Increase funding for infectious disease surveillance and response systems to better manage outbreaks.
Pandemics
Pandemics Risk
Current assessment
Today's pandemic risk is high due to ongoing outbreaks of avian flu, MERS, and Ebola, coupled with vaccine hesitancy and misinformation challenges.
September 8, 2026
Trend
Daily score history for Pandemics.
Risk Drivers
What is pushing the current reading.
The current global health landscape is marked by multiple infectious disease threats, including avian flu outbreaks in various regions, ongoing MERS cases particularly in the Middle East, and a significant Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These are compounded by systemic issues such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and gaps in vaccine policy and deployment, particularly in the United States. The combination of these factors increases the risk of widespread outbreaks and complicates public health responses. Additionally, the emergence of new coronavirus subspecies and challenges in vaccine integrity and public trust further exacerbate the situation, highlighting the need for robust surveillance and responsive healthcare systems.
Risk Reduction Actions
Priority actions generated from the current analysis.
Enhance public education campaigns to combat vaccine misinformation and improve vaccine uptake.
Strengthen cross-border collaboration to address and contain outbreaks of diseases like MERS and Ebola.
Support community-based health initiatives to improve local healthcare infrastructure and disease prevention measures.
Accelerate research on new vaccines and treatments for emerging infectious diseases.
Sources Monitored
Visible feeds used in this category's nightly run.
Selected Articles
Supporting articles referenced in the latest score.
- 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
- DR Congo suffers deadliest week in its Ebola outbreak Publisher: CIDRAP Ebola Published August 25, 2026
- Over 400 state vaccine bills, 9 new laws, 2 fed charters, and 1 step closer to a CDC director: The State of US Vaccine Policy Publisher: CIDRAP Ebola Published July 30, 2026
- COVID fueled surge in state vaccine legislation, research suggests Publisher: CIDRAP Anti‑Science Published July 21, 2026