Increase funding for public health agencies to enhance surveillance and response capabilities for emerging infectious diseases.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
Today's pandemic risk is moderate due to ongoing infectious disease outbreaks, including long COVID, avian flu, and cyclosporiasis, alongside challenges in public health response and vaccine coverage.
July 23, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current landscape of infectious diseases presents a moderate risk, primarily driven by the persistence of long COVID symptoms, which continue to affect individuals' health and productivity. Additionally, the spread of avian flu in various regions, including the US and Cambodia, highlights the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases. The cyclosporiasis outbreak, with over 11,500 cases reported across 41 states, underscores vulnerabilities in food safety systems. These issues are compounded by gaps in vaccine coverage and public health response, as well as misinformation that can hinder effective disease management and prevention efforts.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Prioritize education and outreach to improve vaccine uptake and address vaccine hesitancy, particularly in underserved communities.
Accelerate research into long COVID treatments and interventions to mitigate its long-term health impacts.
Strengthen food safety regulations and monitoring to prevent outbreaks like cyclosporiasis.
Provide accurate and clear information to counter misinformation about vaccines and infectious diseases.
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 Influenza (General) 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
- Quick takes: More Michigan Cyclospora, UK measles death, H5N1 avian flu in Cambodian baby Publisher: CIDRAP Avian Influenza Published July 13, 2026
- More than 11,500 cyclosporiasis cases reported in 41 states: CDC - ABC News Publisher: Breaking News, Latest News and Videos Published July 22, 2026