Public health is the work of protecting and improving the health of whole communities rather than treating one patient at a time. It includes preventing disease, tracking outbreaks, keeping food, water, and air safe, and responding to crises. Federal, state, and local health agencies, schools, hospitals, and community groups all take part.
An independent team explaining how government works
More than 2,000 Americans have contracted measles in the largest outbreak in decades, including three children who died—the first measles deaths in more than a decade.…
A parent whose toddler develops flu symptoms faces a question that a seasonal forecast cannot answer: how quickly should the child be assessed for treatment? The…
In 2025, the United States surpassed 2,000 confirmed measles cases, marking the worst year for the disease in more than three decades. As of December 30,…
On October 15, 2025, fifteen governors announced the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition designed to coordinate public health policy across states. The Alliance positions itself…
Disease Prevention and Vaccination covers immunization and efforts to prevent illness, and Infectious Disease Control covers tracking and stopping the spread of contagious disease.
Environmental Health covers how air, water, and surroundings affect health, and Health Disparities and Equity covers gaps in health between groups of people.
Opioid Epidemic covers the public response to opioid misuse and overdose.
A leaked government report suggesting links between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism sent shockwaves through Wall Street and the medical community. The Department…
CDC vaccine guidance, doctors’ advice and insurance rules can differ. Federal approval, medical recommendations and state requirements have distinct roles.
Your kitchen stove has become an unlikely symbol in America's culture wars. What started as a scientific discussion about indoor air quality and climate…
The story of environmental policy in the United States reveals persistent tension between protecting the nation's air, water, and natural resources and promoting economic…
America faces a public health emergency of unprecedented scale: the opioid overdose crisis. While synthetic opioids like fentanyl are often the immediate agents of…
American medicine cabinets hold a hidden danger. Expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications become starting points for misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths. These drugs…
The United States faces an unprecedented overdose crisis. This has led to interventions ranging from established Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) to controversial Overdose Prevention…
An animal tranquilizer never intended for people has infiltrated the U.S. illicit drug supply, creating a new dimension to the nation's overdose crisis. The…
When the U.S. government confronts a major health threat—from a fast-moving pandemic like COVID-19 to a slow-burning crisis like the opioid epidemic—it can declare…
The opioid crisis is one of the most devastating public health emergencies in American history. Since 1999, over 645,000 people in the United States…
