exposed to the country's first case. The two Kenyan case counts in the reports differ.

   Third Ebola case confirmed in Kenya as regional outbreak kills more… · Kenya confirms eighth Ebola case amid widening regional outbreak

7. 18 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Kenya confirms four more Ebola cases, bringing its total to seven

   On Saturday, Kenya confirmed four more Ebola cases, including three health workers who treated the country's first patient. On Sunday, Russia had given the WHO little information nearly three weeks after a worker at a Siberian plague research unit died of a mysterious respiratory illness. Pennsylvania's measles count reached 1,222 cases, and the CDC is sending help.

   Russia silent on suspected plague case in Siberia as WHO seeks…

8. 17 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Kenya confirms four more Ebola cases, bringing its total to seven

   On Saturday, Kenya confirmed four more Ebola cases, including three health workers who treated the country's first patient, bringing the total to seven. In the US, Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,222 measles cases, up from 86 the week before, and the CDC is sending a disease detective to the county at the centre of it.

   Kenya confirms four more Ebola cases, total now seven · CDC sends 'disease detective' to Pennsylvania as measles outbreak… · Uganda launches Phase 1 trial of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidate

9. 16 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Kenya records third Ebola case, Bundibugyo strain, linked to first patient

   On Friday, Nairobi reported a third Ebola case: a 65-year-old woman now in quarantine with the Bundibugyo strain, linked to the first patient who died. Authorities say there are no signs of community transmission. Separately, the US CDC reports 4,410 measles cases and 451 hospitalisations nationwide.

   Kenya records third Ebola case, linked to first patient who died · US records 4,410 measles cases as outbreak grows

Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.