EasyJet has released a fresh update for British travellers currently booking their summer getaways as it said ‘we understand’. Holiday-makers across the nation are actively arranging plans for the warmer months ahead.

Yet they are doing so against a backdrop of uncertainty looming over sections of the airline sector. This follows jet fuel shortages triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

Lufthansa has already confirmed that 20,000 of its flights are to be cancelled as a consequence. Industry analysts caution that additional airlines are likely to reduce their capacity in the weeks ahead – with Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays, forecasting last week that “I think other airlines within the UK market will be doing something similar.”

Across the Atlantic, we reported earlier today that budget operator Spirit Airlines has announced it is grounding all of its flights, as the jet fuel crisis, coupled with escalating financial pressures, drove the airline to the brink of collapse. easyJet has now outlined new commitments to customers alongside a recent statement.

It forms part of an effort to reassure British passengers as they consider their summer travel choices. Ryanair and Wizz Air have also acted within the past 24 hours to provide their own guarantees to UK holiday-makers. In a statement released today, easyJet said: “easyJet is not seeing any disruption to fuel supply. We continue to operate our flights and package holidays as normal, are not making changes and intend to operate our full summer schedule. We remain in close contact with suppliers who continue to provide uninterrupted supply and are diversifying exporting from additional countries globally to bolster supplies going forward.”, reports the Mirror.

EasyJet issued the latest statement as it rolled out new measures aimed at giving British travellers greater reassurance when booking flights. The budget carrier has launched a ‘Book with Confidence Promise’ in a bid to put passengers’ minds at ease ahead of the summer season.

The airline is guaranteeing that customers will not be hit with post-booking price rises or fuel surcharges. EasyJet says it plans to operate its full network schedule, encompassing more than 50 million seats and 30 new UK routes.

The airline’s ‘Ultimate Flexibility’ policy allows holidaymakers to modify or cancel their bookings up to 28 days before departure. Kenton Jarvis, CEO at easyJet said: “We understand that global events may affect travellers’ confidence at the moment, but we believe that everyone has a right to book their flights and holidays with confidence.

“That’s why we’re launching our ‘Book with Confidence Promise’. Our customers won’t be charged any more after they book, including no fuel surcharges, and package holidays customers can continue to benefit from Ultimate Flexibility when they book with easyJet Holidays.”

Jet2, easyJet and TUI have all vowed not to levy extra charges on holidaymakers for fuel price rises. In fresh comments released today, Michael O’Leary, the chief of Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, told The Times that 80 per cent of its fuel supply until March 2027 had been secured in advance. He confirmed the carrier would not be cutting any flights, despite the turmoil costing the business roughly £37 million monthly in additional fuel expenses on its unhedged supply.

Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair, cautioned that competing airlines might soon start “gouging” their schedules if prices stay high. He said: “What’s going to happen with airlines that are not financially robust, they either have to decide whether they are going to continue flying at a loss or start gouging their schedules. That’s not something we are contemplating.”

Meanwhile, Wizz Air has likewise sought to reassure passengers. Speaking to renowned UK travel broadcaster and journalist Simon Calder on his Independent travel podcast, the airline expressed confidence that it will deliver a full schedule of flights this summer. “We have just launched our biggest-ever network from the UK and in particular from Luton,” said Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK. “Despite the challenging geopolitical crisis, business goes on as usual. In airlines, we are well used to crises, so we are resilient and we’re well adapted.

“For low-cost airlines like Wizz in the UK, we don’t see any shortage of fuel.” She explained that should jet fuel shortages impact the UK, the carrier would source fuel from alternative locations.

“We can take more fuel than is required in those destinations,” she said. “We can even fly to other countries and and pit-stop, if you will, if we need additional fuel.

“But we’re not seeing an Armageddon situation. We have fuel supply. We have other mechanisms for uplifting fuel.”

A Jet2 spokesman said: “We remain in continual dialogue with our fuel suppliers, as is standard practice. Based on the conversations we have been having, we see no reason not to look forward to operating our scheduled programme of flights and holidays as normal.”

Airlines UK said: “UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply.”

Vegetables are an essential part of any meal, with their stunning versatility and major health benefits. Packed with vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, they support overall wellbeing and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

It comes as no surprise that vegetables form the foundation of the diets consumed by the world’s longest-living people in the five ‘Blue Zones’ found across the globe. These zones, a term coined by journalist Dan Buettner, are places where inhabitants regularly live past 100 years of age. The original blue zones comprise Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California.

