Reporting Period: March 15-31, 2026

The AeroClenz Chief Medical Officer periodically reviews publicly available infectious disease surveillance reports from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

These summaries are intended to provide general awareness of global infectious disease activity relevant to international travel, healthcare systems, and high-traffic indoor environments.

This information is provided for situational awareness only and does not constitute medical advice.

For the period of March 15-31, 2026, several notable global infectious disease trends were observed:

• Measles continues to present a significant disruption risk due to high transmissibility and outbreak concentration
• Seasonal respiratory viruses are declining globally but remain active
• Cholera activity persists across multiple regions, with increasing mortality in some settings
• Mpox continues to circulate globally, including emerging clade patterns
• Travel-associated arboviral diseases, including chikungunya and dengue, remain relevant

1) Measles remains the highest disruption risk per case

The CDC reported 1,362 confirmed measles cases in the United States as of March 12, 2026, with cases concentrated in outbreak settings.

Measles continues to combine high transmissibility with the potential for rapid spread across travel networks. The need for contact tracing and coordination across jurisdictions contributes to its ongoing operational significance.

2) Respiratory viruses are declining but still active

WHO surveillance indicates that influenza activity continues to decline globally, with positivity around 10% in week 11, while SARS-CoV-2 remains low and RSV activity is stable at low levels.

Across Europe, ECDC reports similar trends, with influenza and RSV still circulating but decreasing. Severe influenza continues to affect older adult populations disproportionately.

3) Cholera remains a high-impact, multi-country concern

WHO reported 18,715 cholera and acute watery diarrhea cases and 269 deaths in February 2026 across 17 countries, with deaths increasing compared to January.

Cholera risk remains closely tied to water, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure conditions in affected regions.

4) Mpox remains an active global signal

WHO reporting indicates that 50 countries reported 1,334 confirmed mpox cases in January 2026, with the majority of cases occurring in the WHO African Region.

Ongoing transmission, including clade Ib activity and recombinant strain monitoring, highlights the importance of continued surveillance.

5) Travel-related arboviral risk remains relevant

Chikungunya activity in the Seychelles continues to be monitored by CDC and ECDC, with guidance emphasizing mosquito precautions for travelers.

Dengue also remains a significant background concern, with PAHO reporting more than 250,000 suspected cases in the Americas by early March 2026.

The global respiratory disease picture remains influenza-led rather than COVID-led.

WHO data from March indicates:

• Influenza positivity declining but still present globally
• SARS-CoV-2 activity remaining low
• RSV stable and low

Regional data from Europe reflects similar trends, with declining but ongoing circulation of influenza and RSV.

Measles remains one of the most operationally significant infectious diseases due to its combination of:

• High transmissibility
• Amplification through travel
• Resource-intensive contact tracing

CDC data confirms continued outbreak activity in 2026, alongside evidence of declining vaccination coverage in some populations.

Published analyses, including those from the Journal of Travel Medicine, continue to show that measles transmission during air travel can extend beyond immediate seating proximity.

Investigations across more than 180 flights have identified secondary cases both within and outside defined contact zones, with a high proportion occurring among unvaccinated individuals.

These findings highlight the complexity of exposure management in travel environments.

Cholera continues to be reported across multiple regions, particularly in areas with limited water and sanitation infrastructure.

Recent updates indicate increasing mortality in some settings, suggesting ongoing challenges in outbreak control and access to care.

External factors, including disruptions to aid delivery and logistics constraints, may further complicate response efforts in affected regions.

Mpox continues to be reported globally, with current surveillance focusing on:

• Clade Ib transmission patterns
• Monitoring of recombinant viral strains
• Risk differences across population groups

Public-health agencies continue to assess risk as higher in defined networks with close contact and lower for the general population without specific exposure risks.

Chikungunya transmission in the Seychelles and surrounding regions remains relevant for travel-associated exposure.

Public-health agencies continue to emphasize:

• Mosquito bite prevention
• Awareness of regional activity

Dengue remains a significant global burden, particularly in the Americas, with case counts continuing to accumulate through early 2026.

Nipah virus:
Recent clusters in India and Bangladesh remain contained, with no evidence of sustained transmission.

Ebola and Marburg viruses:
No active outbreaks have been reported during this period. Recent outbreaks have been declared contained following appropriate monitoring intervals.

While the probability of widespread transmission remains low, these pathogens continue to be monitored due to their potential severity.

The global infectious disease landscape for mid-March 2026 reflects declining respiratory virus activity alongside continued monitoring of high-impact and travel-associated risks.
Key themes include:
• Measles as the highest disruption risk per individual case
• Improving but still active respiratory virus trends
• Persistent cholera activity in infrastructure-limited regions
• Continued mpox transmission and viral evolution monitoring
• Ongoing relevance of travel-associated arboviral diseases
Public-health surveillance agencies continue to monitor these developments and publish updates as new information becomes available.
Sources referenced in this summary include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and peer-reviewed literature, including the Journal of Travel Medicine.
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