Increase public health campaigns to boost vaccination rates and counter misinformation.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Assessment for this date
Today's pandemic risk is moderate due to high levels of flu and avian flu activity, ongoing measles outbreaks, and persistent challenges with vaccine uptake and misinformation.
February 26, 2026
Trend
Viewing the record for February 26, 2026 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current global health landscape is marked by significant flu activity, including pediatric deaths and high transmission rates, as well as the spread of avian flu to new hosts such as marine mammals, indicating a potential for cross-species transmission. Measles outbreaks are also on the rise, exacerbated by declining vaccination rates and misinformation. While there are advancements in vaccine development and deployment, such as the promising results of Moderna's 2-in-1 flu and COVID vaccine, these are counterbalanced by vaccine hesitancy and political factors affecting vaccine uptake. These elements collectively contribute to a moderate risk level, with potential escalation if public health measures are not effectively implemented.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance surveillance and reporting systems for flu and measles to quickly identify and respond to outbreaks.
Support community outreach programs to educate the public on the importance of vaccines and dispel myths.
Accelerate research on cross-species transmission of avian flu to prevent future pandemics.
Facilitate global cooperation and resource sharing to manage and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- Flu claims 5 more US children’s lives as virus continues circulating at moderate to very high levels
- CDC reports 6 more child deaths from flu, as virus levels stay moderate to high
- CDC reports 6 more child deaths from flu, as virus levels stay moderate to high
- Boston reports first pediatric flu deaths since 2013 as flu illness surges across US
- Cambodia confirms its first human case of H5N1 avian flu this year
- 3 new human avian flu cases reported in China
- Measles outbreak reported in Franklin County; health leaders blame lower vaccine rates Publisher: NBC4 WCMH-TV
- South Carolina measles epidemic nearing 1000 infected Publisher: Boing Boing