Strengthen public health communication strategies to combat misinformation and promote vaccine uptake.
Pandemics
Viewed record
Moderate Risk
History
338 daily observations
Method
Curated sources and AI scoring
Pandemics Risk
3.8 / 5
Moderate Risk
-0.2 from previous reading
Assessment for this date
Today's pandemic risk is moderate due to rising COVID-19 levels, avian flu outbreaks, and MERS cases, compounded by vaccine policy upheavals and misinformation.
Record date
September 10, 2025
Trend
Viewing the record for September 10, 2025 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current pandemic risk is influenced by several factors: COVID-19 levels are rising in the US, with potential peaks not yet confirmed, while avian flu (H5N1) continues to spread in various regions, including new cases in the US and Cambodia. MERS cases are also reported in Saudi Arabia, indicating ongoing zoonotic threats. Vaccine deployment is challenged by policy debates and misinformation, particularly in the US, where CDC leadership changes and public skepticism could hinder vaccination efforts. Despite advancements in vaccine development, such as Pfizer's new COVID vaccine and promising flu vaccines, these systemic issues pose a significant barrier to effective pandemic response.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Increase surveillance and testing for emerging infectious diseases like avian flu and MERS.
Facilitate global cooperation in vaccine distribution, ensuring equitable access to new vaccines.
Accelerate research on zoonotic diseases and develop preventive measures to mitigate cross-species transmission.
Enhance preparedness plans to address potential surges in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- US COVID levels may be peaking, CDC data show
- US COVID-19 levels continue to climb gradually
- H5N1 detected in Texas dairy herd; researchers can't pinpoint source of California child's illness
- 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
- World Health Assembly adopts Pandemic Agreement, ups funding for WHO
- Nine former CDC directors issue dire warning over Kennedy actions
- 'We have basically destroyed what capacity we had to respond to a pandemic,' says leading epidemiologist Michael Osterholm Publisher: Live Science