A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll highlights health care affordability as Americans’ top household concern, surpassing worries about food, housing, utilities, and gas. Two-thirds of respondents reported greater anxiety about paying for health care, with more than half experiencing rising insurance premiums and expecting further increases. One in five said health care costs are increasing fast…

Efforts to restrict fluoride in public drinking water are accelerating, highlighting the growing influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda across federal and state actions. The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a fast-tracked review of potential fluoride health risks, while at least 16 states consider new limits or bans. Public health…

Guinea worm disease is closer than ever to eradication, with just 10 human cases reported worldwide in 2025—the lowest number on record and a 33% decline from 2024. Led by The Carter Center and national partners, the decades-long campaign has reduced cases by more than 99.99% since 1986, averting an estimated 100 million infections through community-based surveillance, safe water practices, and…

Recorded at the 2025 NCHCMM in Atlanta, NPHIC’s Public Health Speaks podcast continues its Voices from the Field series with a timely conversation on health autonomy, motivation, and artificial intelligence in communication. Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD, Director of the Center for Health Communication Science at NORC, shares insights from her recent opinion piece and explores how Self-Determination…

Following the United States’ formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization, California has become the first U.S. state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), a global partnership focused on detecting and responding to infectious disease threats. The move positions California to collaborate directly with international public health experts on outbreak prepar…

Recent remarks by the new chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have sparked debate within public health circles. In a podcast interview, the chair questioned longstanding vaccine recommendations, including routine polio immunization, and emphasized prioritizing individual autonomy and shared decision-making over broad public health mandates.   These comments dr…

Dr. William Foege, a towering figure in public health and a central architect of the global eradication of smallpox, died at age 89. As a young physician working in Nigeria, Foege helped pioneer the “ring containment” strategy—using rapid case detection and targeted vaccination to stop outbreaks when vaccine supplies were limited. That evidence-based, surveillance-driven approach became pivot…

The CDC offers comprehensive resources to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from winter storms. Guidance highlights the importance of advance planning for homes and vehicles, limiting time outdoors during extreme cold, and preventing cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia and frostbite. The CDC also emphasizes injury prevention from icy conditions and the need to re…

In a year marked by uncertainty, PR professionals are reminded that adaptability is essential for guiding organizations and communities through change. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, communicators can strengthen resilience by remaining mission-driven, transparent, and compassionate while adjusting operations, messaging, and services. Key strategies include anticipating change…