1031: Public Health Wins: Reductions in RSV Hospitalizations and Overdose Rates Nationwide

JOHN SHEEHAN: 

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, November 24 2025. I'm John Sheehan for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Today, we're recognizing Public Health Thank You Day. A moment to honor and appreciate the public health professionals who keep our communities safe, informed, and supported. Your work is essential, and we want to take a moment to celebrate all you have done over the past year. We'll highlight several major public health achievements from this year, each introduced by ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Susan Kansagra, but first, let's hear some messages of appreciation. Here's Dr. Joseph Kanter, chief executive officer at ASTHO.

JOSEPH KANTER: 

To anyone that works in public health, I know the past few years have been very challenging, to say the least. You don't always realize the work that you do and how it makes people's lives better, but it does. and as a mentor of mine always told me, 'Public health saved your life today, you just didn't know it.' I want you to know that the work you do is important. It touches people's lives, whether they know it or not, and it matters. So, thank you for what you do. We are a healthier, stronger nation because of your efforts.

SHEEHAN: 

And here's Dr. Manisha Juthani, ASTHO's president and the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

MANISHA JUTHANI: 

Today, on Public Health Thank You Day, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank all of you for your tremendous contributions to ensuring the health and safety of all of our residents every day throughout all our states and territories. Public health works behind the scenes. We aren't always right in front, but the work you do ensures that we save lives every single day. In this week, where we are thankful and grateful, this is our moment to recognize the work you all do, and I want you to know that we are truly grateful. From the ASTHO board, thank you for all you do to preserve public health

SHEEHAN: 

And Ursula Phoenix Weir, branch chief for public health infrastructure capacity building and implementation at the CDC.

URSULA PHOENIX WEIR: 

I just want to say thank you to all of our public health workers for the wonderful work that you're doing. You're doing an amazing job. Don't take your foot off the gas.

SHEEHAN: 

As we look back on the past year, there were several meaningful public health accomplishments. One of the biggest areas of progress involved RSV prevention among infants, an illness that has historically led to high hospitalization rates. Here's Dr. Kansagra explaining what changed this season and why it mattered.

SUSAN KANSAGRA: 

You know, historically, RSV hospitalizations among infants have been a leading cause of hospitalizations in that age range, and we've seen anywhere from 60 to 80,000 hospitalizations in that youngest age group every year. And thankfully, last season, we saw a 28 to 40% drop in that hospitalization rate, and we think that is attributed to the fact that monoclonal antibodies were much more available through birthing hospitals, and maternal RSV was also available as well, and that's thanks to the hard work of health departments across the country that partnered with health care systems to make those tools available.

SHEEHAN: 

Another significant milestone was the progress made in addressing the overdose epidemic. For the first time in recent years, overdose rates saw a meaningful decline. Dr. Kansagra explains what drove this improvement and how partnerships played a central role.

KANSAGRA: 

Over the last year, we saw a 24% decrease in overdose rates, which is the biggest drop that we've seen in recent years. Of course, there's still more work to be done in this area. We still have over 80,000 overdose deaths each year, despite even that trend, but that is great news, it's come down significantly over the prior year, and that's really thanks to the multi-sector partnerships that health departments have created with others in the community. And what we've seen in the response to the overdose epidemic is this, you know, multi-sector partnership, many different sectors of the community being involved, from faith-based communities to the justice system to, you know, of course, health care partnerships. So, lots going on to support community-level change across the country.

SHEEHAN: 

And finally, rural communities saw major investment and support this year through new federal funding aimed at strengthening chronic disease work, behavioral health, workforce development, and health technology. Dr. Kansagra breaks down what this new initiative means for states across the country.

KANSAGRA: 

The Rural Health Transformation Grant was created through the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, you know, also known as HR-1, and it's a $50 billion investment for states that supports chronic disease, behavioral health. It supports workforce interventions, technology upgrades, as it relates to health. So, creates funding and investments into all of these spaces for states across the country.

SHEEHAN: 

Dr. Susan Kansagra is ASTHO's chief medical officer, and in honor of Public Health Thank You Day, I will leave you with her final thoughts.

KANSAGRA: 

Lastly, I will say, on behalf of the entire ASTHO team, that we so appreciate the work of state, territorial, and local health department teams across the country. We know you're working incredibly hard. It's a challenging environment, but one that we know you are making such a difference in for the people that you serve. So, thank you for what you do. We appreciate you, and we hope you get a chance to rest and relax over the upcoming holiday season.

SHEEHAN: 

This has been another Public Health Review Morning Edition. I'm John Sheehan for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.