LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Update on Common Vaccine Myths
Uncertainty about common vaccine myths remains widespread despite relatively few U.S. adults fully believing false claims, highlighting continued vulnerability to health misinformation. KFF found that at least half of adults classified each false claim as "probably true" or "probably false," while fewer than one in ten expressed firm belief in any individual myth.
Belief in misinformation was more common among people without a trusted health care provider, those who regularly use social media or AI for health information, and parents who delay or skip childhood vaccinations.
The findings suggest strengthening trusted health communication may help reduce uncertainty and improve vaccine confidence. Read the full report from KFF here.
NPHIC and CDC Monthly Communication Calls Continue with July 29 Session
NPHIC and CDC continue to host a recurring monthly communication call series designed to strengthen coordination between CDC communication staff, regional press officers, and public health communicators nationwide.
Typically held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, the calls provide timely updates and opportunities for direct engagement on emerging public health issues. The next call will take place on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET.
Participants who would like to join the call may contact Laura Espino at lespino@nphic.org to receive the Microsoft Teams invitation.
New CDC Hurricane Preparedness Communication Tools
As hurricane season continues, CDC has updated several communication resources to help public health agencies strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery messaging.
Communication Resources for Natural Disasters – A collection of downloadable fact sheets, flyers, posters, and activity books covering topics such as disaster shelter safety, returning home after a disaster, hurricane preparedness, and emergency kit planning. Many resources are print-ready, and select materials can be customized for local use.
Essential Guide for Disaster Public Information Officers – A practical guide for public information officers that outlines strategies for planning, coordinating, and delivering effective public communications before, during, and after disasters.
Teen Natural Disaster Preparedness & Safety Resources – Age-appropriate educational materials designed to help teens prepare for hurricanes and other disasters, including emergency kit guidance, shelter safety information, printable fact sheets, and interactive activities.
Animated Infographic: "You Never Know What's Lurking Below: Stay Out of Floodwater" – A ready-to-share animated resource that highlights the health and safety risks associated with entering or driving through floodwater.
Public health communicators are encouraged to review these free CDC resources and incorporate them into hurricane preparedness and response efforts throughout the season.
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CDC releases 2026 Annual US Cancer Statistics Release
CDC’s latest United States Cancer Statistics release expands access to one of the nation’s most comprehensive cancer datasets, now including complete county-level cancer incidence data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The new data reveal that rural communities experienced higher cancer incidence rates than urban areas from 2019–2023, with approximately 467 versus 451 new cases per 100,000 people. In 2023, nearly 1.94 million new cancer cases were reported nationwide, and cancer remained the second leading cause of death in 2024, accounting for 619,871 deaths.
The addition of county-level and rural–urban data can help public health professionals better identify disparities, target interventions, and inform cancer control planning and resource allocation. See the full report from the CDC here.
Survey Highlights Persistent Uncertainty on STI Vaccines
A nationally representative Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found that while most U.S. adults understand core STI transmission routes, knowledge gaps persist around less common pathways and vaccine availability.
Majorities correctly identified gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HPV, and genital herpes as sexually transmitted, but far fewer recognized mpox (35%) or Zika (13%) as sexually transmitted infections.
Misconceptions included 20% believing STI transmission can occur via toilet seats and only 33% identifying breastfeeding as a possible HIV transmission route. While 68% recognized an HPV vaccine, only 42% were aware of an mpox vaccine, and most respondents were uncertain about vaccine availability for other STIs. Read the survey here.
Fake References in Medical Papers are Skyrocketing
A reference-integrity audit of 2.5 million biomedical papers and 125.6 million references in PubMed Central identified 4,046 fabricated references across 2,810 papers after multi-database verification and filtering.
Fabrication rates rose markedly, from 1 in 2,828 papers in 2023 to 1 in 458 in 2025, a more than 12-fold increase overall. Most affected papers contained one or two fabricated references, and review articles showed higher fabrication rates than other article types.
Notably, 98.4% of affected papers had received no publisher action at the time of the audit, highlighting gaps in oversight. Read the study in Lancet here.
The Condition PCOS is Now Called PMOS
Researchers and clinicians have renamed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) to better reflect the condition’s broader hormonal and metabolic impacts and improve patient care.
Affecting an estimated 1 in 8 women worldwide, the condition is associated with irregular menstrual cycles, elevated androgen levels, infertility, and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Experts say the previous name contributed to confusion, missed diagnoses, and limited understanding of the disorder beyond ovarian symptoms.
The updated terminology follows 14 years of collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and patients and is intended to support more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment approaches. Learn more from AP here.
