By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL

There’s been the spread of Avian flu. The higher-than-usual number of dengue cases. The first known case of clade I mpox in the US. The worst Listeria outbreak in 13 years.

And the list goes on.

Some of the stories came and went from the headlines. Some—mostly because of their scope and seriousness—loitered (we’re looking at you Boar’s Head listeria outbreak). But regardless, they were stories that shone a light on public health and its importance in all our lives, every day of every year.

As we turn the page on 2024, it seems fitting to look back on some of these stories and reflect on their impact. While by no means an exhaustive list, these are the stories that captured our (my!) attention and that will be remembered well into 2025.

1. The spread of avian flu

While highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) is widespread in wild birds and poultry, 2024 marked the first time it was seen in a new species: dairy cows. Sporadic infections among humans—detected through national flu and H5 surveillance—also began to pop up. The majority of these cases have been confined to those having exposure to infected cows, poultry and wild birds, but there have been a few worrisome cases where people tested positive for the virus without any known exposure to infected animals. Regardless, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk to humans is low and all those infected in this country have reported mild disease.

2. A surge in dengue cases

According to CDC, reported dengue cases doubled from 2023 to 2024, rising from 5 million to more than 10 million in North and South America alone. Particularly alarming is the fact that some of those cases occurred in parts of the world where dengue is not routinely seen. What accounts for the increase—and the spread? Experts say dengue tends to be a cyclical infection, meaning we normally see an uptick in infections every few years. Other contributing factors include the warmer, wetter weather much of the world saw in 2024 (the mosquitoes that carry dengue thrive in warm, moist environments) as well as an increase in world travel, especially to areas where dengue is rampant.

3. A widespread and deadly Listeria outbreak

From applesauce to carrots to McDonald’s hamburgers, 2024 was a busy year for public health scientists investigating outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. And the biggest and deadliest of those outbreaks started last summer, when it was discovered that a slew of people sickened with Listeria monocytogenes had all eaten luncheon meats sliced at deli counters around the country. Further investigation and whole genome sequencing produced a prime suspect: Boar’s Head deli meats—and in particular, Boar’s Head liverwurst. All in all, 61 people across multiple states were infected and 10 people died. In response to the outbreak, Boar’s Head closed indefinitely their Jarratt, Va., plant where the tainted products were produced and stopped production of liverwurst altogether.

4. A public health emergency of international concern issued over mpox

For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for mpox, a viral disease that is surging in parts of Africa and is also seen at lower levels in this country. Recently, however, a new and more severe strain of the virus (known as mpox clade I) has been causing outbreaks in Africa and, due to increased world travel, has now made its way to other areas. In November, the first case of mpox clade I was confirmed in a patient in the US. While US CDC reports that the risk of acquiring mpox clade I is low for the general population, the organization does recommend vaccination for those at higher risk (for example, for those traveling to parts of the world where there are outbreaks). CDC is increasing surveillance for mpox clade I by working with state and local laboratories to set up wastewater surveillance.

5. A national decline in overdose deaths

For the first time since 2018, the United States experienced a national decrease in overdose deaths. Between June 2023 and June 2024, US CDC found more than a 10% overall decline in overdose deaths in the US. While states like North Carolina, Nebraska and Illinois had double-digit reductions in overdose deaths, overdose deaths significantly increased in Alaska, Nevada and Oregon. Most overdose deaths continue to be caused by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, although cocaine and psychostimulants also contribute to a significant number of overdose deaths.

The post 5 of the Biggest Public Health Stories of 2024 appeared first on APHL Blog.

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