As Surrey Live reports, demographers have questioned the reliability of Blue Zones, pointing to concerns including questionable birth certificate records, but one aspect remains evident in these areas, according to Buettner.

As detailed in multiple books he has authored on Blue Zones, Buettner maintains that the world’s oldest individuals attribute their longevity to a diet abundant in vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Despite the recognised advantages of beans and vegetables, many struggle to prepare them in an appetising and attractive manner.

He identified several common threads amongst the world’s oldest communities when it comes to preparing vegetables. Drawing from his observations of their culinary techniques, he contends the secret lies in the seasoning.

“The secret to making any vegetable taste good is a little salt, the right spices and oil–especially olive oil,” he shared on the Blue Zone website.

As he shared, beans, which are rich in fibre and protein, can be effortlessly elevated simply by adding onions.

Buettner explained: “You can make beans taste better by not just boiling them but by browning them in the oven with onions, a process that caramelises the finish.”

He further advised: “Rather than frying food in olive oil, a process that destroys the healthy fats, it’s better to finish the foods by sprinkling olive oil on at in end.”

Steer clear of pre-mixed seasoning blends, which frequently contain preservatives and unwanted additives. Opt for whole foods instead, using fresh garlic, chilli, lemon, and lime juice to bring out natural flavours — these are often far more budget-friendly than purchasing numerous jars of seasoning.

Blue Zone diets are also guided by the seasons, which plays a significant role in producing better-tasting ingredients. These communities consume an “impressive variety of garden vegetables when they are in season,” says Buettner — and nothing goes to waste when there is an abundance.

It is common practice among people in these communities to pickle or dry any surplus produce, preserving it to enjoy throughout the off-season.

Best Blue Zone vegetables

According to the Blue Zone expert, the following are the “best-of-the-best” food for longevity:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Beetroot
• Turnip tops
• Chard
• Collards

These are combined with seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans to create complete longevity meals.

This follows as Dan shared a “superfood” we should all be consuming daily to extend our lives. Also drawing inspiration from the diets of those living in Blue Zones, he encouraged people to eat at least half a cup of this food each day.

He described beans as the “cornerstone” of every Blue Zones diet across the globe. In Nicoya, black beans are widely consumed, while across the Mediterranean, lentils, chickpeas, and white beans are firm favourites, and in Okinawa, Japan, soybeans are a staple ingredient.

Buettner said: “The long-lived populations in these blue zones eat at least four times as many beans as we do, on average. One five-country study, financed by the World Health Organisation, found that eating 20 grams of beans daily reduced a person’s risk of dying in any given year by about eight per cent.”

A UK holiday firm has introduced a 24-hour rule for flight cancellations in a major first for passengers.

Package holiday provider On the Beach has committed to a 24-hour refund process for all cancelled flights, meaning customers can get their money back on within a day. As part of its ‘Cancelled Flight Cover’, which comes as standard on all On the Beach packages, the firm will now process refunds immediately to give customers in the UK and Ireland their money back on the same-day so they can make new plans. The firm has launched the initiative as oil supplies remain restricted by the Iran war, sparking fears it could lead to flight cancellations this summer. The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned last month that Europe has “maybe six weeks” of jet fuel left and if the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key oil shipping route, remains closed, it could result in cancelled holidays.

While the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Foreign Development Office (FCDO) has stressed there is “no current need” for passengers to change their travel plans for this summer, airlines across Europe are already cutting flights and trimming schedules due to rising fuel costs.

Both KLM and Lufthansa are reducing their flight schedules due to rising fuel costs, while Irish airline Aer Lingus has cancelled 2% of its flights due to “mandatory maintenance” on its aircraft and changes to schedules.

Lufthansa has also announced the immediate closure of its feeder airline CityLine, taking 27 older aircraft out of service early, Scandinavian carrier SAS has cancelled at least a thousand flights in April, and easyJet has taken a £25 million hit on surging fuel prices.

Meanwhile, Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, and Virgin Atlantic, has submitted an emergency document to the government and the Civil Aviation Authority warning that flight reductions and fare increases are inevitable unless urgent action is taken.

The document warns that the doubling of jet fuel costs represents a major price shock and calls on the government to secure fuel supplies, allow the temporary use of US-grade jet fuel not currently permitted in the UK, and ease slot usage requirements at major airports.

The FCDO said it is working closely with the aviation industry to “monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers”, adding that if flights are cancelled, passengers have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing.

