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Biothreat intelligence to deter and detect natural, accidental, deliberate and novel biological agents.
ADVISORY
Hong Kong reports its 1st locally acquired chikungunya case; Jiangmen City in Guangdong ends its emergency declaration
10/27/2025
Hong KongChina, Guangdong Sheng
Recommendation: Organizations in Hong Kong and China's Guangdong Province should reduce mosquito habitats by eliminating standing water and applying insecticides to outdoor storage containers, as well as encouraging employees to prevent mosquito bites. Organizations should support pregnant employees who opt not to travel to the affected area. Employees should consult a doctor about vaccination against chikungunya before traveling to Guangdong Province. Vaccine eligibility and availability may vary by country.
Situation: Hong Kong announced its 1st locally acquired chikungunya case. In August, the individual traveled to Guangdong Province, China, where a chikungunya outbreak is ongoing, but she had not traveled internationally during her incubation period in October. Her symptom onset was on 10/18. All household contacts are currently asymptomatic and under monitoring. 46 imported chikungunya cases were reported so far this year in Hong Kong, but none lived near the new local case. Many of Hong Kong's imported cases had links to the outbreak in Guangdong, where 868 new cases were reported in the most recent week of data, according to media sources. This is the first week that new cases in the Guangdong province fell below 1,000 since cases resurged in September. Jiangmen City, one of the hotspots in the province during the resurgence, also declared the end to its Level III emergency response over the weekend after a sustained decline in incidence, with fewer than 50 new cases per day over 5 consecutive days. The cumulative total of the provincial outbreak was not provided. See PHC alerts on 10/20,10/14, 10/7, and 9/29 for earlier info. [Confidence: Very High]
ADVISORY
Nearby farms test negative as Taiwan tightens African swine fever controls
10/27/2025
Taiwan
Recommendation: Taiwan typically produces over 800,000 tons of pork annually, and the industry is worth over $3 billion USD. African swine fever (ASF) is highly lethal to pigs and is economically devastating to the pork industry in impacted areas. It cannot infect humans. Outbreaks of the disease can lead to large-scale culling of affected animals and substantial costs. Once the disease is established in wild pig populations, control is difficult, so prevention of importation is key.
Situation: Health officials reported that 40 farms in Taichung’s Wuqi District, where ASF was previously reported (see PHC alert 10/23), all tested negative for the disease. Inspections also found pigs in good condition. Monitoring across other counties has also shown no additional outbreaks. To strengthen prevention, 6 screening laboratories were established nationwide, and officials urged farmers to report any abnormal signs promptly. Officials will continue inspections and sampling of 168 more farms. Environmental sampling at the ASF case site continued to detect the virus after being disinfected, revealing gaps in cleaning procedures, prompting stricter enforcement. A national ban on pig transport and slaughter remains in place, with violators facing uncompensated culling. After completing the 1st phase of inspecting higher-risk farms, the 2nd phase of prevention measures includes enhanced disinfection, inspections of slaughterhouses, meat markets, and transport vehicles, detailed case-site investigations, and expanded tracing for infection risks. [Confidence: Very High]
WATCH
Israel reports its 8th pediatric measles death and flight exposures
10/27/2025
Israel
Recommendation: This pediatric measles death serves as a reminder that measles can be a severe disease. Organizations in Israel should inform employees about the measles exposure locations and provide flexible work schedules to support employees in making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.
Situation: Israeli health officials reported a new measles death in a 2.5-year-old toddler who was not vaccinated, bringing the total pediatric deaths in the country to 8 since August. Additionally, another 6-year-old child from the south of the country, who also was not vaccinated, is on a ventilator due to a measles infection. Areas currently defined as having an outbreak are: Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modi'in Illit, Nof HaGalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Safed, Netivot, and the Mateh Binyamin. Israel also reported a measles exposure on Wizz Air flight, flight number #W6 2098, from Tel Aviv to Krakow on 10/19, as well as on the company's return flight, flight number #W6 2097, from Krakow to Tel Aviv on 10/21, which landed at Ben Gurion Airport. Exposed individuals should monitor for measles symptoms (7-21 days from exposure). [Confidence: Very High]
ADVISORY
Mpox cases on the rise in the Puget Sound region, including King County, Washington
10/24/2025
Washington, King County
Recommendation: Employers can support employees in obtaining mpox vaccinations by providing flexible work schedules. Information on the availability of mpox vaccines and treatment can also be included in employee wellness communication.
Situation: Washington health officials reported a rise in mpox cases in the Puget Sound region, including in King County. In September, King County reported 45 new mpox cases in residents, with the majority associated with sexual and intimate contact among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, and non-binary people. Officials stated the uptick highlights the need for those at risk to get vaccinated against mpox. In late September, mpox clade 1 was also detected in wastewater in Pierce County, which borders King County (see PHC alert 9/30). [Confidence: Very High]
ADVISORY
Local transmission of mpox clade 1b found in 4 European Union countries this month
10/24/2025
ItalyNetherlandsPortugalSpain
Recommendation: Organizations can support employees in obtaining mpox vaccinations by providing flexible work schedules. Information on the availability of mpox vaccines and treatment can also be included in employee wellness communication.
Situation: ECDC reported the first-ever detections of locally acquired mpox clade 1b in 2 new European Union countries, Italy and Portugal. 2 cases were reported in Italy and 1 in Portugal, joining the single cases each reported by Spain and the Netherlands earlier this month (see PHC alerts on 10/22 and 10/15). The new cases did not have any recent travel to mpox-endemic areas, and some identified as men who have sex with men (MSM), suggesting ongoing transmission in sexual networks in the European Union. ECDC stated that the risk to the general public is Low, but the risk is Moderate for MSM. 30 other mpox clade 1b cases have been reported in the European Union since August 2024, all imported or with links to imported cases. In the US, California also recently reported local spread of mpox clade 1 among MSM (see PHC alert on 10/16). [Confidence: Very High]
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