Increase funding for avian flu surveillance and control measures in affected regions.
Pandemics
Viewed record
High Risk
History
338 daily observations
Method
Curated sources and AI scoring
Pandemics Risk
4.0 / 5
High Risk
+0.2 from previous reading
Assessment for this date
The current pandemic risk is high due to the ongoing spread of avian flu, high flu activity, and significant underreporting of COVID-19 deaths.
Record date
March 23, 2026
Trend
Viewing the record for March 23, 2026 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The risk level is elevated due to multiple concurrent infectious disease threats. Avian flu is spreading across multiple states and countries, with human cases reported in Cambodia and China, indicating a potential for zoonotic transmission. The flu season remains severe, with numerous pediatric deaths reported, suggesting high transmission rates and potential strain on healthcare systems. Additionally, the underreporting of COVID-19 deaths by 19% highlights gaps in surveillance and data accuracy, which can hinder effective public health responses. The persistence of long COVID among healthcare workers further complicates workforce stability and healthcare delivery. These factors, combined with misinformation around vaccines and public health measures, exacerbate the risk of widespread outbreaks.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance flu vaccination campaigns, especially targeting vulnerable populations like children.
Improve data collection and reporting systems for COVID-19 to ensure accurate death tolls and resource allocation.
Launch educational campaigns to counter misinformation about vaccines and promote public health compliance.
Accelerate research on long COVID to develop effective treatment protocols and support healthcare workers.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- CDC reports 14 more pediatric flu deaths, 115 total
- Early official COVID death tolls may have undercounted by 19%
- Recent pandemic viruses, including SAR-CoV-2, spread directly to people without adaptation, researchers say
- Avian flu hits farms in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana
- Cambodia confirms its first human case of H5N1 avian flu this year
- 3 new human avian flu cases reported in China