As the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda develops rapidly, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is ratcheting up its support on the ground, while continuing to emphasise that the risk of infection to the general population in Europe remains very low.

As rising global interconnection increases public health risks worldwide, ECDC, building on the success of its previous programme through European Health Task Force (EUHTF), will once again host the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) Outbreak Response Scenario Programme in Stockholm, Sweden, on 24-29 May.

ECDC was notified on 2 May 2026 of a cluster of severe respiratory illness on MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged cruise ship with passengers and crew from 23 countries, including nine EU/EEA countries. The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus.

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The risk to the general population in Europe from the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and also Uganda remains very low, ECDC said in a new assessment today, while stressing that EU/EEA countries should strengthen their preparedness as the situation continues to develop.

New data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that sexually transmitted infections reached record levels across Europe in 2024, driven by sharp rises in gonorrhoea and syphilis, and widening gaps in testing and prevention. Targeted action is urgently needed to prevent further spread, including among women of reproductive age.

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Since 2023, 14 countries have reported more than 2 300 infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri to ECDC. Seven genetically distinct MDR/XDR clusters, some with prolonged circulation and others more recent, have been reported.

ECDC is warning of the increasing spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella infections across Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men.

On 6 March 2026, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) launched a call for experts to join a new Scientific Expert Panel (SEP) to support the development of a technical guidance on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination to protect adults for the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA).

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is deploying experts to support the response to the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

On 15 May, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported an Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province. Preliminary laboratory results indicate a non-Zaire ebolavirus species, with further analysis ongoing.

A major European survey marks a significant milestone in the effort to control antimicrobial resistance (AMR), providing the most comprehensive genomic picture to date of carbapenem- and/or colistin-resistant Enterobacterales (CCRE) across hospitals in Europe.

On 10 May, the cruise ship MV Hondius arrived at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Passengers and crew continue to disembark and to be medically evacuated to their countries of origin. At disembarkation, they are all considered high-risk and repatriated, whether symptomatic or not, through non-commercial flights. 

The guidance published today by ECDC provides advice for public health professionals in the EU/EEA managing individuals potentially exposed to Andes hantavirus from the M/V Hondius, and for healthcare professionals and transport personnel involved in the disembarkation, transfer, and care of passengers and crew.

Despite advancements in detection and treatment, a new report reveals severe shortfalls in reaching the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goal target for HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by 2030. More action remains necessary to prevent thousands of annual deaths and slow the rising number of STI diagnoses across Europe.

ECDC has deployed an expert from the EU Health Task Force to the cruise ship affected by the Andes hantavirus outbreak, as part of a joint effort to investigate the outbreak and coordinate the public health response together with relevant Member States.

ECDC is launching episomer, a customisable tool designed to support epidemic intelligence activities through the monitoring of social media data.

Hantavirus infection has been laboratory-confirmed in two individuals in connection with the cluster of illness reported on a cruise ship.