WHO prequalifies multi-dose RSV vaccine vial, paving the way to protecting more infants globally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the multi-dose vial presentation of the maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, RSVpreF (ABRYSVO®), marking a major step toward protecting more infants from severe respiratory illness and pneumonia globally. The new presentation is expected to make maternal RSV vaccination more affordable and easier to deliver, particularly in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Published: September 9, 2026.
Bangladesh has lost 900 children to measles – a warning to other countries where vaccine rates have slipped.
After a pandemic-era collapse in vaccination, Bangladesh is racing to protect children from measles, but lasting protection depends on reaching 95% coverage.
Published: September 23, 2026.
UK rabies vaccine trial could also unlock protection against Disease X.
A first-in-human UK trial is evaluating an innovative RNA-based rabies vaccine designed to be easier and potentially cheaper to manufacture than current vaccines. The RAB-Vac study will enroll approximately 48 healthy adults to assess safety and immune responses. Beyond rabies—a disease causing an estimated 60,000 deaths annually—the study has broader implications. Its rapid and flexible RNA platform could potentially be adapted to emerging pathogens, providing valuable insights for preparedness against future epidemics, pandemics, and even an unknown “Disease X.”
Published: September 28, 2026.
https://chatgpt.com/c/6abace2c-45fc-83e8-871b-d958220a6aa7
World Rabies Day 2026.
Every year on 28 September, the global community comes together to raise awareness about rabies elimination! This year’s World Rabies Day theme, “Stronger Together,” highlights a simple truth: rabies elimination is only possible when we work together.
Published: September 28, 2026.
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/09/28/default-calendar/world-rabies-day-2026
World Meningitis Day October 5, 2026.
Since 2009, people around the world have united on World Meningitis Day with one shared goal: a future free from meningitis. Today, coordinated by Meningitis Research Foundation, it has become the world’s largest Global Day of Action against this devastating disease—a powerful call to raise awareness, strengthen prevention, expand vaccination, and save lives. Yet many cases of meningitis are preventable. Effective vaccines are available against several of its major causes, making vaccination, early recognition, rapid treatment, and strong surveillance essential tools in the fight against this disease. We have the knowledge. We have vaccines. We have the tools. Now is the time for action.
https://worldmeningitisday.org/
A ‘Wildly Unusual’ Outbreak of Dengue Is Hitting Florida Hard as Several Counties Declare State of Emergency.
Last week, three Florida counties declared a state of emergency in an attempt to corral what health officials have called “wildly unusual” outbreaks of dengue in the area. Nearly 200 cases of locally acquired dengue have been documented in the state so far this year, which now threatens to surpass the previous record set in 2023. At least one person has also died of the viral disease.
Published: September 28, 2026.
Cholera deaths rise 30% in 2025, Seven countries account for 91% of deaths.
The World Health Organization reported a significant rise in cholera deaths last year, despite seeing overall fewer cases reported. In 2025, 47 countries, territories, and areas reported 451,499 cholera cases and 7,870 deaths. This is the highest number of annual cholera deaths reported to WHO since 1999.
Published: September 30, 2026.
https://outbreaknewstoday.substack.com/p/cholera-deaths-rise-30-in-2025-seven
PAHO: Health Ministers approve new regional strategy to prevent and control dengue and other arboviral diseases in the Americas.
In 2024, the Region of the Americas recorded more than 13 million dengue cases and over 8,400 deaths, the largest epidemic on record. In recent years, the Region has also faced major chikungunya outbreaks, the spread of Oropouche virus disease beyond its traditional transmission areas, and an increase in yellow fever cases in new geographic locations.
Published: October 1, 2026.
Russian lab worker dies of suspected plague as 200 enter medical observation.
The female staffer at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East died from a “pneumonia of undetermined” origin last week, according to a regional governor. The death of a worker at an anti-plague laboratory in Russia has prompted officials to put at least one hospital facility under quarantine and nearly 200 people reportedly under medical observation as of Monday.
Published: October 5, 2026.
Pakistan reports this year’s sixth polio case.
The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) on Monday said Pakistan had reported its sixth polio case in the ongoing year. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Published: October 5, 2026.
https://www.dawn.com/news/2034975/pakistan-reports-this-years-sixth-polio-case
Measles outbreak mapped: New York declares state of emergency after virus wreaks havoc in Pennsylvania.
