LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
NPHIC and CDC Reinstate Monthly Communications Calls for Public Health Communicators
The National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC) and CDC have relaunched a recurring monthly communication call series to strengthen coordination between CDC communication staff, regional press officers, and public health communicators nationwide.
Held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, the calls are designed to provide timely updates and opportunities for direct engagement on emerging public health issues.
The upcoming May 27 session will include communication updates on hantavirus, Ebola, and World Cup preparedness, as well as resources from the Public Health Communication Collaborative (PHCC) and regional breakout discussions intended to support practical information sharing and collaboration across the public health communication community.
NPHIC members seeking the Teams meeting invitation are encouraged to contact Laura Espino at lespino@nphic.org.
CDC Expands Ebola Screening to Atlanta; Updates U.S. Entry Restrictions
CDC expanded enhanced Ebola screening to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, adding a second U.S. entry point alongside Washington’s Dulles for travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
WHO reports 82 confirmed cases and seven deaths, with additional suspected deaths and nearly 750 suspected cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain.
U.S. entry measures include restrictions on non-citizens traveling from affected countries, and an HHS rule under 42 CFR 71.40 expanding CDC authority to restrict entry, including lawful permanent residents who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days. Read more from CNBC here.
Survey Highlights Persistent Uncertainty on STI Vaccines
A nationally representative Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found that while most U.S. adults understand core STI transmission routes, knowledge gaps persist around less common pathways and vaccine availability.
Majorities correctly identified gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HPV, and genital herpes as sexually transmitted, but far fewer recognized mpox (35%) or Zika (13%) as sexually transmitted infections.
Misconceptions included 20% believing STI transmission can occur via toilet seats and only 33% identifying breastfeeding as a possible HIV transmission route. While 68% recognized an HPV vaccine, only 42% were aware of an mpox vaccine, and most respondents were uncertain about vaccine availability for other STIs. Read the survey here.
FEATURED TOPICS
Americans Aren't Sleeping Enough
A May 2026 CDC data brief reports that 30.5% of U.S. adults surveyed in 2024 are sleeping fewer than the recommended seven hours per night, a figure largely unchanged since 2020. Sleep insufficiency is clinically associated with cardiometabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Approximately 15% of adults report difficulty falling asleep and 18% struggle to stay asleep. A concurrent publication indicates that roughly 13% of U.S. adults use sleep aids nightly — including prescription medications, OTC supplements, and cannabis-derived products — prompting clinical guidance that habitual self-medication warrants physician evaluation to identify potential underlying sleep disorders. Read more from NPR here.
CDC Data Show Weekly ER Visits for Tick Bites Higher than Usual
CDC's Tick Bite Data Tracker shows weekly emergency department visits for tick bites are currently above historical norms in most U.S. regions, with rates in all areas except the South Central U.S. at their highest for this time of year since 2017.
CDC is urging preventive measures ahead of Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, citing risks of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome. Recommended actions include EPA-registered repellents, permethrin-treated clothing, and routine tick checks. Prompt tick removal — within 24 hours — is identified as a key intervention for reducing Lyme disease transmission. Read more from the CDC here.
CDC Reports Emergence of Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigella
CDC analysis published in MMWR reports a marked rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella infections in the United States. Among 16,788 isolates collected from 2011–2023, 3% were XDR, increasing from 0% in 2011–2015 to 8.5% in 2023.
Most cases occurred in adult men, with limited travel history, suggesting domestic transmission. XDR strains are resistant to five key antibiotics, and no FDA-approved oral treatments are available.
CDC highlights the need for strengthened surveillance, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and rapid reporting, along with targeted prevention strategies to limit further spread and address growing antimicrobial resistance concerns. Read more in Food Safety Magazine here.
Fertility Rate Drops to New Record Low: CDC
The CDC reports that the U.S. general fertility rate declined 1% in 2025 to 53.1 births per 1,000 females ages 15–44, marking another record low and a continued long-term downward trend since 2007.
Teen birth rates fell sharply, including a 7% decline among ages 15–19. The total fertility rate remains below replacement level, and increasing proportions of adults report delaying or forgoing parenthood.
Census data show rising childlessness among women ages 25–29. Public health analysts note that financial pressures, including housing and childcare costs, are frequently cited barriers shaping reproductive decisions. Read more from The Hill here.
