August 2026 Health News Roundup
Date postedAugust 7, 2026
Topics in this News Roundup
- Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Diversity
- Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- Spotlight: Gender
- Spotlight: Immigration
- Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance
- Cancer
- Care and Insurance Costs
- Caregiving and Patient Support
- Children's Health
- Chronic Health Conditions
- Dermatology
- Disabled Populations and Health Care
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Health
- Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety
- General Health
- Good News
- Government and Advocacy
- Health Equity and Access to Care
- Infectious Diseases and Infections
- Medical Care
- Medical Research
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Medications and Prescribing
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Reproductive and Sexual Health
- Rural Populations and Health Care
- Sleep Medicine
- Social Factors Affecting Health
- Social Safety Nets
- Substance Use and Treatment
- Vaccination
Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- ‘The worst is behind us’: Cyclospora outbreak seems to be slowing in Michigan (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- Large US Cyclospora outbreak expands to 6 more states (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire cyclosporiasis cases climb to 69 as US outbreak grows (NH Union Leader, 8/5/26)
- 2 dead in Michigan cyclospora outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/3/26)
- 5 FAQs: Cyclospora Recovery, Treatment, and Outbreak Prevention Strategies (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/1/26)
Spotlight: Diversity
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth joins Harvard lawsuit against Trump administration’s grant freeze (NH Public Radio, 8/7/26)
Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- WHO, Africa CDC urge scale-up of efforts to contain Ebola outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- Despite quick rollout of trials, Ebola outbreak outpaces response efforts in DR Congo (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/5/26)
- Ebola outbreak in DR Congo now second-deadliest in history (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/3/26)
Spotlight: Gender
- Trans Couple Brutalized At Louisiana Park Bathroom, Then Charged By Police (Erin In The Morning, 8/5/26)
- Trump administration sued for banning gender transition treatments in federal health plans (The Hill, 8/3/26)
Spotlight: Immigration
- The Quiet War on Immigrants, Round Two (Mother Jones, 8/7/26)
- Trump again tries to curb birthright citizenship, following Supreme Court loss (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/7/26)
- A Commission Monitoring Human Rights Violations Is Concerned About the US (Mother Jones, 8/6/26)
- TPS for up to 350,000 Haitians officially ends as judge applies Supreme Court order (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/5/26)
- As For-Profit Companies Battle Over ICE Contracts, Immigrants Are Caught in the Middle (Mother Jones, 8/3/26)
- DHS Wants To Build A Border Wall Through Tohono O’odham Land. It’s Another Instance of The US Undermining Tribal Sovereignty. (Mother Jones, 8/3/26)
- Legal services contract expires, and unaccompanied immigrant children face deportation (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/3/26)
- States, groups sue over Trump policy of sharing benefits data with immigration authorities (NH Union Leader, 8/3/26)
- “The ICE Agent Behind Me Grabbed the Back of My Shirt and Just Threw Me Like a Sack of Trash” (Mother Jones, 8/1/26)
Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- CDC adds almost 100 new cases to expanding US measles outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) As measles cases reach 35-year high, NH doctors consistent on safety, importance of MMR vaccine (NH Public Radio, 8/6/26)
- New Mexico's 2025 measles outbreak cost $5.4 million (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- Medicaid Work Rule Leaves Homeless People in the Cold (KFF Health News, 8/6/26)
Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance
- (New Hampshire) Lawmakers seek to boost new antibiotic development (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- 1 in 2 US hospital patients received an antibiotic in 2023, surveys show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/5/26)
- More than one-third of invasive E coli isolates are multidrug-resistant, global analysis finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
Cancer
- Analysis: Cervical cancer screenings vary widely among federally funded health centers (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- Study IDs Gaps in Hereditary Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Before Gender-Affirming Mastectomy (HealthDay, 8/7/26)
- Gatekeeping May Reduce Pediatric Cancer Trial Participation (Medscape, 8/6/26)
- Testing is underway on vaccines to intercept brewing colon cancer before it takes root (AP, 8/6/26)
- Infection Remains a Major Burden in Blood Cancers (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/5/26)
- Lung Cancer Screening Must Move Beyond Smoking History, Review Argues (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/5/26)
- Review: Self-collected HPV tests accurately detect pre-cancerous cells in women (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
Care and Insurance Costs
Caregiving and Patient Support
- (New Hampshire) Feds, DHHS give clear ‘no’ to TANF being used for childcare workforce grants (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) State mandates written notice for changes to home care plans for medically complex children (Concord Monitor, 8/6/26)
