PublicHealth
US experiencing largest measles outbreak since 2000 – 5 essential reads on the risks, what to do and what’s coming next
US experiencing largest measles outbreak since 2000 – 5 essential reads on the risks, what to do and what’s coming next The US is experiencing its largest measles outbreak since 2000, with over 876 cases reported as of February 3, 2026, surpassing previous outbreaks in Texas and South Carolina. The outbreak has highlighted the dangers […]
🏥 Health
Hair shows banning lead in gas worked
Hair shows banning lead in gas worked A new study by University of Utah scientists found that banning lead in gas has been effective in reducing lead levels in human tissues, as measured through hair samples. The study analyzed hair samples from 48 individuals spanning over 100 years and found that lead levels decreased precipitously […]
🔬 Science
Colorado ranks among the highest states in the country for flu – an emergency room physician describes why the 2025-26 flu season is hitting hard
Colorado ranks among the highest states in the country for flu – an emergency room physician describes why the 2025-26 flu season is hitting hard Colorado is experiencing a record-breaking flu season, with 831 people hospitalized with influenza in the week ending Dec. 27, 2025, and hospitalizations easing to 737 but still higher than prior […]
🏥 Health
The world risks forgetting one of humanity’s greatest triumphs as polio nears global eradication − 70 years after Jonas Salk developed the vaccine in a Pittsburgh lab
The world risks forgetting one of humanity’s greatest triumphs as polio nears global eradication − 70 years after Jonas Salk developed the vaccine in a Pittsburgh lab Polio nears global eradication, but the world risks forgetting its greatest triumph, which was achieved 70 years ago when Jonas Salk developed the vaccine. The development of the […]
🏥 Health
Florida’s new open carry ruling combines with ‘stand your ground’ to create new freedoms – and new dangers
Florida’s new open carry ruling combines with ‘stand your ground’ to create new freedoms – and new dangers Florida’s new open carry ruling, combined with its “stand your ground” law, has created a permissive environment for gun ownership and use, leading to concerns about increased violence and deaths. The expansion of stand your ground laws, […]
📰 News
Strict school vaccine mandates work, and parents don’t game the system − new research
Strict school vaccine mandates work, and parents don’t game the system − new research States that eliminated nonmedical vaccine exemptions for children entering kindergarten saw significant increases in vaccination rates, with an average increase of 3.2 percentage points over three years. The elimination of nonmedical exemptions did not lead to a shift to medical exemptions, […]
🏥 Health
National 211 hotline calls for food assistance quadrupled in a matter of days, a magnitude typically seen during disasters
National 211 hotline calls for food assistance quadrupled in a matter of days, a magnitude typically seen during disasters During the US government shutdown, calls to local 211 helplines for food assistance quadrupled from nearly 1,000 per day to over 4,200 per day in just a few days, exceeding typical disaster response levels. The surge […]
📰 News
Zombies, jiangshi, draugrs, revenants − monster lore is filled with metaphors for public health
Zombies, jiangshi, draugrs, revenants − monster lore is filled with metaphors for public health Zombie lore has parallels with public health concepts, including infectious disease outbreaks and societal collapse. The zombie apocalypse narrative echoes key questions asked by epidemiologists during real-life outbreaks, such as how to contain an outbreak and prevent its spread. Monsters like […]
🏥 Health
Higher temps may increase overdose deaths in the US
Higher temps may increase overdose deaths in the US A new study found that higher temperatures may increase overdose deaths in the US, regardless of drug type. The researchers analyzed county-level mortality data across the continental US from 1999 to 2020 and found a significant association between heat exposure and increased drug overdose deaths. Heat […]
🏥 Health
Vaccine mandates misinformation: 2 experts explain the true role of slavery and racism in the history of public health policy – and the growing threat ignorance poses today
Vaccine mandates misinformation: 2 experts explain the true role of slavery and racism in the history of public health policy – and the growing threat ignorance poses today Vaccine mandates are being threatened in Florida, where the state plans to eliminate vaccine mandates for its citizens, including those for children to attend school. The elimination […]
🏥 Health