MMWR Weekly Briefing

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

4.1 (78)
SCIENCE

This weekly podcast series summarizes the latest scientific information published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

03/28/2025

Week of March 17, 2025

This episode discusses three MMWR reports. First, a pilot study in Uganda increases screening and treatment for household members affected by tuberculosis, helping to reduce transmission. Second, adolescent girls and young women in Eswatini who have functional disabilities are more likely to experience sexual, physical, and emotional violence. Last, a U.S. traveler returning from Zimbabwe was hospitalized with a rare parasite infection that causes sleeping sickness

6 min
03/24/2025

Week of March 10, 2025

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, a new study highlights the importance of people following recommended precautions when they have potential job-related exposures to avian influenza (H5N1) viruses that can cause H5N1 bird flu. Second, traffic-related pedestrian death rates in the U.S. increased 50% between 2013 and 2022, while many other high-income countries experienced decreases. Third, a study finds increases in neuro-, ocular, and otic syphilis among some groups in Chicago, following a pattern similar to national syphilis trends. Last, CDC finds sick workers and improper temperature control are the most common causes of food-related viral and bacterial outbreaks, respectively.

10 min
03/13/2025

Week of March 3, 2025

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. In our first report, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Mortality by Industry and Occupation - United States, 2020-2022, workers in some industries and occupations have higher-than-expected death rates from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease. In our second report, Enhanced Identification of Tobacco Use Among Adult Medicaid Members - King County, Washington, 2016-2023, identifying tobacco product use during Medicaid enrollment provides opportunities for states to help people quit smoking, improve their health, and lower health care spending. In our third report, Tobacco Product Use Among Adults - United States, 2017-2023, exclusive cigarette smoking has decreased, while exclusive e-cigarette use has increased, leading to no overall change in tobacco product use among adults from 2017 to 2023. In our last report, Detection of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 in Wastewater - Five European Countries, September-December 2024, variant poliovirus was detected in wastewater in five European countries last Fall.

8 min
03/07/2025

Week of February 24, 2025

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination provides additional protection against COVID-19-associated emergency department/urgent care encounters and hospitalizations. Second, this season's flu vaccines protect against flu-related medical visits and hospitalizations. Third, a new CDC report finds that 13% of children who have died from seasonal flu this season had influenza-associated encephalopathy or encephalitis, a potentially severe neurologic complication. Last, as HPV vaccination has increased, a steep decline in cervical precancers has occurred.

9 min
02/28/2025

Week of February 17, 2025

This episode discusses four MMWR reports. First, a new CDC study explores possible transmission of the virus that causes H5N1 bird flu from dairy workers to two indoor-only cats in Michigan. Second, the dengue outbreak in Puerto Rico continues, with children 10-19 years old being most affected. Third, wastewater testing and viral genetic testing can provide information on the community spread of hepatitis A. Last, scientists recorded a brief 110-fold increase in air lead levels during the 2025 LA fires.

7 min
02/27/2025

Week of February 10, 2025

This episode discusses two MMWR reports. First, CDC finds evidence of previous infection with avian influenza A(H5) bird flu in three veterinary practitioners who work with cattle. Next, the public health system responds to the first known case of clade I mpox in the U.S. and prevents its spread.

5 min
02/24/2025

Week of February 3, 2025

This episode discusses two MMWR reports. First, the average percentage of emergency department visits potentially associated with fire and smoke inhalation increased eightfold to 0.5% during the first 6 days of the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. Next, firefighters had higher concentrations of PFAS - a group of chemicals linked to cancer and other health effects - in their blood 1 month after responding to the 2023 Maui wildfires than other responder groups.

5 min
02/19/2025

Week of January 13, 2025

This episode discusses three MMWR reports. First, U.S. health care providers report that concerns about time, cost, and confidentiality interfere with seeking care for mental health. Next, CDC releases the 2025 Child and Adolescent, and Adult Immunization Schedules.

4 min

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4.1

out of 5

78 Ratings

Helpful but inconsistent

03/13/2023

KL407

These podcasts are helpful for me to keep up with news going on in the field I work in since I can listen to them while working on other things; I always fall behind on reading the articles. However, how often these are published seems inconsistent. Sometimes there is more than one within a week and sometimes there’s multiple weeks in between them. Given MMWR is a weekly report, wouldn’t it make sense for these podcasts to also be weekly? Or at least on a consistent schedule if weekly isn’t possible?
Important information.

09/26/2022

NickPublicHealth

Important information, shared in a simple format. Works for those of us on the go, working in the field. Thank you.
CDC is a private company.

02/18/2023

philthyglass

It’s not a government agency !! and it has no authority !!
Informative

08/30/2021

MahaloEva

Well written and very well articulated. Any bias is explained in the article and not hidden. This is greatly appreciated! This Weekly Briefing is highly recommended!