US Death Rate Reverts to Pre-Pandemic Levels Amidst Shifts in Health Trends
The United States has witnessed a return to pre-pandemic death rates in 2024, as per a new CDC report released on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. This significant development marks a milestone in the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020.
While heart disease and cancer continue to be the leading causes of death, the report unveils a worrying surge in other areas. The rates of drug overdoses, unintentional injuries, and suicides have seen an uptick in the past year, pointing towards persistent public health challenges despite the decline in COVID-19.
The release of this data coincides with ongoing changes in the federal health leadership. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has diverged from CDC guidance to recommend COVID-19 boosters for all U.S. adults this fall.
In a notable development, California, Washington, and Oregon have come together to form a West Coast Health Alliance. This alliance aims to coordinate separate public health guidelines, underlining the tensions between federal and state health policies under the current administration.