Children's Health
- (New Hampshire) Goodlander Calls for Federal YDC Abuse Investigation (InDepth NH, 8/4/26)
Chronic Health Conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Occupational Exposure to Pesticides Linked to Risk for ALS (HealthDay, 8/5/26)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Trump administration considers order on autism and vaccines, source says (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- Amid spending growth scrutiny, CMS unveils toolkit for states to safeguard autism care (Fierce Healthcare, 8/4/26)
- No link between MMR vaccination before age 2 and autism, large US study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/3/26)
- Autoimmune, Immune-Mediated, and Immunocompromising Conditions
- Severe COVID may awaken dormant viruses, leading to autoimmune disease, long COVID (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Back Pain Treatment: Why Integrated Care Is Needed (Medscape, 8/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) Solinsky Cancer Center Offers New Treatment Option for Osteoarthritis Pain (Elliot Hospital, 8/6/26)
- Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes linked to more severe menopause symptoms, study finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/7/26)
- 500,000 Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes to lose coverage by 2034 (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/6/26)
- Food-Based Support Aids Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes (HealthDay, 8/4/26)
- Long COVID
- Study details long COVID’s effect on patients’ wellbeing (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- Migraine and Headache Disorders
- Sleep Disorders Common in Medication Overuse Headache (Medscape, 8/7/26)
- Botox Helpful in Alleviating Chronic Migraine in Pediatric Patients (HealthDay, 8/6/26)
Dermatology
- Study shows atopic dermatitis increases shingles risk (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/6/26)
- Pediatric Chronic Skin Disorders Linked to Poorer Mental Health (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/3/26)
Disabled Populations and Health Care
- As federal protections fade, disabled Americans fear a return to institutions (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- People With Disabilities Fear Service Cuts as Trump’s DOJ Questions Legal Protections (KFF Health News, 8/3/26)
Endocrinology
- Type 2 diabetes linked to more severe menopause symptoms, study finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/7/26)
Environmental Health
- (New Hampshire) What is a data center and how many are in New Hampshire? (NH Union Leader, 8/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) EPA draft decision indicates support for New Hampshire’s plan to end mandatory vehicle inspection (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Occupational Exposure to Pesticides Linked to Risk for ALS (HealthDay, 8/5/26)
- Wildfire veterans fear federal tactics, extreme fires could put crews at risk (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/5/26)
- Wildfire smoke is now the primary pollutant affecting pregnancy, study shows (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/3/26)
Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire DHHS Highlights Programs Connecting Families and Older Adults to Fresh, Local Produce During National Farmers Market Week (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 8/6/26)
- Food-Based Support Aids Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes (HealthDay, 8/4/26)
General Health
- Study details long COVID’s effect on patients’ wellbeing (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
Good News
- (New Hampshire) Solinsky Cancer Center Offers New Treatment Option for Osteoarthritis Pain (Elliot Hospital, 8/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) A New Therapy for People Suffering from Abdominal Fluid Buildup Caused by Liver Cirrhosis (Dartmouth Health, 8/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) HCA Healthcare hospitals in New Hampshire recognized among U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for 2026-2027 (Catholic Medical Center, 8/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) LRH Only New Hampshire Hospital to Achieve Five-Star Rating in Nurse and Physician Communication (Littleton Regional Hospital, 8/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center named New Hampshire’s top hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-2027 (Dartmouth Health, 8/4/26)
- (New Hampshire) Cheshire Medical Center Opens Sexual Abuse Clinic for Children, Teenagers (Cheshire Medical Center, 8/3/26)
- (New Hampshire) Director of Dartmouth Health’s Heart and Vascular Center named to American Heart Association New Hampshire’s board (Dartmouth Health, 8/3/26)
- (New Hampshire) Elliot Health System Expands Cancer Care Options with New Technology at Solinsky Cancer Center (Elliot Hospital, 8/3/26)
Government and Advocacy
See Spotlight: Immigration
- General
- US Senate confirms FEMA administrator alongside dozens of nominees (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/7/26)
- Erica Schwartz has a tough road ahead as the new Director of the CDC – we’re rooting for her (American Public Health Association, 8/5/26)
- US Senate confirms Trump’s pick for CDC director (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/5/26)
- Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance - View more Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Lawmakers seek to boost new antibiotic development (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- Care and Insurance Costs - View more Care and Insurance Costs articles >>
