Public Health Digest: May 29 – June 5, 2026
This week's dominant story is the Ebola Bundibugyo PHEIC accelerating sharply — DRC confirmed cases climbed from 125 to 452 in one week, with a new CDC model putting a 65% probability of exceeding 20,000 cases if isolation stays at current levels. The article also covers VRBPAC's unanimous vote on the XFG fall COVID vaccine strain, the hantavirus cruise ship quarantine winding down, a deadly multi-year Listeria outbreak traced to Clover Hill Dairy requesón, a reopened Salmonella moringa probe (119 cases, 36 states), the Gas-X nationwide coolant-contamination recall, and new CDC travel notices for French Guiana (chikungunya) and Mayotte (malaria).
This week at a glance
| Date | Event | Entity | Scope | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5 | Ebola Bundibugyo PHEIC — 452 confirmed DRC, 19 Uganda | CDC / WHO | DRC, Uganda, South Sudan | Outbreak escalation |
| Jun 5 | MMWR models: 65% chance ≥20,000 cases if isolation stays low | CDC | Global | Risk projection |
| May 22 | PHSA entry ban amended — now covers green card holders | HHS | US borders | Travel restriction |
| Jun 5 | WHO + Africa CDC launch $518M continental response plan | WHO / Africa CDC | 10 African countries | Response funding |
| Jun 1 | CEPI fast-tracks 3 Bundibugyo vaccine candidates | CEPI | Global | Vaccine pipeline |
| Jun 1–2 | Hantavirus (MV Hondius) — 5 passengers leave Nebraska quarantine | CDC | US (NE, NY, CA, AZ, OR) | Outbreak winding down |
| May 28 | VRBPAC 8:0 recommends XFG strain for 2026–27 COVID vaccine | FDA VRBPAC | US | Vaccine recommendation |
| Jun 3 | Clover Hill Dairy requesón — Listeria, 8 sick, 1 dead, 3 states | FDA / MD Dept of Health | MD, NY, VA | Food recall / outbreak |
| May 27 | Moringa Salmonella: investigation reopened, 119 cases / 36 states | FDA / CDC | 36 US states | Outbreak update |
| Jun 4 | Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels nationwide recall — coolant contamination | Haleon | Nationwide | Drug recall |
| Jun 4 | Target Up & Up baby wipes recalled — Burkholderia contamination | Target / FDA | Nationwide | Product recall |
| Jun 4 | Chikungunya Level 2 — French Guiana | CDC | French Guiana | Travel notice |
| Jun 2 | Malaria Level 2 — Mayotte | CDC | Mayotte | Travel notice |
| Jun 4 | New World screwworm — first US detection since 1966 | Texas DSHS | Texas (Zavala County) | State alert |
| Jun 4 | MMWR: Measles outbreak, Lubbock TX childcare (8 cases, 2025) | CDC MMWR | Lubbock, TX | Surveillance report |
| Jun 4 | MMWR: Borrelia mayonii Lyme disease — first NY detection | CDC MMWR | Herkimer County, NY | Surveillance report |
Ebola Bundibugyo PHEIC: the fastest-growing outbreak on record
This is the dominant story of the week — and it moved significantly.
As of June 5, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has 452 confirmed cases and 82 confirmed deaths; Uganda has 19 confirmed cases and 2 confirmed deaths. 1 That June 4 DRC figure is up from 363 confirmed cases just two days earlier — roughly 74 new confirmed cases in 48 hours. For reference, the WHO baseline on May 29 was 125 confirmed cases in DRC. 2 The outbreak has spread across three DRC provinces (Ituri, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu) and into Uganda's capital Kampala.
The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17. The US government followed on May 18 with a Public Health Service Act order suspending entry of travelers who had been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. 3 On May 22, that order was amended to include lawful permanent residents (green card holders), who had been exempted under the original order. 4 The amendment is in effect for 30 days, through approximately June 21.
All air passengers from DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda are rerouted to four designated US airports for federal health screening: Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL), Houston (IAH), and JFK. 5
What CDC's new models say
On June 5, CDC published three early-release articles in MMWR Vol. 75 No. 22:
The first, a branching-process scenario model, calibrated simulations to cumulative deaths and ran them forward three months. At a 20% isolation rate (the low scenario), 65% of simulations exceeded 20,000 cases and 69% exceeded 4,000 deaths. At a 70% isolation rate, 94% of simulations stayed below 10,000 cases and 90% stayed below 2,000 deaths. 6 The model's median R0 (basic reproduction number) was 2.51 — meaning each case generates about 2.5 new ones absent controls. Eric Q. Mooring, the paper's lead contact at CDC's Forecast Analytics and Prediction (CFAB Predict) division, noted that "even among simulations calibrated to only 50 deaths or those with a lower R0, very large outbreaks were still sometimes projected to occur, especially in scenarios without high levels of isolation."
