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.

An Arm and a Leg: Steep health care costs steer Americans to tough decisions

Health insurance is out of reach for millions of Americans this year. Many are making difficult decisions about how to pay for coverage amid the loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies and nosebleed-high premiums.

25 Mar 2026

No link between Covid-19 vaccines and sudden cardiac death

The study reveals COVID-19 vaccines do not increase sudden cardiac death risk in youth, highlighting the importance of accurate health messaging.

24 Mar 2026

COVID-19 learning losses could deepen class gaps for years

COVID-19 school closures are projected to reduce educational attainment and weaken intergenerational mobility, with children from less advantaged backgrounds facing the greatest losses. The paper’s simulations suggest that unequal access to continued learning during the pandemic could deepen educational inequality and reverse mobility gains, especially in the absence of remedial recovery measures.

23 Mar 2026

Study highlights neurological and psychiatric impacts of long COVID

Nearly three years after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was declared over, conservative estimates suggest that between 80 million and 400 million people worldwide have long COVID.

23 Mar 2026

Rising health costs push some middle-aged adults to skip the doc until Medicare

John Galvin knows he needs a colonoscopy. But he's waiting to schedule the procedure until December, when he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare.

23 Mar 2026

Researchers use AI to reveal the true scale of COVID-19 mortality in the US

A machine learning model applied to US death certificate data estimated that over 155,000 COVID-19 deaths were unrecognized between March 2020 and December 2021, suggesting total mortality was about 19% higher than official counts. These undercounted deaths disproportionately affected marginalized populations, including racial minorities, lower-income groups, and residents of the Southern United States.

19 Mar 2026

Lawmakers seek to protect crisis pregnancy centers as abortion clinic numbers shrink

Conservative lawmakers in multiple states are pushing legislation drafted by an anti-abortion advocacy group to increase protections for crisis pregnancy centers, organizations that provide some health-related services but also work to dissuade women from having abortions.

19 Mar 2026

Pre-pandemic health patterns influence risk of developing post-COVID

Women who frequently sought healthcare for recurring symptoms before the pandemic were more likely to later be diagnosed with post-COVID, according to a thesis at the University of Gothenburg.

18 Mar 2026

More US adolescents are obese but fewer are trying to lose weight

The rising obesity rates in American adolescents, coupled with declining weight-loss efforts, signal urgent needs for targeted public health interventions.

18 Mar 2026

Evidence shows ACA’S mandated benefits alone don’t drive up costs. The debate continues.

In January, when President Donald Trump unveiled his one-page outline to address health care spending, dubbed "The Great Healthcare Plan," he specifically mentioned the Affordable Care Act's role in driving up costs.

18 Mar 2026

Continuous Medicaid coverage lowered postpartum uninsurance, but disparities remain

Postpartum uninsurance declined among Black women in non-expansion states during the COVID-19 continuous Medicaid coverage policy, but racial gaps persisted, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

17 Mar 2026

Swedish study reveals COVID-19 may increase glandular fever risk

Even individuals who did not become seriously ill with COVID-19 may have developed a weakened immune system that could lead to serious illnesses in the future.

17 Mar 2026

Skipping breakfast may raise metabolic syndrome risk

The link between skipping breakfast and metabolic syndrome highlights the need for dietary strategies to improve cardiometabolic health in at-risk populations.

16 Mar 2026

Circular RNA produced by HIV boosts viral replication

For decades scientists have recognized that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a formidable viral pathogen.

13 Mar 2026

Study: Future growth of aesthetic surgery may lie far from traditional luxury markets

A new, national analysis published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggests the future growth of aesthetic surgery may lie far from traditional luxury markets.

13 Mar 2026

Republicans fret over RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine policies while MAHA moms stew

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is fielding pressure from the White House to relax his controversial approach to vaccine policies as the midterms near, but his most steadfast supporters are pressing for more aggressive action — like restricting covid-19 vaccines and pesticide use — to carry out the Make America Healthy Again agenda.

12 Mar 2026

Open-plan office layouts linked to higher bullying risk

Office design influences workplace bullying, with traditional open layouts linked to increased risks, underscoring the need for healthier work environments.

12 Mar 2026

DNA origami vaccine platform shows promise against multiple infectious viruses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines to the forefront of global health care. After their clinical trial stages, the first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was administered on 8 December 2020 and mathematical models suggest that mRNA vaccines prevented at least 14.4 million deaths from COVID-19 in the first year alone.

11 Mar 2026

Primary care is in trouble. So doctors band together to boost their market power.

Western Massachusetts, a patchwork of rural communities and low-income cities, is a difficult place to find a primary care doctor if you don't already have one.

11 Mar 2026

Training game helps nurses spot fungal infections in breastfeeding

This educational game simulates breastfeeding complications, equipping nurses with skills to detect and manage fungal infections in the nipple-areola area.

11 Mar 2026