October 2026 Health News Roundup
Date postedOctober 23, 2026
Topics in this News Roundup
- Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health
- Spotlight: Diversity
- Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- Spotlight: Gender
- Spotlight: Global Health Policy
- Spotlight: Health Misinformation
- Spotlight: Immigration
- Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season
- Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistance, and Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Cancer
- Cardiology
- Care and Insurance Costs
- Caregiving and Patient Support
- Children's Health
- Chronic Health Conditions
- Criminalization of Medicine
- Dermatology
- Disabled Populations and Health Care
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Health
- 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 of Care
- Medical Care
- Medical Ethics
- Medical Research
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Medications, Prescribing, and Supplements
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Physicians, Health Care Workers, and Workforce
- Public Health
- Public Safety
- Reproductive and Sexual Health
- Respiratory Health
- Rheumatology
- Rural Populations and Health Care
- Sleep Medicine
- Social and Structural Factors Affecting Health
- Social Safety Nets
- Substance Use and Treatment
- Vaccination
Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- American Medical Association rolls out governance framework for agentic AI solutions (Fierce Healthcare, 10/16/26)
- How the AMA will help set the agenda for health AI’s future (American Medical Association, 10/12/26)
- AI, Tech Leaders Are Lobbying Trump Health Officials in a Government-Run Chat Room (KFF Health News, 10/9/26)
- JAMA takes action to combat “AI slop” submissions (American Medical Association, 10/9/26)
- RFK Jr.'s embrace of AI confounds some MAHA allies and medical experts (AP, 10/6/26)
- Utah becomes first state to use AI for initial prescriptions without human oversight (HealthExec, 10/6/26)
- More Than 1 in 5 Children Report Using AI for Emotional Support—Is It Good News or Bad? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- RFK Jr.'s AI claims spark physician backlash as debate over medical AI intensifies (Fierce Healthcare, 10/2/26)
Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
- FDA closes probe into lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak, detects Cyclospora in Mexico (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA says (AP, 10/2/26)
Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health
- (New Hampshire) ‘Too many unanswered questions’: Concord Planning Board defers decision on ‘micro’ data center proposal (Concord Monitor, 10/23/26)
- (New Hampshire) Hooksett Planning Board weighs data center moratorium for March ballot (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
Spotlight: Diversity
- Judge won't block Trump order targeting DEI by federal contractors (NH Union Leader, 10/14/26)
Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak
- Nigeria announces its first Ebola case in 12 years (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- Kenya reports more Ebola cases, all linked to initial patient (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- 3rd person in Kenya tests positive for Ebola as DR Congo outbreak spreads to 8th province (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- Second Ebola patient identified in Kenya (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- Ebola cases top 9,000 in DR Congo outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Kenyan officials: No new Ebola cases in past week (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- Kenya: 10 people in quarantine as officials try to reach 57 more contacts of deceased Ebola patient (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- Kenya reports its first Ebola case, in man who died after arriving from DR Congo (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- DR Congo Ebola cases grow, deaths top 4,000 as officials struggle to ascertain numbers, trends (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
Spotlight: Gender
- New Zealand Court Strikes Down Puberty Blocker Ban (Medscape, 10/22/26)
- Supreme Court won't allow Trump administration restrictions on transgender inmates (NH Union Leader, 10/21/26)
- Fierce Healthcare Regulatory Recap: HHS presses medical groups on gender-affirming care for minors; CMS distributes RHTP funding to 5 states (Fierce Healthcare, 10/16/26)
- Study Highlights Impact of Hirsutism, Hair Removal in Transfeminine Individuals (Medscape, 10/15/26)
- CMS Rule Ends Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Pediatric Gender Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/13/26)
- Killing of Woman May Have Been Justifiable Because She Was Trans, Tennessee Court Rules (Erin In The Morning, 10/8/26)
- "Vote NO": Colorado's Top Medical Groups Formally Oppose Anti-Trans Ballot Prop. 135 (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- Trump Claims Democrats “Mutilize” Kids To “Make Them Transgender” In Ohio Rally For Jon Husted (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- Elon Musk Calls For “Death Sentence” for GAC Providers (Erin In The Morning, 10/2/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH families sue Trump administration over Medicaid ban on transgender health care (NH Public Radio, 10/2/26)
Spotlight: Global Health Policy
- Former USAID Health Chief Says Aid Cuts Are Costing Children's Lives (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/23/26)
- House Democrats demand answers from CDC on African hepatitis B study (The Hill, 10/22/26)
- Controversial US-backed vaccine trial in African newborns halted (The Guardian, 10/21/26)
- Infectious disease specialists protest HIV funding cuts (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- Guinea-Bissau Says It Has Not Approved Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial in Newborns (Medscape, 10/13/26)
- Trump's global health strategy has harmed HIV work in Uganda, Zimbabwe (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Feds sold lab equipment that exposed US to ‘severe bioterrorism threat,’ report says (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- Hepatitis B vaccine study condemned as unethical wins approval from Danish university (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- WHO issues first global guidelines on child and adolescent obesity (World Health Organization, 10/7/26)
- Some CDC foreign offices shutting their doors as US implements ‘America First’ policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- Trump is conditioning foreign aid on deals (Politico, 10/6/26)
- Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts (The Guardian, 10/5/26)
Spotlight: Health Misinformation
- Trust in science ‘under pressure,’ global survey finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Most Clinicians Reject Federal Vax Guidance, Survey Finds (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- Tylenol misinformation drew outsized TikTok views as public health agencies largely stayed silent (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
Spotlight: Immigration
- Medicaid at Risk for Hundreds of Thousands of Lawfully Present Immigrants (KFF Health News, 10/23/26)
- Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say (NH Union Leader, 10/23/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH faith communities gather to remember people killed by ICE (NH Public Radio, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Statewide Petition Seeks to End Local Police Departments’ Role in Immigration Efforts (InDepth NH, 10/20/26)
- Ukrainians and Sudanese with temporary legal status will keep protections for now (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/20/26)
- US immigration enforcement disrupted pediatric emergency care for Hispanic families, study notes (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) Pittsfield Police Department to receive $145,000 from DHS and ICE (NH Public Radio, 10/15/26)
- Nonpartisan government watchdog recommends automated activation of ICE body cameras (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/14/26)
- Trump’s Medicaid cuts strip refugees and other legal immigrants of their health coverage (AP, 10/10/26)
- Immigration chiefs defend shooting of New York man, attack 'sanctuary' policies (NH Union Leader, 10/9/26)
- Aging workforce, immigration crackdown are depleting skilled workers (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/8/26)
- US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications over alleged fraud (NH Union Leader, 10/8/26)
- Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/7/26)
- Fear Kept Immigrants Away From Medicaid. Now Many Can’t Come Back. (Mother Jones, 10/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) Anti-immigration enforcement petition gathers steam as ACLU challenges State Police transparency on ICE agreement (Concord Monitor, 10/6/26)
- Increased anti-immigrant rhetoric, ICE activity are barriers to seeking medical care, 2 studies show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH State Police agree to release ICE partnership records amid ACLU lawsuit (NH Union Leader, 10/6/26)
- Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Divides Rural Voters, KFF-AP Poll Finds (KFF Health News, 10/5/26)
- Federal funds for local police enforcement accelerated Trump immigration crackdown (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/2/26)
- Supreme Court to weigh Trump's mandatory immigration detention policy (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
- US measles cases hit 4,588, more than twice last year’s total (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/23/26)
- As measles soars in Pennsylvania, some parents are vaccinating their babies early (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- States Waited Two Months For CDC Help On A Faster Measles Test, It Never Came (HealthDay, 10/22/26)
- Pennsylvania raises alarm on congenital measles (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/20/26)
- Demand for Vaccination Increases Amid Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/16/26)
- US measles cases grow by 8% in 1 week for a total of 4,410 cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- Explainer-How Does the US Count Measles Deaths? (Medscape, 10/14/26)
- Measles update: US passes 4,000 cases, Pennsylvania reports sixth death (Fierce Healthcare, 10/13/26)
- Pennsylvania reports its 6th measles death, in a Franklin County resident (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- New York and Pennsylvania's split screen approach to measles (Politico, 10/11/26)
- PAHO assesses risk of measles spread as very high ahead of religious mass gatherings in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/9/26)
- With Pennsylvania leading the way, US measles cases top 4,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/9/26)
- New York declares first US measles disaster emergency since 2025 surge (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- Pennsylvania confirms more than 1,000 measles cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- Measles milestones: US closes in on 4,000 cases as Pennsylvania nears 1,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire sets up digital system to accommodate new Medicaid work requirements (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Medicaid Work Requirements Threaten Health Care Access for Up to 29,000 Granite Staters, With Several Implementation Decisions Still Left Up to the State (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Study: 29,000 Granite Staters Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Under New Work Requirements (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- Millions of Medicaid recipients to face draconian requirements as of 1 January (The Guardian, 10/13/26)
- Five states pen an open letter, pleading with HHS, RFK to delay Medicaid work requirements (HealthExec, 10/4/26)
Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Abortion Drug Safety Review Will Be Completed by March, US FDA Says (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- US States Label Abortion Drugs a 'public Nuisance' in Bid to Curb Access (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- Red States Just Asked the Supreme Court to Kill Abortion Shield Laws (Mother Jones, 10/1/26)
Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season
- (New Hampshire) The flu is early this year, so NH doctors say now’s the time to get vaccinated (NH Public Radio, 10/16/26)
- Governor McKee, RIDOH Kick Off Flu Vaccination Campaign (RI Department of Health, 10/15/26)
- Focus on efficacy, family protection can increase flu vaccination, study notes (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- CT DPH urges families to prepare for respiratory virus season with flu vaccine, conversations with their healthcare providers (CT State Department of Health, 10/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Flu Shot Clinic (Coos County Family Health, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) Stay Protected This Flu Season: Flu Vaccines Available at Elliot Primary Care (Elliot Hospital, 10/8/26)
- Flu Season May Be Starting Early; Experts Say Get Vaccinated Now (HealthDay, 10/7/26)
- Societies Release Vaccine Recommendations for Respiratory Virus Season (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- 2 enhanced flu vaccines offer similar protection against infection in older adults (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- (New Hampshire) Governor Kelly Ayotte Announces Over $11 Million to Strengthen Rural EMS and Expand Mobile Integrated Health Across Rural New Hampshire (NH Office of the Governor, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) GO-NORTH announces rural EMS program during RFK Jr. visit (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- RFK Jr. announces allocation of $11 million to rural health initiatives (Concord Monitor, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) GO-NORTH ‘cautiously optimistic’ ahead of federal rescoring of rural health program (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/13/26)
Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- ‘Chaos in communication’: How shared clinical decision making for vaccines adds confusion (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) In Concord visit, RFK Jr. renews attack on hep B vaccine that inspired state anti-vaccine bill (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- A vaccine injury initiative, a contested hepatitis B trial, and edited CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance: The State of U.S. Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- American Public Health Association and Epstein Becker Green to Launch a Comprehensive 50-State Assessment of U.S. Immunization Laws and Policies (American Public Health Association, 10/13/26)
- Florida health officials meet amid fierce debate over childhood vaccine plans (Politico, 10/8/26)
- HHS launches new major vaccine injury initiative (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- Lawmakers want answers from CDC director on childhood vaccine recommendations, measles response (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- Looking for vaccines? Vaccines.gov won’t help (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- Long COVID, disputing measles deaths, and newborns without RSV protection: The State of US Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistance, and Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Drug-resistant infections linked to $3.5 trillion in global economic losses in 2021 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- When it comes to inappropriate antibiotic use, ‘social norm’ framing alone doesn’t shift intentions (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- Congressman urges medical, dental groups to educate clinicians about antibiotic stewardship (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Study shows ‘spillover effect’ of stewardship effort in pediatric urgent care (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
Cancer
- Measles Immunity Wanes in Kids Treated for Leukemia (Medscape, 10/23/26)
- A novel mRNA cancer vaccine helps reduce the chances of melanoma patients’ tumors returning (AP, 10/22/26)
- Childhood Cancer Risk After Assisted Reproductive Technology (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/21/26)
- US cervical cancer screening rates have risen, but disparities remain, new data show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- WHO releases training manual to expand access to early breast cancer care (World Health Organization, 10/19/26)
- Income, Age Linked to Delayed Breast Cancer Care (Medscape, 10/14/26)
- Disabled women more likely to skip cervical cancer screening, new data show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- Lung Cancer Screening Lags for People With HIV as Eligibility Triples (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/1/26)
Cardiology
- ACC Releases Guidance for Managing Resistant Hypertension (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
- U.S. Candidate Risk Score Prioritizes Sicker Heart Transplant Candidates (HealthDay, 10/23/26)
- Heart data in sleep study predicts atrial fibrillation, heart failure years in advance (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/22/26)
- Lifetime Risk for Heart Failure High and Increasing (HealthDay, 10/13/26)
Care and Insurance Costs
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Medicaid at Risk for Hundreds of Thousands of Lawfully Present Immigrants (KFF Health News, 10/23/26)
- ‘Go to Canada’: Trump Touted Americans’ Access to Cheaper Drugs. A New Rule Threatens It. (KFF Health News, 10/22/26)
- Job-Based Health Plan Costs Rise, With Little Relief in Sight (KFF Health News, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) New Hampshire sets up digital system to accommodate new Medicaid work requirements (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/22/26)
- UnitedHealthcare, Humana Medicare Advantage cancellations to affect 1 million (The Hill, 10/22/26)
- States are forcing hospitals to offer more people financial aid. In Oregon, it's working (Fierce Healthcare, 10/21/26)
- Insurance lobby sues HHS over decision to bar brokers from ACA open enrollment (HealthExec, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) New Medicaid Work Requirements Threaten Health Care Access for Up to 29,000 Granite Staters, With Several Implementation Decisions Still Left Up to the State (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) Study: 29,000 Granite Staters Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Under New Work Requirements (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- After Booting 760K People From ACA Plans, Trump Administration Has Added Some Back (KFF Health News, 10/16/26)
- 7 Takeaways From an Investigation Into Financial Aid at Texas Hospitals (KFF Health News, 10/15/26)
- What Texas Reveals About the Obstacles to Getting Hospital Financial Aid (KFF Health News, 10/15/26)
- HHS eliminates health insurance subsidies for 189K 'duplicate’ enrollees as part of ongoing audit (HealthExec, 10/14/26)
- KFF: Individual health insurance enrollment fell 18 percent in June (The Hill, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump’s Medicaid cuts strip refugees and other legal immigrants of their health coverage (AP, 10/10/26)
- ‘Medicare for All’ Is Back. Now Comes the Hard Part. (KFF Health News, 10/8/26)
- Medical Debt Is Crushing Hospital Patients in Los Angeles. Health Officials May Have a Fix. (KFF Health News, 10/8/26)
- US To Crack Down On Mail-Order Canadian Drug Imports: What You Need To Know (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- ‘Medicare for All’ Message Attracts Voters Buckling Under Medical Bills (KFF Health News, 10/7/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Fear Kept Immigrants Away From Medicaid. Now Many Can’t Come Back. (Mother Jones, 10/7/26)
- Millions may face prescription drug price surge on Oct. 22 (NH Union Leader, 10/7/26)
- Medical debt burdens more than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S., survey finds (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/6/26)
- Most Americans Support Switch to Medicare for All Health Insurance (Medscape, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH state retirees face 85% health premium hike (NH Union Leader, 10/4/26)
- CMS Finalizes Mandatory GLOBE Model to Test Lower Part B Drug Costs (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/1/26)
- Final GLOBE drug model projects much smaller savings while 2027 Part D premiums split (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/1/26)
Caregiving and Patient Support
- (New Hampshire) ‘We’ve got to button it up’: Childcare council reduces schedule, shifts priorities ahead of session (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) In New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, childcare policy enters affordability conversation (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire needs more childcare. New programs face hurdles in filling the void. (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) How one NH caregiver found hope and support while caring for her husband with dementia (NH Public Radio, 10/5/26)
Children's Health
- WHO Publishes First Guidelines for Managing Obesity in Children (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
- International guidance and new European data back type 1 diabetes screening for all children (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/21/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) WHO issues first global guidelines on child and adolescent obesity (World Health Organization, 10/7/26)
- Developmental Disabilities Rise to About 20% in US Children (Medscape, 10/1/26)
Chronic Health Conditions
- (general)
- Developmental Disabilities Rise to About 20% in US Children (Medscape, 10/1/26)
- Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)
- Global Incidence of Dementia Projected to Reach 24.7 Million by 2050 (HealthDay, 10/19/26)
- Obesity Linked to Lower Risk for Mortality in Dementia (HealthDay, 10/15/26)
- Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy May Increase Risk for Dementia (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- Joint Supplement Tied to Higher Dementia Progression Risk (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Adult ADHD Tied to Fourfold Higher Risk for MCI, Dementia (Medscape, 10/12/26)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Autism Incidence Has Remained Stable, Study Finds (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- Autoimmune, Immune-Mediated, and Immunocompromising Conditions
- Misdiagnosis More Common for Women With Autoimmune Disease (HealthDay, 10/13/26)
- Cushing Disease
- Insulin Resistance Seen in Cushing Disease With Normal Glucose (Medscape, 10/13/26)
- Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
- Adults With Type 1 Diabetes More Likely to Have Depressive, Anxiety Symptoms (HealthDay, 10/22/26)
- International guidance and new European data back type 1 diabetes screening for all children (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/21/26)
- Eczema
- Nickel, Fragrance Top Sensitizers in Patients With Hand Eczema (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/2/26)
- Endometriosis
- Endometriosis Guidelines Differ on Biomarkers and Repeat Surgery (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/19/26)
- Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
- Drug Interactions Reducing Contraceptive Effectiveness Common in Epilepsy (HealthDay, 10/9/26)
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
- Early HS Treatment May Prevent Scarring in Patients With Skin of Color (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/12/26)
- Mayo study links smoking exposure to hidradenitis suppurativa in pediatric population (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/8/26)
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
- Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Face Long-Term Psychiatric Burden (Medscape, 10/1/26)
- Long COVID
- Risk for Long COVID Increased With Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (HealthDay, 10/20/26)
- Long-COVID symptoms may be linked to bacterial mix in the mouth, lungs (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- Migraine and Headache Disorders
- Beyond CGRP: The Search for Migraine’s Next Big Target (Medscape, 10/12/26)
- Sleep Duration Linked to Migraine Frequency and Disability (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders
- Older Patients With OSA Have More Comorbidities at Similar Severity (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/18/26)
- OSA Common, Often Overlooked in Severe Mental Illness (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- Sjögren Syndrome
- Diagnostic Delays Linked to Greater Disease Activity, Worse Quality of Life in Sjögren Disease (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/9/26)
Criminalization of Medicine
- (Spotlight: Gender) CMS Rule Ends Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Pediatric Gender Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) US States Label Abortion Drugs a 'public Nuisance' in Bid to Curb Access (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) "Vote NO": Colorado's Top Medical Groups Formally Oppose Anti-Trans Ballot Prop. 135 (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Trump Claims Democrats “Mutilize” Kids To “Make Them Transgender” In Ohio Rally For Jon Husted (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Elon Musk Calls For “Death Sentence” for GAC Providers (Erin In The Morning, 10/2/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Gender) NH families sue Trump administration over Medicaid ban on transgender health care (NH Public Radio, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) Red States Just Asked the Supreme Court to Kill Abortion Shield Laws (Mother Jones, 10/1/26)
Dermatology
- Early HS Treatment May Prevent Scarring in Patients With Skin of Color (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/12/26)
- One Third of Tested OTC Skin Products Contain Undeclared Prescription Steroids (Medscape, 10/9/26)
Disabled Populations and Health Care
- (New Hampshire) Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement – Choices for Independence (CFI) (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 10/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH agrees to in-home care changes in proposed disability rights settlement (NH Union Leader, 10/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) DHHS promises home care reforms after settlement reached in Choices for Independence class action lawsuit (Concord Monitor, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) State, plaintiffs agree to settle lawsuit over NH in-home care program after five-year court battle (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/6/26)
Ear, Nose, and Throat Health
- Recommendations Updated for Management of Tinnitus (HealthDay, 10/21/26)
Endocrinology
- Testosterone Use Rises Among Women, but Does the Evidence Support It? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
- First Generic Combo Hormone Patch Could Make Menopause Relief More Affordable (HealthDay, 10/21/26)
- Guideline Developed for Treatment of Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms (HealthDay, 10/13/26)
- Insulin Resistance Seen in Cushing Disease With Normal Glucose (Medscape, 10/13/26)
- New Tool Kit Outlines Hormonal Options for Perimenopause (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/9/26)
Environmental Health
See Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health) ‘Too many unanswered questions’: Concord Planning Board defers decision on ‘micro’ data center proposal (Concord Monitor, 10/23/26)
- Heat killed ‘staggering’ 50,000 people in Europe’s cities this summer, scientists warn (The Guardian, 10/23/26)
- The EPA Is Quietly Killing its Web Archive (Mother Jones, 10/23/26)
- Nuclear Weapons Waste Made Workers Sick. Despite a Law Meant to Help, the DOE Keeps Fighting Their Claims. (ProPublica, 10/22/26)
- Childhood lead exposure remains a preventable health threat in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/21/26)
- New global framework launched to track increasing health risks of extreme heat for pregnant women, newborns and children (World Health Organization, 10/21/26)
- New research shows how microplastics and water interactions could lead to cell damage (NH Union Leader, 10/18/26)
- ‘We Are Seen as Disposable’: Rural Residents Fight a Proposed Gas Pipeline (KFF Health News, 10/9/26)
- (New Hampshire) Cyanobacteria, and their toxins, are incredibly diverse. How can risk be measured? (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/9/26)
- Heat Deaths Highest Among Military, Farm, Construction (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH among states challenging Corteva spinoff as bid to evade PFAS liabilities (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health) Hooksett Planning Board weighs data center moratorium for March ballot (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
Eye Health
- (New Hampshire) Dr. Andrew J. Schuman: Bipartisan plan aims to spot vision problems before they affect learning (NH Union Leader, 10/19/26)
Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety
- FDA may allow some toxic chemicals to be added to food without safety review. Experts are alarmed (The Guardian, 10/10/26)
- American Academy of Pediatrics Renews Call for Ban on Raw Milk (ProPublica, 10/8/26)
- Raw milk poses serious infection risks with no added health benefits, pediatrician group warns (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- Study suggests sugar-rich foods amplify antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
Gastrointestinal Health
- Steatotic Liver Disease Is Becoming a Higher Priority Worldwide (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
General Health
- Obesity Linked to Lower Risk for Mortality in Dementia (HealthDay, 10/15/26)
- Americas advance on healthy aging, but gaps remain as 2030 approaches (Pan American Health Organization, 10/6/26)
Good News
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health physician elected as first woman president of American Urological Association (Dartmouth Health, 10/23/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health transplant team awarded $375K prize to create telehealth program for kidney transplant patients in rural communities (Dartmouth Health, 10/23/26)
- (New Hampshire) Elliot Health System Expands Urogynecology in Concord, Opens Practice Dedicated to Women's Pelvic Health (Elliot Hospital, 10/23/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health named one of Becker’s Cardiology’s top 100 heart programs for 2026 (Dartmouth Health, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health trial improved understanding by kidney disease patients for their treatment options, and by their physicians for their patients’ goals (Dartmouth Health, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) Elliot VNA Earns 5-Star CMS Rating for Family Caregiver Experience for the Second Consecutive Year (Elliot Hospital, 10/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) St. Joseph Hospital Partners to Expand Healthcare Access for Nashua Students (St. Joseph Hospital, 10/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) Elliot Health System Awarded Bond Rating Upgrade By Standard & Poor’s (Elliot Hospital, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Parkland Medical Center teams up with local law enforcement on Prescription Drug Take Back Day (Parkland Medical Center, 10/15/26)
- (New Hampshire) Elliot Health System to Host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Event (Elliot Hospital, 10/14/26)
- (New Hampshire) ‘Gus the Bus’ to provide free food at Lamprey Health in Newmarket (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) CMC provides $300,000 for dental and homeless health care (NH Union Leader, 10/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Concord Hospital Medical Group Joins Statewide Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign (Concord Hospital, 10/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Dartmouth Health’s New London Hospital holds ceremonial groundbreaking for new Surgical Care Center (NH Union Leader, 10/13/26)
- (New Hampshire) Catholic Medical Center welcomes neurosurgeon Rudy Marciano, DO (Catholic Medical Center, 10/9/26)
- (New Hampshire) Bridge to Recovery Walk Raises More than $56,000 for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs (Concord Hospital, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) Cottage Hospital Celebrates 10 Years Of The Ray Of Hope (Cottage Hospital, 10/2/26)
Government and Advocacy
See Spotlight: Global Health Policy
- General
- Trump Dangles Rural Health Dollars To Push States To Change Hospital Laws (KFF Health News, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Fierce Healthcare Regulatory Recap: HHS presses medical groups on gender-affirming care for minors; CMS distributes RHTP funding to 5 states (Fierce Healthcare, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) AI, Tech Leaders Are Lobbying Trump Health Officials in a Government-Run Chat Room (KFF Health News, 10/9/26)
- House Dem seeks inspector general investigation of HHS claims in DOGE lawsuits (The Hill, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Lawmakers want answers from CDC director on childhood vaccine recommendations, measles response (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) RFK Jr.'s embrace of AI confounds some MAHA allies and medical experts (AP, 10/6/26)
- RFK Is Gloating That His Changes to HHS Are Permanent (Mother Jones, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Shaheen says Trump spending cuts threaten New Hampshire-based programs (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
- Care and Insurance Costs - View more Care and Insurance Costs articles >>
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Medicaid at Risk for Hundreds of Thousands of Lawfully Present Immigrants (KFF Health News, 10/23/26)
- ‘Go to Canada’: Trump Touted Americans’ Access to Cheaper Drugs. A New Rule Threatens It. (KFF Health News, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) New Hampshire sets up digital system to accommodate new Medicaid work requirements (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/22/26)
- Insurance lobby sues HHS over decision to bar brokers from ACA open enrollment (HealthExec, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) New Medicaid Work Requirements Threaten Health Care Access for Up to 29,000 Granite Staters, With Several Implementation Decisions Still Left Up to the State (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) Study: 29,000 Granite Staters Could Lose Medicaid Coverage Under New Work Requirements (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/20/26)
- After Booting 760K People From ACA Plans, Trump Administration Has Added Some Back (KFF Health News, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump’s Medicaid cuts strip refugees and other legal immigrants of their health coverage (AP, 10/10/26)
- US To Crack Down On Mail-Order Canadian Drug Imports: What You Need To Know (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Fear Kept Immigrants Away From Medicaid. Now Many Can’t Come Back. (Mother Jones, 10/7/26)
- Millions may face prescription drug price surge on Oct. 22 (NH Union Leader, 10/7/26)
- Caregiving and Patient Support - View more Caregiving and Patient Support articles >>
- (New Hampshire) ‘We’ve got to button it up’: Childcare council reduces schedule, shifts priorities ahead of session (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) In New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, childcare policy enters affordability conversation (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- Disabled Populations and Health Care - View more Disabled Populations and Health Care articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement – Choices for Independence (CFI) (NH Department of Health and Human Services, 10/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH agrees to in-home care changes in proposed disability rights settlement (NH Union Leader, 10/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) DHHS promises home care reforms after settlement reached in Choices for Independence class action lawsuit (Concord Monitor, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) State, plaintiffs agree to settle lawsuit over NH in-home care program after five-year court battle (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/6/26)
- Environmental Health - View more Environmental Health articles >>
- The EPA Is Quietly Killing its Web Archive (Mother Jones, 10/23/26)
- Nuclear Weapons Waste Made Workers Sick. Despite a Law Meant to Help, the DOE Keeps Fighting Their Claims. (ProPublica, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Data Centers and Environmental Health) Hooksett Planning Board weighs data center moratorium for March ballot (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
- Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety - View more Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety articles >>
- FDA may allow some toxic chemicals to be added to food without safety review. Experts are alarmed (The Guardian, 10/10/26)
- Health Equity and Access to Care - View more Health Equity and Access to Care articles >>
- (Spotlight: Gender) Supreme Court won't allow Trump administration restrictions on transgender inmates (NH Union Leader, 10/21/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) CMS Rule Ends Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Pediatric Gender Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Increased anti-immigrant rhetoric, ICE activity are barriers to seeking medical care, 2 studies show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) "Vote NO": Colorado's Top Medical Groups Formally Oppose Anti-Trans Ballot Prop. 135 (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Federal funding expands support for New Hampshire families (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Trump Claims Democrats “Mutilize” Kids To “Make Them Transgender” In Ohio Rally For Jon Husted (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Gender) NH families sue Trump administration over Medicaid ban on transgender health care (NH Public Radio, 10/2/26)
- Health Information and Privacy - View more Health Information and Privacy articles >>
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/7/26)
- Infectious Diseases and Infections - View more Infectious Diseases and Infections articles >>
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) States Waited Two Months For CDC Help On A Faster Measles Test, It Never Came (HealthDay, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Trump's global health strategy has harmed HIV work in Uganda, Zimbabwe (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Insurance Coverage of Care - View more Insurance CoverageOfCare articles >>
- Senators question Kennedy on 'major break' from USPSTF appointment norms (Fierce Healthcare, 10/7/26)
- Medical Research - View more Medical Research articles >>
- NIH sees 7,400 fewer grants during fiscal year 2026 than in previous year (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- Trump order sets up new women’s health research initiative at NIH, White House task force (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- Watchdog: Trump administration illegally withheld federal research funds (The Hill, 10/7/26)
- Medicare and Medicaid - View more Medicare and Medicaid articles >>
- Minnesota worries it’s not getting back $259 million Trump froze (Politico, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) Millions of Medicaid recipients to face draconian requirements as of 1 January (The Guardian, 10/13/26)
- Medicaid Expansion Associated With Lower Colorectal Cancer Mortality (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/10/26)
- CMS finalizes updates to price transparency regulations that aim to improve usability (Fierce Healthcare, 10/5/26)
- CMS Approves Maine’s Waiver to Expand Whole Person Care (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 10/1/26)
- (New Hampshire) Lacking federal approval, New Hampshire forced to hold off on new Medicaid premiums (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/1/26)
- Medications, Prescribing, and Supplements - View more Medications, Prescribing, and Supplements articles >>
- Trump administration advances plan for peptide drugs favored by RFK Jr. (AP, 10/15/26)
- People Say These Peptides Hurt Them. Their Stories Are Muffled in MAHA’s Push for Medical Freedom. (KFF Health News, 10/13/26)
- Nephrology - View more Nephrology articles >>
- HHS national kidney care plan takes aim at prevention, dialysis and transplant access (Fierce Healthcare, 10/21/26)
- Physicians, Health Care Workers, and Workforce - View more Physicians, Health Care Workers, and Workforce articles >>
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say (NH Union Leader, 10/23/26)
- Trump administration proposes new $70,000 fee for F-1 student visa workers (Fierce Healthcare, 10/12/26)
- DHS appeals judge's block on 'duration of status' rule change for international students (Fierce Healthcare, 10/1/26)
- Public Health - View more Public Health articles >>
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Former USAID Health Chief Says Aid Cuts Are Costing Children's Lives (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/23/26)
- Americans with disabilities worry about proposed changes to major national health survey (AP, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Trump is conditioning foreign aid on deals (Politico, 10/6/26)
- Public Safety - View more Public Safety articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Federal watchdog finds staffing gaps, care delays at FCI Berlin prison (NH Union Leader, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) Pittsfield Police Department to receive $145,000 from DHS and ICE (NH Public Radio, 10/15/26)
- Trump cancels public execution, but a line may already have been crossed (NH Public Radio, 10/15/26)
