The Science of Public Health

Gathering and Evaluating Evidence

The amount of information available in today's world can be overwhelming. We realize that it can be difficult to sort through all the noise. This webpage can help as you do your own homework on a hot or debated public health topic. It was designed to help you understand the public health-related information you read and make informed decisions about which information you can trust.  We explain basic public health concepts and why they are important. This can help you examine evidence, evaluate sources of information, and be better informed. The ultimate goal is to empower you to engage with public health research.

Epidemiology in Practice

A map of New York state with data points indicating flu cases.

Global Health Update

This weekly report from the New York State Department of Health presents summaries of select ongoing and emerging infectious disease outbreaks of interest to public health professionals and the public, both globally and in the United States. 

The Global Health Update summaries include preliminary and up-to-date data that are publicly available for these events at the time of posting.  

Anyone can subscribe to get updates!  

View Report