This month’s health report continues with the remaining seven Public Health Headlines of 2024 and concludes with some questions about future public health events in this country.
New awareness of deteriorating public health associated with public health policy; Gun Violence, Abortion Ban Consequences, and Lower U.S. Life Expectancy.
Gun Violence
On July 25, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, declared firearm violence a public health crisis. Guns also remained the leading cause of death for children and teens.
Abortion bans and infant death in the U.S.- Consequences for public health
Abortion bans are changing where prospective doctors study and work, creating health care shortages and disparities. A study published in June 2024 (Abortion Bans and Infant Death) found that infant deaths in Texas increased more than expected in the year following the state’s 2021 ban on abortion in early pregnancy.
Lower life expectancy
There have been frequent headlines citing research demonstrating lowered life expectancy in the U.S., the Hopkins report cited a new study from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative found that heart disease, overdoses, firearm violence, and motor vehicle crashes — in that order — are responsible for a 2.7-year difference in life expectancy in the U.S. compared with England and Wales.
Changing Climate Consequences
There have been many studies demonstrating declining public health due to climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 24 confirmed weather/climate disaster events in the US in 2024 higher than the average of 8.5 events for 1980-2023 and even higher than for the average of 20.4 for the most recent 5 years (2019-2023). 2024’s severe weather events included 17 severe storm events, 4 tropical cyclone events, 1 wildfire event, and 2 winter storm events, resulting in the deaths of 418 people.
The Hopkins listing of top 10 public health issues cited extreme heat and weather disasters such as Hurricane Helene causing severe public health crises. Still not all the public health updates were worrisome. There was some good news on three fronts. To end on a positive note, three rays of hope were cited by the 2024 public health wrap-up.
Declines in overdose deaths, Declining STDs and restricting “Forever Chemicals”
Data released by the CDC data in December showed a drop of almost 17% in drug overdose deaths from 2023
Sexually transmitted disease is down. The STD epidemic slowed according to CDC data — with syphilis increasing by only 1% after years of double-digit increases, and gonorrhea cases dropping 7%, falling below pre-COVID levels.
In April, the EPA mandated that water providers reduce per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as “forever chemicals”—to near-zero levels.
Looking Ahead To 2025
The 2424 public health review ended with some hard questions for 2025 that will affect all Americans such as: “What powers do states have to determine and take action on their own public health priorities? And how will the outcome of the election factor into major health sectors? What is the future of environmental protections in the next administration?” Public health experts expressed hope that professionals will be helping guide and answer such questions.
Source: John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2024 Headlines in Public Health
1 Comment
Thoughtful, comprehensive review of disconcerting trends. Thank you for your research. And now we HAVE had the election and put in place someone in charge of health matters with no health or science background and a belief in dangerous health conspiracy theories. Likely next year’s update will be seriously more disturbing…