Increase funding for public health surveillance and rapid response teams to monitor and contain outbreaks.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Assessment for this date
Today's pandemic risk is high due to ongoing flu and avian flu outbreaks, rising measles cases, and persistent misinformation affecting vaccine uptake.
March 2, 2026
Trend
Viewing the record for March 2, 2026 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current landscape is marked by significant flu activity in the US, with pediatric deaths reported, and avian flu spreading across multiple states and countries, indicating high pathogen spread potential. Additionally, measles outbreaks in the US and other regions highlight gaps in vaccination coverage and public health responsiveness. Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy further exacerbate these issues, as seen in declining vaccination rates and public skepticism. The emergence of new pathogen strains and the potential for zoonotic spillovers, such as avian flu in mammals, underscore the need for robust surveillance and rapid response systems to mitigate these threats.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Intensify vaccination campaigns, particularly targeting vulnerable populations and areas with low vaccine uptake.
Amplify accurate information about vaccines and counter misinformation to improve public trust and uptake.
Accelerate research on universal vaccines and new vaccine delivery technologies to enhance preparedness.
Strengthen global collaboration for monitoring and sharing data on emerging infectious diseases.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- US flu activity still high, with 8 more pediatric deaths
- Flu claims 5 more US children’s lives as virus continues circulating at moderate to very high levels
- Flu claims 5 more US children’s lives as virus continues circulating at moderate to very high levels
- North Dakota confirms pediatric flu deaths as some states note surge in flu activity
- Delaware, Georgia see major commercial avian flu outbreaks
- Measles Outbreak Infects Over 50 Students at Ave Maria University Publisher: thesandspur.org
- The latest on the measles outbreak in the US, experts fear further spread Publisher: 13WMAZ
- South Carolina measles outbreak expands to 985 as cases grow nationwide Publisher: American Hospital Association