Global Scans · Pandemics · Weekly Summary

• [New] SARS-CoV-2 is still bringing waves, and global health bodies track viral evolution to see the bigger picture of pandemic risk. Yahoo Health
• [New] Global international passenger traffic fell 0.6% yoy while overall global passenger traffic (international & domestic) grew by a modest 2.1% - the weakest post-pandemic performance as a result of the disruption to airline operations. Nasser Saidi & Associates
• Over the past several years, employers have navigated one workforce disruption after another: a global pandemic, labour shortages, supply chain instability, rising healthcare costs, and evolving expectations around workplace flexibility. A Second Opinion
• The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the energy sector of the United Arab Emirates, leading to disruptions and decreased demand for transportation fuels and industrial activities. Markets and Data
• The EU will reinforce global networks for enhanced detection, preparedness and response to epidemic threats. EU Neighbours East
• The sustained high levels of vaccine hesitancy in Southeastern Europe following the COVID-19 pandemic may pose significant risks to population health and herd immunity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Key Opportunity: The accelerating growth of online and telepharmacy platforms, with digital prescription fulfilment up 40% post-pandemic, represents a major revenue opportunity for companies targeting underserved and rural U.S. populations requiring timely access to antibiotic ophthalmic treatments. Persistence Market Research
• The chronic disease epidemic is expected to sustain robust insurance demand through 2032, particularly as medical technology advances enable more effective but costly treatment modalities for previously unmanageable conditions. P&S Intelligence
• Ending the HIV Epidemic seeks to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 75% by 2025, and then by at least 90% by 2030, for an estimated 250,000 total HIV infections averted. Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP
• Investment in pandemic preparedness is further accelerating growth; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has committed $3.5 billion through 2029 to develop vaccines for Disease X and other priority pathogens. Market Data Forecast
• Telemedicine usage in Africa increased by 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its potential. Market Data Forecast
• Recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, have exposed structural vulnerabilities stemming from excessive reliance on highly concentrated supply chains. Lupicinio
• Cambodia has become the first country in Asia to achieve a set of global goals aimed at ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. Positive News
• The Diabetes Care Devices segment is expected to grow with an expected CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period with the escalating global diabetes epidemic and the shift toward continuous, real-time glucose monitoring. Market Data Forecast
• 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)
• 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)
• The AIDS epidemic could stage a comeback amid unequal access to breakthrough prevention medicines and a sharp decline in global funding. UN News
• 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.

Last updated: 21 September 2026