Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

COVID-19 virus not retained in placenta after maternal recovery

A new Yale study published in JAMA Network Open finds that the virus that causes COVID-19 does not linger in placental tissue weeks to months after a pregnant woman recovers from infection - offering important reassurance for clinicians and patients alike.

22 Apr 2026

Millions of Americans with hepatitis C still remain untreated, analysis reveals

Millions of Americans are still battling potentially deadly hepatitis C even though they could be cured with antiviral drugs they are not receiving, a new analysis reveals.

21 Apr 2026

Study links long COVID in kids to worse grades and attention problems

A large NIH-funded RECOVER-Pediatrics study found that children and adolescents meeting the long COVID research threshold were more likely to have caregiver-reported worsening grades, attention difficulties, reduced enjoyment with friends, and greater IEP involvement than peers below the threshold. The findings suggest that pediatric long COVID may affect school and social functioning during key developmental years, although the cross-sectional design does not establish causation.

20 Apr 2026

Why Japan saw a major pertussis surge in 2025 while other countries peaked earlier

This study found that pertussis cases fell across Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the USA during COVID-19 restrictions, then resurged afterward, with most countries peaking in 2024 but Japan showing a delayed major outbreak in 2025. In Japan, the surge was concentrated in school-aged children and adolescents, highlighting possible gaps in booster protection and the need to reassess immunization strategies.

20 Apr 2026

What still drives childhood vaccine gaps in the United States

A nationwide analysis of provider-verified NIS-Child data from 2010 to 2023 found that US childhood vaccination coverage remained generally high but was consistently shaped by social and structural factors such as maternal education, income, insurance, language, and region. The study also showed that coverage of the combined seven-vaccine series rose over time, yet persistent disparities remained, especially for vaccines such as influenza, hepatitis A, and rotavirus.

19 Apr 2026

New handbook aims to improve pandemic modeling and decision making

As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc and lives were at stake, the advice experts gave to decision-makers became indispensable.

17 Apr 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A new CDC nominee, again

President Donald Trump this week nominated a former deputy surgeon general who has expressed support for vaccines to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

17 Apr 2026

Scientists find unexpected immune pathways for mRNA cancer vaccines

The advent of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Apr 2026

Childhood flu infection leaves lasting immune imprint

A study reveals how childhood flu infections impact long-term mortality risk, highlighting implications for vaccination and future outbreak management.

17 Apr 2026

Medi-Cal immigrant enrollment is dropping. Researchers point to Trump’s policies.

For months, a cloud of fear has hovered over the immigrant community in San Bernardino, California, making it hard for María González to do her job as a community health worker in this city where almost a quarter of residents are foreign-born.

15 Apr 2026

ProImmune collaborates with The University of Texas Medical Branch to advance infectious disease research

ProImmune, Ltd., a global leader in immunological reagents and services, today announced a collaboration with The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston National Laboratory (GNL), a high-containment, infectious disease research facility, to develop innovative tools for studying high-consequence emerging and endemic infectious diseases.

From ProImmune Ltd. 15 Apr 2026

Study finds long COVID leaves a distinct immune signature in the blood

Researchers identified a small panel of inflammatory and neurology-related blood proteins that may help distinguish long COVID from recovery or no prior infection, while also showing that booster vaccination did not appear to worsen these protein responses in this cohort. The study also found that immune responses after reinfection differed from those seen after the first SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting altered long-term immune behavior in some previously infected individuals.

14 Apr 2026

Postpartum Medicaid expansion improved coverage but showed limited care changes

The federal policy requiring states to keep Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic extended postpartum Medicaid coverage nationwide and sharply increased the number of individuals remaining insured after childbirth, according to a Rutgers Health researcher.

13 Apr 2026

NTU Singapore and partners develop new inhaled treatment for severe lung infections

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) is working with China's Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and Swedish biotechnology company Lipigon Pharmaceuticals AB to develop a new inhaled treatment aimed at helping patients recover faster from severe lung infections.

13 Apr 2026

Community health centers maintained care continuity during COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic upended virtually every aspect of people's lives, one critical question loomed large for millions of low-income and underserved healthcare patients: Would they still be able to see their own doctor?

13 Apr 2026

Historic global forum unites 800 institutions to strengthen public health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has convened the historic first Global Forum of Collaborating Centres-one of the world's largest and most diverse public health networks-bringing together representatives from over 800 institutions designated as WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) across more than 80 countries.

10 Apr 2026