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 O…
Is Mpox Here to Stay? CDC Study Says Virus is Likely Becoming Endemic
Mpox is continuing to spread at low levels in the United States, suggesting the virus may be transitioning toward endemic circulation rather than remaining linked primarily to travel.
In 2024 and 2025, 76% of U.S. mpox cases occurred among unvaccinated people, who were nearly 10 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who received both Jynneos vaccine doses. Mpox remains most common a…
More Than One Third of U.S. Counties Are Maternity Care Deserts
Maternity care access remains limited across much of the U.S., with 34.6% of counties classified as maternity care deserts and more than half lacking a hospital with labor and delivery services.
The March of Dimes found little change since 2016, while 57.9% of rural counties lack a practicing obstetric clinician. Financial pressures, low rural birth volumes, inadequate Medicaid reimbursement…
Complaining About Bad Coverage Is the Surest Way to Amplify It
Public health communicators facing unfavorable media coverage should consider that public complaints can substantially amplify the original story and its negative framing.
A company executive’s social media response to a July 9 Wired article generated 437,000 views on the first day and 2.3 million within several days, compared with fewer than 15,000 views for Wired’s promotional post. The response shifted attention from the article’s reporting to the company’s dispute over its framing, while potentially overshadowing more favorable coverage.
The episode highlights the importance of weig…
NPHIC and CDC Monthly Communication Call Highlights Accessibility Practices for Public Health Communicators
NPHIC and CDC’s July 29 Monthly Communication Call highlighted practical strategies public health communicators can use to improve accessibility and expand access to health information. The session featured CDC’s Jessica Handley, who shared guidance on accessible digital content, including the use of descriptive links, alt text, plain language, proper headings, and mobile-friendly design.
The presentation also reviewed upcoming accessibility requirements for state and local governments, including WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for digital content. Find the full presentation here.
Members a…