August 2026 Health News Roundup
Date postedAugust 21, 2026
Topics in this News Roundup
- Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- Spotlight: Comments on Autism
- Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Diversity
- Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- Spotlight: Gender
- Spotlight: Immigration
- Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance
- Cancer
- Cardiology
- Care and Insurance Costs
- Caregiving and Patient Support
- Children's Health
- Chronic Health Conditions
- Consumer and Patient Safety
- Dermatology
- Disabled Populations and Health Care
- Disasters and Emergencies
- Endocrinology
- Environmental Health
- Eye Health
- Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety
- Gastrointestinal Health
- General Health
- Good News
- Government and Advocacy
- Health Care Systems and Facilities
- Health Equity and Access to Care
- Health Information and Privacy
- Health Technology
- Hematology
- Immunology and Allergies
- Infectious Diseases and Infections
- Insurance Coverage
- Medical Care
- Medical Research
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Medications and Prescribing
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Neurology
- Occupational Health
- Physicians, Health Care Providers, and Workforce
- Public Health
- Public Safety
- Reproductive and Sexual Health
- Rural Populations and Health Care
- Scope of Practice
- Sleep Medicine
- Social Factors Affecting Health
- Social Safety Nets
- Substance Use and Treatment
- Vaccination
Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- As AI advances, a debate grows over the future role of physicians (Fierce Healthcare, 8/21/26)
- Huge Gap Exists Between Regulatory Authorization, Clinical Validation of AI Medical Devices (HealthDay, 8/21/26)
- Yes Machines: The Mental Health Minefield of AI Chatbots (Medscape, 8/21/26)
- The Gap Between State and Territorial AI Policies and Public Health Practice (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth study finds AI can help doctors sound more empathetic, but overdiagnoses and overtreats (NH Public Radio, 8/17/26)
- AI-created bacteriophage overcame resistant bacterial strains, but experts emphasize need for safeguards (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Can a chatbot be a responsible therapist? Dartmouth professor aims to find out (Concord Monitor, 8/13/26)
- Are LLMs shifting the balance between ‘exploration and exploitation’ in research funding? (HealthExec, 8/11/26)
- Safety fears as scientists make first viruses designed by AI (The Guardian, 8/6/26)
Spotlight: Comments on Autism
- Kennedy’s Quiet Hunt for Autism Culprits Stalls as Trump Orders Baseless Changes to Childhood Shots (KFF Health News, 8/17/26)
- Prescriptions for leucovorin soar after White House announcement on autism (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- Trump administration considers order on autism and vaccines, source says (NH Union Leader, 8/6/26)
- 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)
Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire cyclosporiasis cases climb to 89 (NH Union Leader, 8/19/26)
- Cyclosporiasis Cases in US Climb to 15,716, CDC Says (Medscape, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH identifies 89 people with cyclosporiasis as rate of new cases slows nationally (NH Public Radio, 8/18/26)
- Cyclospora outbreaks with no confirmed sources grow: FDA (The Hill, 8/17/26)
- Best-by dates of recalled iceberg lettuce linked to massive Cyclospora outbreak have passed, says FDA (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/14/26)
- More recalls as US faces several foodborne illness outbreaks (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- ‘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
- Alzheimer’s research is latest casualty in Trump administration war against ‘DEI’ (The Guardian, 8/17/26)
- (New Hampshire) How Trump’s anti-DEI shift unraveled a successful federal investment in Maine schools (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth joins Harvard lawsuit against Trump administration’s grant freeze (NH Public Radio, 8/7/26)
Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- Ebola Spreading Exponentially in Congo as Death Toll Tops 2,500, UN Says (Medscape, 8/21/26)
- WHO and Africa CDC welcome the allocation of Ebola vaccines to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (World Health Organization, 8/20/26)
- WHO delivers Ebola vaccine to DR Congo to see if it can protect against Bundibugyo strain (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- WHO chief says most Ebola deaths in DR Congo still happening in the community (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/18/26)
- Ebola outbreak now deadliest ever in DR Congo as death rate reaches 46% (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- Ebola Outbreak Intensifies (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- DR Congo Ebola outbreak on track to be largest in history (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Strengthening the Bundibugyo virus disease response through community evidence (World Health Organization, 8/11/26)
- WHO: Ebola outbreak began in February, deaths near 2,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- 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
- (New Hampshire) Lawmakers Uphold Ayotte’s Vetoes of Bathroom Bills (InDepth NH, 8/19/26)
- The Trump Administration Launches a New Angle of Attack Against Trans Healthcare (Mother Jones, 8/18/26)
- Vance urges DOJ investigation into hospitals over billing for transgender care (The Hill, 8/14/26)
- Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care (The Guardian, 8/13/26)
- Trump administration refers providers, PBMs to DOJ over youth gender care billing (Fierce Healthcare, 8/13/26)
- Trump Issues “Finalized” Anti-Trans Medicaid Rule, But Human Rights Groups Say There’s Still Time (Erin In The Morning, 8/13/26)
- CMS Final Rule Ends Federal Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Youth Gender-Affirming Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/12/26)
- Police Called on Trans Men Using Women's Restroom As Required By Kansas Law (Erin In The Morning, 8/11/26)
- Trump Admin Releases Final Rule Attacking Healthcare for Low-Income Trans Kids (Mother Jones, 8/11/26)
- Trump administration finalizes rule restricting trans healthcare for minors on Medicaid (The Hill, 8/11/26)
- 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
- (New Hampshire) Judge rules Keene ICE detainee unlawfully held without bond hearing (NH Union Leader, 8/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) US deports more than 2,000 Mexicans to Guatemala despite Mexico's objections (NH Union Leader, 8/20/26)
- How Trump’s Deportation Machine Deprives Deaf People of Their Humanity (Mother Jones, 8/19/26)
- Cops Love ICE’s New Shock Gloves. Parents Want Them Out of Schools. (Mother Jones, 8/18/26)
- Democratic senators demand HHS stop sharing Medicaid info with ICE (The Hill, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) Keene Residents, Council Members Outraged Over Recent ICE Activity (InDepth NH, 8/17/26)
- Silent detention: Mental health impact of ICE arrests on families reaches crisis point (NH Public Radio, 8/17/26)
- Missed Appointments and Diluted Insulin: How ICE Enforcement Kept Kids From Care (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- (New Hampshire) Democrats push nearly 250 state bills opposing federal immigration efforts (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/13/26)
- ICE agents to be equipped with $20 million worth of electric shock gloves (NH Union Leader, 8/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) Legal groups ask court to restore block on Trump order on birthright citizenship (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH activists warn of increased ICE activity in state (NH Public Radio, 8/11/26)
- With new tactics, ICE reaches new high in monthly arrests (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/10/26)
- 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 211 new cases to accelerating US measles outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- Each measles case in 2025 US outbreak cost almost $60,000, study estimates, or $134 million total (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- The threat of more, expanded measles outbreaks looms with start of school (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- Measles Cases in the US Reach Highest Number in More Than 3 Decades (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- US CDC Records More Than 2,500 Measles Cases So Far in 2026 (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- With 101 new cases, US measles total tops 2,500 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/14/26)
- Measles is spreading. Vaccination remains our best defense. (American Medical Association, 8/10/26)
- 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
- People With Disabilities Say Medicaid’s Limits on Income Stifle Career Advancement (KFF Health News, 8/13/26)
- Medicaid Work Rule Leaves Homeless People in the Cold (KFF Health News, 8/6/26)
Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Missouri Republicans Are Trying to Repeal Abortion Rights by Leaning Into Anti-Trans Sentiment (ProPublica, 8/21/26)
- Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program funding cuts (Fierce Healthcare, 8/19/26)
- March of Dimes: Maternity care deserts persist, Medicaid cuts threaten to curb access further (Fierce Healthcare, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Councilors Liot Hill and Stevens Concerned About Women Facing Maternity ‘Deserts’ in Rural NH (InDepth NH, 8/11/26)
- Blanche pledges to make Dobbs decision ‘permanent’ in every state (The Hill, 8/4/26)
Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- Patients Wary of Governments, Companies Pushing AI as a Rural Healthcare Solution (KFF Health News, 8/11/26)
Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- AAP, ACOG Speak Out Against Executive Order (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/21/26)
- Experts raise alarm over Trump’s public consultation on vaccines policy (The Guardian, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health Children’s pediatric infectious disease physician addresses back-to-school vaccine questions (Dartmouth Health, 8/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH school vaccine rules unchanged despite Trump's executive order (NH Union Leader, 8/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH health department and local doctors stand by current child vaccine schedule (NH Public Radio, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) Medical Decisions Should Be Guided by Evidence, Not Executive Order (NH Medical Society, 8/18/26)
- Rhode Island Reaffirms Childhood Immunization Schedule (RI Department of Health, 8/18/26)
- US kindergarten vaccine exemptions jumped last school year, CDC reports (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) Are You Up to Date? Why Adult Vaccines Matter More Than You Might Think (Elliot Hospital, 8/17/26)
- Drugmakers uninterested in Trump's order to split up MMR vaccine (The Hill, 8/17/26)
- How Trump’s order on vaccines is sowing confusion, doubt and fear (The Guardian, 8/13/26)
- Maine Expands Universal Immunization Program to Adults Ages 19 to 64 (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 8/13/26)
- Trump’s vaccine plan would require millions of individual shots last used decades ago (AP, 8/13/26)
- CSTE Statement on Executive Order Regarding Childhood Vaccine Recommendations (Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, 8/12/26)
- Doctors say Trump’s vaccine order will raise fears, cause confusion and endanger kids (AP, 8/12/26)
- New CDC director faces first major test before she even begins work (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Organizations hit back at Trump’s call to reduce childhood vaccines (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) Statement on Recent Federal Changes to Childhood Vaccine Recommendations (NH Public Health Association, 8/12/26)
- WHO chief: US immunization changes ‘not aligned with decades of evidence’ (The Hill, 8/12/26)
- After revising charter, HHS seeks nominees for its National Vaccine Advisory Committee (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- FACT FOCUS: Trump makes false claims as he signs order urging revisions around childhood vaccines (AP, 8/11/26)
- Maine CDC: Childhood Vaccine Guidance Remains Unchanged Following Federal Action (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 8/11/26)
- Trump Childhood Vaccine Order: What It Means for Parents and Payers (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/11/26)
- Trump urges shift in childhood vaccine recommendations, calls for splitting up MMR vaccine (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/11/26)
- WHO defends childhood immunization schedules after Trump reduction order (The Hill, 8/11/26)
- How States Are Expanding Immunization Access Through Policy (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/10/26)
- Trump order calls for fewer childhood vaccines (The Hill, 8/10/26)
- Trump signs executive order to break up measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- Trump signs executive order with plan to reduce number of recommended childhood vaccines (The Guardian, 8/10/26)
- 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)
- Pediatricians and Health Departments Sidestep Trump’s CDC on Vaccine Guidance (KFF Health News, 8/5/26)
Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance
- Adults Hold Outdated Beliefs About Antibiotics (HealthDay, 8/20/26)
- Nirsevimab linked to reduction in RSV-related antibiotic prescribing (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Uptake of doxyPEP in Europe should be monitored, report suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- (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
- People vaccinated against HPV have lower risk of head and neck cancer, study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- How Much of a Cancer Drug Is Too Much? Patients, Researchers Challenge FDA-Approved Dosages (KFF Health News, 8/20/26)
- County-Level CRC Mortality Disparities Linked to Broadband Gaps, Smoking, and Rurality (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/19/26)
- Moderna, Merck vaccine cuts recurrence and spread of melanoma, raising new treatment hope (NH Union Leader, 8/19/26)
- Risk for Prostate Cancer Elevated With Higher Ultraprocessed Food Intake (HealthDay, 8/19/26)
- Patients’ Wait Times for Cancer Surgeries Keep Growing (Medscape, 8/17/26)
- Noninvasive imaging of basal cell carcinoma: Examining the choices (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/15/26)
- Blood Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening—What the Updated ACS Guideline Says (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- 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)
Cardiology
- Mobile Integrated Health Valuable in Heart Failure, but Payment Lags (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) A New Non‑Invasive Way to Better Understand Your Heart: How HeartFlow Helps You Get Clear Answers (Elliot Hospital, 8/19/26)
- Racism, Abuse Linked to Higher Heart Failure Risk in Black Women (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/18/26)
- New hypertension drugs show no advantage over older generics (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/14/26)
- Postpartum Health Coaching Boosts Blood Pressure Control (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- Delaware Implements Collaborative Communication Platform for Heart Health (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/10/26)
Care and Insurance Costs
- As healthcare costs weigh on patients, states could play a bigger role, report finds (Fierce Healthcare, 8/17/26)
- Medicare beneficiaries are paying more for price-negotiated drugs, survey finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/17/26)
- Inaccurate data in provider directories is costing health plans. Why a national provider diectory and data science are the fix (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/14/26)
- Patient advocacy group sues AMA for open access to CPT system (Fierce Healthcare, 8/14/26)
- Fifth Circuit sides with providers challenging No Surprises Act billing formula (HealthExec, 8/13/26)
- Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Costs Top Americans' Health Concerns (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/13/26)
- Hospital Prepayment Requirements Add New Wrinkles to Patients’ Financial Responsibility (KFF Health News, 8/12/26)
- Same Knee Surgery, Twice the Price: Hospital Monopolies Push Up Healthcare Costs (KFF Health News, 8/10/26)
- Kennedy, Oz Contend Fraud Crackdown, Not Skyrocketing Prices, Led Millions To Leave Obamacare (KFF Health News, 8/3/26)
Caregiving and Patient Support
- (New Hampshire) 'It was a good thing for him': Hundreds of clients, staff hit by Easterseals NH program closures (NH Public Radio, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Councilors defend rejection of childcare quality contract despite federal and state consequences (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/10/26)
- (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
- PAHO launches toolkit to prevent bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 8/17/26)
- Youth Obesity Treatment Shifts Toward GLP-1 Drugs as Surgery Declines (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- (New Hampshire) Goodlander Calls for Federal YDC Abuse Investigation (InDepth NH, 8/4/26)
Chronic Health Conditions
See Spotlight: Comments on Autism
- (general)
- Habitual Fasting May Be Harmful for Older Adults (HealthDay, 8/21/26)
- Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)
- Alzheimer’s research is latest casualty in Trump administration war against ‘DEI’ (The Guardian, 8/17/26)
- Estrogen-Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Pathology, Dementia Risk (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- Suboptimal Adherence to Brain Health Recommendations Common in Early Alzheimer Disease (HealthDay, 8/14/26)
- ‘One piece of this puzzle’: Pitt-CMU collaboration makes novel discovery about Alzheimer’s disease (NH Union Leader, 8/12/26)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Occupational Exposure to Pesticides Linked to Risk for ALS (HealthDay, 8/5/26)
- Anxiety and Depression
- Can Deep Brain Stimulation Finally Deliver for Depression? (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- FDA Approves New ADHD Medication (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- Talk Therapy Less Effective for Depression and Anxiety in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- 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
- Maternal Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Tied to Higher Risk for Mental Disorders in Kids (Medscape, 8/20/26)
- 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)
- Celiac Disease
- JAMA Insights: Diagnosis of Celiac Disease (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/12/26)
- 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
- Resistance Training May Lower Risk for T2D (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- 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)
- Endometriosis
- Endometriosis: Are Broader Symptoms Being Overlooked? (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- Endometriosis Tied to Higher Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes (HealthDay, 8/13/26)
- Hepatitis and Liver Diseases
- Increased Coffee Intake May Lower Liver Disease Risk (Medscape, 8/21/26)
- Fatty liver disease may carry high mortality risk for those at normal weight (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/18/26)
- Low immunity to hepatitis A and B in US adults plus recent policy changes may portend rise in disease (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/18/26)
- Ichthyosis
- Congenital Ichthyosis Tied to Risk for Allergic Disorders (Medscape, 8/18/26)
- Long COVID
- Night shift workers face 88% greater risk of long COVID, study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- 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
- Wildfire Smoke Linked to Increase in ED Visits for Migraine and Headache (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- Sleep Disorders Common in Medication Overuse Headache (Medscape, 8/7/26)
- Botox Helpful in Alleviating Chronic Migraine in Pediatric Patients (HealthDay, 8/6/26)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Air Pollution Linked to Rise in Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Disease Activity (Medscape, 8/17/26)
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Arginine Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Acute Pain Episodes (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/19/26)
- Daily Zinc Supplementation for Infection Prevention in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/19/26)
Consumer and Patient Safety
- WHO/UNICEF report highlights gaps in health facility sanitation (World Health Organization, 8/18/26)
Dermatology
- Long-Term Risk for Incident Psoriasis Elevated With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (HealthDay, 8/18/26)
- Severe Eczema More Than Doubles Shingles Risk (American Journal of Managed Care, 8/10/26)
- 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
- New DOJ Guidance Could Give States Cover To Cut Disability Services (KFF Health News, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Disability Rights Center investigation into NH disability system still ongoing (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/14/26)
- 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)
Disasters and Emergencies
- (New Hampshire) Working Together for a Safer Tomorrow: Elliot Health System's Year-Round Emergency Preparedness Efforts (Elliot Hospital, 8/13/26)
Endocrinology
- Estrogen-Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Pathology, Dementia Risk (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- Endometriosis Tied to Higher Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes (HealthDay, 8/13/26)
- Type 2 diabetes linked to more severe menopause symptoms, study finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/7/26)
Environmental Health
- (New Hampshire) Ayotte says she now supports a moratorium on data centers (NH Public Radio, 8/21/26)
- The Fight Over Spraying Roundup in California’s Forests Has Only Gotten Bigger (Mother Jones, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire gets $7.27M in PFAS settlement payment from 3M (NH Union Leader, 8/20/26)
- France Recorded 1,243 Excess Deaths During July Heatwaves (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) PFAS contamination confirmed at Lebanon airport (NH Public Radio, 8/19/26)
- When wildfire smoke hits home (Your Local Epidemiologist, 8/19/26)
- Drive for Nuclear Power Boosts Uranium Industry — And Tribal Health Concerns in Southwest (KFF Health News, 8/18/26)
- Air Pollution Linked to Rise in Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Disease Activity (Medscape, 8/17/26)
- Drinking Water Contaminants Associated With Uterine Cancer Risk (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- Wildfire Smoke Linked to Increase in ED Visits for Migraine and Headache (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries (The Guardian, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Old Dutch Mustard Co. agrees to stream monitoring, penalty in settling complaint about Clean Water Act violation (Concord Monitor, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Judge Orders Review of Manchester’s Water Treatment Plant Permit (InDepth NH, 8/12/26)
- Trump’s EPA Is Using This Sneaky Tactic to Let Nasty Industries Foul Our Air (Mother Jones, 8/8/26)
- (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)
Eye Health
- Medicare’s Paying Less for Cataract Surgery. Eye Doctors Are Turning to Lucrative Lasers. (KFF Health News, 8/19/26)
Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety
- Habitual Fasting May Be Harmful for Older Adults (HealthDay, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Advocates and agencies warn of rising food insecurity and increased expenses (NH Public Radio, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH DHHS Announces Updates to Recall List for Hannaford Produce and Deli Items (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 8/11/26)
- FDA moves to increase oversight of food additives (NH Union Leader, 8/10/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH DHHS Advises Consumers Not to Eat Certain Hannaford Deli Burritos and Wraps Due to Risk of Salmonella Contamination (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 8/10/26)
- (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)
Gastrointestinal Health
- Increased Coffee Intake May Lower Liver Disease Risk (Medscape, 8/21/26)
- Fatty liver disease may carry high mortality risk for those at normal weight (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/18/26)
- Testing for Gastroenteritis: GI PCR Beats Stool Culture for Hospitalized Patients (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- JAMA Insights: Diagnosis of Celiac Disease (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/12/26)
General Health
- Resistance Training May Lower Risk for T2D (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- 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) Three Dartmouth Health employees honored as 2026 New Hampshire Healthcare Heroes (Dartmouth Health, 8/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Bridge to Recovery Walk Returns September 20 to Support Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery (Concord Hospital, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) LRH Named to Forbes’ Inaugural List of America’s Best Hospitals by State (Littleton Regional Hospital, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) MCH Honored in 2026 Keene Sentinel Choice Awards (Monadnock Community Hospital, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health, Dartmouth College collaboration celebrates aging through art (Dartmouth Health, 8/17/26)
- (New Hampshire) Jaffrey Location Reopens After Renovations (Monadnock Community Hospital, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Portsmouth Regional Hospital nationally recognized for commitment to excellence in stroke care (Portsmouth Hospital, 8/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) Cheshire Medical Center Welcomes Third Class of Family Medicine Residents (Cheshire Medical Center, 8/11/26)
- (New Hampshire) Parkland nationally recognized for commitment to excellence in stroke care (Parkland Medical Center, 8/11/26)
- (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
- 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 >>
- As healthcare costs weigh on patients, states could play a bigger role, report finds (Fierce Healthcare, 8/17/26)
- Fifth Circuit sides with providers challenging No Surprises Act billing formula (HealthExec, 8/13/26)
- 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 >>
- New DOJ Guidance Could Give States Cover To Cut Disability Services (KFF Health News, 8/21/26)
- 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) Ayotte says she now supports a moratorium on data centers (NH Public Radio, 8/21/26)
- California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries (The Guardian, 8/13/26)
- Trump’s EPA Is Using This Sneaky Tactic to Let Nasty Industries Foul Our Air (Mother Jones, 8/8/26)
- (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 >>
- FDA moves to increase oversight of food additives (NH Union Leader, 8/10/26)
- (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)
- Health Equity and Access to Care - View more Health Equity and Access to Care articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Londonderry approves ambulance services for Litchfield in lengthy meeting (NH Union Leader, 8/19/26)
- 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)
- Medicare and Medicaid - View more Medicare and Medicaid articles >>
- Trump Team’s Use of Arcane Budget Rule Threatens Medicaid Coverage (KFF Health News, 8/14/26)
- 4 huge Medicare pay reforms are part of new bipartisan House bill (American Medical Association, 8/11/26)
- Mental and Behavioral Health - View more Mental and Behavioral Health articles >>
- HHS announces $96.7M in grants for behavioral health services (Fierce Healthcare, 8/19/26)
- House Democrats Demand Answers From Trump’s VA on Vets Struggling to Access Mental Healthcare (ProPublica, 8/7/26)
- Public Health - View more Public Health articles >>
- How States Leverage Policy to Build Up Community Health Workers (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/21/26)
- Trump Ordered to Release Billions in Resilience Grants for Disadvantaged Communities (Mother Jones, 8/20/26)
- The CDC has zombie programs. Congress funds them, but few people are left to do the work (AP, 8/18/26)
- Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more (The Guardian, 8/18/26)
- Fauci, RFK Jr., and the Latest in American Health (Mother Jones, 8/12/26)
- US Senate panel votes to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer COVID questions (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/6/26)
- Public Safety - View more Public Safety articles >>
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire Strengthens Laws to Protect Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence (NH Office of the Governor, 8/17/26)
- Trump administration denies nuclear safety watchdog crucial access (NH Union Leader, 8/13/26)
- 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 >>
- SNAP enrollment dropping faster than expected. Here’s why (The Hill, 8/21/26)
- (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 >>
- States Enact Emergency Orders On Kratom While Awaiting Federal Rules (HealthDay, 8/14/26)
- Governor Healey Takes Action to Protect Young People and Residents from Dangerous Kratom Products (MA Department of Public Health, 8/13/26)
