DIThe Distraction Index

#public_health

28 events across 21 weeks

5Damage
8Hype
15Noise
15.6Avg Dmg
21.9Avg Hype
WEEK 85Aug 9 – 15
HYPE2026-08-09
Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Autism and Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
17.0
Hype
51.0
WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25
NOISE2026-07-23
FDA Identifies Second Cyclospora Outbreak with Record High Cases
federal · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
9.5
NOISE2026-07-22
RFK Jr. Claims Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Under Control Amid 1,600 Cases
multi state · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
15.8
WEEK 81Jul 12 – 18
NOISE2026-07-18
Trump Administration CDC Cuts Under Fire After Cyclospora Outbreak
Resource Reallocationfederal · broad
Damage
0.6
Hype
8.5
NOISE2026-07-18
Trump CDC Nominee Praises Vaccines and mRNA Effectiveness
Damage
0.0
Hype
9.5
NOISE2026-07-16
CDC Nominee Says She Won't Betray Science and Backs Kennedy Actions
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
14.3
Hype
15.3
WEEK 80Jul 5 – 11
NOISE2026-07-08
Trump Administration Cancels Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
1.2
Hype
13.5
DMG2026-07-07
Trump Administration Rolls Back Gun Violence Prevention Efforts
Enforcement Actionfederal · broad
Damage
34.4
Hype
18.6
WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18
HYPE2026-04-16
Trump Administration Pollution Reprieve for Toxic Gas-Emitting Plants
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
42.2
Hype
43.5
WEEK 61Feb 22 – 28
DMG2026-02-24
States Sue Trump Administration Over Vaccine Schedule Changes
Policy Changemulti state · broad
Damage
32.1
Hype
27.5
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
NOISE2026-02-18
Guinea-Bissau Stops Vaccine Study Funded by Trump Administration
Policy Changeinternational · narrow
Damage
7.4
Hype
21.5
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
NOISE2026-02-09
March for Life Attendees Exposed to Measles
federal · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
9.7
NOISE2026-02-07
Washington State Proposes 3-Cent Sugar Tax
Policy Changesingle state · broad
Damage
0.4
Hype
11.0
WEEK 58Feb 1 – 7
NOISE2026-02-05
RFK Jr. National Tour on Food Safety and Healthcare AI
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
5.0
Hype
24.3
WEEK 55Jan 11 – 17
NOISE2026-01-16
CDC Wastewater Disease Surveillance Program Faces Potential Funding Cuts
Resource Reallocationfederal · broad
Damage
0.9
Hype
11.3
WEEK 52Dec 21 – 27
DMG2025-12-25
Immigration Raids Force Immigrants to Avoid Medical Care
Enforcement Actionfederal · broad
Damage
31.8
Hype
16.8
WEEK 47Nov 16 – 22
HYPE2025-11-21
CDC Changes Website to Question Vaccine Safety, Disproven Links to Autism
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
33.4
Hype
34.2
WEEK 41Oct 5 – 11
HYPE2025-10-10
RFK Jr. Promotes Unproven Tylenol-Autism Link in Cabinet Meeting
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
24.1
Hype
30.8
WEEK 38Sep 14 – 20
DMG2025-09-20
RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Changes COVID-19 Shot Guidelines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
47.2
Hype
45.6
WEEK 25Jun 15 – 21
HYPE2025-06-14
Measles Cases Spread to 34 States with North Dakota Focus
Policy Changemulti state · broad
Damage
6.8
Hype
25.1
NOISE2025-06-14
Measles Outbreak Spreading to 34 States
multi state · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
9.6
WEEK 20May 11 – 17
NOISE2025-05-17
Cuts to Narcan Program Could Be Detrimental, Advocates Say
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
1.0
Hype
7.7
NOISE2025-05-17
Federal Funding Cuts Impact Rural Libraries, Vaccine Research, and Antibiotic Development
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
6.8
Hype
9.1
WEEK 13Mar 23 – 29
NOISE2025-03-29
Federal Funding Cuts Threaten Colorado HIV Research and AIDS Prevention
Resource Reallocationsingle state · moderate
Damage
4.9
Hype
24.3
WEEK 11Mar 9 – 15
HYPE2025-03-15
RFK Jr. Warns Against Vaccinating Chickens for Bird Flu
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
27.6
Hype
33.4
WEEK 10Mar 2 – 8
HYPE2025-03-07
CDC Posts Conflicts of Interest Database on Vaccine Panel Members
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
1.5
Hype
17.2
WEEK 8Feb 16 – 22
DMG2025-02-22
Kennedy Targets Childhood Vaccine Schedule Amid Texas Measles Outbreak
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
62.9
Hype
34.6
WEEK 3Jan 12 – 18
HYPE2021-01-01
RFK Jr. Petitioned FDA to Revoke Authorization of All COVID Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
32.0
Hype
33.4