Increase funding for public health infrastructure to enhance outbreak response capabilities.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
Today's pandemic risk is high due to ongoing outbreaks of Ebola, measles, and avian flu, compounded by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
August 20, 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 Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, measles in the United States, and avian flu in various regions. These outbreaks are exacerbated by significant challenges in vaccine uptake and public trust, as highlighted by ongoing misinformation and legislative debates around vaccination policies. Additionally, the emergence of long COVID and its impact on public health systems further complicates the response to these outbreaks. The combination of these factors indicates a heightened risk of widespread transmission and strain on healthcare resources.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Promote vaccination and address vaccine hesitancy through targeted education campaigns.
Support community-based initiatives to build trust in public health measures and combat misinformation.
Accelerate the development and deployment of vaccines for emerging infectious diseases.
Provide accurate and timely information to counteract misinformation and promote public health guidelines.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- COVID vaccination may have prevented more than 4,000 deaths in one Washington county Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published August 13, 2026
- Severe COVID may awaken dormant viruses, leading to autoimmune disease, long COVID Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published August 6, 2026
- Long COVID may affect up to 5% of healthcare workers in hospitals, new data suggest Publisher: CIDRAP COVID‑19 Published July 29, 2026
- Congo's Largest Ebola Outbreak Tops 5,000 Cases as Death Toll Exceeds 2,300 Publisher: Discover Magazine Published August 19, 2026
- Ebola outbreak in DR Congo outpaces efforts to contain it Publisher: DW.com Published August 19, 2026