The second paper assessed US risk. CDC's conclusion: overall risk to the US population is low, with moderate confidence. The probability of an American being infected is described as "extremely low," though the consequences of infection are rated "high." 7 Modeling using the Epistorm/Insight Net network places the relative risk of an importation event to the US at 1.3% compared to other global locations. 7 The paper's lead contact Danielle M. Richard stated: "CDC assessed the overall risk posed by the ongoing BVD outbreak to the U.S. population during the next 3 months as low. This assessment was made with moderate confidence, given the data available." The factors that would change the assessment include: a confirmed US case, evidence of increased transmissibility, or spread to a major international transit hub.
One US healthcare worker — a surgeon exposed in DRC on May 11, confirmed May 20 — is being treated in Berlin and remains in stable condition. Six other US nationals (healthcare contacts) are under monitoring in Germany and the Czech Republic, asymptomatic. 1 There are zero US domestic cases.
The third MMWR paper documented the outbreak through June 2: 378 confirmed cases, 63 confirmed deaths, across three DRC provinces and Kampala. 8 Genetic sequencing confirmed this is a new zoonotic spillover from an unknown animal host — not a recurrence of the 2007 or 2012 BVD outbreaks.
International response
On June 5, WHO and Africa CDC jointly released a continental preparedness and response plan seeking $518 million over six months (June–November 2026), covering 10 priority countries under a unified "one plan, one budget, one team" framework. 9 WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated: "The only way to beat this outbreak is through close partnership, working together under the leadership of the affected countries in one coordinated effort."
On the vaccine and treatment front, WHO on May 28 identified its priority candidates. 10 The leading vaccine candidate is IAVI's single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine — but it needs 7–9 months before clinical trials can begin. CEPI on June 1 announced accelerated funding for three candidates: IAVI (rVSV platform, initial $3.2M), Moderna (mRNA platform, up to $50M), and Oxford/Serum Institute of India (ChAdOx1 platform, initial $8.6M). Gavi committed an additional $50M for downstream manufacturing and procurement. 11 No licensed vaccine or treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus disease.
One complicating factor: Uganda's border with DRC has remained closed since May 27, when Ugandan Vice President Jesca Alupo announced the closure. IOM warned on June 2 that border closures push movement underground through informal routes where health screening is limited. 12 IOM Deputy Director-General Ugochi Daniels said: "Viruses do not stop at borders, and neither should our response. When borders close, people often continue moving through informal routes where health screening and surveillance are limited." A DRC-WHO joint statement on May 31 called on all countries to keep borders open to allow movement of medical supplies and personnel. 13
CDC travel notices remain: Level 3 (Reconsider Nonessential Travel) for DRC 14 and Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions) for Uganda. 15
What you should do:
- Avoid nonessential travel to DRC; use enhanced precautions in Uganda and South Sudan
- If you have traveled to any of the three countries in the past 21 days, contact your state health department for guidance on monitoring
- Healthcare workers returning from affected areas: follow the CDC's 21-day tiered monitoring protocol and contact CDC VSPB at 770-488-7100 for clinical consultation
- Watch for symptoms: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding or bruising, within 21 days of travel
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COVID-19 vaccine: XFG strain selected for fall 2026
On May 28, FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted 8 to 0 (with one abstention) to recommend the XFG monovalent strain as the formula for the 2026–2027 fall COVID-19 vaccine. 16
XFG is a hybrid of two Omicron subvariants (XEC and LF.7-related lineages) with immune-evasion mutations. As of April 11 — the most recent CDC variant proportions data available at the time of the vote — XFG-lineage strains made up just over half of circulating US variants. WHO's COVID-19 vaccine composition advisory group had earlier recommended LP.8.1, but indicated XFG, NB.1.8.1, or other variants would also be acceptable. Mouse data from Moderna and Sanofi presented to the committee showed XFG-targeted vaccines generated higher antibody levels against circulating strains than LP.8.1-targeted vaccines. 16
FDA is expected to authorize manufacturers to begin production. The next VRBPAC meeting is June 18; ACIP is scheduled for June 24–26.