- Trump shuts down Hegseth plan to livestream military execution (NH Union Leader, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Immigration chiefs defend shooting of New York man, attack 'sanctuary' policies (NH Union Leader, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Feds sold lab equipment that exposed US to ‘severe bioterrorism threat,’ report says (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) Anti-immigration enforcement petition gathers steam as ACLU challenges State Police transparency on ICE agreement (Concord Monitor, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) NH State Police agree to release ICE partnership records amid ACLU lawsuit (NH Union Leader, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Federal funds for local police enforcement accelerated Trump immigration crackdown (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Supreme Court to weigh Trump's mandatory immigration detention policy (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
- Reproductive and Sexual Health - View more Reproductive and Sexual Health articles >>
- US maternity wards face wave of closures as Medicaid cuts kick in (The Guardian, 10/11/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) Abortion Drug Safety Review Will Be Completed by March, US FDA Says (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) US States Label Abortion Drugs a 'public Nuisance' in Bid to Curb Access (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) Red States Just Asked the Supreme Court to Kill Abortion Shield Laws (Mother Jones, 10/1/26)
- Rural Populations and Health Care - View more Rural Populations and Health Care articles >>
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) GO-NORTH announces rural EMS program during RFK Jr. visit (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) RFK Jr. announces allocation of $11 million to rural health initiatives (Concord Monitor, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) GO-NORTH ‘cautiously optimistic’ ahead of federal rescoring of rural health program (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/13/26)
- Social and Structural Factors Affecting Health - View more Social and Structural Factors Affecting Health articles >>
- (Spotlight: Diversity) Judge won't block Trump order targeting DEI by federal contractors (NH Union Leader, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Aging workforce, immigration crackdown are depleting skilled workers (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications over alleged fraud (NH Union Leader, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Divides Rural Voters, KFF-AP Poll Finds (KFF Health News, 10/5/26)
- Substance Use and Treatment - View more Substance Use and Treatment articles >>
- (New Hampshire) Merrimack Town Council weighs ordinance banning most kratom sales (NH Union Leader, 10/11/26)
- HHS endorses DEA move to schedule synthetic kratom extracts (The Hill, 10/9/26)
- Vaccination - View more Vaccination articles >>
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) A vaccine injury initiative, a contested hepatitis B trial, and edited CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance: The State of U.S. Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) American Public Health Association and Epstein Becker Green to Launch a Comprehensive 50-State Assessment of U.S. Immunization Laws and Policies (American Public Health Association, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Florida health officials meet amid fierce debate over childhood vaccine plans (Politico, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) HHS launches new major vaccine injury initiative (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Looking for vaccines? Vaccines.gov won’t help (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Long COVID, disputing measles deaths, and newborns without RSV protection: The State of US Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
Health Care Systems and Facilities
- (New Hampshire) Urban, rural hospitals closing at similar rates, study finds (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/9/26)
Health Equity and Access to Care
- (Spotlight: Gender) New Zealand Court Strikes Down Puberty Blocker Ban (Medscape, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Supreme Court won't allow Trump administration restrictions on transgender inmates (NH Union Leader, 10/21/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Study Highlights Impact of Hirsutism, Hair Removal in Transfeminine Individuals (Medscape, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) CMS Rule Ends Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Pediatric Gender Care (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Increased anti-immigrant rhetoric, ICE activity are barriers to seeking medical care, 2 studies show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) "Vote NO": Colorado's Top Medical Groups Formally Oppose Anti-Trans Ballot Prop. 135 (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Federal funding expands support for New Hampshire families (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Trump Claims Democrats “Mutilize” Kids To “Make Them Transgender” In Ohio Rally For Jon Husted (Erin In The Morning, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Elon Musk Calls For “Death Sentence” for GAC Providers (Erin In The Morning, 10/2/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Gender) NH families sue Trump administration over Medicaid ban on transgender health care (NH Public Radio, 10/2/26)
Health Information and Privacy
- Federal agencies leave questions unanswered about DOGE access to sensitive data (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/7/26)
Health Technology
See Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) American Medical Association rolls out governance framework for agentic AI solutions (Fierce Healthcare, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) How the AMA will help set the agenda for health AI’s future (American Medical Association, 10/12/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) Utah becomes first state to use AI for initial prescriptions without human oversight (HealthExec, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) RFK Jr.'s AI claims spark physician backlash as debate over medical AI intensifies (Fierce Healthcare, 10/2/26)
Hematology
- New Guidelines Issued for Diagnosing Iron Deficiency (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
Immunology and Allergies
- Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases: New Clues to a Shared Immune Dysfunction (Medscape, 10/20/26)
- Nickel, Fragrance Top Sensitizers in Patients With Hand Eczema (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/2/26)
Infectious Diseases and Infections
See Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks
See Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks
See Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season
- (general)
- Requests for inclusion of new neglected tropical diseases put on hold pending review of criteria (World Health Organization, 10/15/26)
- WHO Pandemic Hub sets ambitious goal to detect new outbreaks within 24 hours (World Health Organization, 10/12/26)
- Bacterial infections
- WHO Reports Highest Number of Cholera Deaths in Decades (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
- Trial data explain failure of invasive E coli vaccine (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- WHO Unsure What Caused Pneumonia That Killed Plague-lab Worker in Russia (Medscape, 10/10/26)
- CDC sees low plague risk, monitors Siberia arrivals after worker death, director says (NH Union Leader, 10/7/26)
- Top 8 questions about the “plague” situation (Your Local Epidemiologist, 10/7/26)
- WHO, US press Russia for more info about lab worker’s death (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- No plague cases detected in Siberia, Russia says, and locals play down scare (NH Union Leader, 10/6/26)
- Dozens quarantined in Siberia after plague institute lab worker dies (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- Suspected plague incident leaves 1 dead, 200 under quarantine in Siberia (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- CDC reminds doctors in Southwest to be aware of plague (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- Foodborne disease
- 27 sickened in Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/20/26)
- As American confidence in food safety plunges to record low, 2 outbreaks spotlighted (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks) FDA closes probe into lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak, detects Cyclospora in Mexico (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks) Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA says (AP, 10/2/26)
- Fungal Infections
- Infections with little-understood deadly fungus jumped 4-fold in US from 2023 to 2025 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- Hemorrhagic fevers
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Nigeria announces its first Ebola case in 12 years (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Kenya reports more Ebola cases, all linked to initial patient (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) 3rd person in Kenya tests positive for Ebola as DR Congo outbreak spreads to 8th province (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Second Ebola patient identified in Kenya (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Ebola cases top 9,000 in DR Congo outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Kenyan officials: No new Ebola cases in past week (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Kenya: 10 people in quarantine as officials try to reach 57 more contacts of deceased Ebola patient (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) Kenya reports its first Ebola case, in man who died after arriving from DR Congo (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Ebola Outbreak) DR Congo Ebola cases grow, deaths top 4,000 as officials struggle to ascertain numbers, trends (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- Hepatitis
- Study findings support the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose over other strategies (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/23/26)
- Tens of thousands of US newborns could be exposed to hepatitis B at home, study suggests (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- HIV/AIDS
