For many Americans, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the destructive potential of viruses; not only were there significant economic and social consequences, but the virus took a heavy physical toll on a substantial percentage of the infected, particularly vulnerable populations — infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic ended 2 years and 6 months ago; society has since then made significant progress towards recovery, gradually allowing the suffering to fade in its collective memory. But while COVID-19’s global scope and high fatality were uniquely devastating, it is worth remembering that of the 1037 viruses that exist, 600 are known to infect humans, and consequential virus outbreaks are not uncommon. In 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) published 32 Disease Outbreak News (DON) reports. Currently, combating Chikungunya Virus Disease, Nipah Virus Infection (NiV), and Rift Valley Fever is demanding attention on both global and local levels.
Chikungunya Virus Disease, a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the RNA virus Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), is breaking out in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific regions. Symptoms include fever, severe joint pain, joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash — the virus is characterized by a low fatality rate overall, but high severity in vulnerable populations. So far, it has proved especially prominent in the Americas, with Brazil accounting for 96% of cases and reports of cases by the governments of Bolivia, Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Pando, Tarija, and Cuba, and Europe, especially France and Italy. The 263,592 suspected and 181679 confirmed cases have warranted a public health alert, issued at the United Nations (UN) Geneva Press Briefing in July 2025. National and local governments are working to organize incident management specialist teams and devise vector (disease-carrying organism) control strategies, such as larvicide, spraying, and fogging. Two vaccines have gained regulatory approval and/or are recommended for use by populations at risk, but WHO has not reviewed either.
Caused by another mosquito-borne RNA virus, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has broken out in West Africa, with at least 17 confirmed deaths and over 100 infections in Senegal since late September 2025. This surge, with a 7.9% fatality rate, has proved to be the worst outbreak in Senegal in decades, likely due to unusual weather patterns of alternating rains and heat that have fostered the development of vector populations. Symptoms of RVF include fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hemorrhagic fever, liver failure, kidney failure, and coma. To combat the virus’s spread, Senegal’s Ministry of Health is working with WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to vaccinate livestock and launch vector control programs.
In Bangladesh, the Nipah Virus Infection (NiV), a zoonotic disease transmitted through infected bats or pigs, food contaminated with saliva, urine, or excreta of infected animals, or close interpersonal contact, has 347 documented cases since 2001, with Naogaon, Lalmonirhat, Rajbari, and Faridpur as the most impacted areas. Symptoms include fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and, in severe cases, acute encephalitis. Due to a lack of specific vaccines and treatment, it has a high fatality rate of 71.7%. In response to the recently resurging crisis, the Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Welfare is working with the support of WHO to investigate transmission of the virus and contact tracing, launch health education and awareness campaigns, and standardize clinician training.
Aside from the action of governments and organizations, citizens can take steps towards preserving public health in a variety of ways. In addition to standard preventative practices, such as good hygeine and getting vaccinated, citizens can help by abiding by Center for Disease Control (CDC) and WHO guidelines, and by supporting healthcare professionals and other essential workers. To reiterate, Chikungunya, NiV, and RVF are far from the only threats. A more familiar source of misery, flu season, runs from October to May in the Northern Hemisphere — in this time of peak virus activity, it is as important as ever to be mindful of germs.