Other package holiday providers do currently provide refunds in the event of flight cancellations, but this can take up to 14 days to be processed.

But On the Beach says under its scheme, if your flight is cancelled it will find customers an alternative flight or issue a full refund on the entire holiday, processing it on the same-day.

Caspar Nelson, holiday expert at On the Beach, said: “Holidaymakers deserve certainty, especially when disruption strikes. We’re proud to be the first package holiday provider to commit to same-day refund processing for cancelled flights, giving customers the confidence to book knowing we’ve got their back when it matters most.

“If the worst happens and a flight is cancelled, we’ll move quickly to either find a new route or return every penny of their holiday money that same day, so they can get a new break booked, make alternative plans fast, and get back to looking forward to their summer instead of worrying about it.”

On the Beach said its new initiative is being launched to remind customers of their legal rights if their flight is cancelled. Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to either a full refund or to be booked onto an alternative flight if you:

• depart from an airport in the UK on any airline
• arrive at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline
• arrive at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.

Commenting on the issue of jet fuel and travel plans at the end of April, the FCDO, Department for Transport and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said in a joint statement: “There is no current need to change upcoming travel plans. Government regularly meets with industry to monitor risks, understand pressures and ensure clear communication with passengers, should circumstances change.

“We recognise that families may be concerned, and that aviation and tourism businesses are operating in challenging global conditions. We are working hand‑in‑hand with industry to help flights keep operating.

“We advise passengers to continue checking with their airlines before they travel, and to check the FCDO travel advice for the latest updates. You should also ensure you have appropriate travel insurance.”

The UK city with the worst access to an NHS dentist has been revealed, with one in four residents bemoaning that it is nearly impossible to get an appointment. The survey of 2,000 people by all-in-one-banking app thinkmoney investigated the access Britons claim they have – or don’t have—to NHS dental appointments in their home cities.

Worst was the south-west city of Bristol where 23% said they were unable to get an NHS appointment when they wanted and six per cent said they had to resort to DIY dentistry as a result. The UK’s second biggest ‘dental desert’ was Cardiff (18%), followed by Stoke (12%) and Plymouth (12%).

The most common DIY dentistry procedures in Bristol were using clove oil to numb the pain (60%) and gluing a crown or filling (60%).

One in three had used a sharp tool to drain an abscess, and one in five (20%) said they had pulled out a tooth using pliers.

Consumer expert at thinkmoney Vix Leyton said that getting an NHS dentist appointment is a “postcode lottery.”

She said: “For some households, where you live now plays a huge role in whether you can get basic healthcare, and that is a difficult position to be in when you are already dealing with pain.

“DIY dentistry is not something people choose lightly.

“When a quarter of residents in one city say they cannot get an NHS appointment, and some feel forced to take matters into their own hands, that points to a system under real pressure.

“People are not trying to cut corners, they are trying to cope.

“No one should feel they have to reach for home remedies because they cannot get seen. That is not just a health issue, it is a sign that access and affordability are becoming barriers to care.”

Plymouth takes the crown of the UK’s DIY dentistry capital, with one in seven (14%) people saying they had to take matters into their own hands because they couldn’t get an NHS appointment.

Glasgow was second (11%) and Manchester third (10%).

When asked why they acted in such an extreme way, a third (33%) said the cost of private care was too high, and 30% said they could not get an NHS appointment.

Meanwhile, more than a quarter (28%) of Brits say they’ve suffered a dental emergency that’s cost them a significant sum of money, with the average cost of a tooth crisis stinging us for £1,226.

Vix added: “One of the biggest risks with dental problems is leaving them too long because you are worried about the cost or cannot find an appointment.

“What starts as a manageable issue can quickly turn into a much more serious and expensive one, which is why early treatment is usually the most affordable option in the long run.”

“Even if NHS access is limited in your area, it is still worth speaking to a dental practice about your options.

“Many dentists can prioritise urgent cases, offer staged treatment, or spread the cost through payment plans. The important thing is not to struggle in silence or try to fix the problem yourself.”

The figures come as the Department of Health revealed in April that thousands more dentists will be available to see patients, opening up appointments across the country by boosting places on two professional registration exams.

As it stands, thousands of fully qualified dentists from overseas who are often already living in the UK are unable to practise because of limited exam capacity.

