LATEST NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Apply Now: Arclet Access Fund Pilot
Arclet is a platform built by and for public health practitioners to make it easier to find, customize, and share trusted health messages—without starting from scratch. The platform also includes Arli, an AI health communications co-pilot that helps teams adapt messaging for their audiences.
Arclet is supporting three new pilot sites across the country with a full year of Arclet access at no cost. Selected partners will receive onboarding, support, and the opportunity to collaborate on improving Arli and localizing health content. Applications are open through December 15, 2025. Learn more and apply here.
6 Reasons Why People Believe Health Misinformation
Understanding why people believe health misinformation is crucial for public health communicators. Research shows mistrust of the health care system, past negative experiences, and strong personal autonomy drive individuals to seek alternative sources. Charismatic messengers, emotionally engaging content, and simple explanations often make misinformation more compelling than expert guidance.
Platforms and businesses can profit from spreading fear-based health claims, while “truthy” information—partially true but misleading—enhances credibility. Public health communicators should approach misinformed individuals as victims of exploitation rather than opponents, focusing on empathetic, clear, and emotionally resonant engagement to rebuild trust and guide people toward accurate health information. Read more from Psychology Today here.
Weight Loss Drugs are Bringing Down the Country's Obesity Rate
A new Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index survey shows a notable decline in U.S. adult obesity rates — now 37%, down from 39.9% three years ago — coinciding with a sharp rise in the use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
These drugs, which suppress appetite and slow digestion, have become a major public health development in addressing obesity and related diseases like diabetes, now at a record 13.8%. Usage is highest among adults ages 50–64 and among women, groups showing the largest weight declines. However, limited insurance coverage may restrict access and slow broader progress. Read more from NPR here.
FEATURED TOPICS
PHCC Offers New Graphics and Messaging for the 2025-26 Respiratory Illness Season
Public Health Communication Collaborative (PHCC) offers new social media graphics and messaging for public health communicators to support community preparation for the 2025–26 respiratory virus season, running November through April. Available in English and Spanish, these resources help explain respiratory virus prevention, updated vaccine eligibility, and the importance of COVID-19 and other vaccinations for both children and adults.
Step-by-step guides make it easy to encourage community members to find, schedule, and attend vaccine appointments. Early, clear communication can help reduce severe illness, increase vaccination coverage, and strengthen community resilience throughout the upcoming respiratory virus season. Find PHCC’s resources here.
New Blood Test Detects HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer 10 Years Early
A new federally funded study demonstrates that a liquid biopsy called HPV-DeepSeek can detect HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms appear. HPV causes roughly 70% of these cancers in the U.S., yet no screening test previously existed. Using whole-genome sequencing and machine learning, HPV-DeepSeek identifies microscopic fragments of HPV DNA in the blood with high sensitivity and specificity, potentially enabling earlier, less intensive treatment and improved outcomes.
Researchers are now validating these findings in a larger, blinded study. The work highlights opportunities for earlier cancer detection and innovation in public health screening strategies. Read more from Harvard here.
CDC’s Flu Vaccination Recommendations Published
CDC has released its 2025–26 flu vaccination recommendations, urging everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated, ideally by the end of October, though efforts should continue while flu viruses circulate. Updates include FDA approval of FluMist for self- or caregiver administration and expanded use of Flublok for ages 9 and up.
ACIP advises single-dose, thimerosal-free formulations for children, pregnant women, and adults. Three vaccines remain preferentially recommended for adults 65+: Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok, and Fluad. Annual flu vaccination is critical to reducing illness, hospitalization, and death, with health care providers playing a key role in patient education. Read more from CDC here.
Mississippi Declares Public Health Emergency Over Rising Infant Mortality Rate
The Mississippi Department of Health has declared a public health emergency in response to alarming infant mortality rates, with 9.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024—the state’s highest rate in over a decade and more than 60% above the national average. Since 2014, more than 3,500 Mississippi infants have died before their first birthday.
State health officials outlined strategies including expanding prenatal and postpartum care, addressing maternity care deserts, increasing access to community health worker programs and home visits, and promoting safe sleep education. Public health leaders stress that improving maternal health and protecting access to care are essential to reducing infant deaths. Read more from CNN here.
