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.

Kennedy’s vaccine advisers sow doubts as scientists protest US pivot on shots

As fired and retired scientists rallied outside in the Atlanta heat, an advisory panel that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handpicked to replace experts he'd fired earlier met inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters to plan a more skeptical vaccine future.

27 Jun 2025

America slashes heart attack deaths but faces surge in deadly heart failure and arrhythmias

U.S. heart disease mortality has dropped 66% since 1970, mainly due to fewer ischemic heart disease deaths. However, deaths from heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease have risen sharply, signaling a new public health challenge.

26 Jun 2025

Poor diet quality weakens resilience and mental health in food insecure populations

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.5% of American households experienced food insecurity at some time during 2023. That means 18 million families didn't have enough to meet their needs and often didn't know where the next meal would come from.

26 Jun 2025

Sleep patterns change with geography, seasons, and daily schedules

A new international study drawing on 73 million nights of data reveals that our sleep patterns are seriously shaped by the day of the week, the season, and where we live.

26 Jun 2025

NANOSPRESSO device brings precision medicine to hospital pharmacies

A new gene therapy delivery device could let hospital pharmacies make personalized nanomedicines to order.

26 Jun 2025

Dual threats from Trump and GOP imperil nursing homes and their foreign-born workers

In a top-rated nursing home in Alexandria, Virginia, the Rev. Donald Goodness is cared for by nurses and aides from various parts of Africa.

26 Jun 2025

Gut microbe emerges as a promising tool in the fight against COVID-19

Researchers found that Akkermansia muciniphila boosts lung-specific antiviral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice by modulating the gut–lung axis. This commensal gut bacterium shows promise as a potential biomarker and biotherapeutic candidate for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

25 Jun 2025

Virtual canine modules offer mental health support

While it's well known that spending time with dogs can ease stress, new research shows that watching a short video of a dog can have a similar comforting effect.

25 Jun 2025

What RFK Jr. isn’t talking about: How to make vaccines safer

Within an hour of receiving a covid vaccination in November 2020, Utah preschool teacher Brianne Dressen felt pins and needles through her arms and legs.

25 Jun 2025

ADC189 shows promise as a single-dose treatment for influenza

Influenza continues to pose a significant global health burden, with seasonal outbreaks causing substantial morbidity and mortality.

24 Jun 2025

Simpler virus testing approach could reduce unnecessary PCR tests in high-risk settings

The COVID-19 pandemic yielded important advances in testing for respiratory viruses, but it also exposed important unmet needs in screening to prevent the spread of infections in high-risk settings.

24 Jun 2025

Smartwatches could help stop pandemics before they start

Smartwatch features that measure heart rates, oxygen levels, fitness levels and sleep quality have been marketed as valuable tools for people who are eager to monitor their health.

23 Jun 2025

AI reveals how H5N1 virus is evolving to evade human immunity

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has infected birds and mammals around the world. As of June 2025, 70 people have been infected, and 1 person has died in the United States.

20 Jun 2025

Study finds no evidence to suggest mild COVID-19 may cause long-term kidney damage

A new study of over 13 million people in England has found no evidence to suggest mild COVID-19 infection may cause long-term kidney damage.

19 Jun 2025

Aspirin lowers diabetes risk during COVID-19, but not without side effects

A large real-world Italian cohort study found that daily low-dose aspirin use significantly lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protective effect appears linked to aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties, though bleeding risks require caution.

19 Jun 2025

New data show COVID-19 triggers spike in new diabetes cases

A large cohort study in California state prisons found that COVID-19 infection modestly but significantly increases the risk of developing new-onset diabetes. The elevated risk persists for months after infection, even when accounting for confounding factors and diagnostic intensity.

18 Jun 2025

Stanford study identifies gene signature that predicts immune health

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, information began to trickle in about who was at higher risk of a dangerous outcome from infection. Men. Those over 65. Smokers. Those with obesity.

18 Jun 2025

The WHO Hub leverages innovative tools and partnerships to boost defenses against future pandemics

WHO is developing new tools and innovative partnerships to boost countries' defenses against future pandemics, including real-time threat detection and genomic analysis of viruses.

18 Jun 2025

Why doctors say measles isn’t just back, it’s a warning sign for us all

A new editorial outlines the alarming resurgence of measles in the U.S., with over 880 cases reported by April 2025, largely driven by domestic transmission and declining vaccination coverage. The authors warn that without urgent public health action, measles could become endemic again, exposing broader vulnerabilities in vaccine-preventable disease defenses.

17 Jun 2025

The price you pay for an Obamacare plan could surge next year

Josefina Muralles works a part-time overnight shift as a receptionist at a Miami Beach condominium so that during the day she can care for her three kids, her aging mother, and her brother, who is paralyzed.

17 Jun 2025