- Kennedy, Oz Contend Fraud Crackdown, Not Skyrocketing Prices, Led Millions To Leave Obamacare (KFF Health News, 8/3/26)
- Caregiving and Patient Support - View more Caregiving and Patient Support articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Feds, DHHS give clear ‘no’ to TANF being used for childcare workforce grants (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Children's Health - View more Children's Health articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Goodlander Calls for Federal YDC Abuse Investigation (InDepth NH, 8/4/26)
- Disabled Populations and Health Care - View more Disabled Populations and Health Care articles >>
- As federal protections fade, disabled Americans fear a return to institutions (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- People With Disabilities Fear Service Cuts as Trump’s DOJ Questions Legal Protections (KFF Health News, 8/3/26)
- Environmental Health - View more Environmental Health articles >>
- (New Hampshire) EPA draft decision indicates support for New Hampshire’s plan to end mandatory vehicle inspection (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Wildfire veterans fear federal tactics, extreme fires could put crews at risk (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/5/26)
- Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety - View more Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety articles >>
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire DHHS Highlights Programs Connecting Families and Older Adults to Fresh, Local Produce During National Farmers Market Week (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 8/6/26)
- Infectious Diseases and Infections - View more Infectious Diseases and Infections articles >>
- First mRNA flu shot gets FDA approval, raising hopes for a more effective vaccine (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- GAO to HHS: Work with other agencies to strengthen US ability to detect emerging diseases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
- Medical Care - View more Medical Care articles >>
- HHS announces decertification of Kentucky-based organ procurement organization Network for Hope (Fierce Healthcare, 8/5/26)
- Amid spending growth scrutiny, CMS unveils toolkit for states to safeguard autism care (Fierce Healthcare, 8/4/26)
- Medical Research - View more Medical Research articles >>
- OMB’s proposed grantmaking rule will destabilize biomedical research, experts warn (The Hill, 8/3/26)
- Senate appropriators unveil stopgap funding bill that blocks Trump's attempt to change science funding (Fierce Healthcare, 8/3/26)
- Spending bill blocks Trump plan to politicize grants (The Hill, 8/3/26)
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/3/26)
- Mental and Behavioral Health - View more Mental and Behavioral Health articles >>
- Public Health - View more Public Health articles >>
- US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer COVID questions (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Rural Populations and Health Care - View more Rural Populations and Health Care articles >>
- Earlier lifeline for rural hospitals faces test under 'Big Beautiful' law (Fierce Healthcare, 8/3/26)
- Social Safety Nets - View more Social Safety Nets articles >>
- (New Hampshire) NH predicts fewer students will get school lunch assistance amid federal SNAP restrictions (NH Public Radio, 8/7/26)
- Trump administration overhauls Head Start, largely giving up federal control (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- Program Integrity in Action: Recent MaineCare Oversight Activities (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 8/5/26)
- Over 4 million people are no longer receiving food aid amid sweeping changes to SNAP (NH Public Radio, 8/3/26)
- Substance Use and Treatment - View more Substance Use and Treatment articles >>
- FDA authorizes 4 flavored nicotine pouches (The Hill, 8/4/26)
- Vaccination - View more Vaccination articles >>
- Trump administration considers order on autism and vaccines, source says (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- Pediatricians and Health Departments Sidestep Trump’s CDC on Vaccine Guidance (KFF Health News, 8/5/26)
Health Equity and Access to Care
See Spotlight: Gender
- (New Hampshire) Women in NH face provider shortages and barriers to healthcare access, study finds (NH Public Radio, 8/4/26)
Infectious Diseases and Infections
See Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
See Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
See Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
See Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
See Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- (general)
- U.S. Disease Tracker Launches to Strengthen Monitoring of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/6/26)
- Connecticut Department of Public Health announces new US Disease Tracker to strengthen monitoring of vaccine-preventable diseases (CT State Department of Health, 8/5/26)
- Current and potential outbreaks to be aware of—and ready to talk about (HealthExec, 8/5/26)
- GAO to HHS: Work with other agencies to strengthen US ability to detect emerging diseases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
- Bacterial infections
- CDC Reports Increase in Candida auris Infections (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/7/26)
- Leprosy cases climb in Florida: Here’s how to reduce your risk (The Hill, 8/6/26)
- COVID-19
- Severe COVID may awaken dormant viruses, leading to autoimmune disease, long COVID (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- Foodborne Disease
