Global Scans · Pandemics · Weekly Summary

• [New] The childhood obesity prevalence estimates from the CDC will likely increase as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and related safety measures. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The erosion of U.S. surveillance capacity threatens domestic epidemic control and global epidemic intelligence: U.S.-backed systems have long underpinned response coordination and cross-national research. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The AIDS epidemic could stage a comeback amid unequal access to breakthrough prevention medicines and a sharp decline in global funding. UN News
• [New] According to Imagine Your Smile's dental health statistics, teledentistry usage increased by 800% in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic - and it has continued to grow heading into 2026. Patientdesk AI, Inc.
• [New] Implant prevalence rose from 0.7% in 1999-2000 to 5.7% in 2015-2016 - an eight-fold increase in less than two decades, with further acceleration expected post-pandemic. / USA URBN Dental
• The collapse of trust in institutions after a pandemic could last over a generation as it happened before with the Spanish flu, so that it will be crucial to identify tailored interventions for each less trusting population. PubMed Central (PMC)
• There is a potential threat of epidemic spread between French Polynesia and South America. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The geographical expansion and reported outbreaks of dengue, Chikungunya and Zika viruses in several regions including Oceania demonstrates the critical association between growing mobile populations and the distribution of epidemic risks. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The small number of secondary transmissions to Europe and North America that occurred during the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic highlights Ebola's continued risk to highly connected economies and international transit hubs beyond affected regions. Middle East Council on Global Affairs
• The burnout epidemic of the mid-2020s has forced a radical rethinking of the American workspace. Sunaofe
• While taxpayers often focus on demonstrating that they experienced pandemic-related disruptions, a recent summary judgement ruling from the United States District Court for the Central District of California underscores a more formidable evidentiary hurdle: causation. Current Federal Tax Developments
• The US-China rivalry, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Covid pandemic, increased volatility in financial markets and continuing threat of climate change have diminished the trust in the rule based global trading system. The Financial Express
• Subdued investment and limited fiscal space are weighing heavily on economic activity, raising the possibility that the global economy could settle into a trajectory of persistently slower growth than was observed in the pre-pandemic era. UN Forecasts Subdued Global Growth of 2.7% in 2026 Amid
• The UN predicts 2026 global growth at 2.7%, remaining below pre-pandemic levels. UN Forecasts Subdued Global Growth of 2.7% in 2026 Amid
• Effective pandemic responses should focus on strengthening health systems and surveillance worldwide, while continuing to protect older adults who remain at higher risk of severe disease. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 03 August 2026