Mpox is continuing to spread at low levels in the United States, suggesting the virus may be transitioning toward endemic circulation rather than remaining linked primarily to travel. In 2024 and 2025, 76% of U.S. mpox cases occurred among unvaccinated people, who were nearly 10 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who received both Jynneos vaccine doses. Mpox remains most common a…

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is increasing among U.S. adults, with the sharpest rises reported among middle-aged and older populations. Analysis of more than 180,000 adults from 2021–2024 found CUD increased from 7.3% to 9.3% among men and from 4.5% to 5.6% among women; moderate-to-severe CUD also rose for both groups. Researchers point to increasing cannabis potency, greater availability and…

The FDA is developing a regulatory approach for medical devices that use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), with the agency seeking public input on how to evaluate their risks and performance. The proposed framework would consider both a device’s clinical significance and level of autonomy, while a new “competency assessment” could combine non-clinical testing with clinical confirmatio…

Questions about why children receive multiple vaccines during the first years of life are creating a need for clear, accessible information for parents and caregivers.   A new resource from the Public Health Communications Collaborative, Understanding the Childhood Immunization Schedule, provides answers to common questions about how the childhood immunization schedule is developed and w…

Confusion surrounding federal vaccine recommendations could reduce uptake of fall respiratory virus vaccines, public health experts warn, as the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has not held its usual March or June meetings. The FDA issued influenza vaccine composition recommendations in March and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in May, but ACIP has not provided its…

U.S. measles cases have surpassed 2,500 this year, with continued transmission increasing the national total to 2,566 and 101 new cases reported in the latest week. The increase marks a second consecutive week with roughly 100 new infections, after several weeks of lower weekly totals. Pennsylvania reported 61 of the new cases, while Ohio added 24, bringing its 2026 total to 69. Children and…

Childhood vaccination coverage is declining as school vaccine exemptions reach record levels, while states retain authority over requirements despite new federal recommendations. About 3.6% of U.S. kindergartners had an exemption for at least one required vaccine during the 2024–25 school year, leaving approximately 138,000 children without full coverage; exemptions increased by more than a p…

Maternity care access remains limited across much of the U.S., with 34.6% of counties classified as maternity care deserts and more than half lacking a hospital with labor and delivery services. The March of Dimes found little change since 2016, while 57.9% of rural counties lack a practicing obstetric clinician. Financial pressures, low rural birth volumes, inadequate Medicaid reimbursement…

A growing summer COVID-19 surge is underway across the U.S., with infections increasing in every region, particularly the South and West. Although overall levels remain low and the current wave appears milder than previous years, COVID-19 continues to pose serious risks for older adults, infants and immunocompromised people. Experts note that COVID differs from other seasonal respiratory viru…