Increase funding and resources for Ebola containment and vaccination efforts in affected regions.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
Today's pandemic risk is high due to ongoing Ebola outbreaks, increasing avian flu cases, and persistent COVID-19 and flu challenges.
August 2, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current global health landscape is marked by significant challenges, including the rapid spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is now the second-largest outbreak on record. Concurrently, avian flu cases are rising in various regions, posing a threat to both animal and human health. COVID-19 continues to persist with long-term effects such as long COVID impacting healthcare workers and the general population. Additionally, misinformation and political disputes over pandemic responses, as seen in the U.S., hinder effective public health measures and vaccine uptake. These factors collectively elevate the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, necessitating robust surveillance and response strategies.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance surveillance and rapid response capabilities for avian flu and other emerging infectious diseases.
Focus on long COVID management and support for affected individuals to mitigate long-term health impacts.
Combat misinformation by providing accurate and clear information about ongoing outbreaks and vaccine safety.
Support community-based health education initiatives to improve vaccine uptake and public health compliance.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- Long COVID may affect up to 5% of healthcare workers in hospitals, new data suggest Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published July 29, 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
- Ebola cases surge past 2,000, now fastest-growing outbreak in history Publisher: CIDRAP Ebola Published July 15, 2026
- COVID is still here. Is the pandemic? Publisher: cidrap.umn.edu Published July 31, 2026