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What you should do:
- No action needed now — fall vaccines are not yet available
- Watch for FDA authorization announcements in coming weeks
- If you are immunocompromised, talk to your provider about whether an additional dose of the current formulation is appropriate before fall
Outbreak watch
Hantavirus cruise ship: outbreak winding down
Five of the 18 US residents quarantined at the Nebraska National Quarantine Unit (NQU) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center returned home on June 1–2 to complete their remaining monitoring period at home. They came from New York (2), California (2), Arizona (1), and Oregon (1). A sixth person whose home state did not agree to federal surveillance requirements remained at NQU. Thirteen people remain in quarantine at NQU, all asymptomatic. 17
The outbreak's total count has not changed: 13 cases (11 confirmed + 2 clinical diagnoses), 3 deaths, among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius expedition vessel. The estimated effective reproduction number (Rt) is approximately 0.7, indicating the outbreak is contracting. The vessel is scheduled to resume operations June 13. All NQU quarantines end June 21–22. 17
Passengers who returned home are under daily video health monitoring with state law enforcement stationed outside their residences. 18
Moringa Salmonella: reopened investigation now at 119 cases
FDA and CDC have reopened their investigation into a multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa leaf powder supplements — an investigation that was closed on March 17 with 97 cases. The updated count as of May 27: 119 confirmed cases across 36 states, 32 hospitalizations, no deaths. 19 Among 79 interviewed patients, 70 (89%) reported consuming moringa leaf powder. 20
Recalled products in the main outbreak (Salmonella Newport) include:
- Live it Up Super Greens — all batches beginning with "A" and stick packs expiring 08/2026–01/2028
- Why Not Natural Organic Moringa — lot A25G051, exp. 07/2028
- TNVitamins Ultra Potent Complete Green Superfood Moringa — lots 2507199, 2512-304, 2793, 2748 (expanded June 2) 19
- Doctor's Pride Complete Green Superfood Ultra Potent Moringa — lots 2507199, 2748 (expanded June 2)
A separate MOGO Moringa cluster (Salmonella Typhimurium, a different strain) has been identified as its own outbreak: 18 cases in 14 states, 7 hospitalizations, no deaths, illness dates February 3 – April 7. MOGO Moringa LLC (St. Louis, MO) recalled lots #15525AA (exp. 6/2027) and #00926AA (exp. 1/2028) on May 25. 19
What you should do:
- Stop using and discard any of the listed moringa products, including all brand names above
- Check lot numbers on any moringa capsule or powder supplements in your home — multiple brands and lot numbers are involved
- If you have symptoms of Salmonella (diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, 6 hours to 6 days after exposure), contact your healthcare provider
Clover Hill Dairy Listeria: 8 sick, 1 dead across 3 states
On June 3, Clover Hill Dairy LLC (Mechanicsville, Maryland) voluntarily recalled its requesón (soft ricotta-style cheese) after being linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak affecting 8 people in Maryland, New York, and Virginia — 7 hospitalized, 1 dead. 21 The case-patient sample collection dates span March 6, 2023 to May 9, 2026, making this a multi-year cluster. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the strain from a product sample taken at a New York retailer matched the outbreak strain in two patients.
Maryland's Department of Health suspended Clover Hill Dairy's operating license on June 3. The product — manufacturer license number 24-128 — has been sold through retail markets, farmers markets, and third-party distributors in multiple states. It may have been relabeled under other brand names. Product varieties include jalapeño and other flavors.
