Increase funding for public health infrastructure to improve disease surveillance and response capabilities.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
Today's pandemic risk is moderate due to ongoing infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, avian flu, and MERS, compounded by challenges in public health response and misinformation.
July 21, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current global health landscape is marked by multiple concurrent infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, avian flu, and MERS, which are straining public health systems. The persistence of long COVID symptoms and the emergence of new avian flu cases highlight the ongoing challenges in managing these diseases. Additionally, misinformation and public skepticism about vaccines continue to hinder effective public health responses. Despite advances in vaccine development and deployment, gaps in surveillance and healthcare infrastructure, especially in low-resource settings, exacerbate the risk of widespread transmission. The recent cyclospora outbreak further illustrates the vulnerabilities in food safety and the need for robust public health interventions.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance public education campaigns to address vaccine misinformation and increase vaccination rates.
Accelerate research on long COVID and other post-viral conditions to develop effective treatments.
Support community-based health initiatives to improve access to vaccines and healthcare services in underserved areas.
Facilitate global collaboration on infectious disease monitoring and response strategies.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- The Eaton wildfire evacuation shelter near LA saw outbreaks of norovirus, COVID, and flu, report reveals Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published July 10, 2026
- Pandemic pathogens, dengue, cholera were world’s largest emerging infectious disease burdens from 2000 to 2022 Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published June 24, 2026
- Cambodia confirms human H5N1 avian flu case as H5N1 hits more Utah egg farms Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published July 16, 2026
- Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster Publisher: CIDRAP MERS‑CoV Published May 13, 2025
- After withdrawing false-positive test, FDA says Taylor Farms lettuce still a focus of Cyclospora investigation Publisher: CIDRAP Published July 20, 2026