Today in Public Health

Surveillance

Global Signal Desk

An interactive map and feed of source-verified public health signals. Not clinical or travel advice.

The Global Signal Desk tracks authoritative disease outbreaks, food and product recalls, climate- and environment-driven health threats, and other public-health alerts worldwide — each drawn from primary sources such as the WHO, CDC, ECDC, FDA, NOAA, and national ministries of health. Each record states its latest available source check and evidence cutoff. Incomplete refreshes are disclosed. It is situational awareness for the public and for people working in public health — not clinical or travel advice.

Think of it as a public health OSINT (open-source intelligence) tool: it gathers openly published outbreak notices, recall records and climate-health alerts, and shows the primary source behind each one so you can verify it yourself. See how signals are sourced and rated or learn the same verification steps.

Latest daily scan

Global Signal Scan — November 2, 2026

No qualifying changes · 32 retained · 0 added · 0 updated · 0 removed

Read & cite
1Critical
8Severe
17Significant
6Watch
Verification due · Latest source check October 26, 202632 active point signals

Active signals

Click a marker to jump to its card, or filter by severity, world, and confidence. Markers are representative points at the country or regional level — not exact incident locations.

Markers use representative points at the country or regional level, not exact incident locations. Placement indicates the affected area, not a precise site.

Severity
World
Confidence
32 of 32 active signals shown
  • CriticalHumanHigh confidence

    ECDC reports 9,552 confirmed DRC Ebola cases and 4,602 related deaths

    ECDC’s October 20 update relays national reporting as of October 19 with data through October 18: 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 related deaths. Figures remain provisional and subject to harmonisation; keep this series separate from WHO and Kenya counts. On October 23 CEPI reported the first participant vaccinated in the Tumaini Phase 2/3 Bundibugyo vaccine trial in Bunia. That is a research milestone, not evidence of efficacy or of an approved Bundibugyo vaccine. Source check: Checked October 26. The ECDC page retrieved at that check shows a later update (October 23, 16:45) reporting 9,704 confirmed DRC cases and 4,687 related deaths as of October 21, data through October 20. That newer snapshot has not been adopted into this record and is queued for the next scan; the 9,552 / 4,602 figures above keep their October 18 data cutoff. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    Democratic Republic of the Congo · national reporting; data through October 18
    Representative point near the epicentre
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereGlobalHigh confidence

    WHO Kenya reports nine confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola cases and two deaths

    WHO Kenya’s October 26 release reports nine confirmed cases and two deaths, all in one connected group with no evidence of community spread; 20 contacts were released after 21 days of monitoring and 98 remain in quarantine. ECDC’s earlier October 20 status (eight cases, one death) and its later October 22 status (nine cases, one death) are separate dated snapshots with different death counts. Contact discharge does not mean the outbreak is closed. Source check: Checked October 26 against the WHO Kenya release. ECDC’s page (updated October 23) lists nine cases and one death as of October 22, so national and ECDC death counts differ and are attributed separately. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    Kenya · one connected group linked to an imported index case; WHO Kenya release of October 26
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereHumanHigh confidence

    CDC reports 4,410 confirmed U.S. measles cases through October 15

    CDC’s October 16 release lists 4,410 confirmed cases in 2026 through noon October 15, including international visitors. The provisional total is a weekly surveillance snapshot, not a real-time October 17 count. Source check: Source rechecked October 20; the older evidence cutoff is retained and is not a new October 20 case count. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereHumanHigh confidence

    Bangladesh reports 105,316 dengue admissions and 321 deaths through October 14

    DGHS reports 105,316 hospital admissions and 321 dengue deaths in 2026 through October 14, including 1,920 admissions and five deaths in the latest reporting period. These are reported hospital admissions, not all infections. The daily period ended at 8 a.m. Bangladesh time. Source check: Source checked October 14. Evidence cutoff and reported categories are preserved above. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Bangladesh · national surveillance, not a single epicentre
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SevereEarthModerate confidence

    Prolonged flooding displaces more than 260,000 people in India

    GDACS rates the event Orange and reports 42 deaths and 260,529 displaced. Fresh heavy rainfall produced flooding and landslides in Kerala beginning September 20. Displacement creates credible shelter, injury, safe-water and sanitation concerns, although a current official health-sector assessment was not located. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Multiple Indian states; fresh impacts in Kerala
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SevereHumanHigh confidence

    Bangladesh reports 22,840 confirmed measles cases and 1,177 combined deaths

    BSS quoting DGHS lists 22,840 confirmed and 208,570 suspected cases since March 15. Deaths comprise 104 confirmed and 1,073 suspected, or 1,177 combined. The combined total is not confirmed measles deaths; cases and admissions are different measures. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Bangladesh · national reporting
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereEarthModerate confidence

    Simon: indexed final advisory; residual hazards require separate checks

    The October 17 editorial scan found an official indexed final discussion dated October 16, 21:00 UTC for Simon’s remnants. Full bulletin confirmation remains unavailable. Older 105-mph winds and watches are not current conditions. Retain residual-hazard monitoring pending complete official confirmation; ending cyclone advisories does not end recovery hazards. Source check: Latest full bulletin unavailable. Only the dated indexed source status is carried; current winds, track and warning footprint are withheld. Checked at 2026-10-17.

