World Status Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked media and official sources from the U.S. and other countries. 

More health and security information for each country can be found in the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and the CDC, ECDC, and WHO sites. Not all advise in these sites will apply to US travelers. 

Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information. The information in this report may change without prior notice. 

Security 

• India and Pakistan trade fire and accusations as fears of a wider military confrontation rise (AP News) – India fired attack drones into Pakistan on Thursday, wounding four soldiers, the Pakistani military said. India, meanwhile, accused its neighbor of attempting its own attack, as tensions soared between the nuclear-armed rivals. 
• Israel mounts heavy airstrikes in south Lebanon (Reuters) – Israel launched dozens of airstrikes in south Lebanon on Thursday, in one of its heaviest bombardments of the region since a ceasefire ended last year’s war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it had hit a Hezbollah infrastructure site in the south. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, which has previously said that it withdrew all its forces from the south in line with the U.S.-brokered truce. 
• Pakistan’s Chinese-made jet brought down two Indian fighter aircraft (Reuters) – A top Chinese-made Pakistani fighter plane shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, marking a major milestone for Beijing’s advanced fighter jet. The performance of a leading Chinese fighter jet against a Western rival is being closely watched in Washington for insights into how Beijing might fare in any showdown over Taiwan or the wider Indo-Pacific. 
• Ukrainian drones target Moscow as foreign leaders arrive for Red Square parade (AP News) – Attacks by Ukrainian long-range drones caused flight disruption at Moscow’s main airports for a third straight day on Wednesday as Russia prepared to receive the Chinese president and other foreign leaders for the annual Victory Day military parade in Red Square. 

Environment 

• Indonesia – Floods (ERCC) – As of 7 May, at least 10 548 people, 2 230 houses, and 176 roads have been affected by flooding due to the overflow of the Bengalon River in the Kutai Timur regency in northern East Kalimantan province. 
• Philippines – Flash flood (ERCC) – As of 7 May, 2 435 people have been affected by flash floods in the Lambayong barangay of the north-eastern Sultan Kudarat province in Central Mindanao. 
• Colombia – Landslide (ERCC) – On 7 May, a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall occurred in the city of Dosquebradas (Risaralda Department, central Colombia), resulting in casualties. Two people died, 14 families have been affected, one house was buried, and five others were damaged as a result of the event. 

Health 

• Sierra Leone battles mpox surge (CIDRAP) – Sierra Leone is averaging 100 new cases a day, fueled by the clade 2b virus. Sierra Leone reported its first mpox cases in January, and activity is now skyrocketing, so much so that the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has added the country to its list of most affected nations. 
• Spike in avian flu cases in cats triggers worry about human spillover (CIDRAP) – The virus has evolved to be able to jump between species, from birds to cats, cows and cats, and cats and humans, the authors say. 
• Measles Cases and Outbreaks (CDC). As of May 8, 2025, a total of 1,001 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 31 states in the United States. There have been 14 outbreaks (defined as 3 or more related cases) reported in 2025, and 93% of confirmed cases (928 of 1,001) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated. 
• Anthrax outbreak compounds security crisis in eastern DR Congo (UN News). An anthrax outbreak is compounding the worsening security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), driving up humanitarian needs and further limiting access to basic services. The escalating crisis is also widening critical gaps in healthcare and protection, amid a broader surge in infectious diseases. 

Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information. The information in this report may change without prior notice. 

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