LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health in a Push to Become a Hub for Personal Health Data
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, a dedicated platform allowing users to securely connect medical records and wellness apps to personalize health conversations. Designed to enhance patient engagement and decision-making, the tool flags potential medication risks by integrating user data without training its AI on personal medical information.
Early examples highlight its potential to help patients navigate complex care systems. While initially available to a limited group, OpenAI plans broader rollout on web and iOS. ChatGPT Health incorporates layered protections, multi-factor authentication, and record management features, signaling a growing intersection of AI and public health communication. Read more from Fortune here.
These Food Preservatives are Linked to Cancer
A new study published in The BMJ adds to growing evidence linking certain food preservatives commonly found in processed foods to increased cancer risk. Analyzing dietary and health data from more than 105,000 participants over 14 years, researchers found higher cancer incidence associated with additives such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, sulfites, and sorbates—ingredients frequently used in processed meats, refined grains, cereals, and alcoholic beverages.
While the observational study does not establish causation, the findings align with longstanding research on processed foods and cancer. The authors urge further evaluation of preservatives currently considered “generally recognized as safe” and emphasize the public health value of promoting minimally processed foods. Read more from USA Today here.
A Midwife’s Death Days after Childbirth Complications Reignites the Conversation Around Black Maternal Health
The recent death of Dr. Janell Green Smith, a Black certified nurse-midwife in South Carolina, days after giving birth, has reignited national attention on Black maternal health disparities. Despite her expertise and experience delivering hundreds of babies, Green Smith experienced severe preeclampsia and post-surgical complications, underscoring that professional knowledge does not shield against systemic risks.
Black women in the U.S. face maternal mortality rates more than twice the national average, driven by systemic racism, implicit bias, and care disparities. Public health leaders emphasize that most maternal deaths are preventable, highlighting urgent needs for equitable, culturally competent care. Read more from CNN here.
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CDC Data Show Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Reduce Pediatric Emergency Visits
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.
While children experience lower hospitalization rates than older adults, infants and toddlers face comparatively high risk, and severe illness still occurs among school-aged children. These real-world effectiveness studies support evidence-based vaccine policy, strengthen vaccine confidence, and inform prevention strategies across public health systems. Read more from CDC’s MMWR here.
American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Updated Vaccine Guidance, Breaking With CDC
The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has voted to revise its long-standing hepatitis B birth dose recommendation, proposing to delay the first dose until two months of age for infants born to mothers who test negative and to support individualized decision-making with clinicians.
The shift has prompted concern among many experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which warns that removing a universal birth dose could increase infants’ risk for a virus that can cause chronic, lifelong illness. In parallel, the AAP has released its own updated, evidence-based immunization schedule with more explicit guidance on several pediatric vaccines. As vaccine policy evolves, communicators play a key role in explaining evidence, clarifying risk, and reinforcing the importance of routine immunization for population health. Read more from CBS and Parents.
Global Measles Cases Drop 71% in 24 Years on Improved Vaccination Coverage, WHO Says
Global measles cases have declined 71% between 2000 and 2024, falling to 11 million, thanks to expanded vaccination efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Over this period, immunization prevented nearly 59 million deaths, with fatalities dropping 88% to 95,000. Despite these gains, 2024 saw an 8% rise in cases compared with pre-pandemic levels, highlighting vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and immunization programs—even in high-income countries.
The WHO warns that gaps in vaccine coverage, compounded by funding cuts, could trigger outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases. Achieving 95% coverage with two doses remains critical for global measles control. Read more from Reuters here.
Shortage of Rural Doctors Won’t End Anytime Soon, Report Says
A new Commonwealth Fund report highlights a persistent shortage of primary care physicians in rural America, where communities currently have only about two-thirds of the doctors they need—a gap expected to continue for at least the next decade. Nearly 92% of rural counties are classified as primary care shortage areas, leaving roughly 43 million residents with limited access to care.
Rural patients are also less likely to use telehealth due to broadband limitations. While physician supply lags demand, rural nurse practitioners are increasingly filling gaps, reflecting broader national growth in this workforce. Federal programs aim to incentivize clinicians to practice in underserved areas. Read more from Stateline here.
