Pandemics

The current pandemic risk is elevated due to several concurrent factors: high levels of flu and RSV activity in the US and Europe, a significant measles outbreak in South Carolina, and the persistence of misinformation affecting vaccine uptake. Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID remains deadlier than the flu in hospitalized patients, highlighting the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Additionally, the appointment of vaccine skeptics to advisory boards and confusion over vaccine policies contribute to public hesitancy. Surveillance gaps and delayed medical care due to fear of immigration enforcement further exacerbate the situation, while the spread of avian flu in poultry and isolated human cases underscore the potential for zoonotic spillover events.