From Monkeypox to Malaria, Here Are 10 Biggest Disease Outbreaks of 2025

In 2025, health authorities worldwide tracked numerous infectious disease outbreaks spanning vector-borne diseases, water-borne threats, vaccine-preventable illnesses, and zoonotic spillovers. According to global health organisations, over 100 outbreaks were reported with human transmission across 66 countries by October 2025. This data shows how unsettling this year was in terms of health for the entire globe.

As we are set to bid adieu to 2025, let us take a quick look at the biggest global disease outbreaks.

#1 Chikungunya

Outbreak Timeline: As per WHO, outbreaks ongoing throughout 2025, with notable peaks mid-year (monsoon/post-monsoon).
Global Stats: Approximately 445,000 suspected & confirmed cases and 155 deaths reported from Jan-Sep 2025 worldwide.
India Figures: As per National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, India reported 108,000+ suspected and 4,995 confirmed cases, primarily in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Symptoms of Chikungunya:

• High fever
• Debilitating joint pain
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Rash

Impact: Chikungunya continues to spread in many regions, reflecting seasonal patterns and endemic transmission.

For More Info about Chikungunya, Read This Article

#2 Dengue Fever

Outbreak Timeline: Seasonal rise around/after monsoon; high activity throughout 2025.
Global Stats: Dengue remains widespread in tropical regions with sustained risk year-round. As per WHO, by July 2025, over 4 million confirmed cases and over 3000 deaths have been reported from over 90 countries.
India Figures: As per MoHFW data, 49,573 cases and ~42 deaths recorded nationwide. Tamilnadu recorded the highest cases with 11825.
Symptoms of Dengue:

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Rash, bruising or mild bleeding

India Context: Dengue continues to be one of the largest outbreaks nationally, with earlier and prolonged transmission in 2025 compared to past years.

For More Info about Dengue, Read This Article

#3 Measles (Global Vaccine-Preventable Resurgence)

Outbreak Timeline: Early to mid-2025 surge in multiple regions.
Global Stats:As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 50 outbreaks of measles have been reported this year with over 2000 confirmed cases.
India Figures: National outbreak data not comprehensively published, but measles remains a concern in South Asia with periodic clusters.
Symptoms of Measles:

• High fever
• Cough, runny nose, red eyes
• Koplik spots inside mouth
• Rash spreading from face to body

Driver: Drops in vaccination coverage have heightened global outbreaks.

For More Info about Measles, Read This Article

#4 Cholera (Water-Borne Epidemic)

Outbreak Timeline: Peak activity continued through 2025 from prolonged emergencies.
Global Stats: Hundreds of thousands of cases in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan, with more than 460,000 cases and nearly 6,000 deaths across 32 countries by mid-2025.
India Figures: Specific large cholera outbreaks haven’t been reported nationally in 2025, though isolated cases and water-related illnesses occur locally.
Symptoms of Cholera:

• Profuse watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Rapid dehydration
• Muscle cramps

Impact: Especially severe where water/sanitation infrastructure is compromised.

For More Info about Cholera, Read This Article

#5 Mpox (Monkeypox) – Endemic and Continuing Spread

Outbreak Timeline: Persistent across parts of Africa, especially in 2025.
Global Stats: Tens of thousands of confirmed global cases, majority in Africa. However, there is no offiicial data available at the moment.
India Figures: No major India outbreak in 2025 has been widely reported.
Symptoms of Mpox:

• Fever, chills
• Headache/muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Rash progressing to pustules

For More Info about Mpox, Read This Article

#6 Nipah Virus (Zoonotic Spillovers in India)

Outbreak Timeline: Multiple small outbreaks in Kerala during mid-2025.
Stats in India: At least four confirmed cases with multiple deaths reported in Kerala in 2025. Data-driven research published in PubMed Central shows that Nipah Virus was first discovered in the late 90s in Malaysia. Later, numerous outbreaks around Asia, including India and Bangladesh have caused severe mortality. In India, major outbreaks have been documented in 2001, 2007, 2018, 2019,2021 and 2023.
Symptoms of Nipah Virus:

• Fever
• Headache
• Encephalitis (brain swelling)
• Confusion, seizures

Risk: Nipah remains a high-fatality but localized and sporadic threat in India.

For More Info about Nipah Virus, Read This Article

#7 Malaria

Outbreak Timeline: Identified outbreak in early 2025.
Global Stats:The World Malaria Report 2025 states that around 282 million cases and 6 million deaths have been recorded in the previous year. Since 2000, around 2.3 billion confirmed cases and 14 million deaths have been prevented globally through continued awareness programs. Additionally, 47 countries have been declared malaria-free by WHO.
India Figures: India continues endemic transmission with seasonal peaks nationally, suggests a report of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Symptoms of Malaria:

• Fever and chills
• Sweating
• Headache
• Nausea

For More Info about Malaria, Read This Article

#8 Yellow Fever (Localised Surges)

Outbreak Timeline: Early 2025 into mid-year in the Americas.
Global Stats:The WHO fact sheet for Yellow Fever highlights that almost 13 Latin American countries and 27 African countries are identified as high-risk for yellow fever. ~212 yellow fever cases with ~85 deaths across several Latin American countries.
India Figures: No significant India outbreak in 2025.
Symptoms of Yellow Fever:

• Fever
• Jaundice
• Muscle pain
• Nausea/vomiting

For More Info about Yellow Fever, Read This Article

#9 Avian Influenza (H5N1 & Variants- Sporadic Human Cases)

Outbreak Timeline: Human cases detected through early 2025, often linked to poultry exposure.
Global Stats: Hundreds of human H5N1 detections recorded historically (not all in 2025).
India Figures: Instances of exposure reported in Asia; no major sustained outbreak confirmed in India so far in 2025.
Symptoms of Avian Influenza:

• Fever
• Cough/difficulty breathing
• Muscle aches
• Conjunctivitis

For More Info about Influenza, Read This Article

#10 Norovirus & Acute Gastroenteritis Surges (Seasonal)

Outbreak Timeline: Winter surge late 2025 in many regions.
Global Stats: Consistent with strong seasonal peaks; not always centrally reported.
India Figures: Local spikes in gastroenteritis and other water-related illnesses noted in cities like Ahmedabad.
Symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea

Key Takeaway

Major global factors fueling these outbreaks include:

• Climate & seasonality- vector-borne diseases (dengue, chikungunya, malaria) peak with rainfall and temperature patterns.
• Vaccination gaps- measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases resurged due to immunization disruptions.

Conclusion

2025 has seen a complex mix of endemic and epidemic outbreaks worldwide, from vector-borne diseases like chikungunya and dengue to vaccine-preventable measles surges and localised but deadly spillovers such as Nipah virus in India. Continuous surveillance, vaccination and public health infrastructure remain vital to limit the most severe outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations.