Happy Holidays from NPHIC!
As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank our members for your steadfast support and active engagement with the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC). This year, together, we’ve navigated unique challenges and celebrated collective successes, all while furthering our shared mission to enhance public health communication.
Your contributions—whether through in...
How to Prevent Drowning: A Ground-Breaking Report That's Startling Yet Hopeful
A new WHO report reveals drowning claims over 300,000 lives annually, primarily among children under 14, making it a leading cause of child mortality. Despite its devastating toll, nearly all drowning deaths are preventable. The report highlights cost-effective, scalable solutions, such as using soda bottles as flotation devices and introducing community-based swimming lessons and barriers to...
Including Independent Media Voices in Media Outreach Strategy
Health communicators must adapt to the decentralized media landscape by embracing new outreach strategies. Engaging with independent media—such as podcasts, newsletters, and niche influencers—provides an opportunity to connect with diverse communities and amplify health messages. Tailored, high-value content is key to building meaningful collaborations with these platforms.
Additionally, cr...
Cervical Cancer Deaths are Plummeting Among Young U.S. Women
A recent study in JAMA reveals a significant decline in cervical cancer deaths among U.S. women under 25, marking the potential impact of HPV vaccination since its introduction in 2006. Mortality rates dropped by over 60% from 2016 to 2021, offering a promising preview of broader benefits if vaccination rates improve.
The HPV vaccine prevents up to six related cancers, but national vaccinat...
USDA Mandates Federal Bird Flu Testing in Milk
The USDA has issued a federal mandate to test the nation’s milk supply for H5N1 bird flu amid rising concerns of zoonotic transmission. This decision comes as researchers warn the virus is one mutation away from more efficiently affecting humans.
Testing will involve dairy farms, transporters, and processing facilities, with results reported to USDA for surveillance and contact trac...
How Public Health Officials Rapidly Traced the Source of the McDonald's E. coli Outbreak
The CDC’s swift response to a multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders highlights the critical role of public health in protecting communities. Investigators rapidly pieced together reports from 14 states, identifying slivered onions as the likely source of contamination. Through collaboration with state health officials, detailed patient interviews, and advanced DNA...
CDC Study Finds 1 in 20 Women Surveyed Experienced Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy
A recent CDC report highlights the profound impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy on maternal and infant health. Among women with a live birth in nine U.S. jurisdictions (2016–2022), 5.4% experienced IPV, with emotional violence being the most common (5.2%). IPV was linked to delayed or no prenatal care, depression, substance use, and adverse birth outcomes, including low...