- A Federal Policy Is Complicating How Organizations Battle the Opioid Crisis (KFF Health News, 8/11/26)
- FDA authorizes 4 flavored nicotine pouches (The Hill, 8/4/26)
- Vaccination - View more Vaccination articles >>
- An executive order, a confirmed director, and 20 straight months of measles: The State of US Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- Maine Expands Universal Immunization Program to Adults Ages 19 to 64 (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 8/13/26)
- Study ties COVID vaccine conspiracy theories to distrust of government, mainstream media (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- 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)
Health Care Systems and Facilities
- (New Hampshire) Unionized nurses at Concord Hospital in Laconia raise patient safety concerns during roundtable (Concord Monitor, 8/12/26)
Health Equity and Access to Care
- (New Hampshire) Londonderry approves ambulance services for Litchfield in lengthy meeting (NH Union Leader, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health: Telehealth programs for ICU, emergency rooms are too expensive to keep going (Concord Monitor, 8/17/26)
- Gaza Cancer Patients Face Rising Death Rate Amid Israeli Curbs, Doctors Say (Medscape, 8/13/26)
- Millions of Americans lack adequate access to prenatal care: Report (The Hill, 8/11/26)
- RAD-AID brings radiology expertise to underserved communities at home and abroad (Radiology Business, 8/11/26)
- (New Hampshire) Women in NH face provider shortages and barriers to healthcare access, study finds (NH Public Radio, 8/4/26)
Health Information and Privacy
Health Technology
See Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- Here’s how to make the most of patients’ wearable data (American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
Hematology
- Arginine Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease Acute Pain Episodes (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/19/26)
- Daily Zinc Supplementation for Infection Prevention in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/19/26)
Immunology and Allergies
- Congenital Ichthyosis Tied to Risk for Allergic Disorders (Medscape, 8/18/26)
Infectious Diseases and Infections
See Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
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
- Florida records its second flesh-eating bacteria death this year (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- 1 in 20 US adults develop bacterial infections after hospitalization for gunshot injuries (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- 5 people in Louisiana have died from a flesh-eating bacterium found in warm coastal waters (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- 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)
- Chicken Pox
- What to Know About Varicella as Childhood Vaccination Rates Decline (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- COVID-19
- Researchers probe why 2 Indigenous groups in Bolivia had lowest COVID death rates in world (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- COVID is ‘growing’ in nearly every state, CDC reports. Here’s where levels are highest (The Hill, 8/18/26)
- COVID vaccination may have prevented more than 4,000 deaths in one Washington county (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- 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
- Alfalfa sprout linked to food-poisoning outbreak in 15 states, health officials say (AP, 8/21/26)
- FDA, CDC investigating multistate outbreak of E coli, Salmonella linked to sprouts (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- What the Cyclospora Outbreak Reveals About the State of US Foodborne Disease Surveillance (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/21/26)
- Frozen blueberries recall categorized under FDA’s highest Class I risk level (The Hill, 8/20/26)
- Jalapeno-linked US Salmonella outbreak grows to 431 cases, 57 hospitalizations (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- Salmonella infections climb to 431 cases across multiple states: CDC (The Hill, 8/20/26)
- FDA heightens egg recall to reflect potential ‘serious adverse health consequences or death’ (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- Jalapeño Recalls Keep Growing As Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Continues (HealthDay, 8/17/26)
- FDA assigns highest-risk Class I status for recall of nearly 1.6 million cartons of eggs (The Hill, 8/14/26)
- 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)
- Fungal Infections
- Invasive mold disease linked to high rates of ICU care, death (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Study: 10% of hospitalized pneumonia patients tested for Coccidioides were infected (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Drug-resistant, potentially fatal fungus now in more than half of US states (HealthExec, 8/11/26)
- New drug-resistant fungal disease increases among vulnerable patients (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/11/26)
- 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
- What to Know About the mRNA Flu Vaccine, Newly Approved by the FDA (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- Flu vaccines helped prevent US hospitalizations, emergency and urgent-care visits in 2024-25 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Oseltamivir cuts risk of flu-related ICU admission, shortens hospital stays in kids, data suggest (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- Pediatrics group recommends flu vaccine for all children 6 months and older (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
- 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)
- Measles
- Although it’s uncommon, vaccinated people can spread measles, study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- Mosquito-Borne Diseases
- State health officials announce season’s first human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts (MA Department of Public Health, 8/20/26)