- Long-acting injected combo drug keeps HIV in check, real-world study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/23/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Infectious disease specialists protest HIV funding cuts (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Trump's global health strategy has harmed HIV work in Uganda, Zimbabwe (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Long-Acting Injectable ART Holds Up Through 48 Weeks in Young People Living With HIV in South Africa (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- Hospital-associated infections
- Many hospitals still lax on catheter-related UTI prevention, 2 decades of data show (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Kids more likely to be vaccinated against HPV if doctors offer shots at earlier ages, study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- One HPV vaccine dose often sufficient, say WHO advisers (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- Measles
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) US measles cases hit 4,588, more than twice last year’s total (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/23/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) As measles soars in Pennsylvania, some parents are vaccinating their babies early (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) States Waited Two Months For CDC Help On A Faster Measles Test, It Never Came (HealthDay, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Pennsylvania raises alarm on congenital measles (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/20/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) US measles cases grow by 8% in 1 week for a total of 4,410 cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Explainer-How Does the US Count Measles Deaths? (Medscape, 10/14/26)
- New report details deadly toll of delayed measles complication in kids (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Measles update: US passes 4,000 cases, Pennsylvania reports sixth death (Fierce Healthcare, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Pennsylvania reports its 6th measles death, in a Franklin County resident (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) New York and Pennsylvania's split screen approach to measles (Politico, 10/11/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) PAHO assesses risk of measles spread as very high ahead of religious mass gatherings in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) With Pennsylvania leading the way, US measles cases top 4,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/9/26)
- Measles can cast a long shadow, even after an apparent full recovery (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/7/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) New York declares first US measles disaster emergency since 2025 surge (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Pennsylvania confirms more than 1,000 measles cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Measles milestones: US closes in on 4,000 cases as Pennsylvania nears 1,000 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- Measles outbreaks could leave thousands vulnerable to infectious diseases for years (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- Mosquito-Borne Diseases
- New Florida counties report dengue cases as statewide total passes 400 (The Hill, 10/23/26)
- State reports first positive mosquitoes for encephalitis in Eastern Connecticut (CT State Department of Health, 10/23/26)
- First ever human case of livestock-related Shamonda virus identified in France (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- PAHO calls for strengthened surveillance and preparedness amid increases in dengue and chikungunya in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/21/26)
- ‘I ached so much’: Man describes bout with dengue fever contracted during Florida’s outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- Human Cases Of West Nile Virus Rise in Europe, With 141 Dead in 2026, Report Says (Medscape, 10/15/26)
- State health officials announce 13th human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts (MA Department of Public Health, 10/9/26)
- RIDOH Announces First Human Case of West Nile Virus in 2026 (RI Department of Health, 10/8/26)
- Tampa woman dies from dengue as Florida fights surge of cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- Florida’s dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades (AP, 10/2/26)
- State health officials announce 12th human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts (MA Department of Public Health, 10/2/26)
- Netherlands Reports Four More Deaths From West Nile Virus (Medscape, 10/1/26)
- Prion Diseases
- CWD digest: Disease reaches new areas in Wyoming, Wisconsin, as Michigan detects case on farm (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- Rabies
- Raccoon in Providence Tests Positive for Rabies (RI Department of Health, 10/23/26)
- Skunk in Smithfield Tests Positive for Rabies (RI Department of Health, 10/23/26)
- Skunk in Glocester Tests Positive for Rabies (RI Department of Health, 10/22/26)
- CDC Issues Rabies Exposure Alert (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- Respiratory viruses
- Alaska study finds pertussis vaccine is extremely protective during statewide outbreak (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) The flu is early this year, so NH doctors say now’s the time to get vaccinated (NH Public Radio, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Governor McKee, RIDOH Kick Off Flu Vaccination Campaign (RI Department of Health, 10/15/26)
- In Greenland, 4 polar bears test positive for H5N1 avian flu antibodies (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) CT DPH urges families to prepare for respiratory virus season with flu vaccine, conversations with their healthcare providers (CT State Department of Health, 10/13/26)
- Using fake avian flu patients, researchers show need for faster action, better compliance (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Washington state confirms first H5N1 avian flu detection in dairy cattle (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- Long-COVID symptoms may be linked to bacterial mix in the mouth, lungs (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- Maternal RSV vaccine is effective, but few women opt for it, new data reveal (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- Study finds most high-risk patients don’t receive recommended flu treatment (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/12/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Flu Shot Clinic (Coos County Family Health, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Stay Protected This Flu Season: Flu Vaccines Available at Elliot Primary Care (Elliot Hospital, 10/8/26)
- USDA notes more H5N1 avian flu on poultry farms (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Flu Season May Be Starting Early; Experts Say Get Vaccinated Now (HealthDay, 10/7/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Societies Release Vaccine Recommendations for Respiratory Virus Season (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) 2 enhanced flu vaccines offer similar protection against infection in older adults (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
- H5N1 avian flu returns to Midwest poultry farms, with multiple turkey operations hit (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
- Monoclonal antibody for COVID meets safety endpoints in phase 3 trial (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
- No evidence RSV is mutating in response to infant immunizations, study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Maine CDC Encourages Tick Bite Prevention This Fall (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 10/5/26)
- Viral diseases
- Kids vaccinated against chickenpox less likely to develop shingles, analysis finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/9/26)
Insurance Coverage of Care
- Most Specialty Oral Anticancer Meds for Blood Cancers Are Initially Rejected by Insurers (HealthDay, 10/9/26)
- Senators question Kennedy on 'major break' from USPSTF appointment norms (Fierce Healthcare, 10/7/26)
- Insurance Delays Oral Blood Cancer Drugs for Most Patients (Medscape, 10/2/26)
- Patient Dies by Suicide After ‘Insurance Issue’ Delayed Medicine for Lung Disease Flare-Ups (KFF Health News, 10/2/26)
Medical Care
- Diagnostic Delays Linked to Greater Disease Activity, Worse Quality of Life in Sjögren Disease (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/9/26)
- New acute low back pain guideline steers clinicians away from routine imaging and opioids (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/8/26)
- Women suffer more pain than men across the whole body, major global study finds (The Guardian, 10/5/26)
Medical Ethics
- Panelists Weigh Legal, Ethical Limits of Medical Aid in Dying (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/22/26)
Medical Research
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) House Democrats demand answers from CDC on African hepatitis B study (The Hill, 10/22/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Controversial US-backed vaccine trial in African newborns halted (The Guardian, 10/21/26)
- NIH sees 7,400 fewer grants during fiscal year 2026 than in previous year (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/19/26)
- Trump order sets up new women’s health research initiative at NIH, White House task force (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Guinea-Bissau Says It Has Not Approved Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial in Newborns (Medscape, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) JAMA takes action to combat “AI slop” submissions (American Medical Association, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Hepatitis B vaccine study condemned as unethical wins approval from Danish university (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- Watchdog: Trump administration illegally withheld federal research funds (The Hill, 10/7/26)
Medicare and Medicaid
See Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements
- (New Hampshire) Ayotte: Medicare Advantage 2027 Plans Available Nov. 1 for Coös, Carroll Counties (InDepth NH, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) Governor Announces Medicare Advantage 2027 Plans Available November 1 for Coös and Carroll Counties (NH Office of the Governor, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) Governor Announces Medicare Advantage Coverage Availability in Coös and Carroll Counties for 2027 (NH Office of the Governor, 10/16/26)
- Minnesota worries it’s not getting back $259 million Trump froze (Politico, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) Millions of Medicaid recipients to face draconian requirements as of 1 January (The Guardian, 10/13/26)
- Medicaid Expansion Associated With Lower Colorectal Cancer Mortality (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/10/26)
- (New Hampshire) Medicare Advantage shrinks in N.H. as CVS Health and WellSense reduce offerings (Concord Monitor, 10/7/26)
- CMS finalizes updates to price transparency regulations that aim to improve usability (Fierce Healthcare, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Medicaid Work Requirements) Five states pen an open letter, pleading with HHS, RFK to delay Medicaid work requirements (HealthExec, 10/4/26)
- CMS Approves Maine’s Waiver to Expand Whole Person Care (ME Department of Health and Human Services, 10/1/26)
- (New Hampshire) Lacking federal approval, New Hampshire forced to hold off on new Medicaid premiums (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/1/26)
Medications, Prescribing, and Supplements
- Drug shortages: Causes, consequences and mitigation efforts (American Medical Association, 10/23/26)
- Docs Exposed to Pharma Marketing Write More, Less Appropriate Scripts: Cochrane Review (Medscape, 10/22/26)
- Trump administration advances plan for peptide drugs favored by RFK Jr. (AP, 10/15/26)
- People Say These Peptides Hurt Them. Their Stories Are Muffled in MAHA’s Push for Medical Freedom. (KFF Health News, 10/13/26)
- Drug Interactions Reducing Contraceptive Effectiveness Common in Epilepsy (HealthDay, 10/9/26)
- Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Retatrutide and Zenagamtide Sold Online Are No Bargain (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/9/26)
- Joint Supplement Tied to Higher Dementia Progression Risk (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Health Misinformation) Tylenol misinformation drew outsized TikTok views as public health agencies largely stayed silent (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- 2013 to 2024 Saw Decrease in Benzodiazepine Prescribing (HealthDay, 10/2/26)
- Equitable Access to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists—Essential but Not Accessible (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/1/26)
- Polypharmacy of Prescription Medications Increased for U.S. Older Adults (HealthDay, 10/1/26)
Mental and Behavioral Health
- Postpartum Psychosis: The Push to Fix a Failing System (Medscape, 10/23/26)
- Adults With Type 1 Diabetes More Likely to Have Depressive, Anxiety Symptoms (HealthDay, 10/22/26)
- Execution live stream could cause PTSD in viewers, say psychiatrists (The Guardian, 10/9/26)
- OSA Common, Often Overlooked in Severe Mental Illness (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- WHO urges shift from institutional to community-based mental health care (World Health Organization, 10/9/26)
- Inter-American Mental Health Week calls for intersectoral action to improve mental health in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) More than 1,000 walk in Concord for NAMI New Hampshire mental health fundraiser (NH Union Leader, 10/4/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) More Than 1 in 5 Children Report Using AI for Emotional Support—Is It Good News or Bad? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- (New Hampshire) ‘Break that barrier’: NAMI NH’s walk for mental health, suicide prevention aims to combat stigma, foster togetherness (Concord Monitor, 10/1/26)
- Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Face Long-Term Psychiatric Burden (Medscape, 10/1/26)
Nephrology
- GLP-1 RAs Protect Kidneys Beyond Weight Loss, but Diet and Activity Remain Key (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/22/26)
- HHS national kidney care plan takes aim at prevention, dialysis and transplant access (Fierce Healthcare, 10/21/26)
Neurology
- Global Incidence of Dementia Projected to Reach 24.7 Million by 2050 (HealthDay, 10/19/26)
- Execution live stream could cause PTSD in viewers, say psychiatrists (The Guardian, 10/9/26)
- OSA Common, Often Overlooked in Severe Mental Illness (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- WHO urges shift from institutional to community-based mental health care (World Health Organization, 10/9/26)
- Inter-American Mental Health Week calls for intersectoral action to improve mental health in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) More than 1,000 walk in Concord for NAMI New Hampshire mental health fundraiser (NH Union Leader, 10/4/26)
- (Spotlight: AI, Health, and Healthcare) More Than 1 in 5 Children Report Using AI for Emotional Support—Is It Good News or Bad? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/2/26)
- (New Hampshire) ‘Break that barrier’: NAMI NH’s walk for mental health, suicide prevention aims to combat stigma, foster togetherness (Concord Monitor, 10/1/26)
- Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Face Long-Term Psychiatric Burden (Medscape, 10/1/26)
Physicians, Health Care Workers, and Workforce
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump immigration policies could turn away much-needed foreign doctors, critics say (NH Union Leader, 10/23/26)
- Epidemics linked to loss of health workers, with poorer nations hardest hit (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- Inside the Growing Crisis of Primary Care (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/16/26)
- How physician well-being data can drive real change (American Medical Association, 10/13/26)
- Trump administration proposes new $70,000 fee for F-1 student visa workers (Fierce Healthcare, 10/12/26)
- DHS appeals judge's block on 'duration of status' rule change for international students (Fierce Healthcare, 10/1/26)
Public Health
See Spotlight: Health Misinformation
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Former USAID Health Chief Says Aid Cuts Are Costing Children's Lives (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/23/26)
- Quick takes: Warning over Ebola spread, price cut for malaria vaccine, polio in 6 nations (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/23/26)
- Quick takes: Minnesota measles clusters, New World screwworm in elk, Salmonella tied to oysters (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/22/26)
- Quick takes: CDC notes 3rd measles death, FDA OKs hepatitis B treatment, hep B vaccine seized in Guinea-Bissau (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/21/26)
- The Dose: Another mass shooter strikes, RSV surges, Ebola persists. Plus, what to know about waning flu vaccines. (Your Local Epidemiologist, 10/20/26)
- People's CDC, COVID-19, Weather Report, October 19, 2026 (People's CDC, 10/19/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - National - October 18 (Force of Infection, 10/18/26)
- INTERPOL and WHO sign agreement to strengthen global health and security protection (World Health Organization, 10/16/26)
- Quick takes: US human avian flu case, dengue in Florida, plague in Madagascar, MERS in Saudi Arabia, more polio cases (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- PAHO Director calls for country ownership and regional solidarity in reshaping global health architecture (Pan American Health Organization, 10/15/26)
- Quick takes: West Nile deaths in US; cholera in DR Congo, Yemen; avian flu uptick in US (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- Americans with disabilities worry about proposed changes to major national health survey (AP, 10/14/26)
- The Dose: Getting ready for sick season. Also ticks rebounding, flu sweeping, and dengue showing its teeth. (Your Local Epidemiologist, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Health Misinformation) Trust in science ‘under pressure,’ global survey finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/13/26)
- WHO welcomes adoption of United Nations political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (World Health Organization, 10/12/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - Oct 11 (Force of Infection, 10/11/26)
- Quick takes: NIH extramural research awards, Ebola in new DR Congo health zone, polio in 3 countries (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/9/26)
- People's CDC, COVID-19, Weather Report, October 5, 2026 (People's CDC, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Some CDC foreign offices shutting their doors as US implements ‘America First’ policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/6/26)
- The Dose: Plague in Russia? Plus flu, common cold, a new opioid, and good news (Your Local Epidemiologist, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Trump is conditioning foreign aid on deals (Politico, 10/6/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Shortages of crucial HIV medicines due to aid cuts are a ‘warning’, say experts (The Guardian, 10/5/26)
- Outbreak Outlook - Oct 4 (Force of Infection, 10/4/26)
- PAHO regional meeting of health ministers concludes with new measures to strengthen health security and address key health threats (Pan American Health Organization, 10/2/26)
- Quick takes: Mumps on a football team, sprout and pepper outbreaks, polio cases in 4 nations (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
Public Safety
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) NH faith communities gather to remember people killed by ICE (NH Public Radio, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) Statewide Petition Seeks to End Local Police Departments’ Role in Immigration Efforts (InDepth NH, 10/20/26)
- (New Hampshire) Federal watchdog finds staffing gaps, care delays at FCI Berlin prison (NH Union Leader, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) Pittsfield Police Department to receive $145,000 from DHS and ICE (NH Public Radio, 10/15/26)
- Trump cancels public execution, but a line may already have been crossed (NH Public Radio, 10/15/26)
- Trump shuts down Hegseth plan to livestream military execution (NH Union Leader, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Nonpartisan government watchdog recommends automated activation of ICE body cameras (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Immigration chiefs defend shooting of New York man, attack 'sanctuary' policies (NH Union Leader, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Global Health Policy) Feds sold lab equipment that exposed US to ‘severe bioterrorism threat,’ report says (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) Granite Staters in Nashua, Londonderry Make a Stand Against Sexual Abuse (InDepth NH, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Gender) Killing of Woman May Have Been Justifiable Because She Was Trans, Tennessee Court Rules (Erin In The Morning, 10/8/26)
