LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Walter Dowdle, Public Health Leader in Times of Crises, Dies at 94
Dr. Walter Dowdle, a highly respected CDC leader and microbiologist, passed away on November 17 at age 94. Over his 34-year career, he helped guide the nation through major public health challenges, including early AIDS response, the identification of Legionnaires’ disease, and global efforts to eradicate polio.
Dowdle oversaw critical laboratory research, strengthened immunization programs, and emphasized the importance of public trust in health agencies—especially during emerging crises. His work helped shape modern infectious disease surveillance and communication practices. Public health professionals continue to benefit from the standards of scientific rigor, leadership, and integrity he modeled throughout his career. Read more from the New York Times here.
Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as CDC’s Second in Command
Dr. Ralph Lee Abraham has been quietly appointed as the CDC’s principal deputy director, making him the highest-ranked official with a medical degree at the agency. As Louisiana’s former surgeon general, Dr. Abraham halted mass vaccination campaigns and promoted treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, which have been discredited for Covid-19.
He has publicly questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including COVID-19 and hepatitis B, and delayed public alerts during a pertussis outbreak that resulted in fatalities. Public health experts have raised concerns about his emergency response experience and adherence to evidence-based policies, highlighting potential challenges for CDC leadership and public health communication efforts. Read more from the New York Times here.
Global Rise in Ultra-Processed Foods is Major Public Health Threat
A recent series of papers in The Lancet highlights the growing global public health threat posed by ultra-processed foods, which are linked to chronic conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and higher mortality. Common examples include packaged snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, ready-to-eat meals, and mass-produced breads.
Experts emphasize that addressing this issue requires more than individual behavior change—policy reforms targeting production, marketing, and consumption, along with improved access to whole foods, are critical. The CDC notes Americans obtain over half their daily calories from ultra-processed foods, underscoring the need for diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and essential nutrients. Read more from ABC News here.
FEATURED TOPICS
Voices From the Field Podcast: Former NFL Stars and CDC Gear-Up Against Cancer
During the 2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) in Atlanta, NPHIC conducted a special series of interviews titled Voices from the Field as part of its Public Health Speaks podcast. Over the next several weeks, NPHIC will release one new episode each week in this seven-part series, featuring conversations with public health leaders, communicators, and partners who are driving change across the nation.
The first episode kicks off with a compelling discussion on the partnership between the National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their “Gear Up Against Cancer” campaign. This national initiative aims to raise awareness about the impact of colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection.
According to the CDC, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men and women in the United States. Data show that Black and Latino men face a higher risk, with Black men 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. Through this campaign, the NFL Alumni and CDC are using trusted voices to spread a life-saving message: get screened.
In the interview, NPHIC’s Olivia Biggs speaks with campaign partners about how regular screenings, open conversations, and community engagement can shift behaviors and save lives. Former NFL wide receiver Perry Kemp shared a heartfelt message: “Hey, it happens to football players and our families too. Prevention is everything — get tested.”
The Gear Up Against Cancer campaign has already achieved impressive results — 775 million impressions in its first six months — and continues to build momentum through listening sessions and community outreach.
We encourage all of our readers to listen to this powerful first episode and stay tuned each week as NPHIC releases the remaining Voices from the Field interviews. Each episode explores a different public health topic, offering real-world insights and inspiring stories from those working on the front lines of health communication.
Listen to the podcast here and subscribe to the series to hear more Voices from the Field!
State of Obesity Report 2025: Better Policies for a Healthier America
The 2025 State of Obesity report highlights persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in addressing the nation’s obesity crisis. While 2024 data show a slight decline in states with adult obesity rates above 35 percent, nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults remain affected, with higher rates among Black and Latino populations and residents of rural communities. Childhood obesity continues to rise, disproportionately impacting youth of color.
The report emphasizes structural factors—economic, environmental, and social—that shape access to healthy food and physical activity. It calls for sustained investment in federal prevention programs, nutrition supports, healthcare access, and community-level interventions to reduce disparities and improve public health outcomes. Read the report from TFAH here.
WHO Warns of Widespread Resistance to Common Antibiotics Worldwide
A new WHO report warns that antibiotic resistance is rising globally, with one in six bacterial infections in 2023 resistant to treatment. Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae, are increasingly linked to severe bloodstream infections, with resistance exceeding 70% in some regions. Between 2018 and 2023, resistance rose in over 40% of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations.
While participation in the WHO GLASS surveillance system has grown, nearly half of countries still lack reliable data, particularly where health systems are weakest. WHO urges countries to strengthen laboratory capacity, report high-quality data, and implement coordinated interventions to preserve antibiotic effectiveness and guide public health policies. Read more from WHO here.
Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.
Trust in U.S. news media has reached a historic low, with only 28% of adults expressing confidence in newspapers, television, and radio to report fully, fairly, and accurately. Confidence has declined across all partisan groups, with Republicans’ trust now in single digits (8%), independents at 27%, and Democrats holding a narrow majority (51%).
Generational divides are pronounced: adults 65 and older show higher trust, while younger adults remain highly skeptical. For public health communicators, these trends underscore the challenge of effectively conveying health information in a polarized media environment and highlight the importance of building credibility and trust with diverse audiences. Read more from Gallup here.
