Increase funding for COVID-19 surveillance and testing to quickly identify and respond to rising cases.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Assessment for this date
Today's pandemic risk is moderate due to rising COVID-19 activity, persistent challenges with long COVID, and emerging infectious diseases like avian flu and MERS.
August 22, 2025
Trend
Viewing the record for August 22, 2025 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current news highlights an uptick in COVID-19 activity in the US, ongoing issues with long COVID, and the potential for reinfections, which could exacerbate healthcare burdens. The spread of avian flu, particularly H5N1, and new MERS cases in Saudi Arabia indicate a persistent threat from zoonotic diseases. Additionally, the presence of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy continues to undermine public health efforts. While vaccine development and deployment are ongoing, gaps in surveillance and public health responsiveness could hinder effective outbreak management.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance support and treatment options for long COVID patients to mitigate long-term health impacts.
Strengthen communication strategies to combat misinformation and improve vaccine uptake.
Collaborate on research and data sharing to monitor and control zoonotic disease outbreaks like avian flu and MERS.
Support community education programs to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines and preventive measures.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- COVID reinfection may raise risk of persistent symptoms by 35%
- US COVID activity gains more steam
- US COVID activity gains more steam
- H5N1 avian flu detections pick up in UK poultry
- Cambodia announces 15th human H5N1 infection of the year
- Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster
- WHO notes 4 new MERS cases, 2 fatal, in Saudi Arabia since September
- Poll finds false measles claims gaining attention amid US outbreaks