- State public health officials announce season’s first EEE-positive mosquito samples (MA Department of Public Health, 8/19/26)
- Pee Dee, South Carolina, reports West Nile virus outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- 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)
- MPox
- Is mpox here to stay? CDC study says virus is likely becoming endemic (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- Parasites and Amoebas
- Louisiana confirms Naegleria fowleri brain infection in resident who swam in Lake Claiborne (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- FDA grants emergency use authorization for another New World screwworm treatment (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/14/26)
- Prion Diseases
- Deer farms in 2 Wisconsin counties quarantined after CWD identified (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- Respiratory viruses
- When doctors listen for pneumonia, they don’t always hear the same thing (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- Maternal RSV vaccination highly effective against infant hospitalization (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- Recording Available: State Health Leaders Outline Strategies Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/19/26)
- RSV can trigger invasive pneumococcal disease in children, study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/19/26)
- Will flu, COVID-19 vaccines be available this fall? (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/19/26)
- Real-world studies show RSV immunizations protect newborns in their first year of life (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/14/26)
- Rubella
- Global rubella cases have dropped dramatically despite 2024 uptick, according to CDC analysis (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- HHS announces expansion of prenatal syphilis testing (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Mice may drive Lyme disease more than deer (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/17/26)
- Lyme disease is spreading into southern Appalachia, increasing the need for public education (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/14/26)
- RIDOH Confirms a Case of Rare Tick-Borne Viral Infection (Powassan) (RI Department of Health, 8/13/26)
- 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)
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- New study sheds light on why tuberculosis disproportionately affects men (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
Insurance Coverage
- AMA applauds updated CMS prior authorization reporting guidance (Fierce Healthcare, 8/18/26)
- Insurers denied between 12% to 18% of prior authorization requests in 2025: KFF (Fierce Healthcare, 8/14/26)
Medical Care
- Emergency room patients often wait 4 hours or more for a hospital bed—some more than a day (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Manchester clinic is rethinking menopause care (NH Union Leader, 8/17/26)
- Physician Normalization of Symptoms May Lead Patients to Not Seek Treatment (HealthDay, 8/12/26)
- 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
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health to lead $44 million national research study of care decisions among older adults with serious illness (Dartmouth Health, 8/20/26)
- 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
- Medicaid expansion linked to improved NSCLC survival, diagnosis (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/19/26)
- Trump Team’s Use of Arcane Budget Rule Threatens Medicaid Coverage (KFF Health News, 8/14/26)
- 4 huge Medicare pay reforms are part of new bipartisan House bill (American Medical Association, 8/11/26)
- 500,000 Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes to lose coverage by 2034 (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/6/26)
Medications and Prescribing
- FDA Approves New ADHD Medication (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/14/26)
- 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
- Maternal Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Tied to Higher Risk for Mental Disorders in Kids (Medscape, 8/20/26)
- Can Deep Brain Stimulation Finally Deliver for Depression? (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- HHS announces $96.7M in grants for behavioral health services (Fierce Healthcare, 8/19/26)
- Poor Mental Health Tied to Risk for Drug Use Disorder (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) Mental health nonprofit will use $3.6 million grant to address youth suicide in NH (NH Public Radio, 8/18/26)
- New Data Shows Promising Trends in Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (VT Department of Health, 8/18/26)
- Talk Therapy Less Effective for Depression and Anxiety in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- Focused mental healthcare for young people delivers big savings to Canadian healthcare (HealthExec, 8/12/26)
- 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
- Social Engagement May Sustain Brain Health Function (HealthDay, 8/18/26)
- Suboptimal Adherence to Brain Health Recommendations Common in Early Alzheimer Disease (HealthDay, 8/14/26)
- ‘One piece of this puzzle’: Pitt-CMU collaboration makes novel discovery about Alzheimer’s disease (NH Union Leader, 8/12/26)
- Botox Helpful in Alleviating Chronic Migraine in Pediatric Patients (HealthDay, 8/6/26)
Occupational Health
- Public Health Alerts: Silicosis among workers fabricating engineered stone (‘quartz’) countertops in California, 2019-2026 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/12/26)
- Night shift workers face 88% greater risk of long COVID, study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/10/26)
Physicians, Health Care Providers, and Workforce
- Harness the power of peer relationships in residency (American Medical Association, 8/20/26)
- Violence Against Healthcare Workers and Staffing Shortages Fuel Hospital Strikes (KFF Health News, 8/20/26)
- Non-U.S.-Born Physicians Make Up Nearly Half of Internal Medicine Workforce (HealthDay, 8/19/26)
