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.

New study reveals molecular basis of Long COVID brain fog

Even though many years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of infection with SARS-CoV-2 are not completely understood.

30 Sep 2025

Health care’s employment growth clouded by immigration crackdown, Medicaid cuts

The health care sector is a bright spot in the economy this year, driving nearly half of the nation's employment gains, but economists and experts say immigration crackdowns and looming Medicaid cuts pose a threat to future job growth.

30 Sep 2025

Doctors with troubled pasts are performing cosmetic surgeries tied to crippling pain and injury

Not long after California surgeon Andrew S. Hsu landed a job with a cosmetic surgery chain in Georgia, several of his patients suffered disfiguring injuries, and even his new employer had doubts about his competence, court records allege.

30 Sep 2025

What’s more dangerous, road cycling or mountain biking?

Researchers in Barcelona analyzed 149 injured cyclists and found that while mountain biking accidents were more frequent, road cycling caused more severe injuries, especially head trauma. Older age strongly increased injury severity in road cyclists, highlighting a vulnerable group in need of attention.

29 Sep 2025

Medicaid unwinding linked to drop in opioid use disorder treatment

The end of pandemic-era enrollment enhancements for Medicaid was associated with a rise in the number of people ending medication treatment for opioid use disorder, as well as a decrease in the number of people beginning such treatment, according to a new RAND study.

29 Sep 2025

Breakthrough discovery reveals HIV’s survival strategy in human cells

For over three decades, HIV has played an elaborate game of hide-and-seek with researchers, making treating-and possibly even curing-the disease a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to achieve.

29 Sep 2025

Cannabidiol shows promise for obesity and metabolic syndrome

Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promise in regulating appetite, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation in preclinical models of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, human evidence is still limited, highlighting the need for rigorous trials before clinical use.

29 Sep 2025

New mRNA vaccine stops allergens from causing life-threatening inflammation in mice

A new mRNA vaccine stopped allergens from causing dangerous immune reactions and life-threatening inflammation in mice, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Cincinnati Children's.

29 Sep 2025

2-in-1 budesonide-formoterol inhaler reduces children's asthma attacks by 45%

Findings from a trial comparing the real-world effectiveness of asthma inhalers could reshape how children with asthma are treated.

29 Sep 2025

Affordable drug found to be effective in treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients

A widely available and affordable drug has been shown to be effective in treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients, according to a new international study led by researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) in collaboration with King's College London.

29 Sep 2025

Firearm injuries cost U.S. hospitals billions and strain safety-net centers

The initial hospital treatment of firearm injuries cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $7.7 billion between 2016 and 2021, with the largest share falling on urban trauma center hospitals that serve the highest proportion of Medicaid patients, reports a new study led by Northwestern Medicine.

26 Sep 2025

Study links chronic illness in children to greater household food insecurity

Food insecurity is more common among children with a chronic medical condition than those without one, a new study suggests.

26 Sep 2025

New intramuscular mRNA vaccine offers easier alternative to treat neovascular eye diseases

An mRNA vaccine developed by researchers from Japan suppressed abnormal blood vessel growth or neovascularization in the retina of mouse models.

26 Sep 2025

WHO Member States advance negotiations on Pathogens Access and Benefit Sharing system

WHO Member States held their second intergovernmental meeting from 15-19 September, to further develop the Pathogens Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, a critical annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

26 Sep 2025

WHO issues guidance for 2026 flu vaccine formulation in the southern hemisphere

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for use in the 2026 influenza season in the southern hemisphere.

26 Sep 2025

Global Virus Network accelerates mpox diagnostic research

With global attention shifting away from mpox after recent declines in case counts, the Global Virus Network (GVN) is warning against complacency and urges accelerating efforts to strengthen outbreak readiness.

25 Sep 2025

Scientists explore how dopamine shapes myelin in social isolation

Scientists know that social isolation can alter brain structure and lead to the breakdown of myelin, the fatty coating that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. But they don't yet know exactly how or why it happens.

25 Sep 2025

Gladstone researchers expand mission to tackle emerging infectious threats

From influenza and COVID-19 to HIV, viruses continue to pose a serious danger to global health.

25 Sep 2025

Emergency departments emerge as key entry point for hospice and palliative care

One-third of Americans will visit an emergency department, or ED, within a month of their death. While EDs are primarily purposed to provide emergent care, they're increasingly becoming an initial touchpoint for hospice and palliative care, or HPC, referrals and consultations, according to a new study from several researchers at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences.

25 Sep 2025

Cognitive challenges rise sharply among younger adults in the U.S.

A growing number of U.S. adults-particularly those under 40-are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration and decision-making, according to a new study published in the September 24, 2025, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Sep 2025