Intelligence briefings
Plain-language explainers on outbreaks, disease severity, travel health and infection prevention, written to be read alongside the live outbreak map.
Start with a guide
Each guide covers one big topic and links to the shorter articles under it.
- Pandemic Preparedness: Your Early Warning GuideHow disease surveillance works, what severity scores mean, and how to set up your own outbreak monitoring system.22 articles
- Disease Severity Scoring: How Outbreaks Are RankedHow the 1-5 severity scale works, what triggers each level, and why it matters for your preparedness decisions.28 articles
- Infection Prevention: A Practical Protection GuideHow to protect yourself from infectious diseases with the right masks, hygiene practices, ventilation, and isolation protocols.21 articles
- Outbreak-Aware Travel: Your Pre-Departure GuideHow to check disease risks before traveling, set up destination alerts, and respond if an outbreak starts abroad.27 articles
All articles
Newest first.
May 2026
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Tick-Triggered Meat AllergyAlpha-gal syndrome is a delayed meat allergy triggered by Lone Star tick bites. 110,000+ suspected US cases since 2010 and the range is expanding.
- Babesiosis: The Tick-Borne Malaria Spreading in the USBabesiosis cases doubled in the US between 2015 and 2022. The parasite resembles malaria, transmits via deer ticks, and can kill asplenic patients.
- Brucellosis: Why Raw Milk Brings Back an Old DiseaseBrucellosis once infected 50,000 Americans a year. Pasteurization nearly eliminated it. Raw milk and imported cheese keep US cases going.
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis: Rare Mosquito, Deadly OutcomeEEE kills 30 percent of clinical cases and disables half of survivors. The 2019 northeast US outbreak put it on the map for a generation.
- Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis: US Tick-Borne BacteriaEhrlichiosis and anaplasmosis cases have risen sevenfold in the US since 2000. Same family, different ticks and regions, same doxycycline treatment.
- Giardia: The Hiker's Diarrhea You Can Get From Clear WaterGiardia infects 1.2 million Americans a year. Backcountry water, daycare centers, and contaminated swimming pools are the most common sources.
- Q Fever: The Airborne Livestock BacteriumQ fever spreads through inhaled aerosols from infected sheep, goats, and cattle. One to ten organisms can cause infection. Chronic cases attack the heart.
- Backyard Chickens and Bird Flu: Home Biosecurity StepsH5N1 has killed wild birds and poultry across the US since 2022. How to protect a backyard flock and household with practical biosecurity steps.
- Chagas Disease: Triatomine Bug Risk Across the AmericasChagas disease infects 6 million people across the Americas, with growing US recognition. Kissing bug exposure, chronic heart disease, and treatment.
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Tick-Borne and ExpandingCCHF is the most geographically widespread tick-borne hemorrhagic fever, with 5 to 40 percent fatality and expanding range across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Disease X: WHO's Blueprint for the Unknown PathogenDisease X is WHO's placeholder for the next unknown pandemic pathogen. What the concept means, who is preparing, and how the 100 Days Mission works.
- Invasive Group A Strep: Why iGAS Cases Are SurgingInvasive Group A Strep cases have surged in Europe and the US since 2022. M1UK lineage, children at risk, and how to recognize severe disease.
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Travel Risk With ChildrenHFMD outbreaks hit Asia every summer with EV-A71 causing severe cases. What travelers with kids should know about coxsackievirus and enterovirus 71.
- Japanese Encephalitis: Asia Travel Risk and Vaccine TimingJapanese encephalitis kills 1 in 3 symptomatic patients. When the JE vaccine is worth getting, how the schedule works, and where the disease is active.
- Lassa Fever: West Africa's Recurring Hemorrhagic ThreatLassa fever causes 300,000 to 500,000 infections a year across West Africa. Transmission, symptoms, ribavirin treatment, and traveler risk.
- Listeriosis Outbreaks: High-Risk Foods and Who's VulnerableListeria kills 20 to 30 percent of severe cases. Deli meats, soft cheeses, and produce drive outbreaks. Who's at risk and what to avoid.
- Mycoplasma Pneumoniae: Why Walking Pneumonia Is SurgingMycoplasma pneumoniae infections surged across Europe and Asia in 2023-2024, including macrolide-resistant strains. Diagnosis, treatment, and outlook.
- Naegleria Fowleri: Brain-Eating Amoeba in Warm FreshwaterNaegleria fowleri causes 97 percent fatal brain infection from warm freshwater. How to recognize risk and the safe nasal rinse protocol.
