Public Health

Dr. Evelyn Griffin was named Louisiana’s surgeon general by Gov. Jeff Landry, despite having no background or specialty training in infectious disease or public health. Her vision is to help shift the healthcare system toward prevention rather than just treatment, reflecting a focus on eroding government mandates and limiting vaccine access.

The article alleges that public health is not a priority in Trump’s America due to specific government actions. These risks stem from layoffs of food inspectors and drastic cuts implemented within health departments, potentially putting consumers at risk.

Record-breaking heat events over the past century demonstrate how extreme heat is altering weather patterns, infrastructure, and public health globally. These events highlight the planet's shifting climate and its widespread impacts.

Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic US Senate primary, defeating Haley Stevens. A former public health official and academic, he ran on a platform of removing money from politics, providing financial support to voters, and expanding Medicare. He previously ran for governor in 2018 and has no elected office experience.

The Food Authority of Liberia (FAL) destroyed over 76,000 cans of expired energy drinks and uncovered an organized operation to alter expiration dates, raising concerns about consumer protection, public health, and regulatory oversight in Liberia's food distribution chain.

Nigeria's regulatory landscape is structured through statutory agencies covering sectors like corporate governance, telecommunications, consumer protection, public health, and professional licensing. These agencies enforce government policies and ensure accountability among citizens, businesses, and professionals.

Indigenous community leaders, including Diné allotment shareholders, protest the Trump administration's proposal to revoke a 2023 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) order banning oil and gas drilling near New Mexico's Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The BLM is reviewing public comments on the proposal, which aims to restore mineral leasing discretion to facilitate development under a 2025 Trump executive order.

NAFDAC has maintained its ban on the sale of sachet alcoholic drinks, citing public health concerns as more important than commercial interests. A NAFDAC official emphasized this stance in response to affordability concerns.

Former public health officials are running for statewide offices, leveraging their pandemic experience in a political climate marked by debates over health policies. The candidates face challenges as public opinion remains divided over pandemic measures, with some criticized for policies like mask mandates and vaccine rollout.

Experts express concern that accusations against Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate hearing may lead to a decline in public health staffing in the U.S.

Sen. John Fetterman wore a suit instead of his usual shorts during a hearing featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fetterman discussed the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing sorrow for lives and businesses lost while addressing the challenge of balancing public health and economic concerns.

Residents of the UK's most unhealthy town attribute their health issues to government failures, while residents of the healthiest town credit their own efforts. The article highlights contrasting perspectives on responsibility for public health outcomes.

An official from the Panchayat Raj Additional Commissioner addressed a review meeting, emphasizing the need to treat waste as a valuable resource to improve public health, strengthen village cleanliness, and generate livelihoods. The focus is on effective implementation of solid waste management rules.

AI is accelerating both the creation of biological weapons and advancements in public health. The article highlights a race between offensive uses of AI in 'dark biology' and its defensive potential to track disease outbreaks and prevent pandemics. Speed in detecting outbreaks via AI could determine whether an outbreak is contained or becomes a global crisis.

The article discusses how artificial intelligence is accelerating biological design, enabling both the creation of biological weapons and advancements in public health. It emphasizes the urgent need to develop AI-driven systems for disease outbreak detection to counter the risks of 'dark biology' and prevent pandemics.

Gabby Thomas is skipping the 2026 U.S. track championships due to scheduling conflicts with the Diamond League and international competitions, not injury. She emphasizes a mindset of 'healing' after recovering from an Achilles tendon issue and has achieved five sub-22 second 200m runs this season. Thomas also plans to marry in October and pursue a career in women’s health after retiring from athletics.

Rapid data center construction in the US driven by AI is causing environmental, public health, and energy supply threats. Local opposition has blocked or delayed dozens of projects.

The article emphasizes the need to strengthen the role of general physicians in public health. It highlights the importance of their contributions to improving public health outcomes.

Federal cuts might not have directly impacted detection of an outbreak, but could hinder learning from it. A parasite highlights the importance of public health.

Ali Abazeed, Chief Public Health Officer and Director of the Detroit Health Department, discusses treating patients during an air quality alert and best practices for maintaining health on Fox 2.

Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s nominee for CDC director, expressed support for vaccines including mRNA-based COVID shots during a Senate hearing but did not address concerns about the agency’s independence from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist. The CDC has faced turmoil under Trump’s administration due to funding cuts, personnel changes, and conflicts over vaccine policies.

The second Indian Wildlife Ecology Conference at Ashoka University brought together researchers from universities, government agencies, NGOs, and field stations to explore the future direction of the discipline. Discussions focused on evolutionary history, long-term monitoring, public policy, technology, and public health as key areas for ecological research.

Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CDC, faced skepticism during a Senate confirmation hearing where lawmakers questioned her commitment to science-based decision-making and transparency. Chairman Bill Cassidy criticized her preparedness and evasiveness, while Schwartz pledged to restore trust in public health institutions and modernize the CDC.

Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee for CDC director, faced skepticism during a Senate confirmation hearing. Lawmakers questioned her commitment to science-based decision-making, and Chairman Bill Cassidy criticized her responses. Schwartz emphasized rebuilding CDC's trust through transparency and scientific integrity but did not secure bipartisan support.

Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee for CDC director, faced skepticism during a Senate confirmation hearing, with lawmakers questioning her commitment to nonpartisan science and transparency. She emphasized rebuilding public trust in the CDC through scientific integrity but did not secure clear support from Democrats or key Republicans.

The article argues that current approaches to extreme heat focus too narrowly on public health and humanitarian aspects, ignoring its systemic economic impacts on productivity, infrastructure, and financial systems. It highlights a $220 billion annual loss in labor productivity and calls for reframing heat as a year-round economic risk management issue.

The article examines the political debates surrounding air conditioning in Switzerland, focusing on its implications for environmental policies and public health. It highlights how the issue has become a topic of political discussion in the country.

The Ugandan government has issued a warning about above-average temperatures in the country, which could negatively impact food production, agricultural output, household incomes, and public health.

Germany's ruling coalition plans to increase tobacco taxes by 2030 to address a budget gap and improve public health. A US national with Ebola is currently receiving treatment in Germany.

The United States faces a critical shortage of forensic pathologists, with only 850 currently practicing—400 fewer than needed—to handle over 3 million annual deaths. This shortage causes delays in criminal cases, insurance claims, and family closure, as some medical examiners oversee hundreds of deaths yearly.

Federal funding and scientific advancements have doubled life expectancy, but current risks threaten to reverse progress in public health.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced citywide encampment clearances starting at Pig’s Eye Park due to safety and public health concerns, citing over 500 police calls, including violent crimes. The city plans to connect residents with shelter and housing alternatives, emphasizing systemic issues over bed availability.

Residents of the Champlain Valley School District presented arguments against an artificial turf proposal at a school board meeting, but the board refused to address public questions, conducted a closed-door session, and approved the proposal without explanations. The decision faced criticism for lacking transparency, ignoring public preferences for natural grass, and failing to provide financial or safety justifications.

A proposed rule change could increase radiation exposure for Americans near nuclear facilities, raising concerns about public health impacts.

L.A. County confirmed a measles case in a traveler who was infectious at Los Angeles International Airport, a rental car shuttle, and a healthcare facility. This marks the seventh measles case reported in the county.

Cases of a fungus identified as one of the greatest threats to public health are surging, according to officials. The rise has prompted warnings about the potential risks to public health.

US regulators allowed Philip Morris to advertise its Zyn nicotine pouches as less harmful than cigarettes, a move that is a marketing win for the company. While tobacco replacements like nicotine pouches and vapes are less deadly than smoking, they remain controversial in public health circles due to concerns over youth vaping and lack of approval as smoking-cessation tools.

American vaccines have transformed public health by preventing millions of illnesses and reducing infections and death rates from diseases over 250 years. The article highlights 17 vaccines that significantly impacted disease prevention.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of building public health 'upon a foundation of lies,' warning that this approach leads to inadequate public health outcomes.

Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the SDGs through a meeting between First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and the UN country team, but remains off-track on key goals like polio eradication, child nutrition, and healthcare access despite international cooperation. The article highlights governance failures, inconsistent implementation, and urgent needs in public health, education, and climate resilience.