AI Deepfakes of Real Doctors Spreading Health Misinformation on Social Media
A new investigation highlights a growing public health threat: AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating real doctors to spread health misinformation and sell unproven supplements on social media. Factcheckers uncovered hundreds of manipulated videos using altered footage of respected health experts to promote products targeting issues such as menopause, undermining public trust and exploiting…
CDC Launches Digital Toolkit to Support Respiratory Illness Communication
Each fall and winter, respiratory illnesses—including flu, COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae—contribute to significant illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S., with CDC estimates last year exceeding 1 million hospitalizations and 70,000 deaths.
To support public health communicators, CDC has released a new digital respiratory illness toolkit designed for outreach d…
CDC Winter Storm Safety Guidance: Share with Your Community
The CDC offers updated guidance to help communities prepare for and respond to winter storms. Public health communicators are encouraged to share this guidance with local partners and community members to reduce injuries, illness, and fatalities. Key topics include safely heating homes with space heaters, fireplaces, or wood stoves; protecting vulnerable populations such as infants and older ad…
FDA Considers New Sunscreen Ingredient to Boost UV Protection
The FDA has proposed allowing bemotrizinol, a sunscreen ingredient widely used in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, to be included in U.S. products. Bemotrizinol offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, with low skin absorption and minimal irritation, and is being evaluated under the FDA’s GRASE framework for safety and effectiveness. Public comments are currently being ac…
Does High-Fat Dairy Prevent Dementia? Not So Fast, Experts Say
A new observational study from Sweden suggests high-fat cheese and cream may be linked to a slightly lower risk of dementia, with daily consumption of certain cheeses associated with a 13% lower risk and cream with a 16% lower risk. Experts caution, however, that the study is limited: dietary habits were mostly captured at one time point, and benefits may reflect replacing less healthy foods ra…
Webinar: How Public Health Can Navigate Communications Challenges
Public health communicators are facing growing challenges as organizations navigate new restrictions on language and increased scrutiny of messaging. A recent webinar featuring Dr. Jeff Niederdeppe of Cornell University and Dr. Julie Sweetland of the FrameWorks Institute examined how language, framing, and storytelling shape public understanding, influence funding and policy decisions, and affe…
CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits
New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination…