#CDC

A federal advisory committee to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all Americans—including children, pregnant women, and adults—receive single-dose influenza vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative long scrutinized despite decades of safe use. This move, which could soon lead to an official CDC policy, reflects an ongoing international spotlight on vaccine ingredients and the public’s persistent concern over vaccine safety—a topic with direct relevance for Thailand’s immunization practices and public confidence.

Nearly a third of American adults eat fast food on any given day, but new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals their overall reliance on fast food is gradually decreasing. According to the report, “Fast-Food Consumption Among Adults and Children in the United States, 2021–2023,” just over 30% of U.S. adults aged 20 and above indulge in fast food daily, with 1 in 5 Americans getting at least a quarter of their daily calories from these meals. The data, which comes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from August 2021 to August 2023, also points to shifting patterns among youth, suggesting evolving attitudes towards convenience food in American society (Deseret News).

A renewed surge in measles cases worldwide has prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a heightened health advisory, urging travelers to ensure measles vaccination before international travel. The advisory, published at the end of May, underscores an “ongoing risk” that leaves individuals vulnerable to infection in airports, train stations, on public transport such as airplanes and trains, and at crowded tourist attractions, highlighting a wake-up call for travelers everywhere, including those from Thailand.

A new wave of international research is challenging widespread beliefs about alcohol, warning that no type of alcoholic drink is inherently “safer” or “healthier” than others. Thai readers who might have heard that red wine is somehow beneficial, or that clear spirits are less damaging than dark liquors, should take note: experts now agree, alcohol in any form poses risks to health, and moderation—or abstention—is the best strategy for reducing harm (NYT).

Diabetes deaths in the United States have dropped to their lowest levels in recent years, according to early figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), signalling pivotal progress against one of the world’s most persistent chronic diseases. The preliminary data, released this week, show a significant decline in diabetes-related mortality, prompting cautious optimism among healthcare professionals and patients alike CBS News.

For Thailand, where diabetes is one of the top three leading causes of death and a major public health concern, this trend is particularly relevant. Thai health officials and specialists regularly reference global best practices to inform local strategies. The dramatic reduction in diabetes deaths seen in the US, if proven durable, could offer valuable insights for policymakers at the Ministry of Public Health and clinicians across the country.

Depression has reached record highs in the United States, with new research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealing a stark increase in prevalence and persistent disparities in access to treatment. Drawing data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the recent survey—conducted between August 2021 and August 2023—sheds light on both the growing scale of the problem and the obstacles many face in seeking help. As similar trends emerge in Thailand and across Asia, the findings carry important lessons for the Kingdom and the broader region amidst evolving mental health challenges.

Three more US states—Louisiana, Virginia, and Missouri—confirmed their first measles cases of 2025 over the weekend, pushing the current outbreak to over half of all US states and marking one of the most significant resurgences in recent years. According to a report by UPI, the total number of confirmed cases across at least 27 states has climbed to 800, with the vast majority being either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. This growing crisis reflects deeper global trends in vaccine coverage and highlights crucial public health lessons for Thailand, where measles cases have also risen sharply over the last two years (UPI, CDC).

A recent case in the United States is raising alarm among health experts worldwide—including here in Thailand—after a controversial physician contracted measles yet continued to practice medicine, treating children who were never vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. The case, originally reported by Ars Technica, underscored the troubling intersection of vaccine hesitancy and public health, as well as the ongoing risks posed by declining immunization rates among children.

The incident involved an American doctor known for her opposition to vaccine mandates, who was diagnosed with measles after caring for unvaccinated pediatric patients during a local outbreak. Despite clear recommendations from health authorities that infected individuals remain isolated to avoid further transmission, the doctor allegedly kept treating her young patients—many of whom were especially vulnerable to the virus due to their unvaccinated status (source).

A recent report by The Guardian has drawn attention to a dramatic surge in syphilis cases in the United States, a public health crisis made worse by a decision during the Trump administration to shutter a key federal Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) laboratory within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Guardian. This controversial move, now under sharp scrutiny, has come at a pivotal moment as syphilis infections in the US hit record highs. For Thailand, this development is a stark warning of the critical importance of sustained investment in public health infrastructure—and offers valuable insights into local disease prevention strategies.

A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that depression is now more common among Americans than ever before, with treatment rates falling short despite growing awareness—a development that brings important lessons for health policymakers and families across Thailand. The report, based on data from 2021 to 2023, found that over one in eight Americans aged 12 and older have experienced depression recently, almost double the rate reported just a decade ago. Yet, only about 40% of those affected pursued counseling or therapy for their symptoms, highlighting a persistent gap between need and access to care (CNN).

Depression is on the rise across the United States, especially among adolescents and women, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yet fewer than half of those affected are receiving therapy or counseling. The findings, published on April 16, 2025, offer the most up-to-date look at how the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing societal challenges have intensified mental health struggles, while also exposing persistent gaps in access to mental health care and continued disparities by gender, age, and socioeconomic status (CNN).

A small American town’s resistance to childhood vaccinations has turned into an international public health warning, as a measles outbreak sweeps through the community, resulting in the deaths of at least two children and serious illness for many more Mirror, Apr 15, 2025. The outbreak inundated local hospitals, rekindled global debates about vaccine misinformation, and now stands as a sobering lesson for countries like Thailand, where vaccine confidence is increasingly challenged by online conspiracy theories and social media rumors.

The spread of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to classify it as an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat,” according to a recent hospital study. Identified in the U.S. in 2016 and rapidly escalating since, the fungus has been spreading in Georgia and within Miami’s Jackson Health System, raising significant concerns. It is known to predominantly affect vulnerable patients in healthcare settings, especially those using medical devices like catheters or breathing tubes, as the pathogen can enter the body through these devices.