In a huge boost for the dental workforce, a total of 2,400 more overseas-trained dentists, many of whom are already living in this country and waiting for the opportunity to help, could be registered annually from 2028 to 2029.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “No one in the 21st century should be left in a situation where they cannot access a dentist.

“That is why today’s announcement is crucial, as training more dentists and allowing greater numbers of those qualified overseas to practise will put more patients in dental chairs, receiving care when they need it most.

“These investments show this government is serious about rebuilding NHS dentistry and laying the foundations to make it fit for the future.”

Dr Katie Petty-Saphon, Chief Executive of the Dental Schools Council, said: ”We are pleased that the government has recognised the urgent need to grow the dental workforce at a time when access to NHS oral healthcare remains a significant challenge for many patients.

“Each year, dental schools are forced to turn away talented applicants who show great potential and this increase will allow more future NHS dentists to be admitted.”

Top 10 UK cities where people said they were unable to access NHS dentists:

Newcastle upon Tyne — 10%

Manchester — 9%    

The DIY dentistry capitals of the UK:

Scientists have hailed a “remarkable” discovery in the fight against advanced lung cancer that could give hope to thousands of families. Researchers investigating how the disease spreads towards the end of patients’ lives found some lung tumours “seeded” further tumours which colonised other parts of the body. These newer growths undergo changes in their genetic make-up which help them survive, disseminate, and resist treatment.

The discovery was only possible thanks to patients who consented to providing samples after their deaths. Lydia Knott is one of more than 400 volunteers who have joined the PEACE study, funded by Cancer Research UK. The mother-of-two died aged 87 in April 2024. She was a passionate supporter of research and wrote to her hospital to express interest in signing up for a medical study before her diagnosis had even been confirmed.

Speaking in 2016, Lydia said he had “no qualms” about joining PEACE. She added: “I didn’t even have to go away and think about it. I said ‘yes’ immediately.

“I understand it’s a sensitive area and not everyone is going to feel comfortable. But my view is that if it helps other people and helps to advance research into cancer treatments then it can only be a positive study.

“At the moment I’m very fit, active and mobile but if, after my death, parts of my body can be used for valuable research purposes, I’m more than happy with this.”

Lydia’s son Peter, 60, and his sister Helen, 62, fully supported her decision. Peter said: “We’re very proud of her. Our mother was a very optimistic and positive person who never stopped smiling despite her long illness. She was the sort of person who helped people.

“It wasn’t a question of: ‘Shall I? Do I have to worry about what happens after I’m dead?’ It’s just the way she was.”

Lydia, from Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2014 after feeling breathless. She had never smoked.

The former parish clerk died at home, surrounded by her family. Helen said: “Although she’d been chronically ill for a long time, she wasn’t seriously unwell until about the last three or four weeks of her life.

“We were there. It was all very peaceful, very calm and what she would have wanted.”

After Lydia’s death, a research autopsy was carried out before her body was returned to the family. Peter and Helen said they would both consider taking part in similar research in the future.

Helen urged others to think about it, adding: “No matter how small, they can contribute to making things better.

“It’s a bit like agreeing to organ donation. It’s not like giving your body to medical science, because the body’s going to be returned.”

The investigation into how lung cancer spreads used over 500 samples collected from 24 PEACE participants. More than half of tumours which spread were found to have spawned further tumours.

Scientists hope the findings, published in the journal Nature this week, will pave the way for treatments to buy patients precious extra time with their families. Lydia was also enrolled in a second study, TRACERX, which follows patients throughout their lives.

PEACE co-chief investigator Professor Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, a clinical scientist at UCL, said the two projects were “delivering remarkable insights into how cancer shapes our bodies”.

She described the altruism of people like Lydia as “a gift to future patients with cancer”, adding: “It was Lydia’s living wish to be part of this study, knowing that she would get nothing out of it.

“She literally gifted her body so that my team — and many teams working on lung cancer and in cancer research — will learn and benefit from what she’s done.”

Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: “This fundamental understanding of cancer, particularly in its late stages, is essential if we are to offer better treatments for more advanced forms of the disease.

“This study relies on people making the brave and selfless choice in life to donate their body to support research after they die.

“We honour Lydia, and many other people who have donated samples to this study, for their commitment to a world where other people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

A nutrition coach claims that a “game changing” 45p daily supplement aimed at stopping sugar cravings could reduce people’s need for weight loss jabs. Kate Donohoe, 44, is a personal trainer who runs Boom Weight Loss and Fitness.

