FDA advisers have unanimously backed Moderna’s mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine, mFluSiva, for adults 50 and older, concluding its benefits outweigh risks and setting up a possible approval decision by August 5. If approved, it would become the first U.S. seasonal flu vaccine using mRNA technology. Reviewers cited trial data showing stronger protection than standard-dose flu shots in adults 50…

A new study published in GeoHealth projects that heat-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the United States could nearly double from about 109,000 annually to as many as 237,000 by 2040, with associated healthcare costs exceeding $1 billion each year.   Researchers analyzing 53 major metropolitan areas found impacts will be uneven, with the greatest total burden in…

More than 160 troops at Lackland AFB contracted influenza in recent weeks following Pentagon decision to end mandatory flu vaccination for service members earlier this year. Air Force officials report localized outbreak among basic trainees, with mitigation measures including isolation, contact monitoring, and antiviral treatment such as Tamiflu. One trainee death is under investigation, with…

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 ve…

Findings from the de Beaumont Foundation and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll, One Year In: Public Views of a Changing Public Health, show shifting trust and support for public health policies. Trust in CDC recommendations declined from 77% in 2025 to 50% in 2026, while trust remains higher for state and local public health agencies. Support for school vaccine requirements remai…

The resurgence of the New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite that infests wounds of livestock, pets and occasionally humans—has reached Texas and New Mexico after spreading north through Central America and Mexico. Researchers say illegal cattle trafficking may be accelerating transmission by bypassing animal health screenings, with movement patterns closely matching known smuggling rout…

A special issue of the American Journal of Public Health is urging policymakers to take a more active role in addressing ultra-processed foods, citing growing evidence linking them to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and potentially dementia. Researchers highlighted survey findings showing strong bipartisan support for measures such as pre-market safety testing of additives…

Recent research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology suggests GLP-1 obesity medications may be associated with reduced cancer risk across multiple tumor types, though findings remain correlative. In analyses of more than 10,000 patients with cancer, GLP-1 use was linked to lower incidence in six of seven cancers studied, including significant reductions in breast, liver, col…

CDC analysis of 2021–2024 BRFSS data found that alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains common in the United States, with 15.2% of pregnant women reporting current drinking, 4.9% reporting binge drinking, and 2.2% reporting heavy drinking in the past 30 days. One-third of current drinkers also reported binge drinking, and 14.7% reported heavy use. Higher prevalence was observed among wom…