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.

Multiple sclerosis mortality trends underscore need for comprehensive patient care

An analysis of more than 42,000 U.S. deaths linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) found that death rates varied by age, geography, and race and ethnicity, with Black patients dying younger than white patients and high blood pressure emerging as a growing contributor.

22 Jul 2026

Global hunger declines for third straight year but remains fragile, report reveals

Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, demonstrating that progress is possible. However, the improvements remain fragile, unevenly distributed and insufficient to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI 2026) report, released on Tuesday by five United Nations specialized agencies.

22 Jul 2026

Global study reveals widening gap between lifespan and healthspan

People around the world are living longer than ever before but spending more of those additional years in poor health, according to a new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in The Lancet Public Health.

21 Jul 2026

Childhood unpredictability linked to higher mental health risks

Children who grow up in unpredictable environments may face elevated risks for depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and other mental health challenges, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, Chapman University and Rady Children's Hospital Orange County, formerly called Children's Hospital of Orange County.

21 Jul 2026

WHO Member States advance Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex negotiations

WHO Member States have advanced negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, a central component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, while agreeing that continued discussions are needed to finalize a framework that supports a faster, more effective and equitable response to future pandemics.

21 Jul 2026

How metabolic phenotyping can detect viral infections in minutes

Metabolic phenotyping enables rapid detection of viral infections within minutes by identifying early biochemical changes in the body.

From Bruker BioSpin Division 20 Jul 2026

Mapping how influenza virus rewires human host cells

Researchers at EMBL Hamburg and collaborators at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) have mapped how the influenza A virus rewires infected human cells in unprecedented detail.

20 Jul 2026

Illicit tobacco buying nearly doubled in Great Britain since 2023

A study reveals a rise in illicit tobacco purchasing in Great Britain, posing challenges to the smokefree generation policy and highlighting enforcement needs.

20 Jul 2026

Musical Museum helps reduce isolation among dementia patients

Growing evidence suggests lifelong learning can help combat cognitive decline, but many older adults with dementia avoid traditional classes for fear of not keeping up.

20 Jul 2026

Study identifies immune response causing severe COVID-19 susceptibility

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided, scientists continue to investigate why the virus proved so deadly, causing at least three million deaths worldwide, according to the latest estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).

19 Jul 2026

Political polarization drives surge in anti-vaccine legislation across the US

Despite overwhelming evidence on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine hesitancy intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and has fueled skepticism towards other life-saving vaccines for children, adults, and pets.

17 Jul 2026

COVID lockdown babies show language strengths at age four

Research from the BICYCLE study shows 4-year-olds born in lockdown excel in language but face challenges in executive function, indicating a need for support.

17 Jul 2026

A wife’s account reveals the hidden burden of young-onset Alzheimer’s caregiving

Karina Acton Reid recounts caring for her husband with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease presenting as posterior cortical atrophy while raising two young children. Her perspective shows how visual disorientation, diagnostic delays, changing family roles, and inadequate age-appropriate support affect the entire household.

16 Jul 2026

Fractional COVID booster doses provide strong long-lasting immunity

Smaller doses of COVID-19 booster vaccines can provide long-lasting immunity, helping to reduce costs and improve access to vaccination, according to new research. And the findings could also inform vaccine dosing and options during future pandemics.

16 Jul 2026

UCL study shows more UK smokers use illicit tobacco sources

Published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, the research analyzed repeated cross-sectional survey data from 9,996 participants aged 16 or older who reported they currently smoked.

16 Jul 2026

Global child immunization rates stall despite minor pandemic recovery

In 2025, 90% of infants globally – or nearly 116 million – received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and 85% – or 110 million – completed the full three-dose series, according to the annual WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released today.

15 Jul 2026

Tick-borne viruses show concerning potential for future pandemics

A study led by a University of California, Riverside biomedical scientist shows how a family of tick-borne viruses known as orthonairoviruses can evade immune defenses, offering important insights into emerging infectious disease threats and the potential pandemic risk posed by these viruses.

14 Jul 2026

Lockdown-born children show lower executive function at school age

Children born during the first COVID-19 lockdown in England had lower reported levels of executive function - crucial skills involved in making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations - suggest the findings of a study published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

14 Jul 2026

Tracking Lassa fever survivors provides crucial clues for future vaccines

The University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), has announced the launch of a research study to understand how Lassa fever survivors fight and overcome Lassa virus infection.

14 Jul 2026