    Location
    West-central Mexico · regional planning point
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereGlobalHigh confidence

    IPC warns of worsening famine risk in parts of Sudan

    IPC’s alert warns of worsening food insecurity and malnutrition driven by conflict, displacement, drought and funding gaps. WHO reports limited care and scarce clean water. Risk of famine in an alert is not a new formal area-level Famine classification. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Sudan · Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SevereEarthHigh confidence

    Nepal continues disease-prevention response after destructive floods

    WHO's September 23 South-East Asia bulletin reports that seven health facilities were damaged after the August 26 glacial lake outburst flood: four fully and three partially. By September 21, 66,888 people had received oral cholera vaccine and more than 832 frontline workers had received tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine. Surveillance, water testing, chlorination, and continuity of care are underway. Source check: Retained dated evidence. A complete fresh verification was unavailable in this catch-up release; do not treat the older report as a real-time count. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, Nepal
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 2, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    Europe reports 1,965 locally acquired West Nile cases in 20 countries

    ECDC week 43 reports 1,965 locally acquired human cases and 229 affected areas in 20 countries through October 21; seven areas were reported as affected for the first time this week. These seasonal surveillance designations do not establish uniform individual risk. Source check: Checked October 26 against the ECDC weekly surveillance source; the stated evidence cutoff (October 21) is the data clock, not the check date. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    20 European countries · 229 affected areas — distributed seasonal pattern, not a single epicentre
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    France reports 182 locally acquired chikungunya cases; Italy one

    ECDC week 43 reports 182 locally acquired cases in France across 22 clusters, 15 active; Italy reports one case and a closed cluster. These are cumulative seasonal counts through October 21. Source check: Checked October 26 against the ECDC weekly surveillance source; the stated evidence cutoff (October 21) is the data clock, not the check date. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    Mainland EU/EEA · France and Italy — local clusters, not a single epicentre
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantGlobalHigh confidence

    Nigeria confirms one imported Bundibugyo Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory

    WHO’s Nigeria release of October 20 describes one imported, laboratory-confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory in a woman with recent travel to Uganda. Symptoms began October 7, she sought care at a private facility on October 11 and was confirmed on October 20. Forty-four contacts have been identified and are being monitored. The source of infection and full exposure history are still under investigation; contacts are not cases and no transmission chain is established. Source check: Checked October 26. ECDC’s page (updated October 23) repeats the October 20 report and 44 identified contacts; no newer Nigeria case count was found. Evidence cutoff remains October 20. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    Nigeria · Federal Capital Territory (Abuja); WHO Nigeria release of October 20
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodHigh confidence

    Raw-milk cheese investigation adds sampling and international distribution context

    FDA lists sampling and distribution to Republic of Korea. The September 25 illness snapshot remains 13 cases, eight hospitalizations, three HUS cases and no deaths; distribution is not illness geography. Source check: Checked October 20; evidence cutoffs remain as stated. Reporting changes are not automatically new events today. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · nationwide distribution, not a single epicentre
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodHigh confidence

    Broccoli-seed recalls extend the response beyond expired sprouts

    FDA’s October 9 product update lists downstream seed recalls. Matched seed sampling supports the investigation. Counts remain 32 illnesses in six states, three hospitalizations and no deaths; last listed illness onset is September 3. Recalled seeds remain distinct from expired fresh sprouts and from the alfalfa investigation. Source check: Checked October 20; evidence cutoffs remain as stated. Reporting changes are not automatically new events today. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · six illness states; broader recalled seed distribution
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodModerate confidence

    FDA adds sampling in its 11-case Listeria investigation

    FDA investigation 1415 adds sample collection. Eleven cases remain listed; no product is identified. This is separate from investigation 1417. Source check: Checked October 20; evidence cutoffs remain as stated. Reporting changes are not automatically new events today. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · national investigation, product unidentified
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodModerate confidence

    FDA’s chicken-wrap E. coli investigation reaches 50 cases

    FDA investigation 1421 rises from 38 to 50 cases. The suspect vehicle is a multi-ingredient wrap with chicken; this does not identify the contaminated ingredient. Source check: Checked October 20; evidence cutoffs remain as stated. Reporting changes are not automatically new events today. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · multistate chicken-wrap investigation
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodModerate confidence

