Pandemics

The current high-risk assessment is driven by multiple concurrent infectious disease threats, including a significant Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo with over 100 deaths and nearly 600 cases, which is compounded by conflict slowing the response. Additionally, avian flu continues to affect poultry farms in the US and other regions, posing a risk of zoonotic transmission. Vaccine deployment faces challenges, as misinformation and vaccine hesitancy persist, impacting public trust and uptake. The emergence of new coronavirus subspecies and the ongoing spread of long COVID further strain global health systems. These factors, combined with the potential for misinformation to undermine public health efforts, contribute to a heightened pandemic risk level.