LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Trump Taps CDC Leadership Team Including Director Nominee Erica Schwartz and Texas Health Official Jennifer Shuford
President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, a physician and former deputy surgeon general, to lead the CDC. A preventive medicine specialist and former U.S. Public Health Service rear admiral, Schwartz brings extensive military and federal public health experience, including leadership roles in the Navy, Coast Guard, and COVID-19 response efforts. If confirmed by the Senate, she would oversee the agency during a period of organizational transition. Read more from Stat News here.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, has been tapped to serve as CDC chief medical officer as part of the same leadership slate. An infectious disease physician, she previously led Texas’ COVID-19 response and helped manage the state’s 2025 measles outbreak. A strong advocate for vaccines and evidence-based prevention, Shuford is expected to transition from her state role in order to assume the federal position. Read more from the Texas Tribune here.
PHCC Webinar: A Conversation with the American Public Health Association
A recent webinar from the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC), held during National Public Health Week, highlights how effective communication remains central to advancing public health amid growing misinformation and system changes.
Leaders from the American Public Health Association emphasized the need to defend science-based evidence, leverage trusted messengers, and engage in active listening to build public trust. The discussion also underscored practical strategies for communicating in polarized environments and the importance of partnerships, reinforcing that collaboration and peer support are critical to strengthening the field. Watch PHCC’s webinar here.
Utah Becomes the New Center of U.S. Measles Cases
Utah has become a national hotspot for measles, with nearly 600 cases reported since an outbreak began along the Utah–Arizona border last summer. About one-third of patients have required emergency care, and 49 have been hospitalized, often for complications such as severe dehydration and respiratory illness, including pneumonia.
The outbreak has spread across 22 of Utah’s 29 counties and is affecting the broader population amid rising childhood vaccine exemptions, which reached about 11% of kindergartners in 2024–25.
Public health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine remains about 97% effective and is critical to controlling transmission in communities with declining coverage. Read more in the NY Times here.
FEATURED TOPICS
MMWR: Kratom-Related Poison Center Reports Surge 1,200%
Published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, new data show kratom-related exposures reported to U.S. poison centers increased approximately 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, reaching a record high.
The findings highlight a shift toward higher-potency products and expanding use across demographic groups. Although many cases involved kratom alone, co-use with substances such as alcohol, opioids, and antidepressants was linked to more severe outcomes, including hospitalizations and deaths.
The report underscores the importance of continued surveillance, targeted public health education, and clinical awareness, particularly around polysubstance use. Read the MMWR here.
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What’s Ahead for NPHIC in 2026
As we move further into 2026, NPHIC wants to thank our members for your continued leadership and dedication to public health communication. In a rapidly evolving information landscape, we remain deeply committed to supporting your work through practical tools, professional development, and opportunities for connection.
This year, we are exploring a potential strategic partnership with the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) aimed at strengthening capacity and expanding timely, actionable resources for communicators. To ensure transparency as we plan ahead, we have paused 2026 membership renewal invoices. We also look forward to engaging with you through upcoming opportunities, including a Member Needs Survey that will help guide our priorities and programming. Learn more in our FAQ section on our website here.
Medical Misinformation More Likely to Fool AI if Source Appears Legitimate, Study Shows
A recent study highlights that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are more likely to share incorrect medical information when it appears to come from authoritative sources, such as doctors’ notes, compared with social media content. Researchers tested multiple AI models using clinical scenarios, hospital discharge summaries with inserted errors, and common health myths.
Findings show AI “believed” nearly half of fabricated recommendations in realistic medical notes, while only 9% of social media misinformation was propagated. The study underscores the need for built-in safeguards in AI systems to verify medical claims, especially as AI becomes increasingly integrated into patient care and clinical workflows. Read more from Reuters here.