A separate, unrelated requesón recall is also in effect: Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC (Bayshore, NY) recalled 1-pound containers of Requeson Cheese on June 5 due to possible Listeria contamination. Those were sold in New York between May 15 and 28. 22
What you should do:
- Discard any requesón or soft ricotta cheese from Clover Hill Dairy or with manufacturer license number 24-128 on the label
- Also discard Nelson & Isa Lacteos Requeson Cheese purchased in New York between May 15–28
- Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant people, adults 65+, and those with weakened immune systems — seek medical care immediately if you have fever, muscle aches, nausea, or diarrhea after consuming soft cheese
Other food safety recalls this week
| Product | Hazard | Distribution | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas-X Extra Strength Softgels 125mg, lots TL8K / YH9X / YH9Y / X78N (120-ct and 72-ct) | Coolant (propylene glycol) contamination from packaging equipment | Nationwide, distributed ~Apr 13 | Stop use; contact Haleon 1-800-245-1040 23 |
| Target Up & Up baby wipes (Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber Scented) | Burkholderia cepacia complex and B. gladioli contamination | Nationwide | Return to store for refund 24 |
| Prime Food Processing Dried Herring Fish, Item AF4110, lot 26020, exp. 06.12.28 | Botulism risk (inadequately eviscerated) | 17 states (Asian grocery stores: AZ, CA, FL, HI, IL, KS, LA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NV, NY, OK, PA, TX, UT) | Do not eat; contact 718-963-2323 25 |
| Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread (UPC 8 70375 00511 1 / 8 70375 00509 8) | Possible Salmonella (CDI powdered milk cascade) | Nationwide at Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, Meijer | Do not eat; discard or return 26 |
| D'Dioses Fruit Pops, 16 flavors, 3.7 oz (all produced before Apr 27) | Undeclared milk, pecans, pistachios, Yellow #5, Red #40 | NJ, NY, PA, CT | Discard if allergic to any listed allergen; contact 973-279-7900 27 |
| Synear Foods frozen pork and crab soup dumplings (EST. 45942) | Undeclared peanut allergen | CA, NJ, WA; Canada | Do not eat if peanut-allergic 25 |
FDA is also investigating two separate new foodborne illness clusters with sources not yet identified: a Listeria cluster with 8 cases, and a Cyclospora (intestinal parasite) cluster with 7 cases. No specific food or location has been publicly linked. 19
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The CDI (California Dairies Inc.) powdered milk Salmonella recall cascade has not added new downstream brands since May 23; more than 12 product lines remain under recall, including Zapp's/Dirty Potato Chips, Ghirardelli Powdered Beverage Mix, and Fisher nut mixes. No illnesses have been reported from these products. 26
Travel health notices
CDC issued or updated four travel health notices this week:
| Destination | Level | Hazard | Key precaution |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Guiana | Level 2 — Practice Enhanced Precautions | Chikungunya outbreak (mosquito-borne) | Use insect repellent; wear long sleeves |
| Mayotte | Level 2 — Practice Enhanced Precautions | Malaria (mosquito-borne) | Antimalarial medication; insect precautions |
| Manitoba, Canada | Level 1 — Practice Usual Precautions | Hepatitis A outbreak (food/water/close contact) | Ensure hepatitis A vaccination is current |
| Sub-Saharan Africa (Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia) | Level 1 — Practice Usual Precautions | Diphtheria outbreaks | Ensure diphtheria vaccination is current |
All four notices are listed on the CDC Travelers' Health portal. 28
Ebola-related travel notices (DRC Level 3, Uganda Level 2) are covered in the Ebola section above.
What you should do:
- Travelers to French Guiana or Mayotte: review mosquito precautions and consult a travel medicine provider about antimalarials for Mayotte
- Travelers to Manitoba or any of the seven African countries: verify your diphtheria and hepatitis A vaccination history before departure
- All international travelers: check wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices before finalizing any trip
MMWR highlights: June 4, 2026 (Issue 21)
Measles outbreak in a Lubbock, Texas childcare facility (March–April 2025)
A childcare center in Lubbock, Texas with 287 enrolled children and 48 staff experienced a measles outbreak in March–April 2025: 8 confirmed cases (7 children, 1 adult family member). The index case was a 3-year-old with a vaccine exemption. Three of the seven child patients were under 12 months of age — too young to have received the MMR vaccine. The facility's MMR coverage rate for children 12 months and older was 96%; among the 10 eligible children with exemptions, 3 were infected. 29
Public health response included a 21-day exclusion of unvaccinated children and consolidation of infants under 6 months into a separate classroom. All patients recovered. MMWR authors noted that 2025 recorded the highest measles case count in the US since the year 2000 elimination declaration.
Action for families: Check that children ages 12 months and older are up to date on MMR. Children under 12 months are at risk in outbreaks regardless of community vaccination coverage.
Borrelia mayonii Lyme disease — first detection in New York State (2025)
A resident of Herkimer County, New York — with no travel history — was diagnosed in July 2025 with Borrelia mayonii, a species that causes Lyme disease and had previously been reported only in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The patient also had co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis) and fully recovered after doxycycline treatment. 30
Tick surveillance on the patient's property found B. mayonii in 0.7% of nymph-stage ticks and 3.9% of adult ticks — the higher adult rate suggests the bacterium has established a local transmission cycle involving resident vertebrate hosts (rodents), not simply a one-time introduction. Ticks from 23 other New York counties were negative.
