The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) was first issued in 1926 by the Health Office of the League of Nations. It was entrusted to the World Health Organization (WHO) when it was created in 1948 and has appeared every week since then.
It serves as an essential instrument for the rapid and accurate dissemination of epidemiological information on cases and outbreaks of diseases under the IHR and on other communicable diseases of public health importance, including emerging or re-emerging infections.
An electronic version of the WER is accessible every Friday and can be downloaded free of charge.
Inside this issue
Highlighted signals and events
During epidemiological week 26 (22 June to 28 June 2026), WHO Public Health Intelligence (PHI) teams conducted digital event based surveillance (DEBS) to support the early detection and assessment of potential public health threats. During the reporting period, approximately 760 000 raw signals were scanned and triangulated through DEBS. From this large pool of signals, 26 signals and/or events met assessment thresholds and underwent further analysis and categorization. Of the 26 categorized signals, 23 represented unique signals, with three reflecting updates of a previous signal. Nineteen signals and/or events were escalated for operational attention.
In the reporting week, five new events were verified through PHI activities. In addition, two Disease Outbreak News (DON) were published. A summary of identified raw signals, assessed signals, and published outputs is presented in the tables below.
| Screened signals1 | Signals categorized2 | Unique signals3 | Signals escalated4 |
| 760 000 | 26 | 23 | 19 |
1 Signals screened: Total volume of raw signals reviewed from across multiple sources during the reporting period.
2 Signals categorized: Number of signals categorized for further detailed WHO assessment and actions during the reporting period.
3 Unique signals: Count of distinct signals after removing duplicate or repeated entries from different sources within the same epidemiological week.
4 Signals escalated: Subset of categorized signals that triggered escalation actions.
| Region | Hazard |
| Africa | • Mpox • Cholera • Lassa fever • Marburg virus disease (suspected) • Viral haemorrhagic fever (suspected) • Not yet diagnosed disease |
| Americas | • Influenza due to identified avian or animal influenza virus • Yellow fever • Counterfeit medical product |
| Eastern Mediterranean | • No publicly available signals identified |
| Europe | • Zika virus disease |
| South-East Asia | • Falsified medical product • Zika virus disease |
| Western Pacific | • Influenza due to identified avian or animal influenza virus • Vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 • Bacillus anthracis (Human cases of cutaneous anthrax) • Cholera |
5 The absence of listed signals indicates that no publicly available signals were identified during the reporting period and does not imply absence of signal activity overall.
| Disease Outbreak News (2) | |
| • | Yellow fever - Global |
| • | Nipah virus disease - India |
Multi-country outbreak of cholera
Global epidemiological update
Data as of 31 May 2026
In May 2026 (epidemiological weeks 19 to 22), a total of 29 610 new cholera and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases were reported from 16 countries across four WHO regions, representing a 43% increase from the previous month and a 59% decrease compared with the same period last year (72 914 cases across 21 countries).
In May 2026, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (15 312 cases; four countries) reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region (14 230 cases; 10 countries), the South-East Asia Region (54 cases; one country), and the Region of the Americas (14 cases; one country). No cases were reported from the European Region or the Western Pacific Region.
During the same period, 271 cholera-related deaths were reported globally, representing a 30% increase compared with the previous month. In May 2026, the highest number of deaths was recorded in the African Region (201 deaths; seven countries), followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region (70 deaths; three countries). No deaths were reported from the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, the European Region or the Western Pacific Region.
From 1 January to 31 May 2026, a cumulative total of 114 829 cholera and AWD cases and 1318 deaths were reported from 23 countries across four WHO regions. The region with the highest reported case count was the African Region (61 888 cases; 16 countries), followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region (52 171 cases; five countries), the Region of the Americas (529 cases; one country), and the South-East Asia Region (241 cases; two countries). No cases were reported from the European Region or the Western Pacific Region during this period.
During the same period, cholera deaths were reported in the African Region (1230 deaths), the Eastern Mediterranean Region (86 deaths), and the Region of the Americas (two deaths). No deaths were reported from the South-East Asia Region, the European Region or the Western Pacific Region.
In recent years, conflict, mass displacement, disasters associated with natural hazards, and climate-related events have contributed to conditions that may facilitate cholera transmission, particularly in rural and flood-affected areas, where poor infrastructure and limited access to healthcare can delay treatment. These factors and the cross-border nature of many cholera outbreaks have made cholera outbreaks increasingly complex and harder to control.
The data presented here should be interpreted with caution. Potential underreporting and reporting delays may affect timeliness and accuracy, while variations in surveillance systems, standard case definitions, and laboratory capacities can limit direct comparability among countries. These factors also influence the global case fatality rate (CFR), requiring careful examination. Unless otherwise specified, the term ‘cholera cases’ includes both suspected and confirmed cases. Data in this report may be adjusted retrospectively as more information becomes available. For the latest data, please refer to the WHO Global Cholera and AWD Dashboard .
