LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
U.S. Measles Elimination Status Under Review as Cases Surpass 7,000
U.S. measles elimination status is under review as more than 7,000 infections have been reported nationwide since January 2025.
Eight public health officials advising the Pan American Health Organization will determine whether a single transmission chain has persisted for at least a year, the threshold for withdrawing the status the country achieved in 2000.
Kindergarten vaccination coverage has fallen to 92.4%, below the 95% level needed to contain measles. Pennsylvania has reported 1,487 cases and six deaths, while officials warn infections may be substantially undercounted. The review highlights the importance of vaccination and consistent public health messaging. Read more from Politico here.
AI Use In Public Health Should Be A ‘How,’ Not An ‘If
A growing number of public health agencies are adopting artificial intelligence (AI), but workforce training, leadership support and responsible-use policies remain key challenges, speakers said during an APHA 2026 session on Nov. 4.
Citing a 2025 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials survey, presenters reported that about one-third of state and local health departments do not use AI, while adoption among those that do remains largely limited to administrative tasks and report development.
About two-thirds of state health departments have AI-use policies. Speakers highlighted the need to address bias, equity, accuracy and environmental impacts as adoption expands. Read more from APHA here.
Teens Worldwide Aren't Getting Enough Exercise, Especially Girls
A new global study in The Lancet Global Health finds that only 14% of adolescents meet the recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, with one in four reporting no days of sufficient exercise during the week.
Drawing on survey data from more than 3 million adolescents across 140 countries over 15 years, researchers found little improvement in activity levels. Girls were less active than boys, with nearly 30% reporting no weekly exercise compared with 22% of boys.
Findings highlight the need for accessible, affordable school-based sports and physical activity opportunities. Read more from NPR here.
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New Resource Helps Public Health Partners Prepare Content for AI-Generated Responses
CDC released new guidance to help public health organizations improve how AI systems interpret, summarize, and cite digital health content.
The “Considerations for Generative Engine Optimization” resource applies established communication practices to AI-generated responses, emphasizing plain language, descriptive headings, direct answers to common questions, scannable content, and links to credible evidence.
As AI-powered search tools and assistants increasingly synthesize information from multiple sources, the guidance highlights the importance of structuring health content for both human and machine understanding. Clear, well-organized, evidence-based content can help improve the accuracy and accessibility of AI-generated health information.
CDC Report Highlights Disparities in Violent Deaths and Suicide
A new CDC report published finds that more than 72,000 violent deaths occurred across the 50 states and District of Columbia in 2023, with suicides accounting for 62.4% and homicides for 28.5%.
Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System showed substantial disparities: American Indian or Alaska Native people had the highest suicide rate, while Black males had the highest homicide rate. Firearms were the most common method for both suicides and homicides.
Mental health, intimate partner, and physical health problems, interpersonal conflicts, and acute life stressors were among the circumstances preceding violent deaths, highlighting opportunities for targeted prevention. Read the MMWR here.
New Data Show Continued Youth Use of E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
New 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey data show that 5.2% of U.S. middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes, while 1.7% use nicotine pouches. The analysis, published October 5 in Public Health Alerts, estimates 1.4 million youth currently vape and 3.7 million have ever used e-cigarettes.
Use was higher among high school students, with 7.1% currently vaping. Among current users, 89.4% used non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, particularly fruit flavors, while 90.8% of nicotine pouch users chose non-tobacco flavors, most often mint.
The findings highlight the need for continued youth tobacco surveillance and prevention strategies as products and brands rapidly change. Read the article from CIDRAP here.
Just One Small Serving of Ultra-Processed Food a Day Linked to Higher Disease Risk, Major Study Finds
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, cancer, metabolic syndrome or diabetes, and death.
An analysis of nearly 8.8 million adults across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania found that each additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily was associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, 4% higher cancer risk, 3% higher risk of death and 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Participants with the highest UPF intake also had greater risks of digestive diseases, depression or anxiety, and obesity. Researchers noted that reducing UPFs may support chronic disease prevention. Read more from the NY Post here.