The fitness fanatic, who tries new supplements to help people on a health journey, came across glucomannan. This is a natural, water-soluble, fibre compound sold in pill form, marketed for its appetite-suppressing qualities to help with weight loss.

She ordered a £13.50 tub from Amazon lasting 30 days and decided to take it every day in January to see if it would help her get her diet back on track after lots of “wine and chocolates” in December.

Kate described how usually in January she would experience sugar withdrawals after a month of indulgence, but she said that didn’t happen at all with glucomannan.

Not only that, but Kate said she lost 3cm from around her waist, bringing her body back to shape it was before Christmas shape without any extra effort or feeling like she had made a sacrifice.

Nutrition coach Kate, from Hampshire, said she thinks a lot of people should try glucomannan before ordering weight loss injections as it suppresses appetite and controls blood sugar for a fraction of the price.

Anyone who wants to lose weight using the supplement should speak to a healthcare professional first. The NHS publishes a range of guidance and advice about weight loss on its website.

Kate said she started on a small dose of glucomannan and within two days she had no cravings. She added: “It just made it really easy to get back on track with a healthy routine and I didn’t have an ‘afternoon slump’.

“Now, it’s become my crutch – I keep a massive tub of them in the cupboard to take whenever I find it hard to keep on track with my meal plan.”

Kate said that as a personal trainer she couldn’t officially recommend it, but on a personal level she found the supplement useful. The nutritionist added: “For anyone struggling with cravings, it’s worth investigating.”

Glucomannan helps reduce food cravings by maintaining a feeling of fullness. When taken before meals, it forms a “gel” in the stomach, slowing the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.

According to Healthline, studies show glucomannan can cause “modest” weight loss in people who are overweight or obese when taken regularly before a meal

The publication warns, however, that while “well tolerated” and “generally considered safe” it may cause choking or a blocking of the throat if it expands before it reaches the stomach.

Healthline recommends washing it down with one or two glasses of water and warns side effects may include bloating, flatulence, soft stools or diarrhoea. These are uncommon, according to the publication. It can also affect the body’s ability to absorb oral medications, such as the diabetes drug, sulfonylurea.

The publication concludes that glucomannan may help make weight loss lifestyle changes easier, but it won’t work miracles on its own.

Kate said she noticed its effect within a couple of days, noting that normally the first few days of January feel for her like ripping a plaster off a hairy arm.

She added: “There was nothing I hankered for. I could eat a balanced diet and I wasn’t obsessed or thinking about food.”

After a full month on the supplements Kate felt she was back on track and stopped taking them.

But after indulging in chocolate eggs over the Easter holiday, she decided to go back to taking them.

Kate said: “I just wanted to make that week after Easter easier for myself. It’s just a good product, and cheap too.”

As of May 2026, numerous disease outbreaks and epidemics are affecting countries worldwide. These range from common respiratory viruses that circulate widely to severe zoonotic diseases that pose considerable health risks in specific regions. Several major international outbreaks currently active in 2026 include COVID-19, cholera, dengue fever, measles, and MPX, according to authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Additional active regional and emerging outbreaks include Nipah virus, yellow fever, meningococcal disease, chikungunya, and avian influenza, spanning numerous nations. The WHO has identified eight high-threat pathogens under close observation that demand urgent, continuous surveillance owing to their epidemic potential. These comprise Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, MERS-CoV, SARS, Nipah virus, Rift Valley fever, and Zika virus.

For the most up-to-date, real-time travel guidance and localised outbreak information, consult the CDC Current Outbreak List or Travel Health Pro. The latter frequently refreshes its website with the latest outbreak data; the complete list is available online here. Nevertheless, below is a brief summary of the most recent developments as of May 1 that affect 19 nations.

1. Mpox in Denmark, Poland (ex Slovakia), Madagascar and Pakistan

On 27 April 2026, the number of confirmed clade Ib mpox cases in Denmark has risen to four. One case has reported no travel history abroad, indicating locally acquired infection. On 13 April 2026, Poland recorded its first confirmed case of clade I mpox. The clade subtype remains unspecified. The patient is an adult male with a travel history to Slovakia. No further transmission linked to this case has been reported, reports the Mirror.

Between 18 December 2025 and 25 April 2026, Madagascar reported a total of 1,196 confirmed mpox cases and three deaths. Clade Ib mpox has been identified amongst confirmed cases.