This finding does not change tick precaution recommendations, but it does expand the known geographic range of B. mayonii. Clinicians in New York who see patients with Lyme disease symptoms and a negative standard B. burgdorferi test may now consider B. mayonii as a possible cause.
Action for New Yorkers: Use tick repellent (DEET or permethrin), perform tick checks after outdoor time, and see a provider if you develop fever, rash, or joint pain after a tick bite.
Quick alerts
New World screwworm in Texas — first since 1966. On June 4, Texas DSHS confirmed that a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County (South Texas) tested positive for New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae. 31 The fly was eradicated from the continental US in 1966, re-emerged in Panama in 2022, moved north through Central America and Mexico, and was first detected in Mexico in November 2024. Human infestations are rare but can occur in open wounds. DSHS Chief Deputy Commissioner Imelda Garcia asked healthcare providers to be alert to unexplained larvae in wounds and to report suspected cases to local health departments immediately. The food supply is not at risk — existing meat inspection screens for screwworm. Outdoor precautions include covering open wounds, using EPA-registered insect repellents in affected areas, and wearing permethrin-treated clothing.
Dexcom G7 sensor theft alert. Dexcom (continuous glucose monitor manufacturer) identified that two lots of returned/retired G7 sensors were stolen by Pharmsource LLC and resold through unauthorized pharmacies and durable medical equipment distributors. Lot 1725204004 was not properly sterilized (elevated infection risk); lot 1725069002 had elevated internal failure rates (may not read accurately). Consumers who obtained G7 sensors through independent pharmacies or non-standard channels should call 1-844-478-1600 to verify their supply. 25
KayserBett IDA pediatric care beds — Class I device recall. FDA classified KayserBett IDA (a pediatric care bed) as a Class I recall (the most serious category, indicating risk of serious injury or death). The hand control locking mechanism may fail, allowing the bed frame to trap a child underneath. The recall followed a child death overseas. Healthcare facilities using these beds should contact their distributor about the recall (FDA recall number Z-2212-2026). 32
E. coli O157:H7 at The Kebab Shop. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that beef kofta produced by Olympia Food Industries Inc. (Franklin Park, IL; FSIS establishment 18743) on January 6, 2026 matches the strain behind an ongoing E. coli O157:H7 cluster linked to The Kebab Shop restaurants in California. As of June 1: 9 confirmed cases, 6 of them children; 2 children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening kidney complication. 33 The Kebab Shop stopped selling beef kofta at all locations May 18; FSIS issued a public health alert (not a recall, as the product is no longer in commerce) on May 24. All confirmed cases are in California. Parents of children who ate at The Kebab Shop in California between late March and late April should watch for signs of HUS (decreased urination, extreme fatigue, pale skin) and seek emergency care immediately if present.
Cover image: Health workers in PPE responding to Ebola in DRC, May 2026. Photo by Michel Lunanga/Getty Images via CEPI.
References
- 1
- 2
- 3Federal Register PHSA Order (91 FR 29961)
federalregister.gov
- 4Federal Register Amended PHSA Order (91 FR 32052)
federalregister.gov
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14CDC Travel Notice Level 3: Ebola in DRC
wwwnc.cdc.gov
- 15CDC Travel Notice Level 2: Ebola in Uganda
wwwnc.cdc.gov
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19Food Safety News: FDA investigating two new outbreaks
foodsafetynews.com
- 20
- 21Food Safety News: Deadly Listeria outbreak traced to Clover Hill cheese
foodsafetynews.com
- 22
- 23USA Today / FDA: Haleon Gas-X recall
usatoday.com
- 24USA Today / FDA: Target baby wipes recall
usatoday.com
- 25ConsumerAffairs Recall Roundup June 5, 2026
consumeraffairs.com
- 26
- 27USA Today: D'Dioses ice pops recalled
usatoday.com
- 28CDC Travelers' Health: Travel Health Notices
wwwnc.cdc.gov
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32Citeline/Medtech Insight: Child Death Overseas Prompts KayserBetten Recall
insights.citeline.com
- 33Food Safety News: Beef kofta samples match E. coli outbreak strain
foodsafetynews.com
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