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.

Accessible parks, not just greenery, can increase everyday physical activity

The health benefits of nature are well-known, but its role in encouraging day-to-day physical activity across different regions and demographics has been less clear.

3 Dec 2025

Study finds sharp rise in long-term antidepressant use among young Australians

Long-term antidepressant use in Australia has risen steadily over the past decade, with the largest increase seen in young people aged 10-24, where rates have more than doubled.

2 Dec 2025

Research says global HIV efforts need renewed funding and focus

As the world marks World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, world-renowned infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, MD, and his colleague Greg Folkers, MS, MPH, highlight advances made in the treatment and prevention of HIV that could finally end the pandemic, but caution, "History will judge us harshly should we squander this opportunity."

1 Dec 2025

Long COVID patients face more than double the healthcare costs after diagnosis

People with Long COVID use the health service significantly more than they did before their diagnosis. These patients need to use GP, outpatient, inpatient and emergency department services more than people in other control groups - and the costs of their healthcare use have more than doubled.

1 Dec 2025

Latent antimicrobial resistance found to be more widespread across the world

A team of researchers has discovered that latent antimicrobial resistance is more widespread across the world than known resistance.

1 Dec 2025

Measles deaths plummet but infections surge worldwide

Global immunization efforts have led to an 88% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2024, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 59 million lives have been saved by the measles vaccine since 2000.

29 Nov 2025

Fever-resistant bird flu viruses pose a significant threat to humans

Bird flu viruses are a particular threat to humans because they can replicate at temperatures higher than a typical fever, one of the body's ways of stopping viruses in their tracks, according to new research led by the universities of Cambridge and Glasgow.

28 Nov 2025

Global study reveals widespread latent antimicrobial resistance in wastewater

A team of researchers has discovered that latent antimicrobial resistance is more widespread across the world than known resistance.

27 Nov 2025

Global Virus Network outlines priorities as Marburg virus emerges in Ethiopia

The Global Virus Network (GVN), a coalition of leading human and animal virologists in more than 40 countries dedicated to advancing pandemic preparedness through research, education and training, and global health solutions, today issued a statement on the newly confirmed outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in southern Ethiopia.

27 Nov 2025

Study finds major setbacks in blood pressure prevention and management in England

A comprehensive new analysis by researchers at Queen Mary University of London warns that England has lost the substantial gains made in high blood pressure prevention, diagnosis and management during the 2000s.

27 Nov 2025

Year-round access to RSV immunization may reduce major seasonal outbreaks

Providing year-round access to RSV immunization would minimize the risk of large seasonal outbreaks across the nation, including in both urban and rural areas.

26 Nov 2025

Pandemic lockdown measures linked to increased developmental concerns in young children

Lockdown and social distancing measures during the Covid-19 pandemic were associated with increased developmental concerns about young children in Scotland, research suggests.

26 Nov 2025

South Carolina’s measles outbreak shows chilling effect of vaccine misinformation

Near the back corner of the local library's parking lot, largely out of view from the main road, the South Carolina Department of Public Health opened a pop-up clinic in early November, offering free measles vaccines to adults and children.

26 Nov 2025

Study finds rising sex toy use and masturbation among older women

Although research on sexuality in older adults has been growing in recent years, most of the studies are focused on partnered sexual activity and not on solo sexual behavior, including masturbation or the use of sex toys.

26 Nov 2025

Nontraditional benefits influence retention of younger government health employees

Younger workers in governmental public health place significantly higher value on nontraditional benefits than their older counterparts, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

25 Nov 2025

Study introduces cost-effective approach to analyze entire T-cell repertoire

Studying T cells, the immune cells most responsible for responding to infections and cancers, just received a significant boost in the form of a new technique from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

24 Nov 2025

World’s first experimental lung cancer vaccine to enter clinical trials

People at high risk of lung cancer will soon be able to receive the first ever experimental vaccine designed to prevent the disease, in a world-first clinical trial led by researchers at UCL and the University of Oxford.

22 Nov 2025

Global Virus Network awards first pandemic preparedness research grants across four continents

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is pleased to announce that, for the first time, it is awarding pandemic preparedness research grants, totaling $160,000, to GVN scientists across four continents.

20 Nov 2025

Study evaluates effectiveness of indoor vaccine mandates in US cities during COVID-19

Research published in Contemporary Economic Policy reveals that despite widespread adoption of indoor vaccine mandates in major US cities during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no consistent evidence that these policies significantly increased vaccination rates or reduced COVID-19–related outcomes.

20 Nov 2025

Waning immunity and falling vaccination rates fuel pertussis outbreaks

Rates of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, are surging in Texas, Florida, California, Oregon, and other states and localities across the country.

20 Nov 2025