Travel health alerts
Disease outbreak alerts for Zambia
5 outbreaks reported for Zambia
Last checked against TravelHealthPro on 2026-07-17.
Cholera
Reported 06 March 2026Spread through contaminated food and water
Between 5 August 2025 and 4 March 2026, a total of 1,133 cholera cases and 18 deaths have been reported. The highest number of cases have been recorded in Mpulungu (417 cases), Lusaka (326 cases), and Nsama (161 cases).
There's a vaccine for this
Stick to safe water and well-cooked food, wash hands often — an oral vaccine is available for higher-risk trips.
cVDPV2
Reported 23 February 2026Spread through contaminated food and water
As of 22 February 2026, the Zambia Ministry of Health reported a cVDPV2-positive environmental sample from Lusaka.
There's a vaccine for this
This is a polio strain — make sure your polio booster is up to date; some countries require proof of recent vaccination to leave.
Mpox
Reported 03 October 2025Spread by close or bodily-fluid contact
As of 21 September 2025, a total of 247 mpox clade Ib cases and three deaths have been reported in Zambia in 2025.
No vaccine — how to stay safe
Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash or lesions, and contact with wild animals; wash hands often.
Chemical waste containing heavy metals
Reported 20 August 2025Reduce your risk while travelling
As of 19 August 2025, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advised chemical waste containing heavy metals was released from a Copperbelt Province mine into the Chambish Stream and the Mwambashi and Kafue Rivers in February 2025. Exposure to heavy metal contaminants may affect health. As a precaution, bathing in rivers and streams near the Chambishi stream, and where these two rivers meet, should be avoided. Travellers should also avoid untreated locally sourced water or fish from this area (boiling water does not remove heavy metal contaminants) and seek medical attention if unwell.
No vaccine — how to stay safe
Follow good food, water and insect-bite precautions, and speak to our travel health team about protecting yourself.
Pneumococcal meningitis
Reported 23 July 2025Spread person-to-person through the air
On 10 July 2025, the Zambian Ministry of Health reported 83 suspected cases of pneumococcal meningitis at Mwense Secondary School in Luapula Province. Two deaths have been recorded. Please see UK Health Security Agency information for details on Pneumonococcal disease.
There's a vaccine for this
Spread by close contact — the meningitis vaccine is advised for risk areas (and required for Hajj/Umrah).
Travelling to Zambia?
Our travel health team will confirm exactly which vaccines and precautions are right for your trip in one short consultation.
Contains public sector information from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © UK Health Security Agency. Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general guidance, not medical advice — confirm what you need for your trip with our travel health team.