Measles is surging at historic levels in the United States with nearly 3,900 cases reported in 47 states and Washington, D.C. this year so far. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency due to the virus Monday after 109 cases were reported – the most since a 2019 outbreak. Pennsylvania has experienced the nation’s largest measles outbreak in over three decades with infections surpassing the 1,000 case threshold this week, with five deaths.
Published: October 7, 2026.
Global Measles Outbreaks:
| Country | Number of Cases |
| Bangladesh | 62,351 |
| Guatemala | 30,239 |
| India | 21,523 |
| Yemen | 13,984 |
| Pakistan | 10,313 |
| Mexico | 10,303 |
| Cameroon | 8,243 |
| South Africa | 5,418 |
| Kazakhstan | 5,079 |
| Angola | 5,066 |
This table is based on provisional monthly surveillance data reported to the World Health Organization (Geneva) as of August 2026. The data reflected covers February 2026 – July 2026.
Published: September 14, 2026.
https://www.cdc.gov/global-measles-vaccination/data-research/global-measles-outbreaks/index.html
Ebola in the DRC: More than 4,100 deaths recorded in 7 provinces.
According to the report, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the seven provinces is 8,665. Of these, 890 patients are in isolation or hospitalized. The cumulative number of recoveries is 2,259, while the number of deaths among confirmed cases has reached 4,178. The overall case fatality rate is 48.2%, and the overall contact tracing rate is 80.4%.
Published: October 7, 2026.
https://outbreaknewstoday.substack.com/p/ebola-in-the-drc-more-than-4100-deaths
Experimental approach uses AI to eliminate cold storage for mRNA vaccines.
Using artificial intelligence, researchers may have found a way to make vaccines based on mRNA technology, such as Moderna’s (MRNA.O), opens new tab and Pfizer’s (PFE.N), opens new tab COVID shots, storable at room temperature, which would lower costs and make them available in regions where ultra-cold storage is not possible.
Published: October 7, 2026.
Why high vaccination coverage doesn’t always mean low measles risk.
Clusters of unvaccinated children can leave communities vulnerable to measles even when vaccination coverage across the wider area appears high, new research suggests.
Published: October 5, 2026.
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/why-high-vaccination-coverage-doesnt-always-mean-low-measles-risk
What impact will climate change have on malaria?
More than 600,000 people die from malaria every year. Will climate change make this worse? Climate change has probably led to a decline in malaria in West Africa, but an increase in the southern and eastern parts of the continent.
Published: October 5, 2026.
https://ourworldindata.org/what-impact-will-climate-change-have-on-malaria
What are the 4 vaccines Florida wants to make optional for schools and daycares?
Florida schools and daycares may soon end requirements for four childhood vaccines, after the state department of health holds a hearing on the matter Thursday. The idea to relax these rules came from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who has advocated for parental choice and medical freedom, and likened all vaccine mandates to “slavery.” Meanwhile, pediatricians across the country have warned that making immunizations voluntary. These vaccines no longer required to attend schools and daycares are Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal conjugate, Hemophilus influenzae type b, and varicella, a potential enormous public health risk for all those communities.
Published: October 7, 2026.
Eight numbers that explain the impact of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in 2025.
In the time it takes you to read this article, Gavi-supported vaccines will have saved 25 lives. In 2025 alone, Gavi-supported vaccines prevented more than 2.2 million future deaths. That’s around 6,000 every day, and the most in any single year in Gavi’s history.
Published: October 7, 2026.
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/eight-numbers-explain-impact-gavi-vaccine-alliance-2025
WHO South-East Asia Region Epidemiological Bulletin.
This Epidemiological bulletin, published by ‘Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment’ (HIM) unit in World Health Emergencies department of SEAR World Health Organization, aims to provide the situation of key infectious diseases in the WHO South-East Asia region to inform risk assessment and response by countries. The bulletin uses information from publicly available sources and will be published every two weeks.
Published: October 2026.
WHO-Africa: Weekly bulletins on outbreaks and other emergencies.
Published: October 2026.
https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/disease-outbreaks/outbreaks-and-other-emergencies-updates
E. coli Is Not the Pneumococcus.
Today, the results of the E.mbrace study were published: a vaccine against infections caused by Escherichia coli does not work. More than fifteen years of research, encouraging results in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, and an investment of hundreds of millions of euros preceded this outcome.
Published: October 13, 2026.
https://mbonten.substack.com/p/e-coli-is-not-the-pneumococcus
