Increase funding and resources for rapid response teams to contain Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks.
Pandemics
Viewed record
High Risk
History
388 daily observations
Method
Curated sources and AI scoring
Pandemics Risk
4.3 / 5
High Risk
+0.3 from previous reading
Assessment for this date
The current pandemic risk is high due to ongoing Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks, coupled with significant flu and COVID-19 challenges.
Record date
May 17, 2026
Trend
Viewing the record for May 17, 2026 within the full trend.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been declared a global public health emergency, highlighting the high lethality and lack of a vaccine for the current strain. Concurrently, a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has raised concerns about containment and spread. Additionally, the flu season remains deadly with numerous pediatric deaths, and COVID-19 continues to pose risks with new variants and misinformation affecting vaccine uptake. These factors, combined with the potential for zoonotic spillover and ongoing challenges in vaccine distribution and public health response, contribute to a heightened global pandemic risk.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Coordinate international efforts to accelerate vaccine development and distribution for Ebola and other emerging pathogens.
Enhance surveillance and testing capabilities to quickly identify and isolate cases of infectious diseases.
Launch targeted campaigns to combat misinformation and improve vaccine confidence and uptake.
Support community education and engagement initiatives in affected regions to improve local response and resilience.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- New Ebola outbreak hits Democratic Republic of Congo
- WHO officials on hantavirus cases: ‘This is an outbreak on a ship, not another COVID-19’
- WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo global health emergency Publisher: BBC
- DR Congo Ebola death toll hits 87 as outbreak strain lacks vaccine, poses high risk Publisher: Global Times
- A new Ebola outbreak has already killed 87 people in Democratic Republic of Congo Publisher: NPR