- Oropouche Virus: The Emerging Arbovirus in the AmericasOropouche virus has spread from the Amazon basin to Cuba, Italy, and Spain since 2023. Midge vector, congenital risk, and what's known so far.
- Outbreak Investigation: The 10 Steps Epidemiologists FollowHow disease detectives investigate outbreaks: the CDC 10-step method, from case definition through control measures to closing the investigation.
- PCR vs Antigen vs Serology: How Disease Tests DifferPCR, antigen, and serology tests answer different questions about infection. What each detects, how long the window is, and when to use which.
- Pets and Zoonotic Disease: What Your Animals Might CarryDogs, cats, reptiles, and birds carry pathogens that infect humans. Salmonella, rabies, Bartonella, and what household hygiene actually prevents.
- Powassan Virus: The Rare but Serious US Tick ThreatPowassan virus is rare but deadly: 10 percent fatality, half of survivors with neurological damage. Where it's active and how to avoid tick bites.
- Valley Fever: Dust Exposure in the US SouthwestValley fever cases tripled in California in 2024. What dust storms, soil disturbance, and changing climate mean for this rising fungal disease.
- Variant Naming: WHO Greek, Pango, and Nextstrain ComparedWHO Greek letters, Pango lineages, and Nextstrain clades each name viral variants differently. Why three systems exist and which to use when.
- Vibrio Vulnificus: Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Warming WatersVibrio vulnificus kills 1 in 5 infected. Cases are spreading north as Gulf waters warm. Who's at risk and how to protect open wounds.
- West Nile Virus: US Summer Risk and PreventionWest Nile virus is now endemic across the lower 48 US states. Who develops neuroinvasive disease, where it's worst, and how to prevent bites.
- Biosafety Levels Explained: BSL-1 to BSL-4Biosafety levels rank lab containment from BSL-1 to BSL-4. What pathogens belong at each level, and which ~60 BSL-4 labs exist worldwide.
- Hantavirus Cabin Cleanup: Safe Steps and What to AvoidSafe hantavirus cleanup for cabins and sheds: bleach concentration, PPE, ventilation, and the dry-sweeping mistakes that aerosolize the virus.
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Symptoms and RecognitionHantavirus pulmonary syndrome symptoms progress from flu-like aches to respiratory failure in 24 to 48 hours. Recognize the stages early.
- Hantavirus Types: Sin Nombre, Andes, Seoul, and OthersSin Nombre, Andes, Seoul, Hantaan, and Puumala compared: hantavirus species, reservoirs, geography, and case fatality rates side by side.
- Incubation Period vs Infectious Period: Why It MattersThe incubation period and infectious period rarely line up. The gap between them shapes quarantine rules, contact tracing, and outbreak control.
- MERS-CoV: Camel Exposure, Travel Risk, and DetectionHow MERS-CoV spills over from dromedary camels, why hospital outbreaks repeat, and what travelers to the Arabian Peninsula need to know.
- Secondary Attack Rate vs R0: Why Both Numbers MatterSecondary attack rate measures household spread; R0 measures population spread. The two numbers answer different questions, and confusing them misleads.
- Tick-Borne Encephalitis: Europe and Asia Travel RiskWhere tick-borne encephalitis circulates in Europe and Asia, who needs the TBE vaccine, and how to reduce tick exposure on travel.
- Antigenic Drift vs Shift: How Flu Viruses EvolveDrift is why you need a flu shot every year. Shift is why we worry about H5N1. The mechanism, the difference, and what to watch for in surveillance.
- Genomic Surveillance with GISAID and NextstrainHow real-time pathogen sequencing through GISAID, visualized by Nextstrain, lets the world detect variants and outbreaks days instead of months.
- Hajj and Umrah: Mass Gathering Disease RiskWhy Saudi Arabia requires meningococcal vaccination for pilgrims, what other diseases concentrate at Hajj, and the practical health prep travelers need.
- Herd Immunity Threshold: Why It Varies By DiseaseWhy measles needs 95 percent immunity to stop outbreaks, polio 80, and flu effectively never reaches herd immunity. Same math, different inputs.
- Leptospirosis: Post-Flood and Tropical Travel RiskHow leptospirosis spreads after floods and tropical exposures, the biphasic symptom pattern, and when doxycycline prophylaxis is worth taking.
- Meningococcal Disease: Vaccines and Risk GroupsWhy meningococcal disease still kills US college students, who needs MenACWY vs MenB vaccines, and the 24-hour symptom window that decides outcome.