    FDA’s unidentified-source Listeria investigation reaches 46 cases

    FDA investigation 1417 rises from 44 to 46 cases. Product remains unidentified; retain this separately from investigation 1415. Source check: Checked October 20; evidence cutoffs remain as stated. Reporting changes are not automatically new events today. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · national investigation, product unidentified
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodHigh confidence

    Alfalfa sprout outbreak linked to seed lot SAL2-24JB reaches 76 illnesses in 16 states

    FDA's October 1 update, detected by TiPH on October 2, says the multistate outbreak linked to recalled alfalfa seed lot SAL2-24JB totals 76 people in 16 states: 64 with STEC, 9 with Salmonella Agona and 3 with both. Six people were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Illness onsets range from May 31 to September 7, 2026. Of 50 people interviewed, 40 (80 percent) reported sprouts and 35 (70 percent) specified alfalfa sprouts. The investigation remains ongoing. The 16 illness states are not the product-distribution list. FDA's case-count table lists confirmed distribution in 45 states and Puerto Rico and says product could have been distributed further. Seed from the lot was also shipped to growers and distributors, including international shipments to Canada, Mexico, Tahiti and Venezuela. An earlier update on the same page said sprouts from one grower were a source of illnesses and did not explain all of them. The September recall notice's report of one illness to the company is a different unit from the 76-person outbreak total and is not added to it. FDA's instruction is specific to recalled sprouts and recalled sprouting seeds. Source check: Source rechecked October 20; the older evidence cutoff is retained and is not a new October 20 case count. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    United States · 16 illness states; wider product distribution
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantAnimalHigh confidence

    U.S. rabies-exposure advisory remains active

    CDC reported increased human exposure to rabid or potentially rabid animals, a 17% increase in related inquiries and increased post-exposure prophylaxis utilization and administration errors. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    United States; multiple jurisdictions
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    Chikungunya outbreak continues in northwest Costa Rica

    CDC continues to identify an outbreak in northwestern Costa Rica and recommends enhanced precautions for affected areas. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Northwest Costa Rica
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    Yellow-fever activity remains elevated in Tolima, Colombia

    Increased yellow-fever activity is concentrated in Tolima, including newly affected areas adjoining the historical vaccination zone. This remains geographically specific rather than a nationwide outbreak. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Tolima Department, Colombia
    Department-level representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • SignificantGlobalHigh confidence

    Western Pacific influenza positivity decreases to 14% in week 39

    WHO WPRO’s October 8 bulletin reports regional influenza positivity falling from 16% in week 37 to 14% in week 39, while SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained at 2%. Trends differ across transmission zones; an overall decrease does not describe every country. Source check: Source checked October 14. Evidence cutoff and reported categories are preserved above. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    WHO Western Pacific Region
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    Florida reports 296 locally acquired dengue cases across eight counties

    Florida’s latest listed report, week 39, records 296 locally acquired dengue cases across eight counties in 2026. This supersedes the week-38 252-case baseline, but is not an October 14 case count. Travel-associated cases remain separate. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Florida, United States
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantFoodHigh confidence

    Prolonged Salmonella Strathcona outbreak remains under investigation

    ECDC describes a continuing multi-country Salmonella Strathcona ST2559 outbreak, with more than 160 new cases reported in 2026. Prior investigations implicated small tomatoes from Sicily. The vehicle and a fully controlled contamination source are different findings. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    EU/EEA · multiple jurisdictions
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanModerate confidence

    ECDC says carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are spreading faster across EU/EEA hospitals

    ECDC's week-40 report assesses the epidemiological situation for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales as worsening rapidly. New genomic surveillance shows increasing geographic spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying NDM carbapenemases, more isolates carrying both resistance and virulence genes, cross-border movement of mosaic plasmids, rapid spread of emerging sequence types including ST6668, and wider detection of E. coli carrying genes such as blaOXA-244. ECDC is describing genomic and epidemiological findings, not publishing a single population incidence count, so this desk does not add one. The risk is concentrated in health-care settings and among vulnerable patients. Source check: Retained dated evidence. A complete fresh verification was unavailable in this catch-up release; do not treat the older report as a real-time count. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    EU/EEA · regional, healthcare-associated spread across borders
    Last verified
    October 4, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • SignificantHumanHigh confidence

    Countries reported 46,153 new cholera cases in a month, 34,378 of them in Afghanistan

    From August 26 through September 28, 2026, countries reported 46,153 new cholera cases and 140 new deaths. The largest numbers of new cases were reported from Afghanistan (34,378), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,505), Yemen (1,885), Angola (748) and Congo (299). ECDC compiled 249,136 cases and 1,970 deaths reported since January 1 through the source-specific country cutoffs used in its review. National reporting dates, surveillance systems and case definitions differ, so the country totals are not perfectly synchronized or directly comparable. This is a global situation, so no single map point is shown. Source check: Retained dated evidence. A complete fresh verification was unavailable in this catch-up release; do not treat the older report as a real-time count. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Multiple countries · Afghanistan, DRC, Yemen, Angola and Congo lead new cases — global situation, no single epicentre
    Last verified
    October 4, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • WatchHumanHigh confidence

    Italy reports 73 locally acquired dengue cases; France seven

    ECDC week 43 reports Italy’s 73 locally acquired cases across seven clusters, six active, and France’s seven across five clusters, one active, through October 21. Cluster closure does not establish no future risk. Source check: Checked October 26 against the ECDC weekly surveillance source; the stated evidence cutoff (October 21) is the data clock, not the check date. Checked at 2026-10-26T21:01:35Z.

