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.

Obesity sharply increases hospitalisation risk from infections, global analysis shows

Adult obesity is associated with a substantially higher risk of severe hospital-treated or fatal infections across multiple pathogens, with risk increasing as obesity severity rises. Global modelling suggests roughly one in ten infection-related deaths worldwide may be attributable to adult obesity, although causality cannot be confirmed.

15 Feb 2026

Nasal COVID vaccine boost increases IgA responses linked to variant neutralisation

Intranasal boosting after prior intramuscular COVID vaccination induced strong mucosal IgA responses in a small human cohort. These antibodies showed markedly enhanced neutralising activity against Omicron variants and evidence of immune memory reprogramming toward mucosal protection.

15 Feb 2026

Immunocompromised individuals require multiple Covid booster doses

Vaccinations alone may not be enough to protect people with compromised immune systems from infection, even if the vaccine has generated the production of antibodies, new research from the University of Cambridge has shown.

13 Feb 2026

Academic pressure at age 15 linked to depression

Pressure to achieve at school at age 15 is linked to depressive symptoms and risk of self-harm, and the association appears to persist into adulthood, finds a study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

12 Feb 2026

Researchers find leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women

Researchers at Columbia University have found that accidental drug overdose, homicide, and suicide are the leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women.

12 Feb 2026

End of enhanced Obamacare subsidies puts tribal health lifeline at risk

Leonard Bighorn said his mother tried for two years to get help for severe stomach pain through the limited health services available near her home on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana.

11 Feb 2026

Choroid plexus enlargement in Long COVID signals cognitive risk

The increased size of, and lesser blood supply to, a key brain structure in patients with Long COVID tracks with known blood markers of Alzheimer's disease and greater levels of dementia, a new study finds.

10 Feb 2026

Preexisting flu immunity may offer baseline protection against avian influenza

Are seasonal flu antibodies also effective against avian flu? A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has shown that a specific type of antibody associated with the former virus—already present throughout the population—may offer baseline protection against the latter.

10 Feb 2026

US cancer institute studying ivermectin’s ‘ability to kill cancer cells’

The National Cancer Institute, the federal research agency charged with leading the war against the nation's second-largest killer, is studying ivermectin as a potential cancer treatment, according to its top official.

10 Feb 2026

Public health workers are quitting over assignments to Guantánamo

Rebekah Stewart, a nurse at the U.S. Public Health Service, got a call last April that brought her to tears. She had been selected for deployment to the Trump administration's new immigration detention operation at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

9 Feb 2026

Large Swedish study finds COVID-19 vaccination unrelated to fertility or childbirth rates

A Swedish registry-based cohort study evaluated whether COVID-19 vaccination affected childbirth rates among women aged 18 to 45 years during the pandemic period. No statistically significant association was found between vaccination, childbirth, or recorded miscarriage rates, suggesting demographic and socioeconomic factors likely explain observed fertility trends.

8 Feb 2026

American women show varied preferences for in-clinic versus at-home cervical cancer screening

American women now have the option of screening for cervical cancer at home, using newly approved self-collection tools.

7 Feb 2026

Paid sick leave emerges as key workplace support for frontline workers, new study shows

Access to paid sick leave among South Korean in-home service workers during COVID-19 was associated with lower perceived infection risk, reduced job stress, and higher job satisfaction. Workers without paid leave reported greater perceived risk and stress, with indirect negative effects on job satisfaction, highlighting paid leave as an important workplace resource.

5 Feb 2026

Review highlights smarter medicine delivery as key to better adherence

Health system design plays a major role in medication adherence for chronic diseases, with delivery models influencing access, affordability, and continuity of care. Flexible, well-regulated dispensing systems that address structural barriers can improve long-term treatment outcomes across diverse populations.

5 Feb 2026

Weak governance hinders One Health outbreak response in Africa

Across Africa, One Health is endorsed at the top but often breaks down where outbreaks start, writes Albert Ansah.

5 Feb 2026

Air conditioning in nursing homes lowers heat-related risk

Air conditioning is linked to lower mortality rates in nursing homes during extreme heat, underscoring the importance of climate control for vulnerable seniors.

5 Feb 2026

New card deck helps children manage stress and build resilience

A Case Western Reserve University professor has developed an innovative card deck designed to help children manage stress and build emotional resilience in today's challenging world.

4 Feb 2026

Post-thrombectomy alteplase linked to better stroke outcomes

Giving the clot-busting medication alteplase at the site of a blocked brain artery after blood clot removal may increase the number of patients who fully recover, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

4 Feb 2026

COVID vaccination not linked to reduced childbirth

COVID-19 vaccination is not the cause behind a decrease in childbirth, according to a study from Linköping University, Sweden.

4 Feb 2026

Study links paid sick leave to lower infection risk

Home service workers-those who provide care, inspections, or repairs inside private homes-can often lack paid sick leave, making illness a direct financial risk.

3 Feb 2026