Research and analysis

Outbreaks under monitoring: week 7 (week ending 15 February 2026)

Updated 19 February 2026

Disease or pathogen	Avian influenza A(H5N1)
Location	Cambodia
Status	New
Reporting date	14 February 2026
Summary	On 14 February 2026, the Cambodian Ministry of Health (in Khmer) reported the first human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Cambodia in 2026, from Meanrith village, Kampot province. Investigations revealed that a dead chicken found at the case’s residence was cooked by the case 3 days prior to symptom onset. The case received medical care after presenting with symptoms of fever, cough, and abdominal pain, and was discharged on 14 February 2026. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was given to close contacts of the case as post-exposure prophylaxis.  Investigations and response by Cambodia’s cross-government health agencies are ongoing and include active case finding, contact tracing and source investigation in humans and animals. During 2025, Cambodia reported 18 confirmed avian influenza A(H5N1) human cases including 9 deaths. The last confirmed case was reported in November 2025.
Further information	Avian influenza: managing human exposures to incidents in birds or animals NaTHNaC country information page: Cambodia

Disease or pathogen	Mpox
Location	India and the UK
Status	New
Reporting date	14 February 2026
Summary	On 14 February 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 2 cases of mpox infection with a recombinant strain comprising clade Ib and clade IIb monkeypox virus, in the UK and India. The UK case was detected in December 2025 in an individual with travel history to South-East Asia. The case was initially typed as clade Ib mpox, however whole genome sequencing later identified genomic elements from both clade Ib and clade IIb. Contacts were followed up with no secondary cases detected. The significance of this strain continues to be investigated through characterisation studies. The case reported in India was originally detected during September 2025. The case reported travel history to the Arabian Peninsula and test results initially identified clade IIb mpox, however this was reclassified as the recombinant strain following further analysis. No secondary cases were identified. Detailed analyses of the virus genomes indicate that the two individuals were infected several weeks apart with the same recombinant strain. This suggests that there may be further cases than currently reported. Both cases had similar clinical presentation to that observed for other clades, and neither patient experienced severe outcomes. As of 14 February 2026, WHO states that based on available information, the overall public health risk assessment for mpox remains unchanged. The risk is assessed as moderate for men who have sex with men with new and/or multiple partners and for sex workers or others with multiple casual sexual partners, and low for the general population without specific risk factors. Since 2024 and as of 31 January 2026, 25 cases of clade I mpox have been reported in the UK. As of 12 February 2026, 11 cases have been reported in India.
Further information	Mpox: guidance Mpox clade Ib and clade IIb outbreak: epidemiological overview Inter-Clade Recombinant Mpox Virus Detected in England in a Traveller Recently Returned from Asia NaTHNaC country information page: India