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.

Political views and science trust shape American vaccine perceptions

Vaccine perceptions can influence acceptance and uptake. Dr. Dror Walter, with the Department of Communication at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and colleagues examined these perceptions using data from a national probability sample of 1,763 US adults surveyed in November 2024.

6 Oct 2026

COVID-19 immunity shows cross-reactivity against related bat coronaviruses

People who recovered from COVID-19 infection or were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to have immunity to other closely related bat coronaviruses that could have the potential to threaten future human health.

1 Oct 2026

Type 1 diabetes incidence rose by 11% after rotavirus vaccine rollout in Norway

New research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) and published in Diabetologia (the journal of EASD) shows that incidence (the new case rate) of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children aged 0.5-5 years in Norway was 11% higher following the rapid roll out and uptake of the rotavirus vaccine in September 2014.

1 Oct 2026

European Union poverty rates fell despite regional gaps, study finds

Despite differences among nations, poverty in the European Union declined between 2015 and 2023, according to a study published September 30, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS One by Silvia Megyesiova and Cecilia Olexova from the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Košice, Slovak Republic.

1 Oct 2026

Social connection has a price, and it varies from person to person

Researchers found that people were willing to spend slightly more on social than on non-social experiences, suggesting that companionship has measurable economic value. Greater perceived social support was associated with more social choices and spending, while higher autistic-trait scores and broader social dysfunction were associated with lower valuation of social experiences.

29 Sep 2026

Perceiving life as getting worse raises suicidal ideation risk

New research finds that people are far more likely to report suicidal ideation when they perceive their life to be getting worse relative to their own recent past, rather than because of their income, age or health status alone.

29 Sep 2026

What helped families stay with WIC? Remote access may be key

The study highlights that remote WIC services increased retention, while boosting cash-value benefits had a negligible effect on overall program participation.

29 Sep 2026

Scientists find new way to overcome cell’s natural defenses against self-amplifying mRNA vaccines

The innovation could enable protection at lower doses, meaning vaccines could be rolled out further and faster than was previously imaginable, and opens new possibilities in gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and protein replacement therapies.

28 Sep 2026

New book examines how digital screens cause social disconnection

The most dramatic shift in human communication patterns in history is underway – the migration of social life onto screens – and researchers have issued stark warnings about the long-term impact on the health of our social species.

28 Sep 2026

Happy at work, better at the job? A study of young employees offers clues

Researchers studying 412 employees aged 35 or younger in Spain found that higher job satisfaction was associated with better task and contextual performance. Work that negatively affected mental health and personal life was associated with poorer contextual performance and more counterproductive behavior, while supervisor emotional accessibility and organizational respect showed no significant direct links to performance.

24 Sep 2026

Nurses in Latin America faced severe systemic violence during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for health professionals around the world. A new study published in the journal Nursing Inquiry describes violence that nurses and midwives in Latin America endured-not only physical aggression, but also ethical and emotional harm.

24 Sep 2026

Sudden unexpected infant deaths drive widening Black-white mortality gap

After years of declines in sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID), rates have been ticking up again, particularly among babies born to Black mothers, new research shows.

23 Sep 2026

Semaglutide’s heart benefits may extend beyond weight loss

Semaglutide is known to reduce the risk of serious heart disease. However, a new study published in the European Heart Journal today (Thursday) suggests that this effect cannot not be entirely explained by patients losing weight on the drug.

23 Sep 2026

US mortality rates outpace peer nations as young adult deaths rise

Research in The Milbank Quarterly reveals that for decades, US mortality rates have exceeded rates in peer countries and have been increasing across many causes of death, especially in young adults and people living in certain regions of the country.

23 Sep 2026

A 30-day benznidazole regimen offers safer Chagas disease treatment option

A 30-day course of benznidazole taken once a day could offer people with chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection a safer and more practical option than the current standard treatment, taken twice a day for 60 days.

22 Sep 2026

Updated clinical guideline offers strategies to reduce vaccination distress

A comprehensive guideline update with 16 recommendations to reduce vaccination distress, with suggestions ranging from applying topical pain relief to distractions, has been published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

21 Sep 2026

Measles outbreaks may reveal more than gaps in vaccination

A commentary in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics argues that measles outbreaks can serve as a sensitive indicator of weaknesses in vaccination coverage, surveillance, health equity, community trust, and broader immunization systems. The authors contend that pursuing measles eradication could also strengthen routine immunization, laboratory capacity, outbreak preparedness, and health-system resilience.

21 Sep 2026

A 194-country analysis reveals gaps in how late childhood vaccinations are tracked

A global analysis of WHO/UNICEF data from 194 countries found wide variation in countries’ ability to record delayed childhood vaccinations, with 64% of reporting countries saying they could capture late doses in 2022. Following birth cohorts over time and adding delayed MCV1 doses raised median coverage estimates by 3.6 to 5.1 percentage points across available cohort years, though incomplete and inconsistent reporting limited confidence in some estimates.

21 Sep 2026

New mRNA vaccine expands flu protection options for older adults

Every fall, millions of Americans heed the call to get their annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from influenza.

20 Sep 2026

CPS-involved students face higher rates of school absenteeism

Across the country, kids are settling into new school year routines. Parents buy backpacks, teachers arrange desks and lesson plans, and friends reconnect.

18 Sep 2026