- Stronger belonging may help ease physician burnout (American Medical Association, 8/13/26)
Public Health
- How States Leverage Policy to Build Up Community Health Workers (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/21/26)
- Quick takes: More vaccine executive order pushback, Cyclospora increase, polio in 5 nations (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- Trump Ordered to Release Billions in Resilience Grants for Disadvantaged Communities (Mother Jones, 8/20/26)
- Quick takes: Nominee for FDA director, Ebola cases hit 5,000, Cyclospora outbreak slows but cases top 15,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/19/26)
- The CDC has zombie programs. Congress funds them, but few people are left to do the work (AP, 8/18/26)
- The Dose: Covid-19 and dengue creeping up, vaccinations creeping down, a new mRNA flu vaccine, and more (Your Local Epidemiologist, 8/18/26)
- Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more (The Guardian, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) Building a Successful Medicaid-Public Health Partnership: Lessons from New Hampshire (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/17/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - Aug 16 (Force of Infection, 8/16/26)
- AJPH Analysis Highlights the Importance of Public Deliberation in Developing Efficient Public Health Policies (American Public Health Association, 8/12/26)
- Fauci, RFK Jr., and the Latest in American Health (Mother Jones, 8/12/26)
- The Dose: EO for routine childhood vaccines, Covid-19, fire, heat, and more (Your Local Epidemiologist, 8/11/26)
- Data Modernization Strategies from Island Public Health Leaders (Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 8/10/26)
- People's CDC, COVID-19, Weather Report, August 10, 2026 (People's CDC, 8/10/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - Aug 9 (Force of Infection, 8/9/26)
- 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)
Public Safety
- Violent crime in US fell at record pace in 2025 (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/18/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire Strengthens Laws to Protect Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence (NH Office of the Governor, 8/17/26)
- (New Hampshire) Three Bipartisan Bills Related To Protecting Victims Celebrated in Concord (InDepth NH, 8/17/26)
- Climate change could spell ‘catastrophe’ for blood supply, already under crisis as Red Cross urges donations. Preparedness is the path forward. (Concord Monitor, 8/15/26)
- Trump administration denies nuclear safety watchdog crucial access (NH Union Leader, 8/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) The American Red Cross is limiting distribution of type O blood amid shortage (NH Public Radio, 8/10/26)
Reproductive and Sexual Health
See Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Endometriosis: Are Broader Symptoms Being Overlooked? (Medscape, 8/14/26)
- (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
See Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- (New Hampshire) Senator Maggie Hassan Visits Cottage Hospital to Discuss Rural Healthcare and Access to Care (Cottage Hospital, 8/21/26)
- Earlier lifeline for rural hospitals faces test under 'Big Beautiful' law (Fierce Healthcare, 8/3/26)
Scope of Practice
- AMA takes fight to Wisconsin optometrists performing eye surgeries (American Medical Association, 8/10/26)
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
- HIV medication adherence follows SNAP payment timing, study finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 8/20/26)
- Socioeconomic Inequalities Tied to Functional Aging (HealthDay, 8/13/26)
- (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
- SNAP enrollment dropping faster than expected. Here’s why (The Hill, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Strafford County food pantries raise alarm about increasing hunger and food insecurity (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Child food insecurity rose 6% in New Hampshire, according to Feeding America (New Hampshire Bulletin, 8/11/26)
- (New Hampshire) Report: N.H. childhood food insecurity rose for third year in a row (Concord Monitor, 8/11/26)
- (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
- JAMA Insights: Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/19/26)
- Opioid Addiction May Up Complications After Hysterectomy (Medscape, 8/19/26)
- Report Highlights Substance Use in Young Adults in U.S. in 2025 (HealthDay, 8/14/26)
- States Enact Emergency Orders On Kratom While Awaiting Federal Rules (HealthDay, 8/14/26)
- Governor Healey Takes Action to Protect Young People and Residents from Dangerous Kratom Products (MA Department of Public Health, 8/13/26)
- A Federal Policy Is Complicating How Organizations Battle the Opioid Crisis (KFF Health News, 8/11/26)
- Public Health Alerts: Sales of unauthorized e-cigarettes in the United States, December 2025 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)
- US sees a big jump in nausea cases among frequent marijuana users in the hospital (AP, 8/6/26)
- FDA authorizes 4 flavored nicotine pouches (The Hill, 8/4/26)
- VA Launches Nationwide Trial Of GLP-1 Drug For Problem Drinking (HealthDay, 8/3/26)
Vaccination
See Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- Survey data reveal demographic divides in Americans’ COVID vaccine hesitancy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/21/26)
- Low immunity to hepatitis A and B in US adults plus recent policy changes may portend rise in disease (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/18/26)
- Focusing on healthy aging might encourage older adults to get vaccinated (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/17/26)
- An executive order, a confirmed director, and 20 straight months of measles: The State of US Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/13/26)
- Study ties COVID vaccine conspiracy theories to distrust of government, mainstream media (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 8/11/26)