Ahead of the fall and winter respiratory season, CDC has expanded its epidemic trend (Rt) estimates to provide more localized insights into how COVID-19, RSV, and flu are spreading. New interactive visualizations provide estimates at the Health Service Area (HSA) level in many communities, helping public health practitioners, healthcare systems, and frontline responders incorporate local tren…

The Public Health Communication Collaborative (PHCC) will host a webinar called, Communicating About Respiratory Virus Season: What We’ve Learned and What’s Ahead on Nov. 10 to help public health communicators prepare for the 2026–27 respiratory virus season, drawing on lessons from the 2025–26 season and recent vaccination campaigns. Speakers will discuss strategies for developing clear, fle…

A new AKCG communications guide offers public health communicators a practical framework for identifying stories with media appeal and turning organizational announcements into meaningful news coverage. The article introduces the P.E.A.R.L.S. framework, which evaluates stories based on six characteristics: Person-Focused, Eccentric, Accessible, Refreshing, Local and Sharable. It encourages co…

The U.S. has confirmed 4,588 measles cases in 2026, more than double the 2,289 reported in all of 2025, according to an Oct. 23 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases span 47 jurisdictions and include 42 new outbreaks. Pennsylvania accounts for 1,338 cases, nearly 30% of the national total. Overall, 96% of cases occurred among people who were unvaccinated or h…

A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology finds that shared living environments may play a greater role in severe COVID-19 than genetic factors. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 84,000 twins and 33,000 spouses, finding that spouses were 3.6 times more likely to be hospitalized if their partner was also hospitalized. Seventy-one percent of hospitalized partners we…

As cold and flu season begins in October and continues through May, health experts recommend preparing households to manage respiratory illnesses and other common infections safely at home. NPR reports that pediatricians and pharmacists highlight the importance of stocking fever reducers, thermometers, saline treatments and hydration supplies before illness strikes. Experts caution that combi…

A new analysis of the 2027 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period, beginning Nov. 1 in most states, highlights rising costs and new enrollment barriers that could affect coverage access. Premiums are projected to increase 15%, following a 26% average increase last year, while the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies has already contributed to declining enrollment. New federal ru…

Lung cancer screening advocates are calling for expanded U.S. guidelines to include nonsmokers with risk factors such as family history and environmental exposures. In a new NPR report experts highlighted that lung cancer kills approximately 125,000 Americans annually, and roughly half of those diagnosed are ineligible for screening under current guidelines, which focus on smoking history…

A new national survey analysis published by the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that while 26% of U.S. adults identify as supporters of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, substantially more share its concerns about food additives and highly processed foods. Across two 2026 surveys, 73% of respondents favored six food-related MAHA policies, including regulating chemical addit…