Public Health News Round Up, April 9, 2025

by Jon Scaccia April 9, 2025

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Alcohol-cancer risk would prompt New Yorkers to cut back on drinking, Mount Sinai South Nassau poll finds

A recent poll by Mount Sinai South Nassau reveals that while a significant portion of New Yorkers are unaware of the link between alcohol and cancer, more than half would consider cutting back on drinking upon learning about the risk. This highlights a need for clearer warning labels and increased public awareness, as experts emphasize that even moderate alcohol consumption can elevate cancer risks in several body parts beyond the liver and digestive tract.

As Mississippi Prepares for Avian Flu, Federal Chaos Looms Large

The article highlights the growing threat of H5N1 avian flu as it spreads to new species like cattle, increasing the risk of a pandemic. While Mississippi has robust plans for containing outbreaks in poultry, federal cuts to public health infrastructure and the potential for human-to-human transmission pose significant challenges that demand coordinated national and global responses.

California has big plans for improving mental health. Medicaid cuts could upend them

California’s efforts to overhaul its behavioral health system could be severely jeopardized by federal proposals to slash Medicaid funding, which is critical for many state mental health initiatives. This potential reduction in resources raises alarms as it threatens to derail progress made in addressing the state’s mental health crisis, potentially leaving many residents without essential care and support.

Experts Push Back on RFK Jr’s Infection Comments

The ongoing measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, highlights the dangerous consequences of vaccine misinformation, with 481 cases and two tragic deaths linked to low vaccination rates in the community. Despite Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims about nutrition and mistrust in vaccines, experts stress that vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles, as embracing unverified alternatives like high-dose vitamin A or relying solely on nutrition can have severe implications for public health.

HHS guts sexual violence prevention division, leaving local efforts adrift

On the first day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Department of Health and Human Services laid off most of the Division of Violence Prevention staff, tasked with managing programs combating sexual violence, under a broader effort from the Trump administration and Elon Musk to reduce the federal workforce. These cuts leave a significant gap in support for local and state programs that rely heavily on federal funding, sparking concern that decades of progress in violence prevention may unravel, despite bipartisan support for these crucial initiatives.

Trump has faced measles before. The difference this time is RFK Jr.

The recent measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has highlighted a concerning shift in the United States’ public health response compared to 2019, with public health experts criticizing the current administration’s mixed messaging and reduced efforts in promoting vaccination. RFK Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has come under fire for downplaying the outbreak’s severity and previously spreading vaccine misinformation, despite now acknowledging the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine; this confusion, coupled with funding cuts and restricted CDC communications, has hampered a coordinated response and put herd immunity at risk.