Increase funding and support for healthcare workers in outbreak regions to ensure effective response and containment.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
The current pandemic risk is high due to ongoing Ebola and MERS outbreaks, a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US, and emerging avian flu cases, compounded by healthcare worker strikes and misinformation challenges.
July 9, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is escalating, with healthcare workers striking, which could severely impact containment efforts. Concurrently, MERS cases in Saudi Arabia and new avian flu detections in the US and China pose significant zoonotic threats. The US is also experiencing a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, highlighting vulnerabilities in food safety and public health response. These issues are exacerbated by misinformation and public distrust in health guidance, which can hinder effective disease management and vaccination efforts.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance surveillance and rapid response capabilities for emerging zoonotic diseases like MERS and avian flu.
Launch public education campaigns to combat misinformation and promote trust in vaccines and health advisories.
Implement point-of-care testing and preventive measures in high-risk settings like nursing homes to reduce transmission.
Strengthen food safety protocols and traceability to prevent and manage foodborne outbreaks like cyclosporiasis.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- Ebola workers strike as CDC head says agency’s response will last months Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published July 8, 2026
- China reports H9N2 avian flu in 1-year-old girl Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published July 7, 2026
- 3 more H9N2 avian flu cases confirmed in China Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published April 21, 2026
- France reports MERS in 2 travelers who had been to Middle East Publisher: CIDRAP MERS‑CoV Published December 4, 2025
- Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster Publisher: CIDRAP MERS‑CoV Published May 13, 2025
- Some health workers in Congo's Ebola outbreak go on strike over pay issues as deaths near 600 Publisher: PinalCentral.com Published July 8, 2026
- Cyclosporiasis outbreak in 17 states raises food safety alarm Publisher: WWLP Published July 8, 2026