| Country, territory, area | Cases | Deaths | CFR (%) | Cases per 100 000 |
| Africa | ||||
| Angola | 4 852 | 96 | 2 | 13 |
| Burundi | 1 163 | 2 | 0.2 | 9 |
| Congo | 651 | 34 | 5.2 | 11 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 28 567 | 815 | 2.9 | 24 |
| Ethiopia | 50 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Kenya | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malawi | 3 088 | 30 | 1 | 18 |
| Mozambique | 7 500 | 66 | 0.9 | 26 |
| Namibia | 213 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Nigeria | 6 860 | 80 | 1.2 | 3 |
| Rwanda | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Sudan | 7 712 | 84 | 1.1 | 62 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 113 | 2 | 1.8 | 0 |
| Zambia | 999 | 17 | 1.7 | 5 |
| Zimbabwe | 36 | 2 | 5.6 | 0 |
| Eastern Mediterranean | ||||
| Afghanistan† | 43 292 | 18 | <0.1 | 132 |
| Pakistan§ | 3 305 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Somalia | 233 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sudan | 527 | 61 | 11.6 | 1 |
| Yemen¥ | 4 814 | 7 | 0.1 | 14 |
| Americas | ||||
| Haiti | 529 | 2 | 0.4 | 5 |
| South-East Asia | ||||
| India$ | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Myanmar† | 205 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Percentage changes compare the period 4–31 May 2026 with 29 March–26 April 2026 (epidemiological weeks 14 to 17).
** Case and death numbers presented are not directly comparable due to differences in case definitions, reporting systems, and general underreporting. All data are subject to verification and change due to data availability and accessibility. Respective figures and numbers will be updated as more information becomes available. The data in Table 1 includes suspected, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) positive, and culture-confirmed cholera cases. As multiple countries report only total data on deaths, the reported case fatality rate (CFR) is calculated throughout based on the total number of deaths reported. The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) recommends that CFR be calculated using only facility deaths, with the number of community deaths reported separately.
*** Missing data in this report do not imply the absence of cholera or AWD cases or deaths in the respective country. The data presented in this report are based on the latest available information and may not reflect the current situation.
† Afghanistan and Myanmar report AWD cases.
§ The reported number of suspected cholera and AWD cases is based on the available Public Health Bulletin published by the National Institute of Health of Pakistan.
¥ Includes all reported suspected cholera and AWD cases from Yemen. From epidemiological week 18 of 2026, reported data are only from International Recognised Government (IRG) areas.
$ Among the total of 36 cases reported from India, 27 cases were confirmed.
| Country, territory, area | Cases | Deaths | CFR (%) | Monthly cases % change | Monthly deaths % change |
| Africa | |||||
| Angola | 1 742 | 34 | 2 | -23 | -13 |
| Burundi | 189 | 0 | 0 | -45 | |
| Congo | 266 | 13 | 4.9 | 122 | 18 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3 651 | 82 | 2.2 | -18 | -36 |
| Ethiopia | |||||
| Kenya | 26 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Malawi | 732 | 2 | 0.3 | -22 | -82 |
| Mozambique | 231 | 2 | 0.9 | -49 | 100 |
| Namibia | |||||
| Nigeria | 5 798 | 54 | 0.9 | 15 158 | |
| Rwanda | |||||
| South Sudan | 1 579 | 14 | 0.9 | 15 | 75 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | |||||
| Zambia | 16 | 0 | 0 | -92 | |
| Zimbabwe | |||||
| Eastern Mediterranean | |||||
| Afghanistan† | 13 645 | 8 | 0.1 | 54 | 100 |
| Pakistan§ | 560 | 0 | 0 | -8 | |
| Somalia | |||||
| Sudan | 518 | 61 | 11.8 | ||
| Yemen¥ | 589 | 1 | 0.2 | -29 | -50 |
| Americas | |||||
| Haiti | 14 | 0 | 0 | -89 | |
| South-East Asia | |||||
| India$ | |||||
| Myanmar† | 54 | 0 | 0 | 980 | |
WHO regional overviews
African Region
In May 2026, the African Region reported 14 230 new cholera cases across 10 countries, marking a 39% increase compared with the previous month. During this period, the highest number of cases were reported from Nigeria (5798), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3651), Angola (1742), and South Sudan (1579). Additionally, there were 201 cholera-related deaths. The highest number of deaths were reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (82), Nigeria (54), and Angola (34).
From 1 January 2026 to 31 May 2026, a total of 61 888 cholera cases were reported across 16 countries in the African Region. The highest number of cases were reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (28567), South Sudan (7712), and Mozambique (7500). During the same period, a total of 1230 deaths were reported from 12 countries: The highest number of deaths were reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (815), Angola (96), and South Sudan (84).
Eastern Mediterranean Region
In May 2026, the Eastern Mediterranean Region reported 15 312 new cholera and AWD cases across four countries, marking a 48% increase compared with the previous month. During this period, cases were reported from Afghanistan (13 645), Yemen (589), Pakistan (560), and Sudan (518). Additionally, there were 70 cholera-related deaths reported from Sudan (61), Afghanistan (8), and Yemen (1).
From 1 January 2026 to 31 May 2026, a total of 52 171 cholera and AWD cases were reported across five countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The highest number of cases were reported from Afghanistan (43 292), Yemen (4814), and Pakistan (3305). During the same period, a total of 86 deaths were reported from three countries: Sudan (61), Afghanistan (18), and Yemen (seven deaths).
Region of the Americas
In May 2026, the Region of the Americas reported 14 new cholera cases in Haiti, marking an 89% decrease compared with the previous month. No deaths were reported during this period.
From 1 January to 31 May 2026, a total of 529 cholera cases and two deaths were reported from Haiti.
South-East Asia Region
In May 2026, the South-East Asia Region reported 54 new cholera or AWD cases, all from Myanmar, marking a 980% increase compared with the previous month. No deaths were reported during this period.
From 1 January to 31 May 2026, a total of 241 cholera or AWD cases were reported across 2 countries in the South-East Asia Region. Cases were reported from Myanmar (205) and India (36). No deaths were reported during this period.