- Nipah Virus: Spillover, Outbreaks, and Pandemic RiskWhy Nipah virus has a 40 to 75 percent fatality rate, how fruit-bat spillover happens, and why WHO lists it as a top pandemic priority pathogen.
- One Health: Why Animal Outbreaks Become Human Ones60 percent of known infectious diseases are zoonotic. 75 percent of new ones are. The One Health framework, what it means, and where it works.
- Rabies: Prevention, Exposure, and PEP TimingHow to recognize a rabies exposure, when post-exposure prophylaxis works, the bat-bite rule, and who needs the pre-exposure travel vaccine.
- Zika Virus: Pregnancy Risk and Travel DecisionsWhere Zika still circulates, why pregnancy is the central risk, sexual transmission timing, and how to plan travel before, during, and after pregnancy.
April 2026
- Hepatitis A: Travel Risk and Vaccine TimingWhere hepatitis A is endemic, how it spreads through food and water, and how the two-dose vaccine protects you for travel.
- Lyme Disease: Tick Bite Risk and RemovalWhich regions have the highest Lyme disease risk, how to remove a tick correctly, and which symptoms need urgent treatment.
- Norovirus: How to Stop the Stomach Bug SpreadingWhy norovirus spreads so fast, what disinfectants actually kill it, and how to stop a household outbreak from infecting everyone.
- Pertussis: Whooping Cough Symptoms and VaccinesWhy whooping cough cases are rising despite vaccination, how to recognize it in adults and infants, and when Tdap boosters matter most.
- Polio in 2026: Why Vaccination Still MattersWastewater detections, vaccine-derived strains, and why polio eradication remains incomplete. What the booster question means for adults.
- RSV: Risk, Recognition, and PreventionRespiratory syncytial virus risk for infants and adults over 60, how to recognize it, and which RSV vaccines and monoclonals are available.
- Seasonal Flu vs Pandemic Flu: Risk DifferencesWhat separates seasonal influenza from pandemic flu in transmissibility, mortality, and population immunity, and why H5N1 watchers worry.
- Typhoid Fever: Travel Risk, Vaccine, and SymptomsWhere typhoid fever is endemic, how oral and injectable vaccines compare, and which symptoms mean you should seek medical care fast.
- Cruise Ship Outbreaks: Norovirus and Respiratory RisksWhy cruise ships are outbreak hotspots for norovirus and respiratory illness, what cruise lines do about it, and how to reduce your risk.
- Hand Hygiene: Soap vs Sanitizer and What WorksSoap and water, alcohol sanitizer, and when each one matters. What hand hygiene technique actually reduces infection, and what doesn't.
- Home Isolation: Caring for a Sick Family MemberHow to isolate a sick family member at home without infecting the rest of the household. Room setup, PPE, cleaning, and duration.
- Indoor Ventilation for Infection ControlHow indoor ventilation, air changes per hour, and CO2 monitors control airborne disease risk in homes, offices, and classrooms.
- Travel Vaccinations: Timing, Cost, and What's RequiredWhich travel vaccinations you need, which are recommended, and how far in advance to get them. Yellow fever certificates explained.
- Chikungunya Surge Across the Americas in 2026ECDC reports 32,529 confirmed chikungunya cases across the Americas with 9 deaths. Joint pain can persist for months after infection.
- Emergency Water Purification During OutbreaksBoiling kills bacteria and viruses. Chemical tablets take 30 minutes. UV pens work in 60 seconds. Which method to use and when.
- H9N2 Avian Influenza Detected in ItalyItaly reported Europe's first imported H9N2 human case in April 2026. How H9N2 differs from H5N1 and what it means for surveillance.
- Hantavirus: The Rodent-Borne ThreatHantavirus pulmonary syndrome kills 36% of confirmed US cases. Cleaning a dusty shed or cabin is the most common exposure route.
- HEPA Filters and Air Purification for OutbreaksHEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns. How to size, place, and run air purifiers during a respiratory outbreak.
- Mental Health During Outbreaks: What Data ShowsWHO reported a 25% global rise in anxiety and depression during COVID-19. Preparedness includes your psychological state.
- Plague: Modern Risk from an Ancient DiseaseThe US reports an average of 7 plague cases per year. Oregon confirmed a case from cat contact in 2024. Plague is treatable but deadly if missed.
- R0 and Transmission: How Diseases SpreadR0 tells you how many people one infected person spreads to. Measles hits 12-18. COVID started at 2-3. Here is what the numbers mean.
