LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Outbreaks You Never Heard About: Because CDC Was There
The CDC’s new campaign, Outbreaks You Never Heard About: Because CDC Was There, highlights the agency’s critical role in global health security. Many dangerous disease outbreaks never make headlines because CDC teams work behind the scenes to detect, respond to, and contain threats quickly. By partnering with countries worldwide, these efforts prevent outbreaks from crossing borders, overwhelming health systems, or disrupting daily life.
The initiative underscores how proactive global public health action safeguards American lives, strengthens national security, and mitigates costly international crises—demonstrating the impact of early intervention before emergencies escalate. See the campaign here.
Overcoming Challenges & Leveraging Strengths: An Action Guide for Communicators at Public Health Agencies
Public health communicators navigating high expectations and limited resources now have a new resource tailored to their needs. The Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC), with the Harvard Opinion Research Program, has released Overcoming Challenges & Leveraging Strengths: An Action Guide for Communicators at Public Health Agencies, grounded in 50 in-depth interviews with governmental communicators nationwide. The guide offers practical strategies and worksheets to support everyday communications work.
A live webinar on February 25, 2026, will walk through how to use the guide and feature real-world insights from communications leaders — including NPHIC members Heather Strickland of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Sharon Bogan of Public Health Seattle & King County on challenges and solutions in practice. Register here.
Measles Cases Spread on College Campuses
Measles cases on U.S. college campuses highlight the persistent risk of highly transmissible diseases in close-living environments. Recent campus clusters have prompted isolation, quarantine, contact tracing, and expanded clinical operations, even where student immunity rates are high. Health experts emphasize that rare breakthrough infections can occur despite strong protection from the two-dose MMR vaccine and note that some older adults may have reduced immunity due to earlier vaccine formulations.
National surveillance shows measles activity continuing alongside declining vaccination coverage, with most cases linked to unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals. Public health guidance urges campuses to maintain vaccination records, coordinate with local health departments, and promote MMR vaccination to reduce transmission and severe outcomes. Read more from Inside Higher Ed here.
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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.
A State of Crisis’: record number of Americans are pessimistic about US healthcare system
A record share of Americans view the U.S. healthcare system as deeply troubled, with 23% describing it as “in a state of crisis” and nearly half citing major problems, according to new West Health–Gallup polling. Rising healthcare costs emerged as the most urgent concern, closely tied to worsening access and affordability.
Experts note that unpredictable expenses, an aging population, and inflation are driving financial strain that leads many to delay or skip care. Mental health access remains a particular challenge, with cost barriers creating a feedback loop between poor mental health and unmet care. State-level disparities further underscore uneven access nationwide. Read more from The Guardian here.
3 Issues to Watch in Public Health in 2026
Public health communicators are heading into 2026 amid mounting uncertainty and high-stakes challenges. Confidence in long-standing public health institutions is being tested as leadership changes, staffing losses, and political influence reshape how guidance and data are produced and received. At the same time, shifts in U.S. vaccine policy risk fueling skepticism at home and abroad, with potential consequences for routine immunization and measles control globally.
Compounding these concerns, investments in pandemic preparedness and international disease surveillance are shrinking just as the world moves further from — and closer to — the next pandemic. Together, these trends raise urgent questions about trust, prevention, and readiness in the year ahead. Read the full article from STAT News here.
Americans’ Social Media Use 2025
New Pew Research Center data show that social media use remains widespread in the U.S., with important implications for public health communication. YouTube (84%) and Facebook (71%) continue to reach the largest shares of adults, while Instagram now reaches half of the population. Use of TikTok, WhatsApp, and Reddit has grown steadily in recent years, particularly among adults under 30.
Daily use is highest on YouTube and Facebook, though younger adults are far more likely to use TikTok daily. The findings underscore the need for public health communicators to tailor messages by platform, age, and audience demographics to maximize reach and impact. Read the study from Pew here.
