LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Children’s Environmental Health Day Highlights Healthy Environments for Children
Children’s Environmental Health Day is Thursday, October 8, highlighting the importance of healthy, safe environments for children and communities. Observed annually on the second Thursday of October, the awareness day focuses on increasing visibility of children’s environmental health issues and encouraging action to protect children from preventable health risks.
Children’s environmental health encompasses the physical, biological and chemical environments where children live, learn and play, including schools, parks, air, water, food and potential chemical exposures such as PFAS.
More than 175 partners participate each year, offering resources, events and opportunities to advance children’s environmental health and equity. Learn more about CEHD from Children’s Environmental Health Day here.
Shaping the Future of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing globally among people younger than 50, with many cases occurring before the recommended screening age.
Incidence shows distinct geographic, birth-cohort, anatomical and sex-specific patterns, while established risk factors include obesity, metabolic conditions, poor diet and sedentary behavior. Emerging evidence also points to early-life and gut microbial exposures, although researchers do not yet fully understand how these factors interact across the life course to drive cancer at younger ages.
The findings highlight the need to improve awareness and early detection while advancing precision-based prevention through collaborative research, patient engagement and public involvement. See the new findings from Nature here.
Why Older Pedestrians Fare Worse in Car Crashes
Older pedestrians face a higher risk of dying in motor vehicle crashes, even though they are not injured at greater rates than younger pedestrians.
In 2023, nearly 8,200 pedestrians age 65 and older were injured and more than 1,500 died, with the death rate exceeding the average for all ages. Fatality rates for pedestrians 70 and older remained flat from 2008 through 2024.
Slower walking and reaction times, impaired hearing or vision, and greater frailty increase vulnerability. Rising SUV and truck use, e-bike injuries and alcohol involvement also contribute to risk. The findings highlight opportunities for safer street design, signals and speed limits. Read the full story from KFF here.
FEATURED TOPICS
NPHIC and CDC Monthly Communication Call Highlights Accessibility Practices for Public Health Communicators
NPHIC and CDC’s July 29 Monthly Communication Call highlighted practical strategies public health communicators can use to improve accessibility and expand access to health information. The session featured CDC’s Jessica Handley, who shared guidance on accessible digital content, including the use of descriptive links, alt text, plain language, proper headings, and mobile-friendly design.
The presentation also reviewed upcoming accessibility requirements for state and local governments, including WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for digital content. Find the full presentation here.
Members are invited to join the next call on Wednesday, August 26, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET; participants can contact Laura Espino at lespino@nphic.org to receive the Microsoft Teams invitation.
Medicaid's Work Requirement Crunch Arrives
Medicaid beneficiaries in states implementing new work requirements are beginning to face coverage losses as eligibility rules take effect, increasing the risk of insurance disruptions for eligible enrollees.
Nebraska, the first state to enforce the requirements ahead of the Jan. 1 national deadline, expects about 200 people to lose coverage this week, while projections estimate up to 7 million people nationwide could lose Medicaid coverage by 2028.
Patients with serious illnesses, including cancer, and clinicians report concerns about reporting requirements, exemption processes, and administrative burden. The rollout highlights implementation challenges that could affect access to care and continuity of coverage as states adopt the new rules. Read more in Axios here.
New CDC Data Shows Decline in Healthcare-Associated Infections
According to new CDC data, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in U.S. hospitals declined between 2015 and 2023, signaling progress in patient safety while highlighting ongoing risks. In 2023, about 1 in 38 hospitalized patients had at least one HAI, compared with 1 in 31 patients in 2015, though an estimated 518,000 HAIs still occurred nationwide.
Reductions were seen in central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and Clostridioides difficile infections, while pneumonia and surgical site infections showed limited change.
The new findings underscore the continued need for prevention strategies and infection control efforts to reduce avoidable harm in healthcare settings. See the data from the CDC here.
US Death Rate at Record Low: CDC Data
The U.S. death rate fell to a record low in 2025, reaching 689.2 deaths per 100,000 people, a 4.6% decline from 2024. Heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes of death, followed by unintentional injuries, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
Death rates were highest among males, older adults, and Black people, with no declines among American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Asian populations.
Provisional CDC data from the National Vital Statistics System covering 99 percent of deaths informs public health policy and prevention efforts. Read more from The Hill here.