- Shigellosis in Cabo Verde: Traveler AlertOver 1,000 shigellosis cases detected in European travelers returning from Cabo Verde. Drug-resistant strains complicate treatment.
- Vaccine Efficacy: What the Numbers Actually MeanA vaccine with 95% efficacy does not mean 5 out of 100 vaccinated people get sick. Here is what those clinical trial numbers mean.
- Which Diseases Could Actually Be Eradicated?Only smallpox has been eradicated. Polio is close. What makes a disease eliminable, and which ones might be next?
- Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Growing CrisisMDR-TB and XDR-TB are spreading. Treatment takes 9-20 months, costs 100x more, and fails in 40% of cases.
- Hospital Supply Chains During Pandemics: What BreaksPPE shortages, ventilator bottlenecks, and oxygen supply failures during outbreaks, and why they keep happening.
- Long COVID in 2026: Where Treatment StandsAn estimated 65 million people worldwide have long COVID. New treatments are emerging but no cure exists yet.
- N95 vs KN95 vs Surgical vs Cloth: Mask ComparisonFiltration rates, fit, comfort, and when to use each mask type based on the pathogen and exposure risk.
- Measles Surges as Global Vaccination Rates FallWHO reports measles cases rose 79% globally in 2023-2024 as vaccination coverage dropped below the 95% herd immunity threshold.
- Lab Testing During Outbreaks: What You Need to KnowPCR, antigen, and serology tests explained: what each detects, how fast results come, and which one you actually need.
- Recognizing Mpox: Signs, Stages, and When to ActHow mpox presents clinically, the stages of the rash, who is most at risk, and when to seek testing.
- When Do Outbreaks Peak? A Seasonal Disease GuideMonth-by-month disease risk patterns for flu, dengue, cholera, and other seasonal outbreaks by hemisphere.
- Traveler's Diarrhea: Prevention by DestinationHow to prevent and treat traveler's diarrhea by region, from water safety rules to antibiotic options.
- Candida Auris: US Hospital Cases Keep ClimbingCDC reports Candida auris cases tripled in US hospitals since 2019, with some strains resistant to all antifungals.
- Fungal Infections: The Rising Threat You Should KnowCandida auris, Valley fever, and other fungal threats are expanding as climate changes. Most people have never heard of them.
- Infection Prevention: A Practical Protection GuideHow to protect yourself from infectious diseases with the right masks, hygiene practices, ventilation, and isolation protocols.
- Why H5N1 Could Trigger the Next Influenza PandemicH5N1 is adapting in US dairy cattle. If it gains efficient human transmission, we face a pathogen with an extreme fatality rate.
- Medication Stockpiling: What to Keep on HandWhich medications to stockpile for outbreak preparedness, how long they last, and how to get 90-day prescription refills.
- Mosquito-Borne Disease Prevention Beyond RepellentPermethrin-treated clothing, bed nets, and prophylaxis drugs for travelers in malaria and dengue zones.
- How to Spot Outbreak MisinformationCommon patterns in health misinformation during outbreaks, and tools to verify claims before you share them.
- Traveling with a Chronic Condition During OutbreaksExtra precautions for travelers with diabetes, asthma, or weakened immune systems during disease outbreaks.
- Wastewater Surveillance: The Hidden Early WarningHow testing sewage detects disease outbreaks days before hospitals see patients, from COVID tracking to polio detection.
- Yellow Fever Cases Reported in South SudanSouth Sudan reports 42 yellow fever cases with 6 deaths in a region with limited vaccine supply.
March 2026
- Airport Health Screening: What Really HappensWhat to expect from thermal scanning, health declarations, and entry requirements during outbreaks.
- Antimicrobial Resistance: The Slow-Motion Pandemic1.27 million people died from drug-resistant infections in 2019. By 2050 that number could reach 10 million per year.
- How CDC MMWR Reports Give You an Early WarningWhat the CDC's weekly disease reports contain, how to read them, and why they matter for outbreak awareness.
- CFR vs IFR: Why Early Death Rates Are Always WrongCase fatality rate vs infection fatality rate: how to read outbreak mortality numbers without being misled.
- Cholera in Mozambique: Post-Cyclone CrisisOver 12,000 cholera cases in Mozambique following cyclone displacement and destroyed infrastructure.
- Climate Change Is Spreading Infectious DiseasesRising temperatures are expanding mosquito ranges, thawing permafrost pathogens, and creating conditions for more frequent outbreaks.