    Location
    Mainland EU/EEA · Italy and France — local clusters, not a single epicentre
    Last verified
    October 26, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • WatchEarthModerate confidence

    Trudy becomes a remnant low; retain residual-hazard monitoring

    Official NHC indexed final advisory 27 reports a post-tropical remnant low at 03:00 UTC October 20. The current NHC basin page lists no eastern Pacific tropical cyclone. Full final-bulletin retrieval remains unavailable, so no current wind or warning footprint is asserted. Ending cyclone advisories does not end all residual hazards. Source check: Final-advisory classification supported by official indexed text and current NHC basin page. Full final bulletin unavailable; no local all-clear inferred. Checked at 2026-10-20T12:40:19Z.

    Location
    Southern Mexico · regional planning point
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 20, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • WatchHumanHigh confidence

    Hepatitis A outbreak reported in Costa Rica’s San José Province

    CDC reports a hepatitis A outbreak in Costa Rica, with most cases in San José Province. The Level 1 designation supports inclusion as a lower-severity localized signal rather than an elevated national emergency. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    San José Province, Costa Rica
    Province-level representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • WatchFoodHigh confidence

    U.S. Cyclospora surge remains under declining-season monitoring

    The unusually large seasonal increase remains epidemiologically important, but recent illness has declined. The Taylor Farms lettuce outbreak remains resolved and separate from this broader surveillance record. Source check: Checked October 14 against the cited source; the underlying evidence cutoff remains the date stated in this record. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    United States
    National representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    2 sources
    Read signal
  • WatchAnimalHigh confidence

    Irkutsk laboratory pneumonia remains of unconfirmed cause

    ECDC reports Russian authorities found no high-threat pathogen in identified contacts and completed preventive measures. WHO still requested details of the fatal pneumonia’s cause. This is not a confirmed plague outbreak; cause and reports of a second case remain unverified. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Russia · Irkutsk region
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal
  • WatchAnimalHigh confidence

    Germany reports its first locally acquired symptomatic Sindbis infection

    ECDC reports a laboratory-confirmed symptomatic Sindbis infection identified in southwestern Germany in September, described as the country’s first locally acquired symptomatic case. One detected case does not measure all infections. Source check: Reviewed October 14; use the stated evidence cutoff, not publication time, as the data clock. Checked at 2026-10-14T14:30:43Z.

    Location
    Southwestern Germany · approximate region
    Regional representative point
    Last verified
    October 14, 2026
    1 source
    Read signal

Global watch layers

Latest scan changes

The review record logs additions, updates, retained records and removals. Source-check times are separate from evidence cutoffs and publication dates.

Full review record
Resolved & archived signals3 past signals closed with a logged reason.

Methodology

How the desk decides what to show

The Global Signal Desk is deliberately transparent about its limits. Here is how signals are sourced, rated, reconciled, corrected, and — when the evidence isn't there — left off. Editorial owner: Elijah St. John. Feed as of 2026-10-26.

Read the full Signal Desk methodology, or learn to investigate a public health claim yourself.

Source hierarchy

A signal is logged only when a current, specific primary or authoritative source backs it — WHO, CDC, ECDC, FDA, NOAA, and national ministries of health first. Secondary reporting can point us to a signal but never stands in for the authoritative record.

Severity vs. confidence

Severity is the read on potential public-health impact (Critical, Severe, Significant, Watch). Confidence is how well-established the underlying facts are. They move independently: a strengthening El Niño can be high-confidence but still only a Watch.

Twice-daily scan & dedup

The desk normalizes and de-duplicates dated records against their sources so one event is one signal, and compares them to what is live. Related datasets stay distinct — a broad seasonal total and a single ended cluster are reported separately, never summed.

Auto-approved, fully logged

Staged changes from each scan are auto-approved and applied, and every applied change is logged in the review record so the desk stays accountable. Signals that no longer meet the sourcing bar are removed and archived, not quietly deleted.

Absence is not safety

This desk is intentionally small and selective. A hazard not listed here is not necessarily low-risk — absence from the desk does not mean absence of risk. This is situational awareness, not clinical or travel advice.