- (New Hampshire) In wake of high-profile death, new report on domestic violence in NH proposes changes (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) Anti-immigration enforcement petition gathers steam as ACLU challenges State Police transparency on ICE agreement (Concord Monitor, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH panel calls for better statewide response to prevent domestic violence killings (NH Public Radio, 10/6/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Immigration) NH State Police agree to release ICE partnership records amid ACLU lawsuit (NH Union Leader, 10/6/26)
- Study: Shock Gloves Traumatized Army Volunteers (Mother Jones, 10/6/26)
- New analysis shows high levels of violence against adolescent girls (World Health Organization, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) NH domestic violence review panel makes 11 recommendations to prevent deaths (NH Union Leader, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Report: 44 People Died in Domestic Violence Killings in NH from 2022 through 2025 (InDepth NH, 10/5/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Federal funds for local police enforcement accelerated Trump immigration crackdown (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/2/26)
- Renee Good's family sues Trump administration over fatal Minneapolis shooting (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Supreme Court to weigh Trump's mandatory immigration detention policy (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
Reproductive and Sexual Health
See Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access
- Pregnancy Outcomes After Living Kidney Donation (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/22/26)
- Birth Centers Remain Out of Reach in 10 States (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/20/26)
- Endometriosis Guidelines Differ on Biomarkers and Repeat Surgery (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/19/26)
- (New Hampshire) Northern NH maternal health organizations receive grants from border commission (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- WHO Broadens Guidance for Recommended Contraceptives (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/16/26)
- Prepregnancy HPV Vaccination Linked to Lower Risk for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HealthDay, 10/14/26)
- WHO Guideline Development Group meets to review Abortion care guideline (World Health Organization, 10/14/26)
- US maternity wards face wave of closures as Medicaid cuts kick in (The Guardian, 10/11/26)
- Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy May Increase Risk for Dementia (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) Abortion Drug Safety Review Will Be Completed by March, US FDA Says (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- Mothers vaccinated against HPV before pregnancy less likely to give birth prematurely, study finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- New global roadmap launched to tackle hypertension in pregnancy, a leading cause of maternal and newborn deaths (World Health Organization, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) US States Label Abortion Drugs a 'public Nuisance' in Bid to Curb Access (Medscape, 10/8/26)
- IUD Insertion: New Studies Highlight Ways to Ease Pain (Medscape, 10/7/26)
- Metformin in Pregnancy Poses No Child Neuro Risk (Medscape, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Reproductive Healthcare Access) Red States Just Asked the Supreme Court to Kill Abortion Shield Laws (Mother Jones, 10/1/26)
- Sepsis rates much higher for Black moms in Mississippi, analysis finds (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)
Respiratory Health
- Washable, light-chargeable air filter shows promise for masks and air purifiers (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- Mayo study links smoking exposure to hidradenitis suppurativa in pediatric population (Managed Healthcare Executive, 10/8/26)
Rheumatology
- Risk for Long COVID Increased With Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (HealthDay, 10/20/26)
- Misdiagnosis More Common for Women With Autoimmune Disease (HealthDay, 10/13/26)
- Age-, Joint-Specific Ultrasound Reference Values Set for Healthy Joints (HealthDay, 10/6/26)
Rural Populations and Health Care
See Spotlight: Rural Health Grants
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) Governor Kelly Ayotte Announces Over $11 Million to Strengthen Rural EMS and Expand Mobile Integrated Health Across Rural New Hampshire (NH Office of the Governor, 10/22/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) GO-NORTH announces rural EMS program during RFK Jr. visit (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/19/26)
- (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) RFK Jr. announces allocation of $11 million to rural health initiatives (Concord Monitor, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Rural Health Grants) GO-NORTH ‘cautiously optimistic’ ahead of federal rescoring of rural health program (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/13/26)
Sleep Medicine
- Older Patients With OSA Have More Comorbidities at Similar Severity (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/18/26)
- Genetic Analysis Links Insomnia Liability to Higher Inflammation Marker (American Journal of Managed Care, 10/16/26)
- Sleep Duration Linked to Migraine Frequency and Disability (Medscape, 10/8/26)
Social and Structural Factors Affecting Health
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Ukrainians and Sudanese with temporary legal status will keep protections for now (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/20/26)
- WHO report examines inequalities in noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors (World Health Organization, 10/20/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) US immigration enforcement disrupted pediatric emergency care for Hispanic families, study notes (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Diversity) Judge won't block Trump order targeting DEI by federal contractors (NH Union Leader, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Aging workforce, immigration crackdown are depleting skilled workers (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) US freezes Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys green-card applications over alleged fraud (NH Union Leader, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Immigration) Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Divides Rural Voters, KFF-AP Poll Finds (KFF Health News, 10/5/26)
Social Safety Nets
- Food Aid Enrollment Tanks After SNAP Rule Changes (KFF Health News, 10/7/26)
- (New Hampshire) SNAP benefits increase slightly; NH takes on additional operating costs (NH Public Radio, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) New Hampshire faces $12 million SNAP hit as federal cost shift begins (NH Union Leader, 10/1/26)
- SNAP's funding model is starting to change. Here's what that means for the program (NH Public Radio, 10/1/26)
Substance Use and Treatment
- National and County-Level Trends in Opioid Dispensing (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/21/26)
- New Department of Public Health dashboard brings local overdose data to Connecticut communities (CT State Department of Health, 10/21/26)
- Nonfatal Drug Overdoses and Naloxone Use (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/21/26)
- (New Hampshire) After Manchester reports no fatal overdoses in August, AMR data shows September spike (NH Union Leader, 10/14/26)
- (New Hampshire) Merrimack Town Council weighs ordinance banning most kratom sales (NH Union Leader, 10/11/26)
- Adults Are Using Cannabis Far More Frequently—What Are the Risks? (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/9/26)
- Gaps in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Among Youth in the US (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- HHS endorses DEA move to schedule synthetic kratom extracts (The Hill, 10/9/26)
- Public Health Alerts: E-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among youth, United States, 2025 (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/5/26)
- (New Hampshire) Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services: a 2026 Update (NH Fiscal Policy Institute, 10/1/26)
- Nearly 1 in 10 Older Adults Used Cannabis in the Past Year (HealthDay, 10/1/26)
Vaccination
See Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) ‘Chaos in communication’: How shared clinical decision making for vaccines adds confusion (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/20/26)
- (Spotlight: Measles Outbreaks) Demand for Vaccination Increases Amid Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak (Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/16/26)
- (New Hampshire) (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) In Concord visit, RFK Jr. renews attack on hep B vaccine that inspired state anti-vaccine bill (New Hampshire Bulletin, 10/16/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) A vaccine injury initiative, a contested hepatitis B trial, and edited CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance: The State of U.S. Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/15/26)
- (Spotlight: Respiratory Virus Season) Focus on efficacy, family protection can increase flu vaccination, study notes (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/14/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) American Public Health Association and Epstein Becker Green to Launch a Comprehensive 50-State Assessment of U.S. Immunization Laws and Policies (American Public Health Association, 10/13/26)
- (Spotlight: Health Misinformation) Most Clinicians Reject Federal Vax Guidance, Survey Finds (Medscape, 10/9/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Florida health officials meet amid fierce debate over childhood vaccine plans (Politico, 10/8/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) HHS launches new major vaccine injury initiative (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/8/26)
- AJPH Study Examines Political Differences in Perceptions of Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness (American Public Health Association, 10/7/26)
- Greater trust in the FDA, CDC tied to higher flu vaccine uptake (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Looking for vaccines? Vaccines.gov won’t help (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/2/26)
- (Spotlight: Vaccine Policy and Access) Long COVID, disputing measles deaths, and newborns without RSV protection: The State of US Vaccine Policy (The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, 10/1/26)