TOP NEWS
Flu Cases Surging Throughout the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting at least 24 million flu illnesses this season, with 410,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths. According to the CDC’s Flu View, most states were reporting “high” or “very high” flu activity in early February. The flu is a serious respiratory illness that is easily spread from person to person. While anyone can get the flu, some people are at increased risk for developing severe illness and complications, including adults aged 65 and older, individuals who are pregnant, young children, and individuals with certain chronic medical conditions including asthma, COPD and other chronic lung diseases. Flu vaccination is the best way to help protect against severe illness. Washing your hands often, staying home if you are sick and getting tested if you have symptoms of the flu, can also help protect you and others from getting sick. Read more at Lung.org/flu.
Lung Health Study Hits Midway Milestone
The American Lung Association recently reached an important milestone, enrolling more than 2,000 millennial-aged participants, to date, in our Lung Health Cohort Research Study. The first large-scale lung health study aims to track 4,000 healthy adults (aged 25-35 at time of enrollment) over their lifetimes to understand how and why lung disease develops. The study is recruiting participants at study sites throughout the U.S. Read about three reasons to ‘get excited’ about the Lung Health Cohort Research study in our new blog.
FDA’s Authorization of Zyn a ‘Gift to Big Tobacco’
Harold Wimmer, Lung Association President & CEO, recently issued a statement calling the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization of Zyn nicotine pouches in 20 flavors, “a gift to the tobacco industry” and “a green light to the industry to further lean in with their youth-focused marketing.” Wimmer continued: “While it has not been sold in the U.S. for long, we are already seeing very concerning levels of youth use, and troubling use of influencers and celebrities to promote the product, exactly like Juul was promoted previously.” One study found a 641% increase in sales of these products between 2019 and 2022, although just 2.9% of U.S. adults had ever used a nicotine pouch.
2025 National Radon Poster & Video Contest Winners Announced
The Lung Association, in collaboration with the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, recently announced the winners of the 2025 National Radon Poster and Video Contest. Children ages 9-14 and high school students were invited to participate in the annual contest, part of a nationwide effort to increase awareness about radon gas, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. The winner of the 2025 National Radon Video Contest is Luke Larson, from Le Mars Community High School in Le Mars, Iowa. He received $1,000 for his project titled, “Picture Perfect.” Poster contest winners were Addilyn Mosely of Mesa Middle School in Castle Rock, Colorado, who won first place and received $1,000; Alexia Vallo, Logos Public Charter School in Medford, Oregon, second place ($300); and Olivia Rieder, RJ Murray Middle School, St. Augustine, Florida, third place ($200). For more details about the poster and video contest, contact your state radon program. To learn about radon or test your home, visit Lung.org/radon.
Lung Association Releases FY24 Annual Report
We recently posted our Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report—a recap of our 120th year, celebrating historic milestones and ongoing achievements as we continue to work toward our goal of a world without lung disease. In fiscal year 2024, our accomplishments included growing our Research Institute awards and partnerships, issuing the 25th “State of The Air Report,” and celebrating 10 years of LUNG FORCE. Read more.
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Calling All Marathon Runners: Join Us in Paris!
You can make an impact on lung health and clean air while pursuing your passion in the beautiful city of Paris. for the 2025 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon on Sunday, April 13. Let us know if you’re interested in joining us, or support a Lung Association charity runner. American Lung Association bibs for the 2025 Schneider Electric Paris Marathon on Sunday, April 13. Let us know if you’re interested in joining us, or support a Lung Association charity runner.
RESEARCH UPDATE
Lung Association Researcher Spotlight
“We need to understand why individuals who have obesity or diabetes are so susceptible to severe respiratory infection, so we can develop ways to protect them,” said Sergejs Berdnikovs, PhD, of Northwestern University. Dr. Berdnikovs, who is currently funded by the American Lung Association Research Institute, is investigating cells in the airways and how they send signals to each other. He aims to learn how a respiratory virus affects or depends on the body’s energy processes, which help cells take in nutrients and produce energy. Learn more about Dr. Berdnikovs and his impressive research study in our Each Breath Blog.
ADVOCACY
DC Appeals Court Limits FDA’s Authority in Regulating Premium Cigars
The FDA does not have the same oversight over premium cigars as it does over cigarettes, e-cigarettes and regular cigars, according to a recent court ruling. On January 24, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a lower court decision that the FDA did not properly consider certain evidence concerning premium cigars when it asserted authority over them in its new 2016 regulations. The case has been sent back to the District Court to re-consider the definition of a premium cigar, but this is a major setback in FDA’s efforts to assert authority over a popular tobacco product.
Patient Groups Urge Court of Appeals to Allow Critical Access to Affordable Health Insurance for DACA Recipients in 19 States
We recently joined patient groups representing millions of individuals with serious diseases and health conditions in submitting a friend of the court brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold insurance eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, as permitted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Final Rule issued in May 2024. Since a court injunction in December 2024, DACA recipients in 19 states are no longer eligible for enrollment in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Approximately 34% of DACA recipients lack health insurance coverage even though they work and pay taxes that support the ACA.
Lung Association ‘Extremely Disappointed’ in Graphic Warning Labels Case
A Texas judge recently ruled that the FDA cannot proceed with its rule requiring graphic warning labels on cigarette packages until a legal challenge to the rule is resolved. In response, we issued a statement expressing our “extreme disappointment” in the ruling: “The tobacco industry continues to stand in the way of implementing the long-overdue and congressionally mandated graphic warning labels on cigarettes. Graphic warning labels are an important strategy to help reduce the addiction, disease and death associated with tobacco use in the U.S. We urge the incoming Trump administration to use all tools available to them to stand on the side of health and finally get these graphic cigarette warning labels in place on cigarette packs.”
EACH BREATH BLOG
Meet Eniola: The 12-Year-Old Championing Clean Air in Schools
Many people don’t understand how poor indoor air quality can affect your health, especially in crowded places, like schools. Eniola, a 12-year-old Connecticut student sought to change that. “I noticed a lot of times when the doors and windows were closed in a classroom, it would get really stuffy and my friends were often catching colds and other sicknesses,” says Eniola in our new blog. Eniola and her classmates at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy created a box air filter with just $60 worth of hardware store supplies. Today, Eniola is traveling to schools throughout Connecticut to share her message of clean air and helping other students to build their own air filters. Read more.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
For over 120 years, we have been dedicated to making a difference and saving lives. Our efforts impact the more than 35 million people living in the U.S. with chronic lung disease, and millions more through our pioneering model of education, advocacy and research. Thank you for all you do to help us all breathe easier! Visit Lung.org/get-involved to learn more about how you can make a difference.
Blog last updated: February 19, 2025