Enhance surveillance and rapid response capabilities for zoonotic diseases to prevent potential outbreaks.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
The current pandemic risk is moderate due to ongoing hantavirus outbreaks, avian flu cases, and vaccine misinformation challenges.
May 13, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, although not expected to become a global pandemic, highlights the challenges of managing infectious diseases in confined environments and the potential for misinformation to spread. Concurrently, the persistent avian flu cases in various regions and the emergence of new coronavirus subspecies in wildlife underscore the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases. Vaccine misinformation, as evidenced by skepticism and political interference, continues to undermine public health efforts, complicating responses to both current and future outbreaks. These factors collectively contribute to a moderate pandemic risk level, necessitating vigilant surveillance and public health interventions.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Increase public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation and promote vaccine uptake.
Strengthen infection control measures in high-risk environments like cruise ships and healthcare facilities.
Support global vaccination efforts, particularly in regions with low coverage and high disease burden.
Continue studies on zoonotic disease transmission and develop strategies to mitigate cross-species infections.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- Quick takes: Fatal H5N6 avian flu case, cruise ship norovirus outbreak, dermatophilosis in MSM Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published May 11, 2026
- More California marine mammals confirmed to have H5N1 avian flu, as USDA tracks poultry outbreaks in Midwest Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published April 23, 2026
- New coronavirus subspecies with SARS-CoV-2–like mutation discovered in Brazilian bat Publisher: CIDRAP MERS‑CoV Published October 31, 2025
- At least 8 sickened in suspected hantavirus outbreak; Andes strain confirmed Publisher: CIDRAP Misc Emerging Published May 6, 2026
- The Hantavirus Outbreak Is Resurrecting Covid-Era Misinformation Tactics Publisher: The New York Times Published May 12, 2026