NACCHO

Hepatitis C is preventable and treatable, but gaps between testing, diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment can delay timely services, increase loss to follow-up, and contribute to preventable outcomes. Drawing on input from LHDs across the country, a new issue brief highlights approaches such as including standing orders, streamlined testing workflows, and rapid treatment protocols. Access the hepatitis C brief at https://ow.ly/lSkv50ZtAfk.

Effective vector control programs are an essential part of #publichealth. With the new Vector Control Menu, local health officials can be proactive rather than reactive to help prevent zoonotic outbreaks in the first place, or make sure resources, infrastructure, and expertise are readily available to respond to outbreaks quickly. Developed by NACCHO’s Vector Control Workgroup members, our new interactive website can be used by local health officials as a guide to build vector control capacity. You can start small (e.g., add one or two activities for building capacity from the "Just Getting Started" section), or go big (e.g., for established programs, focus on the "Additional Program Enhancements" section to further strengthen operations)—making the website a scalable and functional tool. Get started today. Visit https://lnkd.in/e8bURUmz  

July 28th marked World Hepatitis Day & is a reminder that hepatitis B remains a major global #PublicHealth challenge and is the most common liver infection in the world (1). Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease, millions of adults around the world including many  Americans,  remain unprotected against hepatitis B. Many people assume they are not at risk, but anyone can be infected with hepatitis B (2).   In fact, one study found that 3 out of 4 acute cases of hepatitis B occurred in individuals  who did not have any identifiable risk factors (3). Approximately 90% of infants and 5% of adults who contract hepatitis B develop chronic infection (4). Many people living with a chronic infection are unaware of their status and the consequences of a chronic infection can be severe and may include cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver transplant, and even death (5, 6, 7). Increasing public awareness, improving access to prevention, and expanding adult vaccination efforts are critical to reducing the burden of hepatitis B and advancing global public health goals. NAACHO is proud to be at the forefront of hepatitis B educational efforts as we recognize World Hepatitis Day with key stakeholders throughout the hepatitis B community. Prevention protects lives. #WorldHepatitisDay #HepatitisB #AdultVaccination #PublicHealth #Vaccines #DiseasePrevention #NACCHO References: 1) https://lnkd.in/eDYpCgat 2) https://lnkd.in/eDBa8bRs. 3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report, 2023. Updated April 15, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://lnkd.in/eYpTVtYN. 4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B. In: Hamborsky J, et al, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 14th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2021 5) . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B. In: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Hall E, Wodi AP, Hamborsky J et al, eds.14th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2021; 6) Walayat S, et al. World J Hepatol. 2015;7:2503–2509. 7) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of Hepatitis B. https://lnkd.in/ekNvCbYw

Effective HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis outbreak response depends on coordination across public health agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations. NACCHO’s new brief outlines practical strategies that local health departments can use to strengthen coordination at both the systems and patient levels. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ePSRdRGc.

🚨 Public Health is Local—and local voices matter. 🚨 Local health departments are on the front lines of protecting and improving the health of our communities, but the decisions that shape public health funding and policy are often made in Washington. That’s why NACCHO launched the Public Health is Local Initiative—to empower local public health leaders to share their expertise, build relationships, and educate Congress on the important role of local health departments during August recess. If you can't engage with your lawmakers in person during August, you can join NACCHO's Congressional Action Network (CAN). By joining CAN, you’ll receive opportunities to engage directly with Congress and help ensure policymakers understand the critical role local public health plays in protecting and improving community health. 📢 Ready to make your voice heard? Find the Public Health is Local resources on our website and join the Congressional Action Network today to be part of a growing movement at https://ow.ly/LaP250ZutWK

Public health isn’t just about data, it’s about people. Without relationships, there is no insight, no trust, and no clear path forward when conditions change. Leadership at Butte County Public Health needed to understand communities where people lived outside of traditional government systems. ...where a strong value is placed on independence, privacy, and self-reliance... ...where trust in government is not assumed but built slowly and personally... And it all started with pastries in a bakery, in an unfamiliar community. https://lnkd.in/ec3dJjQr A story by Erin Cox, Assistant Director, Butte County Public Health.

Syphilis is preventable and treatable, but gaps between testing, diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment can delay timely services, increase loss to follow-up, and contribute to preventable outcomes, including congenital syphilis. Drawing on input from LHDs across the country, a new brief highlight approaches such as including standing orders, streamlined testing workflows, and field-based and presumptive treatment protocols. Access the syphilis brief at https://ow.ly/KZnp50ZtA78

Local health departments are essential partners in strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC), yet their role is often overlooked. A new article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice article highlights how Project Firstline and NACCHO support health departments through training, technical assistance, and workforce development to build stronger IPC capacity. Read more at https://ow.ly/RTGP50ZtrgZ.

A new NACCHO guide, “Relationship Building for Public Health Professionals,” helps state, local, and territorial health departments strengthen connections with community members, organizations, and key partners. Drawing from the experiences of public health leaders across the country, the guide offers practical strategies, tools, and templates to help build meaningful partnerships that last beyond individual projects or funding cycles. Learn more about and download the guide at https://ow.ly/FqPO50ZtnYJ. #PublicHealth #CommunityEngagement #RelationshipBuilding #Partnerships #LocalHealthDepartments

Happening tomorrow! Join us online to hear from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the timely release of a repository of evidence-informed environmental #publichealth practices and tools. You can still register to join us at https://lnkd.in/eYvsRAEZ