LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
US Officially Doubles Last Year’s Measles Numbers
The U.S. has confirmed 4,588 measles cases in 2026, more than double the 2,289 reported in all of 2025, according to an Oct. 23 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cases span 47 jurisdictions and include 42 new outbreaks. Pennsylvania accounts for 1,338 cases, nearly 30% of the national total. Overall, 96% of cases occurred among people who were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, while 59% involved people aged 19 or younger.
Infectious disease experts suspect substantial underreporting, highlighting the importance of measles vaccination and surveillance. Read more from The Hill here.
Spouses Are Better Predictors of Severe COVID-19 Infection Than Siblings, New Data Reveal
A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology finds that shared living environments may play a greater role in severe COVID-19 than genetic factors.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 84,000 twins and 33,000 spouses, finding that spouses were 3.6 times more likely to be hospitalized if their partner was also hospitalized. Seventy-one percent of hospitalized partners were admitted within five days of each other.
Genetic factors played a modest role in infection susceptibility during the pandemic’s third wave but showed no significant association with hospitalization, highlighting the importance of close contact and shared environments in severe illness. Read more from CIDRAP here.
Make a 'Sick Day' Kit for Cold and Flu Season Before Your Household Gets Hit
As cold and flu season begins in October and continues through May, health experts recommend preparing households to manage respiratory illnesses and other common infections safely at home.
NPR reports that pediatricians and pharmacists highlight the importance of stocking fever reducers, thermometers, saline treatments and hydration supplies before illness strikes. Experts caution that combination cold medications can increase the risk of accidental overmedication, while evidence suggests some cough medicines offer limited benefits.
The guidance emphasizes appropriate medication use, vaccination, handwashing and recognizing symptoms that require medical attention. Read more from NPR here.
FEATURED TOPICS
New Resource Helps Public Health Partners Prepare Content for AI-Generated Responses
CDC released new guidance to help public health organizations improve how AI systems interpret, summarize, and cite digital health content.
The “Considerations for Generative Engine Optimization” resource applies established communication practices to AI-generated responses, emphasizing plain language, descriptive headings, direct answers to common questions, scannable content, and links to credible evidence.
As AI-powered search tools and assistants increasingly synthesize information from multiple sources, the guidance highlights the importance of structuring health content for both human and machine understanding. Clear, well-organized, evidence-based content can help improve the accuracy and accessibility of AI-generated health information.
Just One Small Serving of Ultra-Processed Food a Day Linked to Higher Disease Risk, Major Study Finds
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, cancer, metabolic syndrome or diabetes, and death.
An analysis of nearly 8.8 million adults across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania found that each additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily was associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, 4% higher cancer risk, 3% higher risk of death and 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Participants with the highest UPF intake also had greater risks of digestive diseases, depression or anxiety, and obesity. Researchers noted that reducing UPFs may support chronic disease prevention. Read more from the NY Post here.
Public Health Visual Commons Launches to Strengthen Public Health Storytelling
The Public Health Visual Commons is live! Finding the right image shouldn’t be one of the hardest parts of public health communication. The Visual Commons, from Health Resources in Action, is a free library of public health images designed to help health communicators move beyond generic stock photos and tell the story of public health more effectively.
The library offers images for social media, presentations, annual reports and other communications that reflect the communities public health organizations serve. Public health communicators can also contribute photos to expand the collection.
A November 19 webinar will showcase the Visual Commons, its features and contribution opportunities. Register here.
CDC Launches New Tool to Track U.S. Overdose Trends
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are declining, while CDC’s new Overdose Prevention Data Channel provides a centralized view of fatal and nonfatal overdose trends.
From April 2025 through March 2026, the predicted provisional number of drug overdose deaths was 67,798—a 12.3% decrease from the previous year. The channel integrates data from the National Vital Statistics System, Nonfatal Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology System, and State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System.
It allows users to examine national and state-level trends, identify prevention strategies, and see how CDC-funded programs are supporting communities, strengthening access to timely overdose data for public health response.