- CDC and FDA: Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapenos expands to 27 states (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- HIV/AIDS
- First Once-Weekly Oral HIV Treatment Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/7/26)
- Normalize Patient Conversations About HIV and PrEP, ACOG Advises (Medscape, 8/6/26)
- Influenza
- First mRNA flu shot gets FDA approval, raising hopes for a more effective vaccine (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/6/26)
- Mosquito-Borne Diseases
- CDC: 1,955 Arboviral Disease Cases Reported in 48 States, D.C. in 2024 (HealthDay, 8/4/26)
- Climate change is shifting malaria activity in Africa (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/4/26)
- (New Hampshire) Jamestown Canyon Virus: What New Hampshire Residents Need to Know (NH Public Health Association, 8/4/26)
- West Nile accounted for most US arboviral cases in 2024 as Powassan cases hit record high (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/3/26)
- (New Hampshire) Jamestown Canyon Virus present in mosquito batches tested from six towns (NH Union Leader, 8/2/26)
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Will New Lyme Disease Approaches Change Patient Care? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/7/26)
- The Ticks Are Winning (Mother Jones, 8/1/26)
Medical Care
- Chronic Back Pain Treatment: Why Integrated Care Is Needed (Medscape, 8/6/26)
- HHS announces decertification of Kentucky-based organ procurement organization Network for Hope (Fierce Healthcare, 8/5/26)
- Amid spending growth scrutiny, CMS unveils toolkit for states to safeguard autism care (Fierce Healthcare, 8/4/26)
- Boston Panel Confronts Access and Coordination Gaps in Obesity Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/3/26)
Medical Research
- OMB’s proposed grantmaking rule will destabilize biomedical research, experts warn (The Hill, 8/3/26)
- Senate appropriators unveil stopgap funding bill that blocks Trump's attempt to change science funding (Fierce Healthcare, 8/3/26)
- Spending bill blocks Trump plan to politicize grants (The Hill, 8/3/26)
- Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/3/26)
Medicare and Medicaid
See Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- 500,000 Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes to lose coverage by 2034 (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/6/26)
Medications and Prescribing
- New Nonprofit Launches to Develop Peptide Compounding Quality Standards (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH joins $469M multistate settlement with generic drug maker Sandoz over price-fixing claims (NH Union Leader, 8/3/26)
Mental and Behavioral Health
- House Democrats Demand Answers From Trump’s VA on Vets Struggling to Access Mental Healthcare (ProPublica, 8/7/26)
- Continuing Antidepressants During Pregnancy Linked to Lower Postpartum Depression Risk (Medscape, 8/6/26)
- Meta ordered to pay $567 million in New Mexico for teen mental health fund (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
Neurology
Public Health
- Quick takes: New World screwworm in sheep; polio in DR Congo, Nigeria; new infectious disease tracker (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/7/26)
- US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer COVID questions (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Launches Statewide Community Health Equity Survey (MA Department of Public Health, 8/4/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - Aug 4 (Force of Infection, 8/4/26)
- The Dose: Covid-19 summer wave, peak mosquito season, two Cyclospora deaths (and the outbreak calming down), and more (Your Local Epidemiologist, 8/4/26)
Reproductive and Sexual Health
See Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- (New Hampshire) A New Era for Childbirth in New Hampshire Begins with Better Communication (Foundation for Healthy Communities, 8/4/26)
Rural Populations and Health Care
- Earlier lifeline for rural hospitals faces test under 'Big Beautiful' law (Fierce Healthcare, 8/3/26)
Sleep Medicine
- Sleep Disorders Common in Medication Overuse Headache (Medscape, 8/7/26)
- Smartwatch Study Links Midlife to Rising Nighttime Awakenings in Women (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/7/26)
Social Factors Affecting Health
See Spotlight: Diversity
- (New Hampshire) Lawsuit seeks class action status over NH’s policing of loitering law against homeless (NH Public Radio, 8/5/26)
Social Safety Nets
- (New Hampshire) NH predicts fewer students will get school lunch assistance amid federal SNAP restrictions (NH Public Radio, 8/7/26)
- Trump administration overhauls Head Start, largely giving up federal control (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- Program Integrity in Action: Recent MaineCare Oversight Activities (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 8/5/26)
- Over 4 million people are no longer receiving food aid amid sweeping changes to SNAP (NH Public Radio, 8/3/26)
Substance Use and Treatment
Vaccination
- Global Immunization Coverage Saw Gains in 2025, But Experts Warn of Trouble Ahead (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) National Immunization Month (NH Medical Society, 8/7/26)
- Trump administration considers order on autism and vaccines, source says (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- Pediatricians and Health Departments Sidestep Trump’s CDC on Vaccine Guidance (KFF Health News, 8/5/26)
- No link between MMR vaccination before age 2 and autism, large US study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/3/26)