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.

Medicare coverage of telehealth: Study could inform Congressional decision

With another Congressional deadline looming this month for most telehealth coverage under Medicare, a new University of Michigan study adds more data to the debate.

19 Jan 2026

Elevated tau in Long COVID patients raises risk for neurodegenerative diseases

A study of 227 individuals who experienced neuro cognitive difficulties post COVID-19 infection – such as headaches, vertigo, balance dysregulation, changes in taste/smell, and brain fog – displayed a significant increase in their blood plasma of a crucial protein called tau, which is found in nerves and especially in the brain.

19 Jan 2026

Understanding how caregiving burdens affect the psychology and emotions of young carers

Caregiving in the modern era is challenging for even the most prepared adults. So, what happens when this burden falls on children?

19 Jan 2026

Pulse oximeters miss hypoxemia more often in people with darker skin, study finds

This large prospective UK study compared five low-cost fingertip pulse oximeters with arterial blood gas measurements and found that readings varied systematically by skin tone and oxygen saturation level. Small average overestimations in darker skin translated into clinically meaningful increases in missed hypoxemia at commonly used SpO2 thresholds.

18 Jan 2026

Cancer mortality drops 34% as treatments and early detection improve

The 2026 cancer statistics reveal improved survival rates but highlight persistent inequities in cancer incidence and mortality across different populations.

16 Jan 2026

What makes a run feel great or terrible, according to runners themselves

A qualitative analysis of Strava data highlights the impact of environment and social interactions on runner sentiment and mental health during the pandemic.

16 Jan 2026

Research shows racial-ethnic differences in the risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure

The risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure varied markedly among subgroups of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people, highlighting the need for tailored prevention and treatment, according to research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

14 Jan 2026

Long-term study reveals shifting patterns in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

Most COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is rooted in concerns that can be addressed and effectively reduced over time, according to a new study following more than 1.1 million people in England between January 2021 and March 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, published in The Lancet.

13 Jan 2026

Steady decline in antibiotics for childhood respiratory infections

Norwegian study finds reduced antibiotic use for childhood respiratory infections, yet high prescriptions for ear infections call for improved guidelines.

13 Jan 2026

Digital coaching boosts asthma control and quality of life

While online coaching improves asthma management short-term, it does not sustain physical activity changes, highlighting the need for integrated approaches.

12 Jan 2026

Long COVID symptom clusters that could reshape patient care

A systematic review of Long COVID identifies symptom clusters, highlighting fatigue and proposing a management framework for personalized treatment strategies.

12 Jan 2026

How pandemic viruses spread across U.S. cities before anyone notices

Researchers reconstruct the spatial spread of pandemic respiratory viruses across metropolitan areas throughout the United States

12 Jan 2026

Federal rental assistance during COVID-19 pandemic improved mental health

Federal rental assistance distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic did far more than help people stay in their homes. It also improved their mental health.

9 Jan 2026

Self-administered injectable contraceptives face provider hesitancy despite availability

Self-administered injectable contraceptives have been available in the United States for more than two decades, yet a new study has found only about a quarter of reproductive health experts prescribe it - and many are unaware it's even an option.

9 Jan 2026

Community asthma program increases care and awareness among families on the Navajo Nation

A multiyear community asthma program on the Navajo Nation increased asthma-related care and awareness among families, even as the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupted health care and school systems.

7 Jan 2026

Understanding sevoflurane-induced neurogenesis inhibition and cognitive dysfunction in children

Every year, millions of infants and children undergo surgery under general anesthesia in the world. Sevoflurane is a commonly used pediatric anesthetic. Its exposure during brain development has been shown to inhibit neurogenesis and cause cognitive dysfunction in animal models.

5 Jan 2026

Study compares H1N1 and COVID-19 spread across metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Public health researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health used computer modeling to reconstruct how the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in the U.S.

5 Jan 2026

COVID-19 immunity stays specific and barely boosts protection against common cold coronaviruses

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination generate strong, highly specific spike-binding immune responses with only modest effects on immunity to endemic common cold coronaviruses. Pre-existing coronavirus immunity patterns remain largely intact, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 has integrated into the human viral landscape without broadly reshaping cross-reactive protection.

5 Jan 2026

Diabetes could drain up to INT$78.8 trillion from the global economy by 2050, study finds

This global macroeconomic analysis estimates that diabetes mellitus will cost the world economy INT$10.2 trillion between 2020 and 2050, rising to INT$78.8 trillion when unpaid informal caregiving is included. Using a health-augmented economic model across 204 countries, the study shows that informal care is the dominant and most underestimated driver of diabetes-related economic losses worldwide.

5 Jan 2026

Antimicrobial resistance emerges as a slow-moving global pandemic

Once a medical miracle, antibiotics are now losing their power. Across the world, common infections are becoming harder-and sometimes impossible-to treat.

23 Dec 2025