Dear Readers,

We are pleased to share the 14^th issue of the One Health Biweekly Update from the One Health Secretariat. Drawing from official and credible sources, this issue provides a timely overview of emerging health risks, outbreaks, and One Health developments in Bangladesh, South Asia, and globally.

We are also pleased to note that all previous issues are now available in our archive, reflecting the continued engagement of our readers and the commitment of the moderation team.

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this growing One Health community.

Dr. Sabbir Haider 

Dr. Nure Alam 

Dr. Farhana Rahman 

One Health Secretariat, Bangladesh

Bangladesh Reports Widespread Measles Surge

On 4 April 2026, Bangladesh notified WHO of a nationwide rise in measles cases affecting 58 of 64 districts. As of 30 April, 37,131 suspected and 5,028 confirmed cases, including 276 deaths (CFR 0.65%), were reported. Dhaka division accounted for the highest proportion of cases (48.1%), followed by Rajshahi (18.5%) and Chattogram (12.6%). ​Approximately 79% of reported cases were among children under five. In response, a targeted measles–rubella (MR) vaccination campaign was launched  on 5 April, complemented by  strengthened surveillance and response measures. By 30 April, average vaccine coverage reached 99% across all eight divisions. WHO continues to assess the national risk as high due to ongoing transmission, immunity gaps, and a large susceptible child population.
(Source: WHO, DGHS)

Zero Malaria Death Target Faces Challenges
Bangladesh’s progress toward malaria elimination continues to face significant operational and epidemiological challenges despite a slight decline in overall case numbers. The death of the Commerce Secretary from malaria on 17 April 2026 renewed national attention to ongoing malaria transmission risks and gaps in prevention and control efforts. In 2025, the country reported 10,162 malaria cases across 13 endemic districts and 16 malaria-related deaths, the highest annual death toll recorded in the past nine years including six deaths in Rohingya camps. While the National Strategic Plan targets zero indigenous malaria deaths by 2027 and malaria elimination by 2030, persistent cross-border transmission in high-burden districts and declining funding remain key challenges to achieving these goals.
(Source:The Daily Star) 

Woman Dies of Rabies in Thakurgaon
A woman from Baliadanga upazila in Thakurgaon district died of rabies on 18 April 2026, following a fox attack that occurred when she was cutting grass for cattle on 26 March. She was initially treated at Thakurgaon Modern Hospital, including two doses of rabies vaccine. She later returned home and completed the remaining doses through a village practitioner. The woman reportedly developed rabies symptoms 17 days after the incident and was later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, where she subsequently died.. The incident highlights the importance of timely and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis and clinical management following animal exposures.
(Source: Khaborwala)

Dengue Cases Continued to Increase in late April
​Dengue transmission remained active across Bangladesh during the second half of April 2026.  Between 15 and 30 April, 330 new cases were reported, increasing cumulative cases from 2,153 to 2,483, a 15.3% increase. No additional deaths were reported during this period, and the cumulative death toll remained at four. Men accounted for 62.7% of the reported cases, while females represented 37.3%, indicating a stable gender distribution compared to mid-April (62.1% male). All reported deaths (100%) remained among males. Geographically, dengue transmission continued to expand across all divisions. Dhaka Division reported ​the highest number of new cases (99), while Barishal showed the largest proportional increase (+27.6%), followed by Chattogram (+14.9%). Moderate increases were also observed in Khulna and Mymensingh divisions. Overall, dengue transmission remained elevated in late April, although the rate of increase appeared slower compared to early April.
(Source: IEDCR website)

Seasonal Influenza Shows An Early Increased Transmission 

The latest available influenza surveillance update from Bangladesh, covering 1–14 April 2026, reported 193 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases from 712 tested samples, corresponding to a positivity rate of 27%, approximately six times higher than rates observed during the same period in previous years. The findings indicate early increased seasonal influenza transmission. Health authorities advised the public to follow preventive measures, including mask use, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette, to reduce transmission. The public was also urged to avoid unnecessary antimicrobial use for influenza-like illness to help mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  Influenza vaccination is recommended, particularly for WHO-defined high-risk groups, including pregnant women, children aged 6–59 months, older adults, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and healthcare workers.