As of 14 April 2026, Sindh Province has recorded 122 suspected mpox cases, of which 25 have been confirmed. Cases have emerged from Khairpur district, Sukkur and Karachi. Nine fatalities have been recorded, with newborn babies amongst those affected. No further details regarding the clade are currently available. For more information about Mpox, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

2. Yellow fever in Ecuador

On 25 April 2026, Ecuador’s Ministry of Health reported a fatal human case of yellow fever in an 11-year-old child in Joya de los Sachas Canton, Orellana Province. This marks the first human case of yellow fever in Ecuador in nine months. For more information about yellow fever, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

You can check your risk of yellow fever, vaccine recommendations and any certificate requirements at your destination with the Travel Health Pro Country Information pages. Advice on general health risks, prevention advice, other vaccine recommendations, and malaria advice is also available on these pages. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for all travellers.

3. CVDPV2 in Malawi

In the week ending 22 April 2026, one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample was reported from Southern Province, Malawi, collected on 19 February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

4. Measles in Bangladesh

Between 15 March and 14 April 2026, a total of 19,161 suspected and 2,973 confirmed measles cases, with 30 (166 suspected) confirmed measles-related deaths, have been reported from Bangladesh. The highest number of suspected cases have been reported from Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Khulna. Children under five years account for the majority of reported cases. For more information about measles, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

5. Dengue in Martinique, Maldives and Tonga

As of 29 March 2026, 1,009 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Martinique since the start of 2026. DENV3 has been recorded. Also, as of 15 April 2026, 1,908 cases of dengue have been reported in the Maldives since the start of 2026. This represents an increase compared to the same period in previous years. Cases have been recorded across all Atolls.

As of 20 April 2026, a total of 24 laboratory confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Tonga for 2026. The Ministry of Health has declared a dengue outbreak following an increase in confirmed and suspected cases, along with evidence of community transmission across Eua, Ha’apai and Tongatapu. For more information about dengue, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

6. Dengue, yellow fever and Zika in Bolivia

As of 22 March 2026, 36,007 suspected cases of dengue have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This marks a substantial rise compared to the same period in 2025. Serotypes DENV1 and DENV2 have been identified. Additionally, between 1 January and 21 April 2026, a total of five cases of yellow fever have been recorded in Bolivia, resulting in two deaths.

As of 28 March 2026, a total of 1,168 cases of Zika virus disease have been reported in Bolivia since the start of 2026. This represents a considerable increase compared to the equivalent period in 2025. A total of 1,224 cases were recorded throughout the whole of 2025. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

7. CVDPV1 in South Sudan

As of 20 April 2026, two cVDPV1 cases were reported from the Upper Nile region. Onset of paralysis in both cases was February 2026. For more information about polio, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

8. Zika in France (ex Indonesia)

Between July 2025 and March 2026, 11 travel-associated cases of Zika virus disease were reported in France, linked to travel to Indonesia, including all four cases detected in early 2026. The majority of cases were connected to travel to Bali and neighbouring islands. For more information about the Zika virus, including symptoms, visit the NHS website.

9. Oropouche virus disease in Colombia

As of 19 March 2026, a total of 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease (OROV) were recorded in Colombia throughout 2025. For further details regarding the Oropouche virus, including its symptoms, visit Gov.uk.

10. Undiagnosed illness in Burundi

As of 11 April 2026, a total of 35 cases of an undiagnosed illness, including five deaths, have been reported in Mpanda district, in the north of Burundi. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in urine and fatigue. Certain severe cases have additionally presented with anaemia and jaundice. Laboratory testing has thus far returned negative results for Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Investigations remain ongoing.

11. Influenza A(H9N2) in Italy ex Senegal

On 10 April 2026, the World Health Organization reported the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) in Italy. The case was in an adult returning from Senegal. This also marks the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) documented in the European Region. For further details regarding bird flu, including its symptoms, visit the NHS website.

12. Lassa fever in Nigeria

In 2026, up to 29 March, 3,831 suspected, 663 confirmed and five probable cases, and 167 deaths have been reported across 22 states. Of all confirmed cases 85% were reported from five states (Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue). For further details regarding Lassa fever, including its symptoms, visit Gov.uk.

13. Hantavirus in Argentina

Between 1 January and 28 March 2026, 32 confirmed cases of hantavirus infection and eight deaths have been reported. Cases have been recorded across the following provinces: Buenos Aires, Salta, Chubut, Río Negro, Entre Ríos and Jujuy. For further details regarding Hantavirus, including symptoms, visit Gov.uk.