- Contact Tracing: How Disease Detectives WorkHow health authorities identify and notify people exposed to infectious diseases, from shoe-leather methods to digital apps.
- Dengue Fever: The Fastest-Spreading Tropical DiseaseDengue hit a record 14.6 million cases in 2024. Where it stands in late 2026, why it keeps reaching new places, and what changed for vaccines.
- Dengue Hits Record Levels Across South AmericaBrazil alone reported over 5 million dengue cases in 2024. The surge is spreading across the continent.
- Diphtheria Surge in Nigeria: 18,000 CasesNigeria's diphtheria outbreak has reached 18,000 cases with 630 deaths, driven by vaccination gaps in the north.
- Disease Risks by Region: What Travelers Need to KnowA region-by-region breakdown of endemic diseases, emerging threats, and current outbreak alerts for travelers.
- Disease Severity Scoring: How Outbreaks Are RankedHow the 1-5 severity scale works, what triggers each level, and why it matters for your preparedness decisions.
- Ebola: The Deadliest Outbreaks and What Stopped ThemFrom the 1976 discovery to West Africa's 11,300 deaths and the 2026 Bundibugyo epidemic, how Ebola outbreaks are fought and contained.
- Preparing Your Family for a Disease OutbreakA parent's guide to protecting children during outbreaks, from supply planning to explaining the situation without causing panic.
- Foodborne Disease Outbreaks: What You Can CatchFrom E. coli in lettuce to Listeria in deli meat, foodborne outbreaks sicken 600 million people per year worldwide.
- When Local Outbreaks Go Global: Geographic SpreadHow an outbreak's geographic spread affects its severity rating and what cross-border transmission means for you.
- H5N1 Bird Flu in US Dairy Herds: What to KnowH5N1 avian influenza has infected 67 people across US dairy farms with one confirmed death.
- How to Read a Disease Outbreak MapA guide to interpreting outbreak maps: what markers, colors, clusters, and severity indicators mean.
- International Health Regulations: The Outbreak RulebookHow the IHR 2005 framework requires countries to report outbreaks within 24 hours and what happens when they don't.
- Lessons from 1918, SARS, and COVID-19Three pandemics across a century reveal the same mistakes: delayed response, poor communication, and inequality in who survives.
- Marburg Virus: What You Need to KnowRwanda's first Marburg outbreak infected 66 people with a 23% fatality rate. Here's what makes this virus dangerous.
- Novel Pathogens: Why New Diseases Are the Biggest ThreatWhat makes a pathogen 'novel,' why new diseases spread faster, and how to recognize early warning signs.
- Outbreak-Aware Travel: Your Pre-Departure GuideHow to check disease risks before traveling, set up destination alerts, and respond if an outbreak starts abroad.
- What to Stock Before an Outbreak Hits Your AreaA practical supply list based on what actually ran out during past outbreaks, from N95 masks to shelf-stable food.
- Build Your Own Outbreak Monitoring SystemA step-by-step guide to setting up personalized disease surveillance using PandemicAlarm and other free tools.
- ProMED Mail: Why It Detects Outbreaks Before WHOHow ProMED's global network of disease experts spots outbreaks days or weeks before official channels.
- Quarantine vs Isolation: Know the DifferenceQuarantine separates the exposed. Isolation separates the infected. Here's when each applies and what your rights are.
- Respiratory Diseases While Traveling: Beyond COVIDFlu, RSV, TB, and MERS pose real risks to travelers. How to assess respiratory disease threats at your destination.
- Vaccine Supply Chains: Why Doses Don't Reach EveryoneCold chain logistics, manufacturing bottlenecks, and global inequity explain why billions wait years for vaccines during pandemics.
- Waterborne Disease Outbreaks: Causes and PreparationHow contaminated water drives cholera, typhoid, and other outbreaks, especially after natural disasters.
- What Is a PHEIC? The WHO's Highest Alert LevelEvery Public Health Emergency of International Concern explained, from the declaration process to what it means for you.
- Zoonotic Diseases: When Animal Infections Jump to HumansHow pathogens cross the species barrier, which animals pose the greatest risk, and why zoonotic spillover is accelerating.
- How WHO Tracks Disease Outbreaks WorldwideInside the WHO's Disease Outbreak News system, from local reporting to global alerts.
- Mpox Clade Ib: Current Situation and What to WatchLatest update on the Mpox Clade Ib outbreak in the DRC and neighboring countries.
- Pandemic Preparedness: Your Early Warning GuideHow disease surveillance works, what severity scores mean, and how to set up your own outbreak monitoring system.
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