With warmer-than-average temperatures expected throughout summer 2025, public health communicators are reminded that extreme heat remains the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.—and is often underestimated. Experts interviewed by NPR emphasize proactive strategies to stay safe. Checking the heat index, not just the temperature, helps gauge true outdoor conditions. Lightweight…

The FDA’s approval of injectable lenacapavir marks a significant advancement in HIV prevention, offering a twice-yearly, long-acting option that addresses key barriers like daily pill burden and stigma. Backed by strong safety and efficacy data from recent trials, lenacapavir complements existing prevention tools such as oral PrEP and long-acting cabotegravir.   The World Health Organiz…

A recent article highlights how public health communicators can tactfully decline media opportunities without damaging vital press relationships. Whether due to time constraints, ethical concerns, or lack of alignment with the story, transparency and early communication are key. Suggesting alternate spokespeople, requesting deadline extensions, or offering future availability shows respect for…

A recent MIT Media Lab study raises concerns about the long-term cognitive effects of relying on ChatGPT. Researchers found that participants who regularly used the tool to write SAT-style essays showed the lowest brain engagement and underperformed linguistically and behaviorally compared to peers who used Google or no tools at all. EEG scans revealed diminished neural activity in the ChatGP…

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association highlights growing public health concerns around microplastic exposure, particularly in U.S. coastal communities. Researchers found that residents in counties with the highest microplastic contamination—through sea air, seafood, and local groundwater—had increased rates of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke…

At this year’s National Conference for Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM) in Atlanta, the plenary session “From Aesthetics to Action: Leveraging the Arts in Public Health Communication” will feature Dr. Jill Sonke, Director of Research Initiatives at the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine, as keynote speaker and panel moderator.   Attendees will explore ho…

Public health communicators face shrinking budgets and expanding roles, yet must rapidly deliver timely, science-backed information to their communities. The upcoming webinar from the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC), Building Your Public Health Comms Toolkit: Communications Planning on a Budget, offers practical strategies for creating impactful campaigns with limited or no fu…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reinstated more than 450 CDC employees who were dismissed in a large April reorganization, including the entire Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention team. This action restores key public health capacity at a time when support is critical for addressing issues like lead exposure in schools nationwide. Nearly 20% of CDC staff impacted by…

A new, highly contagious COVID-19 subvariant nicknamed “Nimbus” (NB.1.8.1) is driving an uptick in cases across California, with projections showing it now makes up 55% of circulating virus in the state. Notably, the subvariant is associated with “razor blade throat” — an intensely painful sore throat symptom reported internationally and increasingly observed in the U.S. Wastewater surveillan…