Each fall and winter, respiratory illnesses—including flu, COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae—contribute to significant illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S., with CDC estimates last year exceeding 1 million hospitalizations and 70,000 deaths. To support public health communicators, CDC has released a new digital respiratory illness toolkit designed for outreach d…

The CDC offers updated guidance to help communities prepare for and respond to winter storms. Public health communicators are encouraged to share this guidance with local partners and community members to reduce injuries, illness, and fatalities. Key topics include safely heating homes with space heaters, fireplaces, or wood stoves; protecting vulnerable populations such as infants and older ad…

The FDA has proposed allowing bemotrizinol, a sunscreen ingredient widely used in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, to be included in U.S. products. Bemotrizinol offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, with low skin absorption and minimal irritation, and is being evaluated under the FDA’s GRASE framework for safety and effectiveness. Public comments are currently being ac…

A new observational study from Sweden suggests high-fat cheese and cream may be linked to a slightly lower risk of dementia, with daily consumption of certain cheeses associated with a 13% lower risk and cream with a 16% lower risk. Experts caution, however, that the study is limited: dietary habits were mostly captured at one time point, and benefits may reflect replacing less healthy foods ra…

Public health communicators are facing growing challenges as organizations navigate new restrictions on language and increased scrutiny of messaging. A recent webinar featuring Dr. Jeff Niederdeppe of Cornell University and Dr. Julie Sweetland of the FrameWorks Institute examined how language, framing, and storytelling shape public understanding, influence funding and policy decisions, and affe…

New CDC data highlight the continued public health value of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children. Analysis from the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network found that the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced COVID-19–associated emergency department and urgent care visits by 76% among children ages 9 months to 4 years and by 56% among those ages 5–17 during the first six months after vaccination…

The de Beaumont Foundation has released a new resource, Communicating About Public Health with Policymakers: A Toolkit for Public Health Professionals, designed to help public health professionals engage policymakers more effectively. Drawing from research with former elected officials and senior aides, the toolkit offers tested messages, framing strategies, and practical conversation tips to m…

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to cut up to 35,000 health-care positions this month, largely affecting unfilled roles including doctors, nurses, and support staff. These reductions, described by the agency as “mostly COVID-era roles that are no longer necessary,” aim to streamline the workforce to roughly 372,000 employees—a 10% decrease from last year. Officials stress the cut…

The CDC swiftly responded to the first-ever outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart infant formula, demonstrating rapid public health action. As of December 10, 2025, 51 infants across 19 states were hospitalized and treated, with no deaths reported. Infant botulism, caused by Clostridium botulinum spores in the gut, can present as feeding difficulties, weak cry, and lack of head control…