Building the Future of Biodefense

Recommendation: Influenza and other respiratory infections can impact employee absenteeism due to illness or caregiving duties. Organizations in Australia should provide flexible work schedules to support employees making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members.

Situation: Australia recorded its highest number of influenza-related deaths this century in 2025, with 1,701 deaths, surpassing the previous record set in 2017, with 1,656 deaths. Influenza-related death rose sharply from 2023 (611 deaths) and 2024 (1,045 deaths), with peaks in July 2025 and an unusual spike late in the year. According to media sources, over 500,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases were reported last year, reflecting an intense and prolonged flu season. Health officials partly linked the surge to stalled vaccination rates, particularly among young children and older adults, whose coverage fell to its lowest levels since 2020 and 2021. Officials stated that vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are contributing factors and stressed that annual influenza vaccination remains the best protection, especially for vulnerable groups. [Confidence: Very High]

Recommendation: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) regularly causes bird deaths. Organizations in Uruguay and Argentina should remind employees (especially landscaping and facilities workers) to avoid direct contact with wild birds and animals. Employees should wear disposable gloves and a mask, and double-bag dead birds for disposal. PHC recommends that continuity plans be reviewed and updated in preparation for high-consequence infectious disease threats.

Situation: Uruguay declared a national health emergency in response to HPAI H5 detected in wild birds in Maldonado, Rocha, and Canelones. Control measures include restricting movement of backyard poultry, housing backyard and free-range birds indoors, suspending fairs and poultry events, and reinforcing biosecurity practices. Officials urged the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report any suspected cases to help control the virus. Neighboring Argentina also detected HPAI H5 in a commercial poultry farm in Ranchos, Buenos Aires, affecting 30,000 birds. Movement restriction, disinfection measures, and enhanced biosecurity measures were implemented. HPAI was also detected in wild birds in Madariaga, Buenos Aires, affecting swans, gulls, and ducks. [Confidence: Very High]

Recommendation: Organizations in Singapore should provide flexible work schedules to support employees making vaccine appointments for themselves or family members. Measles is highly contagious and can quickly spread among unvaccinated individuals in a work environment.

Situation: Singapore health officials confirmed a measles case in an 11-month-old infant. This is the 5th case this year in a child under 12 months. The child had no recent travel or known contact history with another case, suggesting undetected community transmission. The child attended pre-school during their infectious period, and close contacts were notified. The name of the pre-school was not provided. Health officials advised the public to review their vaccination status and to get vaccinated, noting that 87% of locally acquired measles cases this year occurred in individuals who were not fully vaccinated. [Confidence: Very High]