Long COVID may be underdiagnosed among Black patients despite similar symptom burdens, highlighting a potential gap in equitable diagnosis and care. Analysis of electronic health records from approximately 2.4 million U.S. patients found Black patients were 6% less likely than White patients to receive a long COVID diagnosis despite comparable symptom profiles, while no significant differenc…

Public health professionals can now access a new interactive resource that simplifies reportable disease and condition requirements across U.S. jurisdictions. The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) launched the State Reportable Conditions Assessment (SRCA), the only publicly available tool of its kind, with participation from 100% of states, the District of Columbia, and…

Measles cases in the United States have reached their highest level in 35 years, prompting renewed public messaging supporting childhood vaccination. The nation has confirmed 2,371 measles cases so far this year, surpassing 2025’s record of 2,289, while the past two years have produced more cases than the rest of the 21st century combined. The surge includes 37 outbreaks and has raised concer…

Medicaid beneficiaries in states implementing new work requirements are beginning to face coverage losses as eligibility rules take effect, increasing the risk of insurance disruptions for eligible enrollees. Nebraska, the first state to enforce the requirements ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline, expects about 200 people to lose coverage this week, while projections estimate up to 7 milli…

CDC has updated its Cyclospora outbreak webpage with the latest guidance and investigation findings, making it an important resource for public health communicators to monitor as the outbreak evolves and recommendations change. The multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has grown to at least 1,947 cases across nine states, resulting in 98 hospitalizations and prompting an expa…

SNAP participation has declined by more than 4.5 million people since July 2025, increasing pressure on food banks as demand for food assistance continues. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that more than 1.5 million children also lost SNAP benefits during that period, while 41 states reported participation declines of at least 5% and Arizona's caseload dropped by nearly 55…

Global HIV response funding declined sharply in 2025, increasing concerns that progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 could stall. Donor government funding for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries fell by $2.1 billion, with total disbursements dropping 25% from $8.3 billion in 2024 to $6.2 billion in 2025—the lowest level since 2007. Reports indicate reduced…

Updated U.S. cholesterol guidelines could make 21.5 million more adults eligible for statin therapy, expanding preventive treatment considerations for cardiovascular disease. A study published in JAMA found that an estimated 87.5 million adults ages 30 to 79, or nearly 57% of the population studied, may qualify for statins under the new recommendations. The expanded eligibility reflects broad…

Popular peptide therapies that lack FDA approval and robust human clinical evidence could become more widely available if federal regulators move forward with recommendations to allow compounding pharmacies to produce them. The FDA advisory panel supported reclassifying six of seven peptides under review, despite the compounds lacking large, well-controlled trials needed to establish safety a…