Climate Informed Dengue Forecasting Advances in Bangladesh
A recent study, conducted by researchers from Cornell University, highlighted the role of climate factors, particularly rainfall, temperature, and humidity, in shaping dengue transmission dynamics in Bangladesh. Using machine learning models, the study demonstrated improved forecasting accuracy and identified  variation in transmission patterns. The findings underscore the potential value of climate-informed early warning systems in strengthening outbreak preparedness and response planning.
(Source: Cornell university) 

US Donates TB Testing Kits and Pediatric Drugs
The United States has donated 600,000 GeneXpert tuberculosis testing kits and pediatric TB drugs to treat 11,000 children  in Bangladesh, helping address critical gaps in TB diagnosis and treatment services. . On 24 April 2026, the donation was formally handed over by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen to Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, in presence of officials from the Directorate General of Health Services. The support comes at a critical time as Bangladesh continues to face multiple public health challenges, reinforcing the importance of international partnerships in sustaining essential health services and improving disease control efforts.
(Source: Dailyasiange)

World Veterinary Day Observed in Bangladesh
World Veterinary Day was observed across Bangladesh under the theme “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health,” highlighting the critical role of veterinary services in ensuring food safety, food security, public health, and animal health. Public and private sector veterinarians jointly marked the day through rallies, free veterinary camps, discussions, and seminars. As part of the nationwide celebration, the Bangladesh Livestock Society organized a free veterinary camp and a seminar.
(Source: BSS) 

Empowering Youth for One Health Action Against Antimicrobial Resistance
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) jointly organized a dynamic student engagement event to promote community awareness on AMR under a One Health approach. The event brought together over 300 students from ten public and private universities and featured a colorful rally, expert-led discussions, and an engaging AMR-themed “Student Feud” competition, a customized version of the American Family Feud game show. During the concluding session, the Vice Chancellor of AIUB announced plans to establish a One Health Centre at the university. The event also paved the way for creating a student network dedicated to combating AMR and preventing emerging infectious diseases.
(Source: AIUB)

Rest of South Asia Pakistan Reports First CCHF Death of the Year in Sindh
Pakistan’s Sindh province reported its first Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)-related death of 2026 after a 17-year-old cattle farm worker died following laboratory-confirmed infection, raising concerns over seasonal zoonotic transmission risks. The patient was initially admitted to  Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre with high fever and bleeding symptoms before being referred to Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre for specialized care. The case was confirmed as CCHF by laboratory testing and the patient died on 22 April.
(Source: Pakistan Observer) 

International Agencies Establish One Health Learning Task Force
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the WOAH jointly announced the establishment of a One Health Learning Taskforce to support  One Health implementation at global, regional, and national levels. The Taskforce responds to the growing need to equip the human, animal, plant, and environment health workforce with the cross-cutting and profession-specific competencies required to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to complex health threats at the human–animal–environment interface.
(Source: WOAH )
Derivatives of Cinnamon May Inhibit Antimicrobial Resistance 
A recent study found that cinnamic acid, a compound naturally found in cinnamon and commonly used as a food additive, may help slow the spread of antibiotic resistance. Researchers reported that the compound inhibits plasmid conjugation, a primary way resistance genes transfer between bacteria. Plasmid is a small circular double-stranded genetic material which can help transfer resistant genetic material from one bacteria to another by effectively spreading antimicrobial resistance. The study demonstrated reduced resistance gene transfer without significantly affecting bacterial growth or causing adverse effects in animal models, suggesting potential applications in AMR mitigation.
(Source: Eurekalert)  

Global Survey Highlights Persistent Health Misinformation
A recent global survey reveals that around one-quarter of respondents believe common health misinformation, including claims that raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk, acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes autism, and vaccines are used for population control. These findings come from a special report , which surveyed 16,009 individuals across 16 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
(Source : CIDRAP) 

New Bird Flu Strain Spreads Rapidly Across North America

A recent study published in Nature Medicine reported the rapid rise of a new avian influenza (H5N1) strain, known as D1.1, which became dominant among wild birds in North America during late 2024. The strain spread rapidly across migratory routes and has been linked to spillover events in dairy cattle and 17 human infections. Although evidence suggests ongoing viral adaptation, the virus continues to primarily affect birds and currently shows limited human-to-human transmission potential. The overall public health risk remains low, but the findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance at the human–animal–environment interface.
(Source: Poultry med) 

Chikungunya Infection Linked to Neurological Complications in Newborns

Newborn babies infected with the chikungunya virus during labor and delivery are at high risk of developing serious neurologic problems, as well as learning problems as they get older. Nearly half (48%) of infected newborns developed serious neurologic problems including seizures, bleeding in the brain; inflammation of the brain tissue; and impairments affecting nerve, spinal cord, or brain function that cause problems such as weakness in one arm, facial droop, or speech difficulties.
(Source; CIDRAP) 

Refugee Camps and Prisons Identified as Hotspots for Antimicrobial Resistance
A global review highlighted a high burden of AMR in refugee camps and prison settings worldwide. In refugee camps in Finland, for example, the AMR burden was as high as 45%. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) prevalence reached 9.5% in Ethiopian prisons. Identified risk factors included prior hospitalization, self-medication, prolonged antibiotic exposure, treatment interruptions, overcrowding, and poor hygiene conditions. Limited surveillance efforts  and scarce mitigation strategies further complicate the AMR control efforts in these high-risk settings.
(Source: Infection and drug resistance)